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List price as of Nov 2, 2009:
S$799
S$799
Product Summary
Very good
The good: Onboard projector is useful (in dimly lit places); easy operation; 28mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom; bundled remote control and projector stand. 7.4
out of 10View score
The bad: Picture quality can be improved; slight bulk may not appeal to all users; burst mode can be faster.
The bottom line: Some may balk at the S1000pj's gimmicky projector function, but we found it useful and we're sure there will be users who appreciate such a feature.
Read full review of the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj »
Average User Rating
CNET Asia Review
These days, it's hard to distinguish one point-and-shoot from another. Most of them tout similar features such as intelligent automatic shooting mode and sensor-shift/optical image stabilizer. So when Nikon announced the 12-megapixel Coolpix S1000pj, it was a breath of fresh air to the imaging industry. This snapper is probably the world's first digicam to have an onboard projector, and it's a feature that will go down well with two groups of people: The tech-savvy and the trendy crowds who want to have a camera different from others. The projector feature amazed our audiences, though a few were slightly put off by the lackluster picture quality, which is one aspect Nikon needs to improve on.
At the top of the Coolpix, you will find the power and shutter buttons, zoom lever, slider for adjusting the projector's focus and its power control. The rear houses a button layout typical for a Nikon compact, which is clearly labeled and self-explanatory. So we won't delve much into that.
Overall, it's easy to handle and operate the S1000pj if you've used a digicam before. Most users probably won't have trouble activating the projector because it's pretty straightforward. The brushed metal surface lends a touch of class to the front of the shooter, though its thickness may leave a slight bulge in your jeans pocket. That's understandable, considering that there are additional projector components in the point-and-shoot.
A nice touch by Nikon is the inclusion of a stand in the package, which props the camera up for projection. There is also a remote control which we will discuss in a later section of this review.
The highlight of the S1000pj is the onboard projector, and that is one of our primary focus for this Coolpix besides image quality. According to specifications, an LED lamp provides the light for the beamer with the brightness is rated at 10 lumens, which is typical of most compact projectors such as the 3M MPro 110 which has 7 lumens. This means you will need a dark room to see a clear image on the wall.
We tried projecting at a distance of 2m to get the stipulated maximum 40-inch image and noticed that the picture appeared slightly washed-out when there was ambient light. For best results, use the camera's projector in dim environments. We recommend putting the S1000pj about 1.6m away from the wall, which will yield a 32-inch image, which isn't too shabby.
We could project not just images but also movies which we had earlier recorded with the shooter. In case you are wondering if you can transfer your own movie files onto the camera, no, you can't. This is partly because the projector's resolution maxes out at 640 x 480 pixels, and the point-and-shoot can playback only videos generated by Coolpix shooters.
Users can scroll through images by using the navigation pad on the back of the camera, but that would be rather disruptive if you're using this projector. Hence, the included remote control comes in handy when you're presenting a slideshow. You can toggle between images, as well as control the volume when showing movie clips. The remote control can also trigger the shutter in shooting mode; there are useful applications for this such as taking a group picture without waiting for the self-timer to count down.
As for the shooting specifications, the S1000pj has a 28mm wide-angle, optically stabilized lens with 5x optical zoom. There isn't much control over picture-taking because everything is automated, save for flash and exposure compensation. Capture modes include Auto, Smart portrait, Subject tracking and a range of scene options to choose from. Video recording-wise, the Coolpix manages only VGA quality (640 x 480 pixels), which lags behind similarly specced models such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX65 which has HD-quality movie mode. But a redeeming aspect is that you can zoom while recording videos and the audio capture is acceptable.
Tags: Optical Zoom, Light-emitting Diode, S1000pj, Coolpix, 3M Co.
Design And Features
While the S1000pj is shaped like a typical point-and-shoot, it has two lenses on the front of the camera. One is for shooting, the other for the projector. The optics for capturing shots are covered by a sliding lid, but the beamer's glass is unprotected. Hence, you may want to exercise some caution when transporting the Nikon so as not to damage the projector's lens.)
At the top of the Coolpix, you will find the power and shutter buttons, zoom lever, slider for adjusting the projector's focus and its power control. The rear houses a button layout typical for a Nikon compact, which is clearly labeled and self-explanatory. So we won't delve much into that.
Overall, it's easy to handle and operate the S1000pj if you've used a digicam before. Most users probably won't have trouble activating the projector because it's pretty straightforward. The brushed metal surface lends a touch of class to the front of the shooter, though its thickness may leave a slight bulge in your jeans pocket. That's understandable, considering that there are additional projector components in the point-and-shoot.
)
A nice touch by Nikon is the inclusion of a stand in the package, which props the camera up for projection. There is also a remote control which we will discuss in a later section of this review.
The highlight of the S1000pj is the onboard projector, and that is one of our primary focus for this Coolpix besides image quality. According to specifications, an LED lamp provides the light for the beamer with the brightness is rated at 10 lumens, which is typical of most compact projectors such as the 3M MPro 110 which has 7 lumens. This means you will need a dark room to see a clear image on the wall.
We tried projecting at a distance of 2m to get the stipulated maximum 40-inch image and noticed that the picture appeared slightly washed-out when there was ambient light. For best results, use the camera's projector in dim environments. We recommend putting the S1000pj about 1.6m away from the wall, which will yield a 32-inch image, which isn't too shabby.
We could project not just images but also movies which we had earlier recorded with the shooter. In case you are wondering if you can transfer your own movie files onto the camera, no, you can't. This is partly because the projector's resolution maxes out at 640 x 480 pixels, and the point-and-shoot can playback only videos generated by Coolpix shooters.
)
Users can scroll through images by using the navigation pad on the back of the camera, but that would be rather disruptive if you're using this projector. Hence, the included remote control comes in handy when you're presenting a slideshow. You can toggle between images, as well as control the volume when showing movie clips. The remote control can also trigger the shutter in shooting mode; there are useful applications for this such as taking a group picture without waiting for the self-timer to count down.
As for the shooting specifications, the S1000pj has a 28mm wide-angle, optically stabilized lens with 5x optical zoom. There isn't much control over picture-taking because everything is automated, save for flash and exposure compensation. Capture modes include Auto, Smart portrait, Subject tracking and a range of scene options to choose from. Video recording-wise, the Coolpix manages only VGA quality (640 x 480 pixels), which lags behind similarly specced models such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX65 which has HD-quality movie mode. But a redeeming aspect is that you can zoom while recording videos and the audio capture is acceptable.
Tags: Optical Zoom, Light-emitting Diode, S1000pj, Coolpix, 3M Co.
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