Nikon UK Press Release 16/09/04

New 8.0 million pixel Coolpix 8400 with exceptional wide-angle 24-85mm zoom

Nikon are pleased to announce the introduction of the Coolpix 8400, a high-quality compact digital camera combining 8.0 effective megapixel performance, versatile 24-85mm (35mm equivalent) zoom capability, fast AF and a host of other features.

With a 24-85mm (35mm equivalent) zoom range the Coolpix 8400 offers exceptional wide-angle zoom capability and macro shooting from as close as 3cm (1.2 inches). Packing an impressive 8.0 megapixels, the Coolpix 8400 has the ability to produce images with amazingly high resolution. Furthermore, printing can be carried out without the need for a PC as the camera offers the direct print convenience of PictBridge. The Coolpix 8400 is also a ?system? camera, offering a variety of optional lens converters and other accessories.

Fast autofocus makes it easy to capture unexpected moments and the lightweight, high-strength magnesium body enables simple handling in all situations. The addition of a 134,000-dot Vari-Angle TFT LCD monitor makes it easy to compose shots from above the head, from the waist or other imaginative angles. The Coolpix 8400 is both simple to hold and visually attractive due to its Nikon D-SLR-consistent design created by industrial designer Giorgetto Giugiaro.

Nikon?s exclusive D-Lighting, which can be selected in Playback mode, automatically compensates for insufficient flash or excessive back lighting in order to obtain balanced exposure throughout the frame. Furthermore, the Coolpix 8400 feature?s Nikon?s proprietary Red-eye Reduction that automatically detects and corrects red eyes in-camera in most situations.

The Coolpix 8400 offers a selection of file formats for recording including compression-free recording which is available in the form of RAW (NEF) and HI (TIFF-RGB). There is also a selection of compression modes, comprising JPEG EXTRA (approx. 1/2) that offers a satisfying balance of quality and data efficiency, FINE (approx. 1/4), NORMAL (approx. 1/8) and BASIC (approx. 1/16).

At the smooth rate of 30fps the Coolpix 8400 is capable of recording TV-sized movies with audio and also offers a digital compensation function. The camera can easily be connected to a TV allowing you to share your home movies with incredible ease.

The Coolpix 8400 is the first camera from the Coolpix range to offer TTL flash capability when used with external SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights. Another new feature is the auto colour enhancement which combines a plethora of high-end Nikon technologies which accurately record, assess and fine-tune the colours within images, achieving noticeably more attractive results.

The creative potential of the Coolpix 8400 can also be extended through combination with a selection of optionally available converter lenses, including wide-angle converter lenses and telephoto converter lenses, one of which ? the TC-E3PF ? uses a Phase Fresnel (PF) lens created using unique Nikon production technology. It offers 3x magnification, yet its dimensions and weight have been significantly reduced compared to a conventional telephoto converter of equal power. Indeed thanks to Nikon?s unique PF technology, the new 3x telephoto converter lens has dimensions that really are pocket size.

The Coolpix 8400 is also USB compatible enabling easy data transfer to PC?s. Additionally it comes complete with Nikon?s PictureProject software. Enabling easy viewing, simple editing and a range of other features, PictureProject also has the ability to embrace new capabilities as quickly as Nikon makes them available.

The Coolpix 8400 is scheduled for release in October 2004

Feature Highlights
Superior image quality & responsive AF
The Coolpix 8400 boasts the exceptional versatility of a high-quality wide-angle 24-85mm Zoom-Nikkor ED glass lens (35mm equivalent), making it easier to capture expansive scenes and achieve more creative compositions in general. The camera also offers the imaging power of 8.0 effective megapixels, which translates into an exceptional level of detail. And as a direct result of Nikon advanced technology, the Coolpix 8400 also offers fast autofocus ? an advantage that makes it easy to capture unexpected moments with clarity.

Ergonomic design
Consistent with Nikon?s acclaimed range of D-SLR cameras, the ergonomic design of the Coolpix 8400 makes the camera easy to hold and operate. All controls and buttons have been carefully placed to enable a sure grip through composition and shooting and the Coolpix 8400 has also been designed to offer swift response through easy operation and fast autofocus. Furthermore, it also features a versatile Vari-Angle 134,000-dot, 1.8-inch TFT LCD monitor that makes it easy to capture shots from unusual and imaginative angles.

Additional features for further convenience
With a choice of 15 handy Scene Modes, the Coolpix 8400 enables the user to quickly select the best possible camera settings based on the photographic situation (i.e. portraits, landscapes, sports, etc.). The Coolpix 8400 also has the ability to record movies with audio at a smooth rate of 30 fps. Furthermore, the Coolpix 8400 also comes with Nikon?s renowned PictureProject software included, which offers a wide range of functions to bring more enjoyment to digital photography and also has the power to embrace new abilities as quickly as Nikon makes them available.

Other Features

* Easy-to-carry dimensions, 113 x 82 x 75mm (4.4 x 3.2 x 3.0 in.) (W x H x D)
* A Magnesium body combines light weight with strength
* BSS (Best Shot Selector) and AE-BSS (Auto Exposure BSS) automatically selects and saves the best exposure from five sequential shots
* White Balance Bracketing takes three shots with a single release of the shutter ? producing one with normal white balance, one with a bluish cast and one with a reddish cast
* Histogram display enables exposure to be gauged with greater accuracy during shooting and playback
* Newly adopted JPEG EXTRA achieves 50% compression, maximizing image quality while minimizing data compression
* RAW (NEF) data recording extends the potential for image manipulation after shooting
* The AF-Assist Illuminator helps ensure sharp focus when shooting in low light conditions
* The Electronic viewfinder features easy diopter adjustment control
* USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) compatibility enables swift transfer of image data to a PC
* Fast AF achieves sharp results when shooting unexpected occurrences; 9-area multi-AF available
* Macro shooting from as close as 3cm (1.2 inches) from a subject
* New Li-ion rechargeable battery EN-EL7 offers increased power capable of enabling the shooting of 260 images on a single charge
* Allows direct printing to PictBridge-compatible printers
* Compatible with the exclusive Nikon D-Lighting system
* Advanced Red-eye Reduction corrects red-eyes in camera automatically in most situations, without the need for a PC
* Continuous shooting capability offers selection of Single, 5 shot buffer, Continuous H, Continuous L, Multi-shot 16, Ultra HS, Interval timer shooting
* TTL flash capability when used with SB-800 and SB-600 Speedlights
* A range of accessories, including a handy battery pack, a selection of Coolpix filters (neutral colour, circular polarizing, neutral density) and converter lenses [fisheye, wideangle, and telephoto (TC-E3PF)]

Nikon Digital Camera COOLPIX 8400 Specifications

Type of camera Digital camera E8400
Effective pixels 8.0 million
CCD 2/3-inch type (total pixels: 8.31 million)
Image size (pixels) 8M (3,264 x 2,448), 3:2 (3,264 x 2,176), 5M (2,592 x 1,944), 3M (2,048 x 1,536), 2M (1,600 x 1,200), 1M (1,280 x 960), PC (1,024 x 768), TV (640 x 480) selectable
Lens 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor; 6.1-21.6mm [35mm (135) format equivalent to 24-85mm]; f/2.6-4.9; 10 elements in 7 groups; two glass molded ED lens elements included
Digital zoom Up to 4x
Autofocus Ranging AF using AF ranging sensor and contrast-detect TTL AF with AF-assist illuminator; Center, Auto 5-area multi AF, manual 9-area multi AF selectable
Focus modes 1) Continuous AF, 2) Single AF, 3) Manual Focus (from 3cm [1.2in.] to infinity (?) with focus confirmation indication)
Focus range 50cm (19.7 in.) to infinity (?); 3cm (1.2 in.) to infinity (?) (W), 20cm (7.9 in.) to infinity (?) (T) in macro and manual focus modes
Viewfinder 0.44-inch type, 235,000-dot, polysilicon TFT color LCD viewfinder; Diopter adjustment: -3 to +1m-1
LCD monitor 1.8-inch type, 134,000-dot High Transmissive Advanced TFT LCD monitor with brightness and hue adjustment; frame coverage: approx. 97% horizontal and vertical (shooting)
Storage Media: Type I and II CompactFlash? (CF) and Microdrive? cards
File system: Compliant with Design Rule for Camera File
System (DCF)*, Exif 2.2**, and Digital Print Order Format
(DPOF) File formats: RAW (NEF) and TIFF-RGB
(uncompressed), JPEG-baseline-compliant (1:2, 1:4, 1:8,
1:16) (compressed), QuickTime (movies), WAV (sound files)
*A standard widely used in the digital camera industry to ensure compatibility among different makes of camera.
**Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras. Version 2.2 allows information stored with pictures to be used for optimal color reproduction when images are output on Exif-compliant printers.

Number of frames with 256MB CF Card (approx.)

Shooting modes AUTO, SCENE, P, S, A, M, MOVIE
Scene Modes Portrait, Party/Indoor, Night portrait, Beach/Snow, Landscape, Sunset, Night landscape, Museum, Fireworks show, Close up, Copy, Back light, Panorama assist, Sports, Dusk/Dawn
Shooting menu 1) White balance, 2) (Exposure) Metering, 3) Continuous (Shooting), 4) Best Shot Selector (BSS/AE-BSS), 5) Image adjustment (Auto/Normal/More contrast/Less contrast), 6) Saturation Control (-2 to +2/Black & White), 7) User setting (two combinations of mode setting can be memorized as #1-#2), 8) Image mode, 9) Sensitivity, 10) Image Sharpening, 11) Lens, 12) Exposure options (AE Lock, Bulb/Timed release), 13) Focus options, 14) Zoom options, 15) Speedlight options, 16) Auto Bracketing, 17) Noise Reduction, 18) Reset, 19) My Menu, 20) CF Card Format
Capture modes 1) Single, 2) Continuous H (2.3fps; up to 5 frames), 3) Continuous L (1.2fps; up to 11 frames), 4) Multi-shot 16 (16 consecutive frames at 1.6fps), 5) Ultra HS (high-speed) (640 x 480 pixels; 30fps, up to 100 frames), 6) 5 shot buffer (0.7fps), 7) Interval Timer Shooting, 8) Movie*: TV movie 640 (640 x 480 pixels) with audio at 30fps, up to 60 seconds; Small movie 320 (320 x 240 pixels) with audio at 15fps, up to 895 seconds; Time-lapse movie (640 x 480 pixels) at 30fps, up to 35 seconds (1,050 frames); Sepia movie 320 (320 x 240 pixels) with audio at 5fps, up to 895 seconds; B/W movie 320 (320 x 240 pixels) with audio at 15fps, up to 895 seconds are selectable
*Appropriate maximum total length [256MB card]; may vary with make of card.
Exposure metering 4-mode TTL metering: 1) 256-segment Matrix, 2) Spot, 3)
Center-Weighted, 4) Spot AF area
Exposure control 1) Programmed Auto with Flexible Program [ P ], 2) Shutter-Priority Auto [ S ], 3) Aperture-Priority Auto [ A ], 4) Manual [ M ];Exposure Compensation (?2EV in 1/3EV steps); Auto Exposure Bracketing; AE-BSS
Exposure range EV 0.0 to +18.5 (W), EV +1.5 to +18.5 (T)
Shutter Mechanical and charge-coupled electronic shutter; 2-1/3,000 s (auto and exposure mode P), 8-1/3,000 s (exposure modes S and A), BULB/TIME (max. 10 min.) and 8-1/3,000 s (exposure mode M), 1/30-1/8,000 s (Ultra HS). Maximum at some apertures is 1/1,500 s.
Aperture 7-blade iris diaphragm; 10 steps in 1/3EV increments (to minimum of f/7.9)
Sensitivity Approximately equivalent to ISO 50, 100, 200, 400, and Auto (auto gain to ISO 200 equivalent)
White balance 1) Auto White Balance with TTL control, 2) 6-mode Manual with fine tuning (Daylight/Incandescent/Fluorescent/Cloudy/Speedlight/Shade), 3) Preset, 4) White Balance Bracketing
Self-timer 10 s or 3 s; can be used with supplied remote controller ML-L3
Built-in Speedlight Shooting range: approx. 0.5?6.0m (1.8?19.8 ft.) (W), approx. 0.5-3.0m (1.8-9.1 ft.) (T) Flash modes: 1) Auto Flash, 2) Flash Cancel, 3) Red-eye Reduction (Advanced Red-eye Reduction), 4) Anytime Flash, 5) Night Portrait (Slow Sync Flash), 6) Rear Curtain Sync; Sync method: Standard i-TTL flash
Accessory shoe Standard ISO hot-shoe contact with safety lock
External Speedlight Hot shoe connects to external Nikon Speedlight SB-800/600
Playback menu 1) Full-frame, 2) Thumbnail (4/9 segments), 3) Slide
options show, 4) Movie with audio, 5) Playback zoom (up to 10x); File information; Shooting information; Histogram indication and highlight point display; Hide and protect attributes can be set to each image; Focus confirmation indication; RAW image playback; Small picture; D-Lighting
Interface USB 2.0 (HI-SPEED)
I/O terminal DC in; Audio/Video (NTSC or PAL selectable) out; Digital I/O (USB)
Supported German/English/ Spanish/French/Italian/Dutch/
Languages Swedish/Japanese/Simplified Chinese/Traditional Chinese/Korean selectable in menu display
Power requirements One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL7 (included),
Battery Pack MB-CP10 (optional) with six 1.5V LR6 (AA-
size alkaline) batteries*, AC Adapter EH-54 (optional)
*1.5V FR Lithium, 1.2V NiMH, or 1.2V NiCd batteries can also be used
Battery life (approx.) 260 images (EN-EL7; based on CIPA standard*)
*Industry standard for measuring life of camera batteries. Measured at 25?C (77?F) ; zoom adjusted with each shot, built-in Speedlight fired with every other shot, image mode set to NORMAL/8M.
Dimensions (W x H x D) Approx. 113 x 82 x 75mm (4.4 x 3.2 x 3.0 in.)
Weight Approx. 400g (14.1 oz.) (Without battery and storage media)
Supplied Accessories* Lens Cap, Strap, USB cable, Audio Video cable,
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL7, Battery charger MH-
56, Remote Controller ML-L3, PictureProject CD-ROM
*Supplied accessories may differ by country or area.
Optional Accessories Additional Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL7, AC
Adapter EH-54, Battery Pack MB-CP10, Soft Case CS-
CP20, Various size CompactFlash? Cards, Fisheye
Converter FC-E9, Step-Down Ring Lens Adapter UR-E16,
Telephoto Converter TC-E3ED/TC-E3PF, Step-Down Ring
Lens Adapter UR-E15, Wideangle Converter WC-E75,
Step-Down Ring Lens Adapter UR-E14, Lens Hood HN-
CP12, Speedlight SB-800/600, COOLPIX Filter FF-
CP10NC/FF-CP10CPL/FF-CP10ND4, Digital Photo
Storage Viewer COOLWALKER MSV-01

PictureProject System Requirements

Macintosh
OS Mac? OS X (10.1.5 or later)
RAM 64MB (128MB with RAW images) or more recommended
Hard disk 60MB required for installation
Display 800 x 600 with 16-bit color (full color recommended)
Others CD-ROM drive required for installation

Windows
OS Windows? XP Home Edition / Professional, Windows? 2000 Professional, Windows? Me, Windows? 98SE pre-installed models
RAM 64MB (128MB with RAW images) or more recommended
Hard disk 60MB required for installation
Display 800 x 600 with 16-bit color (full color recommended)
Others CD-ROM drive required for installation

Microsoft? and Windows? are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Macintosh? and QuickTime? are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The FotoNation logo is a trademark. CompactFlash? is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Microdrive? is a registered trademark of Hitachi Global Storage Technologies in the United States and/or other countries. PictBridge is a trademark. D-Lighting technology is provided by Apical Limited. Products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. September 2004 ?2004 NIKON CORPORATION