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Nikon Unveils a Camera With Built-In Projector

Posted by kdawson on from the carousel-of-tomorrow dept.

All the gadget blogs are covering Nikon's new S1000pj digital camera with integrated projector. Reader Sabre Runner recommends Engadget's writeup, which goes like this: "The Nikon Coolpix S1000pj has gone from crazy rumor to seemingly-real to whoa-here's-the-press-release in record time — the compact cam with the integrated projector was just officially announced, along with the three other cams we saw leaked earlier today. Leaked specs for the S1000pj were dead-on: a 12.1 megapixel sensor with ISO 6400 sensitivity mounted behind a 5x wide-angle zoom lens with five-way VR stabilization, and that LED-powered projector that'll put up a 40-inch image for slideshows complete with music, effects, and transitions. We're a little less excited about the $430 list price this thing will carry when it hits in September, but on the whole it's a pretty terrific idea and we're completely intrigued — looks like we'll be saving our pennies this month."

25 of 108 comments (clear)

  1. More details by AncientPC · · Score: 4, Informative

    Specs here.

    A demo video (at the bottom).

    This camera seems targeted at those who store all their pics in the memory card.

    1. Re:More details by DigitalCrackPipe · · Score: 5, Funny

      I'd also like to know how good the projector quality is...

      What, you don't trust the marketing video? It clearly showed a stable, properly keystoned image at high resolution despite the fact that the actor was shaking the camera wildly and projecting from an angle. Pretty awesome technology if you ask me.

    2. Re:More details by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

      I'd also like to know how good the projector quality is... I mean some projectors can display at 1080p, while some can barely do a blurry VGA. Considering the size of the camera, even projecting images at VGA would be a big accomplishment.

      VGA, ten lumens, 30:1 contrast ratio, 5" to 40" image with projector at a distance of 10" to 6.5'.

    3. Re:More details by demonbug · · Score: 2, Informative

      According to the specs in the DPReview article, the projector is "VGA Quality", so I guess that would mean 640 by 480. Not great, but pretty impressive for a $430 camera. Light output is listed as only 10 lumens, so probably need a pretty dim setting for it to work well.

    4. Re:More details by timeOday · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The image quality from compacts above ISO 400 is useless anyways, so the maximum is rather arbitrary. You could probably simulate a high ISO by grossly underexposing and then boosting the gamma in postprocessing.

    5. Re:More details by timeOday · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Heh, watch the video, stabilization definitely doesn't work that well.

      Speaking of bidirectionality, it's a shame they couldn't get the projector to throw through the camera lens, so you could adjust throw length (zoom) and focus. That would have made a much stronger argument for integrating the camera and projector IMHO; surely the optical elements and zoom mechanism are the most expensive thing in a camera.

    6. Re:More details by Octorian · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's just because Nikon hasn't figured out how to do that. If you look at some of the samples that DPReview has with recent Canon DSLRs with cranked up sensitivity, it's surprisingly good.

      Of course Nikon has figured out how to do it. The parent was talking about P&S cameras, which have tiny sensors, and are always crappy at high ISOs. Look at the recent Nikon DSLRs, and they're also pretty good. Actually, I think the current king of high-ISO performance is the Nikon D3 and D700 (both full-frame sensors), but Canon's full-frame DSLRs are also probably pretty good.

  2. video ad is blatantly faked by Khashishi · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's obvious from how the photographer holds the camera with an unsteady hand and the projection is perfectly still, for example. Who, but Nikon, knows how far the product is from reality?

  3. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  4. Laser pointers! by erroneus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    And you thought laser pointers were annoying at the $1 movie theater! Wait'll this technology becomes commonplace.

    1. Re:Laser pointers! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Go to watch a family friendly movie with the kids... Oh what's this? Surprise! It's a 40-inch Goatse plastered on the wall.

    2. Re:Laser pointers! by Carnildo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Ten lumens. The only way that projector will annoy you in a movie theater is if the idiot operating it is pointing it at your face.

      --
      "They redundantly repeated themselves over and over again incessantly without end ad infinitum" -- ibid.
  5. Ah yes, just after Kodak discontinues Kodachrome by hoarier · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The hell with projection. One great feature is the Smile Timer. The press release enlightens us:

    Smile Timer automatically releases the shutter when the subject smiles

    I'm British (a limey, a whingeing pom), so that's something that never happens. This Smile Timer technology should spread to areas where cameras really matter: I'd like to break into some ATMs.

  6. not sure what the use is ... by Edmund+Blackadder · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Projectors take a lot of power, so you will not be able to use this feature for a long time. In the spec sheet they claim projector life of one approximately hour which will probably translate to 30 min max in real world use and on a full charge. But since you need to take pictures with the camera before projecting them you will probably end up with no more than 10 min of real use before your batteries are dead.

    Some electronic devices do not translate very well into wirelessness. Projectors are a prime example.

    1. Re:not sure what the use is ... by timeOday · · Score: 4, Funny

      Are you kidding, a 10 minute limit on home picture shows is a godsend and should be mandated by law.

  7. expect a lot more of this by sonamchauhan · · Score: 2, Interesting

    From what I see on Global Sourcing LED based projector technology is getting cheaper and more common. Cameras, especially Digital SLRs (which this isn't) normally have space for larger battery packs than other handheld devices. So this seem like a natural fit.

    1. Re:expect a lot more of this by NeoThermic · · Score: 5, Informative

      Ok, a few things to note:

      The D40 uses a very old sensor (the one used in the D50 and D70). It's now two generations old, so if you upgrade to a D5000 or D90, you will notice a quality improvement, even in the ISO sensitivity. This is where Nikon has been the past few years, investing in decent high-ISO abilities. Now ISO 1600 on crop and ISO 6400 on full-frame Nikon cameras is clean enough to use for large prints.

      The 5Dmk2 can only do 1080p for 12 minutes. This is to escape the EU regulation requiring a tax on video cameras, which are defined as any electronic device that can record video for 30 mins in one go. The tax is between 4.9 and 12.5%, and this is on top of VAT/tax you pay for in the EU anyway. Obviously the last thing Nikon or Canon want to do is fall under this tax, as it'd make their camera rather expensive.

      If you want to record up to the file-system max, which is about 4GB, then you're limited to a shade under 15 minutes anyway, since the 5dmk2 records 1080p at 4.8 MBytes/sec. The D5000 could reach near 30 mins; recording at the 720p, 24fps option goes at 2.3 MBps which would give you near 29 minutes, if it were not for the artificial limit. The same could be said of the D90, which records at 1.7MBps, giving you near 40 mins; again, save for the limit. (Figures for the D300s are not out yet)

      --
      Use my link above, or to view my server, NeoThermic.com
  8. Hack... by 6Yankee · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I doubt it'll be supported straight out of the box, but when someone hacks this thing to allow the camera and projector to work at the same time, I expect to start seeing all kind of creative shots.

  9. I'll tell you what the use is by brunes69 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The use is when you take a bunch of pictures and videos at the baby shower in the morning then bring them over to grandmas house who could not make it.

    Instead of being greeted with a blank stare when you ask "where's your laptop so I can show you the pictures", you just beam them onto the wall.

    Grandma is happy she can see the pictures / video right away, and you get back into the will.

  10. Re:Gimmicky by maxume · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So were early digital cameras.

    Give it 10 or 15 generations.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  11. Don't forget where we're coming from... by PhantomHarlock · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Anyone complaining about the projector quality should stop and think for a moment...

    It's a VIDEO PROJECTOR....on a COMPACT CAMERA....and it's the FIRST ONE...a cool moment in gadget history. Video projectors use to be three tube CRTs and weighed at least 40 pounds for a portable. You had to spend an hour waiting for it to warm up and performing tube alignment, keystone, etc. (been there, done that in 'the olden days' of multimedia presentation)

    Yep, it's going to be very low power. Projectors are battery hungry. Yep it's going to be low resolution at first (640X480) but it's way better than nothing! That instant-review might be very useful, even at low resolution.

    Yep, the badly produced PR video is faked. (why not just have the guy set it down on the table first?) but we'll give them the benefit of the doubt that it works, since it will be sold as a consumer product fairly shortly. They can make the projector image stabilization feature come later. :)

  12. I could have used it by hyades1 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I just photographed a small jazz combo playing at a local art gallery. Given the number of people passing my camera around to have a look at the pictures, it would have been extremely handy to have this device there.

    And FYI, if memory serves, it has image stabilization and a small stand for when it's being used as a projector.

    --
    I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
  13. Re:Adverts are all faked - it's traditional by timeOday · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I'm glad people complain publicly so I can make informed buying decisions. This would be impossible if everybody just bent over as you advocate.

  14. Re:The Megapixel myth....12.1 is really 3MP by dfghjk · · Score: 2, Informative

    Your garbage is more of a myth than what you accuse the Bayer sensor of.

    Bater sensors offer full luminance resolution. Chroma resolution varies but is less important. The common rule of thumb is that a 12MP Bayer sensor offers comparable overall performance to an 8MP full-color sensor, much greater than the 3MP you claim. There is boatloads of test data available if you would simply look with an open mind.

  15. Help me Obi Wan Kenobi... by psydeshow · · Score: 3, Funny

    Whoever tagged this "youremyonlyhope" is a genius!

    I resolve right now to buy a video camera with a built in hologram projector, just in case I'm kidnapped by the Empire.