Nikon has announced the release of six new compact cameras, including a new flagship model, the P7100 and a rugged model, the AW100. The P7100 features an effective pixel count of 10.1-million pixels and is equipped with a 1/1.7-inch primary color filter CCD image sensor and a 7.1x optical zoom NIKKOR lens. The P7100 claims to offer faster image processing with increased noise-reduction processing capabilities.

The AW100/AW100s was touted (by some) to be a replacement for the venerable and iconic Nikonos series. It is Nikon’s first compact digital camera with waterproof, shock-proof and cold-resistant specifications and has an effective pixel count of 16.0-million pixels. As it is only waterproof to 10 meters (33 feet) it is of limited importance for underwater photography per se, but it does mark a new line of AW series compacts from Nikon that may yet hold some promise. It is available in orange!