The Nikon Coolpix AW100 is the company’s first steps into the world of tough cameras. Built to last and filled with features to dominate the market, the AW100 sports a 16 megapixel CCD sensor, 5x optical zoom, 3 inch LCD and EXPEED C2 processor. On top of that, the camera can be plunged into water down to 10 metres, dropped from a height of 1.5 metres and taken to freezing locations as low as -10 degrees. It also has a built-in GPS system with on-board maps to help tag your pictures on Google Maps when you get home.

The Nikon Coolpix AW100 has an RRP of £329.99 (383 euro) and will be available early September 2011.

The S1200pj is the newest projector camera from Nikon. A slim camera, the S1200pj has a 14 megapixel sensor and 5x optical zoom. A 3 inch screen on the back of the camera joins just a few buttons to adjust settings and enter menus but there’s also a dedicated video button for fast recording of candid moments.

One of the higher specification models, the S8200 has an attractive design thanks to the huge lens barrel on the front. Images go through a 14x optical zoom NIKKOR ED lens onto a 16 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor. The 3 inch screen on the back has a 921,000 dot (307,000 pixel) resolution and is extremely clear with no motion blur.

Speed is a big issue for Nikon on the S8200 and because of this the autofocus and start-up time has been improved on. It certainly seems to be faster but the full review on a final sample with prove it.

Slightly just down the ladder from the S8200 is the S6200. It’s a smaller, lighter version and you could also say a lite version. There are noticeable omissions to distinguish between the S6200 and S8200. The resolution is the same on both cameras, the function wheel on the back is present on each camera and they both have an EXPEED C2 processor. But the NIKKOR ED lens on the S6200 has a more moderate 10x optical zoom. The HD video isn’t Full HD and the screen on the back is slightly smaller at 2.7 inches.

The Nikon S100 is a flat, palm sized digital compact camera that’s packed with features for the tech savvy younger generation. A 16 megapixel Back-illuminated CMOS sensor sits inside the smart phone shaped unit which also records FullHD video. The screen on the back is an OLED 3.5 inch touch-screen which is extremely sensitive. But not in a way that it preempts your moves. However, some touch screens we’ve seen have had to be jabbed at to get a command acknowledged but the S100 is more sensitive than an iPhone.

Want to see what the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 looks like in the flesh?

Here’s a gallery of hands-on photos of the Panasonic FZ150 super-zoom compact camera.

Want to see what the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 looks like in the flesh?

Here’s a gallery of hands-on photos of the Panasonic FX90 compact camera.

The Panasonic FZ150 is a 12.1-megapixel, 24x super-zoom camera with Light Speed auto-focus and Full HD video recording. The Leica-branded 25-600mm equivalent lens of the boasts Nano Surface Coating, which is claimed to “dramatically minimise” ghosting and flare, while the new sensor delivers an improved signal-to-noise ratio compared to the existing Lumix DMC-FZ100. The Panasonic FZ150 also offers a range of manual controls, a hot-shoe, Power O.I.S. optical image stabiliser, continuous shooting speeds of 5.5fps with auto-focus and 12fps without focus tracking, and 1,920x1,080/50p Full HD movie capture with stereo sound, as well as QVGA video recording at 220fps.  The Lumix FZ150 even features a Creative Video mode, which lets users set the shutter speed and aperture manually. Additionally, it is also possible to take 3.5-megapixel stills while filming a movie. Face Recognition, an Intelligent Scene Selector and a 3D photography mode round off the features list. The DMC-FZ150 will be available from October.

The 12.1-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX90 offers a 24-120mm equivalent lens, Full HD movie recording and Wi-Fi connectivity. Comprising 7 elements - including 3 aspherical elements - arranged in 6 groups, the lens has a maximum aperture of f/2.5 at the wide end and f/5.9 at full telephoto. The 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity allows owners of the Panasonic FX90 to post images and videos to sites such as Facebook, Flickr, Picasa or YouTube directly from the camera. Users can even upload photos via a mobile network if they have a smartphone that can act as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot. Panasonic provides a free, dedicated application called Lumix Link for both iPhone and Android handsets. Other highlights include Face Recognition, Intelligent Scene Selector and a 3D photo mode. The Lumix FX90 will be available in October, with pricing to be confirmed.

Panasonic has announced it will soon be releasing a new, function-enhancing firmware update for the Panasonic LX5 premium compact camera. Version 2.0 speeds up the auto-focus to achieve best-in-class performance at the wide end of the zoom range, adds a High ISO NR function and improves AWB performance in low light situations. Additionally, the new firmware upgrade adds an Active mode to the image stabiliser during movie capture, expands the available My Colour modes with a Miniature Effect, and extends the maximum exposure time to 250 seconds (i.e. more than 4 minutes) for shooting fireworks, night scenes and starry skies. Shutter release operation is improved so that the camera can perform continuous auto-focus while the shutter release is depressed halfway, as with a system camera. The combination use of AF/MF is now easier even in situations where maximum focusing accuracy is demanded. The camera can now remember the size and position of the active AF point, which is convenient for shooting with the camera mounted on a tripod. The brightness, contrast and colour balance of the LCD screen and the optional external EVF can now be adjusted manually. The new firmware version will be available worldwide at the website below starting 5am GMT on 13th September.

Sony have unveiled plans to release three new E-Mount lenses for the NEX compact camera system in 2012. In addition to announcing 3 new lenses for 2011 yesterday (the Carl Zeiss 24mm f/1.8, Sony 50mm f/1.8 and 55-210mm), a Sony spokeman also revealed that a high performance standard zoom lens, wide angle zoom lens and mid telephoto lens will be added to the ever-expanding NEX system during 2012, bringing the total number of E-mount lenses to 10.

The Nikon Coolpix P7100 is a high-grade compact camera with a 1/1.7 type CCD and a resolution of 10.1 megapixels. Offering two command dials plus a rotary multi-selector, 28-200mm equivalent lens, high resolution tilting LCD screen, improved operational speed and lower noise levels than its predecessor; the Nikon Coolpix P7100 also features raw image capture, full manual control, Vibration Reduction and a two-way virtual horizon display. The zoom memory function allows you to easily specify a preset focal length with zoom photography. As zoom can immediately be switched from a wide-angle position to a specified telephoto focal length, capturing images at the intended angle of view is fast and easy, Nikon says. High-definition movie capture with AE/AF lock, exposure compensation and user-selectable white balance setting is also on offer. Priced at £499.99 / €580.00 / $500.00, the Nikon Coolpix P7100 will be available from 22nd September.

Successor to last year’s Coolpix S8100, the new Nikon Coolpix S8200 offers a 16.1-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor , 14x optical zoom, Target-finding AF, fast power-up and focusing times as well as 6fps continuous shooting at full resolution. With its 25-350mm equivalent lens, the Nikon Coolpix S8200 is considerably more versatile than its predecessor, yet it weighs in at only 4 grams more, including battery and memory card. The new Target-finding AF function uses Nikon’s image analysis technology to find the most likely subject within the frame and then specifies the focus area and size for focusing. Target-finding AF not only works with subjects positioned at the centre of the frame, but with off-centre subjects as well. An Easy Panorama mode, a range of special effects, a Smile Timer Continuous mode and Full HD video capture round off the features list. Priced at £279.99 / €325.00 / $329.95, the Nikon Coolpix S8200 will hit the shops in September.

The Nikon Coolpix S6200 is a 16-megapixel travelzoom camera with a 25-250mm equivalent ED lens, Vibration Reduction and 720p video recording. Other highlights include a super-slim body, a 2.7” rear LCD screen, a range of special effects and a new flash control system. Owing to its hand-held/tripod night landscape detection function, the Nikon Coolpix S6200 automatically distinguishes between hand-held shooting and shooting using a tripod, and then adjusts ISO sensitivity and shutter speed accordingly. The S6200 will be available from September 2011 for £179.99 / €209.00 / $229.95 in red, pink, silver, blue and black.

The Nikon Coolpix S100 is a 16-megapixel ultra-compact camera with 5x optical zoom and a 3.5”, widescreen OLED touchscreen featuring a resolution of 820,000 dots. The 28-140mm equivalent lens has an aperture range of f/3.9-4.9 and a close-focus point of 1cm (in macro mode, fixed at the wide end). The full WVGA screen has a gamut approximately 50% broader than sRGB (standard RGB), enabling the camera to display images, movies and menus vividly, with great colour and good contrast. The Organic LED technology provides viewing angles as wide as (almost) 180 degrees, enabling you to see the live view feed from nearly any angle. Other highlights include in-camera HDR imaging, 3D photography function and full HD movie capture. The Nikon Coolpix S100 also offers a choice of 20 scene modes and half a dozen filter simulations. Available in September 2011 for £249.99 / €290.00 / $299.95 in red, black, purple and gold.

The fourteen-megapixel Coolpix S1200pj is Nikon’s third projector-equipped digital compact camera. Offering a 40% increase in projection brightness and three times greater projection contrast, the S1200pj can be connected to an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch via the dedicated cable, allowing users to project images and movies stored on these devices as well as online content from websites such as YouTube.  What’s more, clearer, more vivid projection is now possible with the switch from a single-lamp (colour) projection system to a three-lamp (red, green and blue LEDs) projection system, display reproduction of roughly the entire sRGB gamut and a contrast ratio of 200:1 or better. As to the camera part, the taking lens is a 28-140mm equivalent, 5x zoom with Vibration Reduction and an aperture range of f/3.9-5.8, while the sensor is a 1/2.3-in. type CCD with a total pixel count of approximately 14.48 million. Other highlights include a three-inch, 460000-dot TFT LCD monitor, 18 scene modes and a range of special effects and digital filters. The Nikon Coolpix S1200pj will be available from 22nd September for £399.99 / €464.00 / $429.95 in black and pink.

The 16-megapixel Coolpix AW100/AW100s are the first models in Nikon’s new Coolpix AW (All Weather) series of waterproof, shock-proof, cold-resistant compact digital cameras. Highlights include a 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens, full HD video, built-in GPS and electronic compass. The AW100/AW100s also offers a log function that can be used to track and record movement with acquisition of position information even while the camera is off. Logs can then be saved and displayed on the camera’s monitor. The main difference between the two models is that while the AW100 can also display location information on a world map, this functionality is missing from the AW100s. The Nikon Coolpix AW100 is available from 8th September at suggested / estimated retail prices of £329.99 / €383.00 / $379.95.

The 14-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S4150 is a new touchscreen digital compact camera. Available in the UK (exclusively from Jessops) and other European countries, the Nikon Coolpix S4150 is only 0.8 inches (2cm) thick and weighs in at a mere 128 grams. The camera comes with a number of touchscreen-based functions such as Touch Shutter and Touch AF, and offers 5x optical zoom plus a number of easy-to-use filter effects such as Selective Colour and Cross Screen. Manufactured in five different colours - red, black, bronze, purple and silver -, the Nikon Coolpix S4150 is priced at €162 in the euro zone (UK/Jessops price unknown at the time of writing).

The Nikon Coolpix S6150 is a stylish new touchscreen camera offering 7x optical zoom and 16 megapixels of resolution. The main attractions of the Coolpix S6150 are the 3-inch touch-sensitive rear screen and the 28-196mm equivalent zoom lens. Other stand-out features include a dedicated movie record button, in-camera picture editing and Vibration Reduction. Available from 1st September for £159.99 / €185.00, the Nikon Coolpix S6150 comes in four colours: violet, black, red and pink. We currently have no information on when/if this camera will be available in the US.

The Canon IXUS 1100 HS is the world’s slimmest camera with a 12x optical zoom. The touchscreen Canon 1100 HS (also known as the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS) has a compact, stainless steel body, Canon’s new Intelligent IS system, 3.2” screen, and Full HD video with stereo sound. The Canon IXUS 1100 HS will be available from October 2011, priced at £369 / €429. In the US the Canon ELPH 510 HS is scheduled to be available at the beginning of October for $349.99.