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Confirmed: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj Sports an Integrated Projector, Other Models Announced

Paul Lilly — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 09:41:13 -0500

We heard rumors Nikon would be releasing the world's first digital camera with a built-in projector, but didn't have much information to go on. However, we've been able to confirm the speculation with Nikon, who sent us information on not one, but four new digicams it plans to release as part of its Coolpix series.

The one everyone is talking about -- the S1000pj -- will come with an "ultra-small" integrated projector capable of beaming images 5 to 40 inches in size. Nikon advertises a flexible throw distance ranging from 10 inches on up to 78 inches (6.5 feet) with brightness rated up to 10 lumens. While using the projector, you can expect about an hour of battery life.

Other features include the ability to record movies at 640 x 480 resolution at 30fps, a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 5x wide-angle zoom, 2.7-inch high res LCD, 5-way hybrid VR image stabilization, motion detection with automatic shutter and ISO settings, up to 6400 ISO, 16 scene modes, and other odds and ends.

S570, S640, S70

Three other Coolpix cameras are also planned for a September release, starting with the sub-$200 (by a nickel) S570. For two Benjamins, the S570 boasts a 12.0 megapixel image sensor, 5x wide-angle zoom, up to ISO 3200 at full resolution, 2.7-inch LCD, 4-way VR image stabilization, and automatic focus on up to 12 faces. Nikon will offer the S570 in a variety of colors, including black, red, blue, and pink.

Moving a step up, the S640 ups the ante with a slightly larger image sensor at 12.2 megapixels, ISO from 100-6400, and a start up time of just 0.7 seconds, which Nikon claims is the fastest in its class. Offered in "Calm Black, Velour Red, Precious Pink, and Pearl White," the S640 will carry an MSRP of $250.

Finally, the S70 will sport a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen interface with a "new generation of touchscreen controls that offer an enhanced shooting and playback experience," the ability to capture HD video in 720p, a 12.1 megapixel image sensor, 5x wide-angle zoom, ISO up to 6400, 5-way image stabiliation, and more. The S70 will come in "Red & Red, Champagne & Beige, Black & Black, and Champagne & Light Brown," with an MSRP set at $400.

Image Credit: Nikon

Nikon Coolpix S1000pj First Digital Camera with a Projector?

Paul Lilly — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:30:53 -0500

Is that a projector in your pocket, or a Nikon Coolpix S1000pj digital camera? Perhaps both, if the latest rumor turns out to be true.

According to NikonRumors.com, the Coolpix S1000jp will be the first digital camera with a built-in projector that allows users to project photos or movie clips onto any flat surface at up to 40 inches in size. In addition to an LED projector, the Coolpix will also include a projector stand, a multi-function remote control, and other goodies.

Other details remain sparse, although preliminary specs show the new digicam sporting an effective resolution of 12.1 megapixels, a 5x Zoom-Nikkor lens, and a 28mm (equivalent) wide-angle coverage.

Look for availability sometime this September at an as-yet unannounced price.

Image Credit: NikonRumors.com

Nikon D5000 DSLR Camera Records HD Video, Ships on Monday

Paul Lilly — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:40:04 -0500

We've known for some time that Nikon planned on releasing the D5000, a new entry-level DSLR, but it was only ten days ago that the company formerly introduced the newest model. Skip ahead and we now have a concrete release date, as Amazon lists the camera as shipping on Monday, April 27th.

Nikon's new DSLR comes with a 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor and articulating 2.7-inch vari-angle LCD display. Photographers can still view photos with the little LCD in its normal position, or it can be swung out to be rotated or tilted, opening the door to all kinds of contorted body positions when shooting images.

The D5000 also comes capable of recording HD movie clips in 720p. Recording video is somewhat new to DSLRs, starting with the D90 Nikon released back in August 2008. Other features include:

19 auto-exposure scene modes
One-button Live View
Continuous shooting up to 4fps
ISO sensitive from 200 to 3200
Built-in image sensor cleaning
In-camera Retouch image editing
Optional GPS geo-tagging

You can pre-order the D5000 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens now for $850 through Amazon.com.

Image Credit: Nikon

New Nikon D90 Features Better Eye-Fi Connected Features

Mark Edward Soper — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:28:52 -0500

Eye-Fi, whose line of Wi-Fi-enabled SD cards caught our attention earlier this year, is back in the news: the new Nikon D90 DSLR joins its stablemate, the D60, as the second Eye-Fi-enabled camera.

What's New in the D90?

The D90, which makes its formal bow at Germany's Photokina trade show in late September, adds the ability to temporarily disable Eye-Fi transfer functions through the camera menu; a useful feature in hospitals, airplanes, or anywhere else where you want to prevent images from flying through the ether.

The D90 also features a 12.3MP image sensor, an optional geo-tagging module, Live View, face priority AF, and a 24-fps 720p movie mode, the first movie mode in any DSLR.

Other News from Eye-Fi

Users of any Eye-Fi Share or Eye-Fi card in any camera can also enjoy free geotagging and hotspot access by joining the photo-sharing site SmugMug, in a deal announced earlier this month.

How about it, DSLR fans? Does improved Eye-Fi support make you more likely to preorder a D90? Click the comment button and tell us what you think.

Nikon's New SLR is the First to Shoot Video

Paul Lilly — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:18:07 -0500

Point-n-shoot digital cameras have had the ability to shoot video for quite some time, but the same feature has been noticeably absent among digital SLR (DSLR) cameras. Adding insult to injury, even low end DSLRs typically cost more than high end digital cameras, yet if owners of the latter want to take videos, it meant spending even more money on a camcorder.

Nikon looks to change that trend with the release of its latest digital single-lens reflex camera, the D90, which is the company is billing as the first SLR with video capability. Nikon made it possible to record video by using a faster frame rate and a different way of processing the images.

"The big plus is that you can now shoot video with a great lens," says Steve Heiner, Nikon's senior technical manager.

The D90 will be capable of recording both high definition and standard video clips, but the new functionality won't come cheap. Expect to pay around $1,300 for the D90 with lens when it becomes available in stores next month.

Image Credit: Nikon

Nikon D50

Gordon Mah Ung — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 16:44:17 -0600

Nikon’s D50, the company’s latest foray into the sub-$1,000 digital-SLR category, outstrips most other budget bodies in its class and kicks much point-and-shoot ass.

Much of that capability comes from the D50’s lineage. The body feels and functions like a detuned D70, which was itself a breakthrough product. The D50 sports the same imaging sensor as the more expensive D70, and delivers terrific bang for the buck.

The body is rated for 2.5fps, which sounds slow, but thanks to fast write times, the D50 will shoot almost continuously until your memory card is full (provided you own a fast card, of course). We tested the D50 with a SanDisk Ultra II SD card and only experienced slowdowns shooting RAW or at high ISO. Nikon likely switched to SD to save space and make the D50 smaller.

The body is plastic but feels solid. Ergonomics are good but a few things irked us. First, you have to use the menus to switch metering modes. And there’s only one command dial, so changing exposure settings in manual mode is cumbersome; it’s much easier with two dials. Hobbyists will also miss a mirror-lock feature for macro or telephoto work, and we hate that the top LCD lacks a backlight. Grrr.

The biggest weakness of the camera is in perception though. At 6.1MP, many consumers will pass on the D50 in favor of a point-and-shoot with a higher pixel count that costs about the same. That would be a mistake. With its larger CCD sensor, the D50 will shoot far superior images to any point-and-shoot on the market today.

With a mirror lock-up feature, and a better viewfinder, this would be a Kick Ass camera, without a doubt. Coming off the full-frame EOS 5D (reviewed in April) and its spectacular viewfinder, the D50 finder looks like a disposable camera’s. That shouldn’t be a deal breaker, though, as the D50 is a great bargain.

Month Reviewed: March 2006

Verdict: 8

URL: www.nikonusa.com