Nikon has announced their new flagship Coolpix model, the Nikon P6000 (Amazon pre-order). The major features and specifications are exactly as rumored just over a month ago and can be summarized as follows:

• New 13.5MP 1/1.7" CCD
• 4x 6-24mm (28-112mm equivalent) f/2.7-5.9 optically-stabilized zoom lens
• Integrated optical viewfinder
• RAW support via new NRW format, compatible for use in-camera, with ViewNX (Windows version only, available early October 2008) or with WIC-based applications. Capture NX, Capture NX2 and NEF files are not compatible with NRW (RAW) images.
• Hot shoe that supports Nikon’s i-TTL flash control, which enables wireless control over one group of remote Speedlights including the newly announced SB-900 Speedlight.
• Support for manual focus
• Mode Dial with access to Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-priority [S], Aperture-priority [A], and Manual [M] exposure modes, the choice of two user-defined settings, (U1/U2), as well as automated scene modes
• Command dial and customizable Function button
• Wired LAN support for uploading pictures to Nikon's my Picturetown service
• Built-in GPS and support for geotagging
• Weight 240g without battery
• Optional 0.76x wide-angle converter (21mm equivalent)
• Active D-Lighting and in-camera barrel distortion correction

Expected United States availability in September 2008 at a MSRP of $499.95.

[Thanks to 1001 Noisy Cameras!]

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Featured Comment by Bruce Mcl:

Windows RAW so that you can't use Photoshop, Lightroom, Aperture, etc. Nikon clearly wants you to us their own software to process images. An ethernet connection which automatically uploads files to Nikon's photo sharing website instead of flickr, pbase, zenfolio, etc. Nikon seems to be going out of their way to restrict the creative options of the photographer.

These are deliberate and very bad choices made by Nikon. The direction that Nikon is heading that of controlling what is done with your photos as much as possible. Next up: a new license agreement you must agree to when you buy a camera with gives Nikon copyright of every photo you take. You think this can't happen? Just wait a few years...