The Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ: The Best of Both Worlds?

Thanks to a recently leaked promo video for the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj, the world of photography is abuzz. Never known as a sleeping giant, Nikon will shortly become the first manufacturer of a compact digital camera equipped with an ultra-small, built-in projector. Priced at $429.95 and slated for release in September of 2009, the Coolpix S1000PJ could just be this holiday season's hot item. Of course, as with any new feature, the question remains, is a built-in projector the only feature worth boasting about? Happily, no. The S1000PJ has plenty of additional features that make this consumer-targeted camera more of a hybrid of point-and-shoot and professional digital cameras.

The 12.1 megapixel Coolpix S1000PJ features a 5x wide angle Nikkor zoom lens that produces stunning photos in a wide range of situations, from close-up action to landscapes. Equipped with a high ISO sensitivity of up to 6400 paired with Expeed, Nikon's exclusive image processor, the camera delivers the type of excellent quality images you expect from Nikon. The Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ also boasts Scene Auto mode, whereby the digital camera automatically chooses the suitable scene mode based on the configuration of the shot.The 12-megapixel S1000PJ also features a 5x zoom, optical and electronic image stabilization technology. Nikon's built-in Hybrid VR Image Stabilization merges visual and electronic VR Image Stabilization to decrease the effects of camera shake. In addition, the Coolpix S1000PJ's Smart Portrait feature takes advantage of face-detection not only to focus on the subject, but also to soften skin tones (at three different levels). It even provides Nikon's face-finding technology that automatically focuses on up to 12 faces and a warning if your subject blinks.

Of course, perhaps the most awaited feature of the S1000PJ is the built-in projector. Now you can project your favorite pictures or movies on any flat surface at the touch of a button. No more gathering small crowds around a tiny LCD screen to view photos, the Coolpix S1000pj's projector can add new enjoyment to any party or family gathering and is capable of projecting images up to 40 inches in size. A projector stand is included, as is a remote control that can be utilized to control the projector, release the shutter, and numerous other tasks. An astounding, easy on the eyes 2.7-inch high res LCD makes it simple to frame, shoot and share your images with anti-glare surfacing and brightness level adjustment. A built-in automatic scene capture instantly recognizes the composition in the picture and changes camera settings accordingly. Dark and backlit images are rescued by the S1000PJ's D-Lighting by improving brightness and detail on the fly. Nilon's retouch mode changes contrast and color vividness even before you fiddle with it in Photoshop, saving you time and saving shots that in the past had been deleted. Finally, the S1000PJ features 16 different scene settings, can record movies at 640 x 480 resolution at 30 frames per second and has a macro mode capable of taking great shots from as close as 1/2".

Nikon goes to the head of the pack in the digital camera market and may be setting a new standard in digital imaging versatility. Thanks to the S1000PJ, you no longer have to carry a camera, camcorder and projector, nor do you have to sacrifice quality of image. In my opinion, the Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ is well worth the wait. Nikon's digital imaging technologies have only improved since the introduction of their first digital camera and once again, they have countered a somewhat stagnant market with a great transitional step between photography and video recording.