Nikon Europe has announced the arrival of its latest addition to its COOLPIX S Series, the COOLPIX S9. Branded as the most affordable of the S-Series digital cameras at a suggested price of $250, this camera does not, in any way, compromise the quality that is the trademark of Nikon products.

At 3.6 x 2.3 x 0.8", this pocket-friendly compact camera features a prism-folded Nikkor ED-branded 3x optical zoom lens with a six megapixel image sensor, a 2.5" LCD display with 153,000 pixels, and 15 beginner-friendly modes. An added innovation is the "right-angled" design of the lens that allows it to operate throughout its entire focal range without ever protruding from the camera's slim body.

For that best possible portrait image, the S9 has packaged a One-Touch Portrait button, which combines "D-Lighting" exposure connection technology from Apical Ltd., face-priority autofocus from Identix, and an in-camera red-eye fix function. Its Stop-motion movie function also makes it easier for users to create their very own stop-motion animated films by taking a shot of the models they wish to animate, move the models, then shoot again. The Best Shot Selector Mode, which automatically chooses the sharpest from a series of images is also in this cool package, as well as an AE-Best Shot Selector mode that chooses the best-exposed image from a series.

Images are stored on Secure Digital cards, or in 24MB of internal memory. It also comes with a USB and video output technology. Completing the line-up is Nikon's unique PictureProject software, which offers a broad range of powerful features for image editing, organising and sharing and compatibility with a range of plug-ins.

Weighing 115g without its rechargeable Li-ion battery (EN-EL8), the COOLPIX S9 comes in silver, blue, and magenta, this September.