The Nikon COOLPIX series of compact digital cameras are one of the most popular compact cameras in the market today along with the Canon PowerShot series.The Coolpix series are broadly categorized into three types:
Coolpix LIFE Series
These are the entry-level series of cameras that are very simple to use. The model names for these cameras usually begin with a "L", like the L22, L110 etc. At the time of this writing the Coolpix cameras in this series range in price from 70$ onwards. If you are on a tight budget, these cameras deserve a good look. Among current models, the 12 MP Coolpix L22 is rated highly by most users and can be had for under 100$. At the high-end of this series the 12.1 MP Nikon L110 can be had for around 200-250$. Note that the L22 does not have HD video while the L110 does.
Coolpix STYLE Series
The STYLE series are the next higher specification series of digital cameras in the Nikon Coolpix line. These cameras typically have their names beginning with a "S" like the S80, S8100 etc. They usually have a sleek and slim design with more bells and whistles compared to the LIFE series. Prices for these cameras start around 150-200$ and go up to 300-350$. Some of these cameras with their name ending with "pj" like the S1100pj and feature a built-in projector.
Coolpix PERFORMANCE Series
The highest end of the Coolpix series of cameras are the ones prefixed with a "P" in their model name like the P7000 and the P100. The 10.1 MP Coolpix P7000 is the best of this series at the time of this writing. This camera competes with high-end offerings from Canon and Panasonic like the G12 and the LX5. If you are looking for top of the line quality and controls for your photography and excellent HD video, the P7000 is the camera to look at in the Coolpix series. If you need high optical zoom (wide to telephoto shooting), the P100 is the Coolpix camera to look at with its massive 26x optical zoom. The high-end PERFORMANCE Coolpix series usually retails in the range of 300-450$, which is on the higher side for point and shoot camera pricing. However, if you want quality approaching digital SLRs without the bulk, the performance series deserves serious consideration.
Recommended Cameras
Here are the some of the best compact digital cameras in the Coolpix series that you should consider:
Under 100$ - Nikon Coolpix L22
Under 300$ - Nikon Coolpix S8100
Under 450$ - Nikon Coolpix P7000
