Cameras: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj Digital Camera – Review
Miniature LED-based projectors have appeared in recent years. Nikon has applied that technology to the Coolpix S1000pj, bringing photography and projection together in a camera body.
At a glance the S1000pj looks like an average, midrange digital compact camera. The layout and controls are relatively standard and although the camera is a little heavier than its contemporaries, that may just be a product of its solid construction. The only thing that really stands out is the extra lens for the projector, located on the centre-front of the camera.
The camera’s imaging lens is the non-extending type, zooming and focusing entirely within the body. When the camera is off, the lens is well protected by an external shutter. This makes for a particularly robust lens: you’ll never suffer motor damage when the lens extends in your pocket. That’s great for parties and travel but the flattened optics have a cost in terms of image quality.
Overall, image quality is reasonable – exactly what you’d expect of a midrange compact camera. Dynamic range is good and can be improved further with Nikon’s D-Lighting feature. However, noise can be a problem, even under good lighting conditions. If you’re shooting for the web (Facebook, Flickr and the like), this is fine. The noise disappears when you resize the image to more screen-friendly dimensions, leaving you with rich, well-contrasted photographs. If you’re hoping to use all twelve megapixels for extensive cropping or detail work, expect to be disappointed.
The S1000pj’s real selling point is its built-in 10-lumen LED projector. With a single button press you can throw images onto a wall up to two metres away. A simple sliding control atop the camera allows for easy focusing, giving you a sharp image equivalent to anything from a five- to 40-inch screen. This makes it easy to share images with a small group in a dark corner, or with a room full of wildly impressed acquaintances.
Darkness is really the key here, as 10 lumens isn’t bright in projector terms. Closing the curtains on a sunny day might not cut it unless they’re of the blackout variety. At night, however, turn the lights off and the brightness is ample against a clean white wall. Videos can also be played back on the projector, with sound. The camera’s speaker is powerful for its size and could easily broadcast to a large group in a quiet environment.
Disappointingly, the projector only seems to work with images shot using the S1000pj itself. I had limited success playing back images from other Nikon Coolpix cameras, though not from any Nikon dSLR. Images from competitors’ cameras weren’t viewable at all. With more robust image support, the S1000pj could have doubled as a projector for your existing photo collection – a feature that would help justify the price tag. Without that support the projector is essentially a very nifty party trick.
Despite its limitations, the S1000pj is a must-have for the tech loving partygoer. If you live to impress, you can’t do much better than a 40-inch screen in your pocket.
HARLEY OGIER
Nikon Coolpix S1000pj Digital Camera – Specifications
Manufacturer: Nikon
Model: Coolpix S1000pj
RRP: $804
Effective Pixels: 12.1 million
Lens: 5-25mm (35mm equivalent 28-140mm)
Monitor: 2.7-inch TFT LCD, 230,000 dots
ISO: 80-800 auto (80-6400 manually selectable)
Shooting Modes: Auto mode, scene modes, scene auto selector, smart portrait mode, movie mode, subject tracking mode
Exposure Metering: 224-segment matrix, centre weighted, spot
Internal Memory: ~36MB
Media: SD
File Format: JPEG, AVI, WAV
Flash: Built-in
Interface: USB, composite video out
Batteries: Rechargeable lithium-ion, approx 220 images
Dimensions: 99.5 x 62.5 x 23mm
Weight: 155g without battery or card
PROS
- Built-in projector a hit at parties
- Solid, comfortable camera body
CONS
- Images are prone to noise
- Projector saps the battery
VERDICT
Innovative and fun but it has limitations
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This article is from Tone issue 81. Click here to check it out.
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