The company's new offerings hit nearly every major price point from $400 down to $120, and they range from a few to a that runs on AA batteries.

The most exciting new models in the mix are the F1.8-aperture, manual-oriented Coolpix P300, which looks like a generously priced rival to the and ; the 18X-optical-zoom S9100 pocket megazoom, equipped with a low-light-optimized CMOS sensor; and the bulkier 36X-optical-zoom Coolpix P500, which boasts a dual image processor to complement its tremendous zoom range.

The Coolpix P300 is the latest pocket rocket in the realm of premium point-and-shoots, boasting a maximum aperture of F1.8 at the wide-angle end of its 4.2X-optical-zoom lens (24mm-100mm). The P300 sports a 12-megapixel BSI (back-side-illuminated) CMOS sensor that the company says performs beautifully in low-light environments.

Full manual controls and aperture- and shutter-priority modes complement the camera's auto and scene modes, which include HDR (high dynamic range) settings for dark or backlit scenes, a one-touch panorama mode, special-effects filters for both stills and video, and full high-definition video recording at 1080p and 30 fps.