Digital Camera Review: Nikon Coolpix S1100pj
The Nikon Coolpix S1100pj is a stylish little camera, available in colors like yellow, silver, black and purple. More than the look, however, this camera comes with some unusual features for a point-and-shoot camera.
Features (4 out of 5)
This Nikon Coolpix camera features a built-in 14 lumen projector, which acts like a real projector. This project is 40 percent brighter than the first Nikon Coolpix that came with a projector. Find a clear wall or set up a piece of paper, and you can share all of your favorite images with your friends. You can display your images and the 720p HD video that you can record with the camera.
The camera has a built-in stand, meaning that you don’t have to hold it up as you share the images. This is the second camera offered by Nikon with a built-in project, and the projector on this model is much brighter. You can also attach the camera to computer and project the images on the computer’s monitor.
The projector looks good on the wall.
Body (3 out of 5)
This Nikon Coolpix camera’s body isn’t anything to write home about. Yet it’s functional, and the controls are easy to reach. The 3-inch LCD screen takes up most of the rear of the camera, but the scene modes, playback and video recording buttons are also located back there as well.
While not the lightest or smallest camera on the market, it’s still very compact. This Nikon camera weighs 6.4 ounces. Its dimensions are 4 inches wide by 2.5 inches high by 1 inch deep. You should be able to slip this camera into most pockets.
The camera feels really good in the hand. It sits well, and it is light.
Battery Life and Images (3 out of 5)
The battery life is OK. You can take over 200 shots without changing the batteries. If you do use the projector, that number drops to 90 photos. So, bring extra batteries or a charger if you plan on using the projector.
The image qualities are decent. In fact, they are really good in normal daylight conditions. In low-light conditions, however, image quality suffers a bit. You can adjust the ISO from between 80 and 1,600. But, images get really noisy once you get past the 200 ISO range.
This 14.1 megapixel camera comes with a 5x zoom lens. It also features the Nikon “Vibration Reduction” technology. This keeps images from being extremely grainy when you shoot images without a tripod. Vibration Reduction technology is especially important when you zoom out. The more you zoom out, the grainier the images get. At the extreme zoom, however, the Nikon Coolpix does lose some of the quality.
Touch Screen (3 out of 5)
The major downside to this camera is the touch screen. It doesn’t respond very well if you touch it with your fingers. It works better with a stylus. Most people, however, don’t usually carry around a stylus just for their camera. If you don’t have a stylus, you must clean the screen often to avoid it getting greasy. If, however, you are walking around, this can become very frustrating. However, it may be worth the investment if you plan on accessing the menu.
One plus to the touch screen is the ability to take either a video or an image by touching the right button on the touch screen. It works very similar to the camera on a touch screen phone. You can also access the slideshow function from the touch screen, and you can add a soundtrack to the show.
Bang for Buck (4 out of 5)
Overall, this camera sells for nearly the same price as other point-and-shoot cameras on the market. What makes it unique, however, is that it comes with a lot more features - especially the megapixel range and the projector. While batteries don’t last as long as some would like, you can still take a lot of pictures if you don’t use the projector. The touch screen issue is more of an annoyance than a real reason. The Nikon Coolpix S1100pj is well worth the money. At just around $300, it’s cheap and useful. Teenagers will love the project to share their images with their friends.
One word of warning with all cameras: Always test-drive a camera before you purchase it. While the features may seem great, they may not be great for you. You may love the projector, but you may not like how the camera performs when zoomed out. Go to the store, and test out the weight, feel and capabilities. You’ll be glad you did.
