The Nikon Coolpix P310 is another point and shoot — except it’s completely gorgeous. The boxy design is a matte slate of black perfection. Everyone line is clean, every centimetre accounted for, every button well-placed. Make more things like this.
Inside, the P310 is no dinky shooter: 16MP stills, 1080p video recording, an assignable front function button, full manual controls, image stabilisation and a swank f/1.8 zoom NIKKOR lens. But my god — it’s so small! What you’re looking at is only 4.1 x 2.3 x 1.3 inches — easily pocketable. But I don’t want to keep it in any pocket. I want to look at it. Boxy is beautiful. More angles. Cameras shouldn’t resemble spaceships. Check for it next month at $US330. [Nikon]
Sam
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:16 AMUm, can anyone say Canon S90,S95 or S100. I don’t think Nikon can claim credit for its looks.
Kay
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:29 AMLove its look. But 4.2x zoom is just not enough. Should be at least 15x
Roger
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:05 AMI really don’t think you get the point of this camera. It’s all about great quality images in a tiny frame, and trying to jam a 15x zoom lens in a body that small will only compromise that. If you want a camera with a huge zoom range, look at their travel cameras.
matt
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 2:28 AMI just went on a massive holiday, took a cannon s95. not having more than 4x zoom was not an issue at all, what would have been an issue is it being too big to fit in my pocket. because I was able to put it in my pocket, I got shots of everything. diners, impromptu visits to pubs and clubs. it was always there to be able to catch all the good moments. the focus on a ‘bright’ lens is also critical. for me, these type of cameras are the perfect compromise, with full manual and a bright lens, I was taking great shots at night where everyone with a cheaper point and shoot was just failing. and those with cameras too big to fit in a pocket? you rarely saw them clicking away.
Brett
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 11:35 AMthis camera looks incredible – i recently bought a nikon p7100 to go as a companion with my D7000 and it is incredible!! picture quality is amazing even though its ‘only 10.1MP (a marketing gimmick invented by canon btw) and 7.1xoom (i never use it!) i cant stand people who use and want zoom – if u want to take a picture of a subject get closer to it (or further away) – the picture will turn out 1000 times better. As soon as u zoom u decrease the amount of light the camera can handle, thus making a bad picture (unless u have a professional grade lens on a dslr like my nikon 24-70 2.8)
Charles
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:17 PMI really like the finish. I am a fan of the matte black.
Sam D
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:17 PMThe big question is, is the sensor size tiny and crappy like Nikon put in most of their point & shoots? Or is it decent this time?
Will
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 12:40 PMNo, it’s a tiny sensor.
Sam D
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 3:19 PMUgh, 16MP on a sensor the size of my little fingernail…. fail.
That’s the big reason why my wife got the S90, bigger sensor and much better in low light.
Isaac
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 3:10 PMSomehow I don’t think it matters if your wife has d3s levels of lowlight performance in her P&S that activates the flash in anything other than direct mid day sun light.
Stew
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 1:34 PMI love the Canon S100′s f/2.0, so getting down to f1.8 on a tiny P&S? Hell yeah! Nike work Nikon. Can’t wait to see these miniature behemoths compared side-by-side.
stevo
Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:58 AMThe matt black is definitely cool, but the white version is awesome. Check out the white case model, that is what I will buy. :)