12-megapixel Buckaroos
 Nikon is striving to pack enhanced performance into a sleek, compact chassis with the new S630. This 12-megapixel, ultra-portable camera manages to cram in a 7x optical zoom NIKKOR lens and features Nikon's latest EXPEED processing. Nikon promises "stunning color and sharpness", and we're going to hold it to them until our reviews on the new S series cameras are published. We've seen great things from Nikon compacts in the past, especially the Coolpix S710, so our expectations are high, especially with a common 1/2.33" CCD.
What distinguishes this camera from the rest of the pack is its Sure Grip design, which features a recessed right side to accommodate the curvature of the hand. Aesthetically, the Sure Grip design is sexy, but we'll see how functional it really is when we get our hands on the S630. A 2.7-inch LCD screen sits in back, featuring Nikon's anti-reflection coating. The S630 has a Continuous mode of up to 11fps, Scene Auto Selector and 4-Way VR Image Stabilization which combines Optical Image Stabilization. The camera will be available in five electrifying colors: Jet Black, Royal Purple, Midnight Blue, Ruby Red and Titanium Silver. Suggested Retail price is $280 and it'll ship in February.
 The S620 is the little brother of the aforementioned Sure Grip compact, sporting just a 4x optical zoom. However, the S620 boasts a rapid start-up time of 0.7 seconds, which is a claim we can't wait to test the validity of, and a 28mm wide-angle lens. For the most part, the camera shares many features with the S630, including 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, Scene Auto Selector and Smart Portrait System. The camera also has a 12-megapixel 1/2.33" CCD, so image quality should be nearly identical. However, the S620's color names might have the upper hand. We're talking Noble Purple, Jet Black, Dusty Pink, Sky Blue and Rich Pearl. The camera is set to ship in February for $270.
10-megapixel Cowboys
 If you want to salvage some cash or if you're indifferent to the megapixel wars, Nikon also released two 10-megapixel 1/2.33" CCD base-level S series compacts. We'll tackle the touch screen first. The S230 has a nice 3-inch touch-screen LCD, and we're dying to see how it stacks up against the current competition. We just had fun playing with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX580's touch-screen interface, which really impressed us. Sony's touch screens need a little work. Where will Nikon fit in? We'll have that answer for you soon, and we're eager to see what the new graphic interface looks like.
According to Nikon, touch technology is the "hottest thing in consumer electronics today", so we expect to be blown away by the camera's interface. Like the Sony CyberShot DSC-T77, the S230 is equipped with a stylus and features a Draw function that allows shooters to scribble on their pictures and a Paint feature that allows shooters to apply stamps and frames. The camera also features 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, Smart Portrait System and Auto Scene Selector, just like all S series cameras. The camera will ship in February in a variety of peculiar colors: Plum, Jet Black, Night Blue, Gloss Red and Warm Silver. Warm Silver? That's a first. The camera will retail for $230.
 The last member of the S series fleet shares many features with the S230, only it has a standard 2.5-inch LCD. Aside from a downgraded monitor, the S220 is exceedingly thin and features a menial 3x optical zoom. Colors consist of Plum, Graphite Black, Cobalt Blue, Aqua Green, Magenta and Warm Silver. We're really digging the diverse naming system amongst the S series, but we just can't get over how sketchy Warm Silver sounds. Regardless, the S220 will ship in February for $150.
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