The 10.3-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P100 ($400 as of 9/5/2010) is the rare camera that's as easy to use as it is versatile, thanks to a powerful 26X-optical-zoom lens and an intuitive control layout that offers access to full manual controls as well as scene modes. A tiltable LCD screen and 1080p high-definition video recording also add to its creative flexibility, making it a solid fixed-lens option for someone who wants to shoot everything under the sun. 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At full telephoto, the P100 benefits from very effective stabilization, making it possible to take sharp images while holding the camera by hand. At the other extreme, the camera's macro feature lets you get within an inch of your subject and capture a good shot; this is a model that doesn't skimp at either end of its optical range. Its diversity doesn't end there, thanks to an ample number of shooting modes that are accessed with ease via the top-mounted control dial. The dial has 11 options available: Manual, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Programmed, Auto, Sports Continuous (offering 10 frames per second at 10 megapixels), Scene Auto Selector, Smart Portrait, Subject Tracking, a customizable User Setting option, and Scene mode selections. The Scene menu has 17 options, including an in-camera high-dynamic-range (HDR) mode that combines shots of the same scene captured at different exposure settings to create a detailed image in tricky, shadowy settings. ISO settings range from a low of 160 to a high of 3200, but noise starts creeping into shots at ISO 800 and higher. Unlike other point-and-shoot cameras with advanced settings, the P100 doesn't offer the ability to shoot RAW; you're limited to JPEG images. One of my favorite features in the P100 is its 3-inch-diagonal LCD screen, which tilts to make awkward angles easier to view while composing and shooting a photo. By pulling the screen outward and adjusting it upward and downward, you don't need to lie on the ground or climb a ladder to frame odd-angle shots. Tilting the screen can help its visibility in the bright sun, and an eye-level electronic viewfinder can also help with that scenario. Image and Video Performance In the PCWorld Labs' subjective evaluations for image and video quality, the Coolpix P100 produced sample images that scored exceptionally well in exposure quality and color accuracy. In fact, the Coolpix P100 matched the exposure and color scores of the Canon PowerShot S90, our top-rated point-and-shoot camera of 2010, thus far. However, the Coolpix P100 produced images that were less sharp and showed more visible distortion than most point-and-shoot cameras we've tested this year, and both of those scores can probably be attributed to the versatility of its long-zoom lens. Barrel distortion was noticeable at its wide-angle end, and images did appear a bit soft. The P100 earned a score of Superior for both exposure quality and color--among the best scores we've seen this year--while sharpness and distortion levels turned in less-impressive scores of Poor and Fair, respectively, when compared to the output of other point-and-shoot cameras of 2010. Click on any of our sample images at left to see them at full size. The P100's high-def movie recording with stereo sound is a nice draw, but primarily on paper. The camera has the ability to shoot 1080p movies at 30 frames per second (saved as MPEG-4 files), and it includes a HDMI output for easy playback on an HDTV or computer. Video quality was a bit of a weak spot, however, especially in low-light situations. While footage was decent in our bright indoor lighting test, the P100 wasn't nearly as effective in low light. It earned scores of Fair for video quality and Good for audio capture through its on-board mics. Here are sample videos shot in bright indoor lighting and in low light with the Coolpix P100; select "1080p" from the drop-down menu on the lower right side of the player to see each clip at its highest resolution.