Digital Trends

Nikon recently introduced two new members for its P for Performance series Coolpix point-and-shoot digicams. The P3 and P4 are very similar other than Wi-Fi capability found on the more expensive P3 ($449). Whether you want to spend 50 bucks to wirelessly beam images to a printer or PC is entirely your call but I‘d spend the cash on a high-speed SD card instead. Sometimes a sneaker-net system of taking out your SD card and plugging it into a PC, reader or printer is simple enough for day-to-day needs. The two models are the eventual replacements for the P1 and P2, 8MP and 5MP versions of similar digicams with Wi-Fi b/g that cost $549 and $399, respectively. You gotta love this business when newer models come along with added features such as Vibration Reduction and they cost less.

 

The P series is in the thick of the 2006 digicam race, offering 8-megapixel resolution, a 3.5x optical zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD, optical image stabilization and a number of Nikon tricks for much less than 400 first presidents. Is it point-and-shoot paradise? Let’s charge it up and see…