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Does the body color of a camera say anything about how it performs?

(Credit: Pentax)

On September 16, Pentax launched the K-x, an entry-level-ish digital SLR that it's offering in navy, red, white, and black versions. While different body colors are not unusual for point-and-shoot digital cameras, offering more than a black dSLR is still rare. (In fact, just Pentax and Sony offer color options, currently.)

Unfortunately, after testing many snapshot cameras available in a single color as well as those offered in several colors, I've developed a working theory that the more colors a camera comes in, the more likely there's something wrong with the model.

It's not the case with all cameras, but more often than not that's how things shake out. It's especially true if its available in more than four options and if the company has gone with two-word color names like flaming red or warm silver.

Want examples? Check out the Nikon Coolpix S220, the Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS, and the Casio Exilim EX-S5. The Nikon and Canon come in six different colors, the Casio in five. And all three of them have issues with performance, photo quality, or both. (Though, if forced to go with one, the SD1200 has the fewest issues.)

All of these are lower-end models, too, which brings me to my next point: expensive point-and-shoot cameras come in three colors or fewer, and usually only in one: black. Serious photographers only buy black cameras, right?

Which brings me back to the Pentax K-x. The camera colors are definitely refreshing and will likely get people questioning you on the street. They also make the K-x more approachable for those switching from a pocket camera, which fits its entry-level status. But would you take someone seriously if they were shooting with a bright red digital SLR? I'm leaning toward "no." Much like laptops, colorful cameras are great until you want to be taken seriously.

(Credit: Nikon USA)

(Credit: Nikon USA)

As we increasingly use handheld devices as the primary way to share photos and videos, the inevitable conflict arises: how do you keep the device stylishly compact while including a display big enough for the whole gang to huddle around? Nikon's the first--although likely not the last--to address the problem by integrating a tiny projector into its Coolpix S1000pj so that you can display your photos up to 40 inches tall on any surface.

The LCOS projector is rated for up to 10 lumens (brightness), with contrast ratio of 30:1 and a throw of about 10 inches to 6.5 feet in VGA resolution to project an image between 5 and 40 inches high. According to Nikon, the battery will last approximately an hour of continuous projection. It will ship with a stand and a wireless remote.

The camera itself is the typical Nikon point-and-shoot fare. The internal 5x zoom lens covers a 28-140mm-equivalent focal range, but with a maximum aperture of f3.9-5.8, it's awfully slow. It incorporates the standard features rolling out in its siblings, including the 12-megapixel sensor and 2.7-inch 230,000-dot LCD. Like the other cameras announced out this week, it adds motion detection--automatically sensing movement and bumping up ISO sensitivity and shutter speed to freeze action--to its bag of image-stabilization tricks. Keep in mind that almost universally in point-and-shoot cameras, levels above ISO 400 (and sometimes even ISO 200) deliver really noisy photos, which makes a lot of the high ISO-dependent features moot.

The microprojector technology has been around for a couple of years, and the idea of putting then in phones is the most commonly bandied-about application, though cameras seem a natural choice as well. The S1000pj, slated to ship in mid-November, will be priced at $429--that's pretty steep for an otherwise standard snapshooter. But you can't deny the attraction of an easier way to display your photos than connecting to a TV or squinting at a relatively small LCD. Or can you? Cast your vote in our poll.

(Credit: Nikon)

Looks like Ashton should've waited a year. A refresh of the Nikon Coolpix S60, the S70 is improved in almost every way, changing a decent first effort of a touch-screen camera into something usable.

Like its successor, the 12-megapixel S70 is almost entirely controlled with the touch screen, including the zoom for the 5x f3.9-5.8 28-140mm-equivalent lens. Fortunately, it's much more responsive than last time. In fact, the entire interface is improved as is the screen itself: a 3.5-inch OLED panel. The display and interface have a few new functions, too, including a tap shutter release and multitouch commands in Playback mode.

It also has optical and electronic image stabilization, 16 scene modes, macro shooting down to 1.2 inches, and a slick design available in four color combinations: red on red, black on black, champagne and light brown, and champagne and beige.

Based on the few minutes I played with one, it's definitely an improvement over the S60, at least from the touch-screen aspect. Photo quality and performance is a big fat question mark till we get one in our labs. And while the 5x and 28mm is nice, the f3.9 is a bit of a concern. So is the $399.95 MSRP when it hits in September.

(Credit: Nikon)

Despite a 3x zoom probably being the best for keeping photo quality intact, it looks like a 5x optical zoom will be supplanting it as the point-and-shoot norm. Nikon's doing its part to help that along with the 12-megapixel Coolpix S640 and S570.

Both cameras measure 0.8 inch thick and feature a 5x f2.7-6.6 28-140mm-equivalent lens on front and a 2.7-inch LCD on back (though the S640 has an "antifouling and water-repellent layer"). Where the S640 pulls away from the S570 is in performance.

Nikon's claiming a start-up time of 0.7 second as well as shorter autofocus and shutter lag times. This would be great for Nikon since typically its cameras are average performers.

The S640 also gets you optical image stabilization (the S570 is electronic only), subject tracking, and sensor sensitivity up to ISO 6,400 at full resolution (not that you'd want a 16x20-inch print of something shot at that ISO).

The Coolpix S640 and S570 are out in September for $249.95 and $199.95, respectively. The S640 comes in colors with evocative names--calm black, velour red, precious pink, and pearl white--while the colors of the S570 are more economical: black, red, blue, and pink.

(Credit: CNET/Sarah Tew)

It seems Nikon has realized the Coolpix L100's lack of support for rechargeable NiMH batteries wasn't the greenest move (or maybe it was a secret plan all along). The digital camera manufacturer announced Tuesday an eventual firmware update to correct the situation.

I get the convenience of AA batteries in pocket cameras, but the L100 requires four of them and only supports alkaline and lithium-ion disposable batteries, approximately good for 350 and 900 shots, respectively. The NiMH option will get you around 600 shots before you need to charge up.

According to Nikon, the firmware update will be available in summer 2009, making this budget point-and-shoot megazoom a more attractive option. Of course, this doesn't improve its merely OK photo quality or the fact that you can't control ISO. But for some, that comes second to having a 15x zoom lens and AA batteries as a power source.

Being released simultaneously with the firmware update are a four pack of Nikon AA NiMH batteries (EN-MH2-B4) and a charger/battery combo set.

(Credit: Tuvie.com)

Concept designs usually look impossibly futuristic, but this one by designer Nikolay Komarov is the exact opposite. He envisions a Nikon Coolpix point-and-shoot camera that looks like it belongs in the last century and has named it Neoclassic.

Another model Komarov has come up with is the Good Grip. It has a more modern look and is supposed to be easier to handle. This will come with a reworked interface which, interestingly, tells the photographer how large a certain digital photo can be printed in centimeters rather than the number of pixels which doesn't really mean anything to most users.

As mentioned, these are merely concepts, but it'll be interesting if Nikon picks up some cues from them.

(Source: Notcot via Crave Asia)

One's an easy-to-use, fashionable point-and-shoot, the other's an advanced shooter with just as many manual-setting options as auto modes. Both have 3-inch touch-screen LCDs and 10-megapixel resolutions--and you can have your pick for $220 or less each from reputable dealers.

From its stylish S series of ultracompact cameras, the Nikon Coolpix S230 is the follow-up to the very popular S210.

Its features are pretty basic, but Nikon adds the requisite face, smile, and blink detection I expect to find on cameras in its class. You also get the advantage of the touch-screen interface for things like a touch-based focusing system and writing/drawing directly on photos. The suggested retail price is $230, but it is in stores for less.

The Lumix DMC-FX500 was once the flagship FX-series compact from Panasonic and carried an MSRP of $399.95. With the FX500 follow-up coming soon, it can now be found for more or less half that price. If you like shooting flexibility and don't mind a little slow performance, this is definitely a lot of camera for the money.

Read the full reviews of the Nikon S230 and Panasonic FX500.

Nikon Coolpix S230 photos

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 photos

The Nikon Coolpix S710 wants to be the camera you take with you while your digital SLR stays home. It offers a robust set of manual controls, a high-resolution 14.5-megapixel sensor, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and sensitivity that goes up to ISO 3,200 at full resolution and ISO 12,800 at 3 megapixels.

However, the S710 lacks the speed dSLR users--and even many snapshooters--are used to. If you're used to shooting fast, the S710's performance comes up short. Otherwise, it's a respectable high-end point-and-shoot that's a good option for those looking for lots of shooting flexibility in a pocket camera.

Read the full review of the Nikon Coolpix S710 or check out the slide show below for all the info.

Review: 14-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S710

Nikon's Spring stylistas--photos

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Nikon's ultracompact S series look like the typical refreshers, with bumps in lenses and resolution across the board. The touch-screen S60 must be working out for the company, because it's added a second model for spring: the Coolpix S230, which has a cheaper touch-free sibling, the S220. Unlike with the S60, however, Nikon included a mechanical zoom switch rather than relying on the touch screen for zooming. Both cameras have 3x zoom lenses, 10-megapixel sensors, and 2.5-inch LCDs.

Both S600 series models are 12 megapixels and use 2.7-inch LCDs, but the S630 has a 7x zoom lens compared with the S620's 4x unspecified wide-angle zoom. Nikon also highlights the S620's "incredibly quick start-up time of 0.7 seconds," which really doesn't sound all that fast to me--point-and-shoots in its class typically start and shoot in less than 0.5 second.

All of the cameras incorporate Nikon's new "4-Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization" which consists of optical IS, auto shutter speed/ISO determination to compensate for moving subjects, and a Best Shot Selector option for choosing the sharpest photo out of a burst of 10. And, like all its competitors, Nikon introduces its own get-the-faces-right system comprised of automatic red-eye fix, improved face-priority AF, and smile- and blink-detection.

And they all come in a cornucopia of pretty colors. When they ship this month, the S630 will sell for $279.95, the S620 for $269.95, the S230 for $229.95, and the S220 for $149.95.