Review: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj

Written by Noel Christensen in Reviews , Camera

In early August 2009, Nikon introduced a new compact camera in the COOLPIX series. It's usually not something that creates the biggest headlines, but this time it was called the model COOLPIX S1000pj and was the world's first digital camera with built-in projector, and yes you read right, built-in projector!

In the period up to the launch of the Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj had come a few "mini projector" on the market and it is probably a response to Nikon suddenly launched a digital camera with built-in projector.

Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj is, apart from the built-in projector which we come back to an ordinary compact camera with 12.1 megapixel resolution, 5x optical zoom, wide angle lens and 2.7 "LCD screen. Nikon Coolpix S1000pj comes in black and silver exports.

Let us try to find out about the world's first digital camera with built-in projector is a successful product.

What's in the box?
Nikon Coolpix S1000pj comes in the familiar black / yellow box with a picture of the camera and of course the technical specifications.

In the box you will find, besides, the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj:
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12
Battery Charger MH-65
USB Cable UC-E6
Audio Video Cable EG-CP14
Strap AN-CP19
A projector stand-2
Remote Control ML-L4
The CD-ROM with Software Suite

There is a little more equipment than we're used to, but the remote is almost a requirement when you can play back images and video directly from the camera and shot up on the wall via the built-in projector.

As always, one can notice that the memory card not included, but since Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj uses ordinary. SD / SDHC memory card price is low and the chance that you already have an SD / SDHC memory card is quite big, as it undoubtedly is the most common type of card.

First impressions
My first impression was that the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj as little clumsy out and design seemed a little behind the times. But conversely, then a camera with built-in projector to see something different, and there should probably also be space for the projector, so the camera can feel a bit chubby compared to other compact cameras.

Weight wise is Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj approx. 155 grams without card and battery, and it makes the camera feels really solid, without simultaneously act big or clunky.

There are not many buttons on the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj, and those who are placed logically and so they are easy to operate. However, the button to switch between camera and projector located on the opposite side of the shutter button, where you would normally keep, and it could easily mean that you hit this by mistake, so the location does not fully thought through.

The menu is always in Danish, really simple and super easy to navigate in. Here it should be impossible to get lost in long convoluted menus. As always, the graphics could however do with a tightening, but it is in trifles department.

On the front we have a small built in flash, AF assist light, wide angle lens and not least the built-in projector with a brightness of 10 lumens. Given that a conventional projector offers around 1500 lumens, this is not impressive. Looking the other hand, in relation to it is a feature built into a camera that is already quite compact, so you will understand why there are limitations.

On the right side, rear view, we find a single combined USB and AV connector which is hidden behind a little door and a small eye for attaching the wrist strap.

At the top there is a dedicated button for activating the projector, a slider is used to set the focus when using the projector, as well as on / off, zoom control and shutter release.

The back stamped, true to form, a 2.7 "LCD screen with a resolution of 230,000, which is a standard today, so it does not surprise or disappoint. In addition, the usual navigation keys, a dedicated "scene" button, playback, menu, etc.. Here it is absolutely necessary and not much more.

At the bottom is the battery and SD memory card hidden behind a door, and of course it's also where we find the thread used for mounting on a tripod or the like.

In the video below you get a quick review of the Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj, the menu and the basic functions.

Functionality
Do not be fooled by the built-in projector, the Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj is still a typical "point ad shoot" camera, that is a camera that can be used straight from the box, due to the automatic programs.

One click on the dedicated "scene" button on the back of the Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj provides access to the 5 basic programs:
Auto Setup: The camera handles all settings
Scene: Choose from 17 pre-defined scenes, such as fireworks, portrait, sports and more.
Smart Portrait: Provides smoother skin tones in portraits.
Follow motive: Can be used to follow a particular scene, such as an animal or person who is in motion.
Film: Allows you to record video in 640 × 480 or 320 × 240, which definitely is not impressive compared to the market where HD or Full HD resolution by now standard.

The former auto setting is okay for everyday use, but if you want a little more control, I recommend you become familiar with the scene settings, when a picture taken with the right settings, so much better than a picture taken with the auto setting. The 2 different programs, "Smart-portrait" and "Follow the motive" is perfect for families with children, as it allows to capture the kids while they run around the garden, and with "Smart Portrait" can be great family portraits without they are a trip through Photoshop to correct various minor errors.

Video feature, with the ability to record up to 640 × 480 resolution is pretty disappointing, given that almost all the competitors are offering HD (1280 × 720) video. However, it can easily be used to funny clips from vacation, the kids or whatever, but it lends itself more to appear on the PC, rather than on a large LCD or Plasma TV where due to the low resolution will look very grainy out.

Now we must not forget the role that has made Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj to one of the most talked about compact cameras in 2009, namely the built-in projector. As mentioned earlier, then the brightness level is limited to only 10 lumen, while a normal projector is typically of 1500 lumens. In practice this means that there must be quite dark before the built-in projector can be used. Then when the room is fairly dark, so thrown Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj in the accompanying small holder, which makes the camera stand firm and not fall over. Turn on the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj and throw both pictures and video up on the wall in the living room, kids room or to the presentation. There can be projected an image from 5-40 "away from 26cm to 2 meters.

In other words, do not expect a great cinematic experience and a huge, detailed picture, it is simply unable to deliver. But if you can see the idea of ​​showing friends and family alike vacation pictures in an alternative way, rather than huddle around a PC screen or the camera's 2.7 "screen, then the built-in projector easily be used if there is too much light. The supplied remote control is used to navigate through the images in use, and it works just fine. Below is a video showing the Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj's built-in projector in use in a normally illuminated room in the evening. When changing the images pixelere quite a lot, this is not the camera's fault but the fault of the "test pictures" I've put on the SD memory card.

Although it may in most cases a little pointless feature, it's something people remember, and all people who have seen this Nikon Coolpix S1000pj have been very surprised that it is possible to stop a projector into such a small device.

Image Quality
The overall image quality is the middle class, ie. either surprisingly good or bad. There is a tendency to grainy images in low light, even if you for example use the "Evening Landscape" as the program. The colors are generally in order, and although the degree of detail is top notch, it is as you can and should expect from a camera in this class. The built-in image stabilization helps one to take pictures without shake in low light or just in general, this function also quite excellent, although it is obviously not doing the job alone, it still requires a fairly steady hand to get sharp pictures in the box.

When using a zoom that goes up to 5x optical, you lose some detail in the image and you should only use the zoom function when needed.

Below are some photos taken with Nikon Coolpix S1000pj, common to them all is that they are neither edited or cropped.

Click here to open the gallery in a new window.

Video Quality
As I briefly touched on earlier, then the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj "only" record in 640 × 480 resolution, so my expectations were not particularly high. However, I was actually pleasantly surprised when the video quality is not really quite bad. However, there is a tendency for a little noise in the image, but beyond that it is in proportion to the limited resolution, actually quite clear and detailed. The built-in microphone is furthermore quite good at capturing both voice and "background noise".

Below is a video taken with a Nikon Coolpix S1000pj the best resolution, 640 × 480

Specifications
Resolution: 12.1 megapixels
Zoom: 5X optical
Display: 2.7 "
Memory: 36MB built-in and SD / SDHC memory cards
Image Stabilization: Yes
Weight: 155 grams
Dimensions: 99.5 x 62.5 x 23 mm
Projector brightness: Up to 10 lumens
Image Size: 5-40 "
Distance: 26cm to 2 meters

Conclusion
Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj is only a few months old and still one of the only compact cameras on the market with built-in projector, this makes it a little difficult to judge size.

On one side you get a pretty decent compact camera in solid export, with image stabilization and 5x optical zoom, furthermore, there are slammed a 10 lumens projector in the camera itself, so holiday pictures etc.. Can be displayed for family and friends for up to 40 ", instead of showing them on the tiny 2.7" camera display.

That being said, it lacks Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj primarily a better video mode, a resolution of 640 × 480 is simply too little today, and although the picture quality is quite excellent, it's hard to defend a price of around 2400, - as long as you look away from the built-in projector, as there are many compact cameras on the market for customers 2400 with better video, more stylish design and so on.

But if you take the built-in projector in his view, there's really nothing to compare with, and so is the price of the almost 2400, - perhaps not as a deterrent anyway. It requires that we think to enjoy this projector as "bladder-feature" is not worth the price premium.

The conclusion must therefore be to Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj is quite excellent compact camera with low resolution video portion to which digital camera is too expensive, but as a combined digital camera, video camera and projector are quite reasonably priced, as it can be purchased for around 2400, -

+
Fed "gadget"
Fine image quality
Solid construction  

-
Video only in 640 × 480
A little clunky design
Only 10 lumens projector

Character
70%

Pricing and Availability
Indicative price:?
Set in 2395, -

Click here to find the best price on Nikon COOLPIX S1000pj

Reviewed by
Noel Christensen

Courtesy of
Nikon

Related posts:

1. Review: Nikon CoolPix S1000pj
2. Video - Nikon Coolpix S1000pj
3. Review: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj
4. Nikon Coolpix S1000pj - the world's first camera with built-in projector
5. Review: Nikon Coolpix S560