Nikon appeals to advanced shooters with high-end Coolpix P340 and S9700 compacts
The Coolpix P340, which replaces last year's P330 and the S9700, which serves as the S9500's successor, look awfully similar to 2013's models -- in many ways, those similarities extend internally, too. The P340, which includes the same 1/1.7-inch 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor as its predecessor, carries an identical MSRP, but adds integrated WiFi connectivity, enabling instant uploads to sharing services and compatibility with Nikon's companion apps. It also includes an f/1.8-5.6, 24-120mm (5x) optically stabilized zoom lens, a 3-inch VGA RGBW LCD and 1080/30p and 60i video capture. Like the P330, it also offers full manual controls, with a dedicated mode dial, a function button below the lens and a secondary toggle on the top.
The S9700 also includes integrated WiFi and GPS, but so did the S9500, so there's not much to speak of there. It has a 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, an upgraded f/3.7-6.4, 25-750mm (30x) optical zoom lens, a 3-inch VGA OLED display and 1080/30p and 60i video. It retains its predecessor's manual control offerings, including a dedicated mode dial. Like last year's model, this camera's strength is in its size. It's small enough to fit in a jacket pocket, despite its "superzoom" status. It also includes a hybrid VR image stabilization mode that helps keep things steady during video capture. Expect to find a black or red S9700 in stores for $350 later this month, while the (black-only) P340 will ship in March for $380.
