"The new COOLPIX P90, part of the flagship Performance Series of cameras, is the ideal camera for photo enthusiasts, travel photographers and consumers interested in more advanced photography. Featuring a 24x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR lens with a broad focal range of 26mm wide-angle through 624mm super-telephoto (35mm format equivalent), 12.1 megapixels of sharp resolution and Nikon's EXPEEDTM advanced digital image processing system technologies, the P90 faithfully reproduces fine details with subtle tones for exceptional image quality."

If you're looking for a camera with a lot of zoom power, the P90 delivers in spades, offering an impressive 24x optical zoom - the equivalent of 624mm in the 35mm lens world that us DSLR shooters have been trained to think in. 15fps shooting, even at 1920 x 1080, is also pretty slick. What I find unacceptable is the apparent lack of HD video options - the specs mention "five movie modes", but I suspect they're all just VGA resolution. It's incredibly disappointing that Nikon is lagging so far behind other companies when it comes to delivering 720p vide on their cameras.

Full press release after the break.

COOLPIX P90: Versatility and advanced features in a large zoom bridge camera

The new COOLPIX P90, part of the flagship Performance Series of cameras, is the ideal camera for photo enthusiasts, travel photographers and consumers interested in more advanced photography. Featuring a 24x Optical Zoom-NIKKOR lens with a broad focal range of 26mm wide-angle through 624mm super-telephoto (35mm format equivalent), 12.1 megapixels of sharp resolution and Nikons EXPEEDTM advanced digital image processing system technologies, the P90 faithfully reproduces fine details with subtle tones for exceptional image quality.

A new 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD monitor, with anti-reflection coatings that can be tilted as much as 90 degrees upward or 45 degrees downward, extends the versatility of the P90 by enabling photographers to shoot from higher angles or from the hip.

Additional features of the COOLPIX P90 include an image sensor shift VR (vibration reduction) Image Stabilization System; ISO 6400* capability; electronic viewfinder; Scene Auto Selector; Quick Retouch; Distortion Control; and 15 fps** high-speed shooting capability. These features enable consumers to enjoy photo shooting in a wide range of situations.

*ISO 3200 and 6400 are available only for image sizes of 3M (2048 x1536) or smaller.** Feature available only for image size of 16:9 (1920 x 1080).

Nikon COOLPIX P90 Feature Highlights

Nikons exclusive Smart Portrait SystemAutomatically detecting as many as 12 faces in the shot, Face-priority AF helps produce satisfying portraits by adjusting focus and exposure. Smile Timer helps to faithfully record precious moments by automatically releasing the shutter when the subject smiles. The new Blink Proof function automatically shoots two sequential frames and saves the shot in which the subjects eyes are open. The advanced red-eye reduction capability of In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically corrects any perceived red-eye effect before saving the image to memory.

VR image stabilization for sharper results Compensating for the effects of camera shake to realize sharper results and creating a more reassuring shooting experience, image sensor shift VR (vibration reduction) image stabilization lets users enjoy capturing special moments without worrying about slight hand movements. This is particularly helpful when taking advantage of the 24x zoom lens' super-telephoto focal lengths or when shooting in low-light conditions.

ISO 6400 capability provides extended shooting range A variety of light sensitivity controls create new opportunities to take sharper, more natural-looking photos in low-light conditions or to capture fast-moving subjects with outstanding clarity. Sensitivity of up to ISO 6400 can be set using manual control. Auto control is available for settings between ISO 64 through ISO 800. High ISO Sensitivity Auto (ISO 64-1600) can be used to have the camera analyze the brightness of the scene and automatically select the optimum ISO setting. Fixed range auto allows sensitivity to be limited between a range from ISO 64 to 100, 200 or 400.

3-inch vari-angle LCD and electronic viewfinder In addition to its 3-inch high-resolution vari-angle LCD with anti-reflection coating, the COOLPIX P90 features the versatility of an electronic viewfinder that further enhances compositional freedom and accuracy under all lighting conditions.

Nikons innovative Active D-Lighting function Enabled during shooting, Active D-Lighting is a unique technology that adds light and detail where necessary while leaving correctly exposed areas untouched to produce significantly improved images with a more natural-looking finish.

Quick RetouchQuick Retouch adds the right finishing touch to your photos by automatically creating a retouched copy with the best balance of contrast and saturation.

Nikon COOLPIX P90 Additional Features* Macro shooting from as close as 1 cm (0.4 in.)* 16 handy scene modes for optimized shooting in various settings* Scene Auto Selector* Motion Detection* BSS (Best Shot Selector)* Optimize image (including monochrome filter effect)* Distortion Control for optimum quality when shooting architecture or landscapes* Five movie modes with sound, plus time-lapse movie mode* Active Zoom* 1:1 size format* Time zone function for easy setting of multiple locations* Approx. 47 MB of internal memory* USB (Hi-Speed) connectivity.