Remember when Nikon released their D300s and D3000 digital SLRs late last month? Well, how’s about something more pocketable for everyone else… Nikon announced four new Coolpix compact cameras today.
Leading the bunch of cameras today is their new Coolpix S1000 pj, the world’s first digital camera with a built-in projector. How many people actually need one built into their cameras is a different story… though I suppose there will be times where it’ll come in handy; like presentations on-the-go and fancy slideshows on your living room wall to impress Uncle Calvin and Aunt Margaret.
Next up comes the Coolpix S70, almost the same camera on paper; minus the projector, add an OLED touchscreen. While Nikon is a relatively new player in the touchscreen camera market (They only had two in the past: S60 and S230), their touchscreen UI’s are awesome (compared to Sony) and very usable with large, clearly labeled icons/menu items and various touch gestures in playback. I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on the S70.
The other two cameras, S570 and S640, announced today are relatively ‘meh’ with rather run-of-the-mill specifications. They’re still worth a glance for their low price tags though. One big disappointment about all of the cameras today, I must voice out, is that they all sport ‘slow’ lenses (f5.8 and f6.6 maximum apertures at telephoto?!), which isn’t good news for low-light shots. It’s a sad, on-going trend that has made its way to more and more cameras this year.
Nikon Coolpix S1000 pj
(Premium compact camera)
- 12 effective megapixels
- 28 – 140 mm (f3.9 – f5.8) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Vibration Reduction)
- 2.7 inch LCD
- World’s first camera with a built-in projector – you can project images/video in playback onto any flat surface, up to 40 inches in size
- Camera bundle includes a remote control and projector stand
- Nikon’s usual Smart Portrait system: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and now, even with skin softening (sounds like beauty mode)
- No manual controls
- VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $430
- Comes in your choice of black or beige
Nikon Coolpix S70
(Slim, ultra-compact camera)
- 12 effective megapixels
- 28 – 140 mm (f3.9 – f5.8) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Vibration Reduction)
- 3.5 inch OLED touchscreen
- Improved touchscreen user interface includes settings sliders, touch controlled editing and multi-touch gestures in playback
- Touch Shutter mode immediately takes a picture after you’ve ‘touched’ the subject on-screen
- Same Smart Portrait features as above: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and skin softening
- No manual controls
- 720p HD 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $400
- Comes in your choice of black, beige and red
Nikon Coolpix S640
(Compact camera)
- 12 effective megapixels
- 28 – 140 mm (f2.7 – f6.6) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Vibration Reduction)
- 2.7 inch LCD
- Same Smart Portrait features as above: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and skin softening
- No manual controls
- Nikon claims ‘the quickest startup time’ in its class and super fast response when hitting the shutter release (yea, we’ve all heard that before)
- VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $250
- Comes in your choice of silver, black and pink
Nikon Coolpix S570
(Compact camera)
- 12 effective megapixels
- 28 – 140 mm (f2.7 – f6.6) 5X optical zoom lens
- NO image stabilization
- 2.7 inch LCD
- Same Smart Portrait features as above: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and skin softening
- No manual controls
- VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $200
- Comes in your choice of silver, black, red and pink