Digital Home Thoughts: Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 Announced

"Nikon Canada today introduced two new COOLPIX cameras to its popular Style series of compact digital cameras with the S1100pj and S5100. Building upon its award-winning projector camera, Nikon continues to broaden content sharing with the new COOLPIX S1100pj’s computer connectivity, offering a new way to view photos, movies and even presentations. The chic and vibrant new COOLPIX S5100 includes advanced Nikon technologies to help create amazing pictures even in low-light conditions and delivers the speed and ease-of-use that have made the S-series the preferred choice among consumers who seek style and performance."

Right on cue to make me look like an idiot with those belated-rumour posts is Nikon's announcement of its latest pair of Coolpixes, with the above S1100pj being the more interesting. "Interesting" in the sense that it has something different, with that pico projector built into the centre of the camera. Coming in at 14 lumens, the S1100pj also lets you use the camera as a projector for your computer via USB. This added functionality is certainly cool, although letting it talk with a Nikon DSLR would be even cooler. The camera also provides the ability to draw over the projected image via the touchscreen in real-time. The camera bits are quite standard: 14 megapixels with a 28-140mm equivalent lens in a folded optics configuration, and the lens itself has some kind of VR. The ISO goes up to 6400, but do you really believe you'll use that?

The S5100 (pictured with the press release after the page break) is a bit less exciting. 12 megapixels with 28-140mm equivalent lens packed in a compact body that is not too expensive and doesn't look too ugly. Press release after the page break.

Nikon Canada Introduces Two COOLPIX Cameras, Featuring Elevated Portability,

Enhanced Content Sharing and Advanced Technologies

COOLPIX S1100pj with built-in projector and computer connectivity offers

new ways to share photos, movies and even presentations

COOLPIX S5100 delivers versatile performance with intuitive features

in a slim, stylish design

Mississauga, ON, August 17, 2010 – Nikon Canada today introduced two new COOLPIX cameras to its popular Style series of compact digital cameras with the S1100pj and S5100. Building upon its award-winning projector camera, Nikon continues to broaden content sharing with the new COOLPIX S1100pj’s computer connectivity, offering a new way to view photos, movies and even presentations. The chic and vibrant new COOLPIX S5100 includes advanced Nikon technologies to help create amazing pictures even in low-light conditions and delivers the speed and ease-of-use that have made the S-series the preferred choice among consumers who seek style and performance. "Our newest point-and-shoot digital cameras continue to boast evolutionary features, while maintaining visual appeal in Nikon’s COOLPIX S-series,” said Gregory Flasch, National Advertising and Communications Manager at Nikon Canada Inc. “We have further advanced our award-winning technology, while delivering the high performance shooting and sharing versatility users have come to trust for taking quality photographs.”

New COOLPIX S1100pj: Innovative Sharing Experiences for Work and Play

On the heels of its ground-breaking predecessor, the new COOLPIX S1100pj takes advanced technology a step further with a 40 per cent brighter, 14-lumen internal projector complete with a built-in stand and an easy-to-use touch screen interface, allowing users to share photos and movies in even more environments. With the computer connection feature, the S1100pj also allows users to connect the camera to a computer via USB and project whatever is on the computer screen. Additional creative features include a built-in slide show function that plays photos with music and one-touch HD 720p movie recording with easy projection playback. Whether sharing family photos and videos with loved ones or showing an important presentation to a client, users can make a big impression by projecting up to 47 inches from over seven feet away.

Truly putting creativity at the user’s fingertips, the COOLPIX S1100pj features a 3-inch 460,000-dot touch LCD screen with Clear Colour Display. A new Paint function allows users to write and draw on projected images in real time, while a wide range of new in-camera Retouch functions allow users to add stamps for an entertaining effect or rate their favourite photos for a more convenient search. Other new functions in the S1100pj’s in-camera Retouch Menu include Soft, Selective Colour, Cross Screen, Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect and Makeup Effect, giving users creative freedom without the need for a computer.

The 14.1-megapixel COOLPIX S1100pj includes a 5x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens (28-140mm) and a 5-way VR Image Stabilization System with ISO settings up to 6400 to ensure incredibly sharp, crisp images in low-light conditions or while shooting handheld. To further help users capture stunning photos easily, the S1100pj also features 17 scene modes, Subject Tracking, Easy Auto Mode and Nikon’s Smart Portrait System, all packed into a compact design.

The COOLPIX S1100pj is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers in mid-September 2010 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $349.95.

The COOLPIX S1100pj is available in black.

The New COOLPIX S5100: Style, Speed and Simplicity

The new COOLPIX S5100 combines speedy performance with sleek design producing a stylish, yet convenient accessory for wherever life leads. Sporting a fast start-up time, a short shutter-release time and one-touch HD (720p) movie recording at 30 fps, the S5100 helps to ensure memories are captured as soon as they happen. The S5100 features a multitude of Nikon technologies used to capture beautiful nighttime and low-light shots with less blur and noise. These features include image processing that results in less noise at high sensitivities, motion detection function, lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function and a new flash control system.

In addition to must-have features including 12.2-megapixel resolution, a bright 2.7-inch LCD display, 5x Optical Zoom and a 4-way VR Image Stabilization System with ISO settings to 3200 at full resolution, the COOLPIX S5100 also adds a new tripod detection function found on premium NIKKOR lenses. This function detects handheld or tripod shooting and automatically selects the ideal exposure, ISO sensitivity and shutter speed in order to reduce image blur and ensure sharp photos.

The stylish design and vivid colour options of the COOLPIX S5100 make it a perfect expression of one’s personality, while user-friendly features such as the 18 scene modes, Scene Auto Selector, Subject Tracking and Nikon’s Smart Portrait System make the S5100 an easy-to-use tool for capturing remarkable photos virtually anywhere.

The COOLPIX S5100 is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers in mid-September 2010 at an MSRP of $199.95.

The COOLPIX S5100 is available in purple, blue and black.

COOLPIX Technology

At the core of all new COOLPIX cameras are Nikon’s world-class NIKKOR lenses, delivering accurate detail, brilliant colour and amazing clarity. For the first time, Nikon’s new EXPEED C2™ high performance digital image processing engine is implemented and custom-optimized for each COOLPIX model to produce high-quality pictures with stunning colour and sharpness. The new S-series models embrace the addition of High Definition (HD) video accessible via an ideally located video record button on the back of the camera. Other COOLPIX features include Scene Auto Selector or Easy Auto Mode, which automatically recognizes the shooting situation and adjusts camera settings accordingly for great pictures anywhere. To help users create better portraits easier, the Smart Portrait System incorporates a series of automatic functions including In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, Improved Face-Priority AF, Face-Priority AE, Smile Mode, Blink Warning and Skin Softening to flatter even the most camera-shy subject (features vary by model).

Exclusive Canadian Warranty

Nikon Canada offers an exclusive two-year warranty for all COOLPIX digital cameras purchased from an Authorized Nikon Canada Dealer. Consumer’s investment is protected by Nikon Canada’s warranties with in-Canada service.

About Nikon

Nikon, At the Heart of the ImageTM, is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Canada distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and System Accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. At the heart of every Nikon camera is Nikon's Exclusive EXPEED™ advanced digital image processing system technologies. All Nikon Canada products are sold through a network of Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers. For more information on Nikon Canada and its products and services or to find an Authorized Nikon Dealer, visit www.nikon.ca.

Note: Specifications, design, product name, standard accessories and release schedule may differ by country or area.