Coolpix S710, S560 join Nikon's ultracompact fleet

Nikon is providing information on two new pocket cameras set to go on sale next month: the premium Nikon Coolpix S710, and the budget-friendly Nikon Coolpix S560.

The Coolpix S710's exceptional 14.5 megapixel resolution places it among the most highly speced cameras on the market in this area. Even more noteworthy, however, is the S710's inclusion of aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual exposure modes - an unusual level of photographic control for a chic pocket camera.

Wide-angle Nikkor glass with a range of 3.6x sits out front on the steel-clad S710, which sports a 3.0-inch LCD with wide-angle viewability on the rear deck.

Nikon staples like EXPEED processing, Optical VR, and D-Lighting join several new technologies, including an auto scene selector and a Motion Detection system that picks up on and compensates to freeze subject movement.

In terms of sensitivity, the S710 is able to gain the sensor up all the way to an unheard of ISO 12,800 at a respectable 3 megapixel resolution. How this will translate on what's presumably a fairly densely packed sensor given its resolution is anyone's guess, but the specs are impressive just the same.

The Nikon Coolpix S560 brings many of the same features seen in the high-end S710 to the table in a more cost-conscious package.

"Sporting 10.0 effective megapixels, a 5x Zoom-NIKKOR lens, Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization technology, and 15 user-friendly scene modes," Nikon's official description reads, "the COOLPIX S560 is the perfect camera for photographers looking for a compact, lightweight camera that is user-friendly with great creative power."

EXPEED processing is carried over from Nikon's upmarket Coolpix models, as is the Scene Auto Selector mode seen across the latest generation of Nikon point-and-shoot cameras.

Refined playback features, high sensitivity shooting to ISO 3200, and a large 2.7-inch LCD round out the package.

As noted, both cameras will be available from retailers beginning next month. The S560 is priced at $249.95; the S710 should come in around $379.95.

Detailed specifications for the latest Nikon cameras have not been provided yet. We'll update this story as information is made available to us.