Nikon's new Coolpix S550, S520, and S210

Nikon's new mid-to-low-enders land tonight, say hi to the Coolpix S550, S520, and S210. Casual photographers take note, only the S520 features optical stabilization, you'll want to try and aim for that instead of messing with any of that electronic stabilization stuff.

• S550 - 10 megapixels, 5x zoom, electronic stabilization, 2.5-inch LCD, out February for $229
• S520 - 8 megapixels, 3x zoom, optical stabilization, up to ISO 2000, 2.5-inch LCD, out March for $229
• S210 - 8 megapixels, electronic stabilization, up to ISO 2000, 2.5-inch LCD, our March for $179

Read (S550)
Read (S520)
Read (S210)

[Michael @ Jan 29th 2008 3:35AM]

I would blame camera manufacturers for continuing to hawk compact cameras with 10, 11, even 12mp sensors, but really it's the consumers' fault for being a bunch of mindless tools.

"Durrr look dis one has more megapiksels 'dan dis other one Durrrrrrrrrrrr."

I'm all for companies making a buck off of stupid people, but it was a frightening while before they started easing back and putting out new 8mp models with better features.

And even still here we are with Nikon offering two cameras with the same price. I bet good money more people will buy the 10mp model because they're convinced they somehow need a picture that large and don't even realize they're getting a noisier, crappier picture anyway.

[Steven Smith @ Apr 6th 2008 10:47AM]

Why do you need an 8 mp camera? You complain about 10 mp yet 8 is more than any person needs. The whole point of the higher mp cameras is so that if you take a group shot of people and want to crop out one person and print an 8 by 10 of them you can.