Nikon selling a camera with built-in projector

Submitted by acohill on Wed, 08/05/2009 - 09:34

Nikon has released its new Coolpix S1000pj camera. The device has a built-in projector that will display up to a 40 inch image on a wall or screen. As far as I know, this is the first pocket projector device that is actually available for purchase. I've been writing about these for at least two years, but all the earlier products were essential vaporware, with "in development" as the operative phrase. Nikon has apparently succeeded in getting one out the door, and at a reasonable price. You get a 12 megapixel camera and projector for $430.

Nikon says the throw distance is a maximum of six feet, with "VGA equivalent" resolution. What I could not determine is whether or not you could hook a laptop up to it for an impromptu presentation. Since that is not mentioned anywhere on the Specification page, it probably won't do that. And that's what a lot of business people want. I'm not sure the camera will be particularly popular unless the price comes down; adding the projector to the camera makes it about $200 more than an equivalent camera without the projector. Since most people are moving photos to their computer and managing photos on the computer, the projector seems to be of limited value.