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New Twins From Nikon

Nikon gave us a preview of two new 8-megapixel cameras, the Coolpix 8400 and Coolpix 8800. We didn't receive production units in time for full testing; by the time you read this, however, production models should be available, priced at $900 and $1000, respectively.

The two have much in common. Their rugged, black bodies have electronic eye-level viewfinders with diopters to adjust for your eyesight, bright 1.8-inch LCD monitors that fold out and rotate, and a hot shoe for connecting an optional flash gun. The 8400 has a 3.5X zoom lens that starts at 24mm (35mm equivalent)--great for wide-angle shots. The 8800's massive lens barrel houses a 10X zoom that starts at 35mm and includes built-in vibration reduction.

These cameras' controls are generally laid out well, although we kept turning them off when we meant to zoom. A rocker by your right thumb lets you zoom smoothly and precisely.

Unlike previous Nikon models, the 8400 and 8800 have proper mode dials. You can quickly and clearly select full-automatic shooting or the usual manual or semiautomatic setting. We loved being able to apply two banks of user settings to the manual modes, and we quickly programmed the Func button to switch between them.

In our informal testing, both Nikons showed bright and accurate colors, sharp focus, and a lot of contrast. We found the 8400 easier to carry; the 8800, however, excelled at a car race we attended, allowing us to get close-up shots of the drivers and cars. We're looking forward to seeing how the production units do in our lab tests.