Well, I have a Coolpix 11 - and I have to say I have tried everything to get a good picture in the "dark" or low light with it, and had NO results...nothing worked, even a tripod - so I would suggest another model, from what I read after I bought it, the coolpix is not good at low light, at all! I have been using it for a while and I can attest to that.

Good luck, no info about another model, I just got a canon, and am learning to become happy with it even in the total dark - I have gotten some great shots with out a tripod - though I am not a real photographer, so they are great/good to me but might be crap to someone who KNOWS photography!