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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."

10 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 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.

  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. 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.

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

    So were early digital cameras.

    Give it 10 or 15 generations.

    --
    Nerd rage is the funniest rage.
  6. 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)

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  7. 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.