Nikon Presents S5100 Mid-Range Compact and S1100pj Projector-Camera

Nikon has announced two new compacts due for launch in mid-September. The S5100 is a mid-range point-and-shoot that fits perfectly in between Nikon's S4000 and S6000. The S1100pj, on the other hand, is designed to replace the innovative but ageing S1000pj, a digital camera with a built-in mini-projector.

Nikon Coolpix S5100

The S5100 fills a gap in Nikon's range of compact digital cameras. It brings image stabilisation to an entry-level model and should be available for under £150.

The zoom is more powerful than the 4x of the S3000/S4000 (the latter being one of the most expensive touchscreen models currently available), but isn't quite as impressive as the 7x zoom of the S6000. Its 5x zoom lens is equivalent to 28-140 mm but, strangely enough, its aperture doesn't exceed f/6.6 at 140 mm.

This has two different consequences. First of all, it means it's a very good job this camera has optical stabilisation, as it captures a quarter less light than the current worst offenders (approx. f/5.6 for most compacts). Second, diffraction is likely to impact the optical resolution, and in turn the precision of images taken in telephoto mode.

For the rest, the S5100 has a 12-Megapixel sensor that's already featured in plenty of other models, and can start up and shoot just as quickly as the S8000 (which can take its first shot in under a second. This is, however, in wide-angle mode and with no custom settings, as you have to wait for the camera to start up fully to access the interface and zoom). The S5100 can also automatically detect whether it's on a tripod or being used in your hands and selects the right sensitivity and shutter speed for each situation.

Finally, it has a 720p HD video mode but the screen remains 2.7 inches with 230,000 dots, and like other models in the range, the display is likely to be a TN panel.

Nikon Coolpix S1100pj

The S1100pj isn't aimed at padding out a range but will instead replace the S1000pj, now a year old. The camera part of this hybrid model has changed very little. It has the same 28-140 mm lens as the previous model, but the sensor has been upped to 14 Megapixels (as with all high-end models these days) and the video mode has been boosted to 720p HD.

The integrated projector, however, gains 40% more power, which means it now reaches a grand total of ... 14 lumens. Just make sure you shut the curtains fully and switch off each and every light before you try using it! The resolution is still VGA but Nikon has worked hard to improve functionality. The projector can, for example, be hooked up to a computer and, thanks to the software supplied (Mac and Windows only), you can use it to show presentations stored on your computer.

The casing and design have also been reworked and the projector looks better integrated into the camera. The front face is now entirely flat and the 3-inch touchscreen with 460,000 dots makes a nice new addition. Plus, the S1100pj features the same photo retouching functions found in the S4000, so you can modify images as you project them. Nikon also claims to have reworked the camera's internal interface.

Finally, there's a new electronic stabilisation system, which, when twinned with the optical stabilisation mechanism should improve the quality of small photo prints. On an 8'' x 12'' photo print or a cropped image, the limits of electronic stabilisation alone are only too visible.

The S1100pj is likely to cost £300-£350, bearing in mind that the S1000pj can now be picked up for around £200.

We also think this eye-catching lime green shade makes a nice change from the austere black design of the previous model.

> Digital Camera Reviews: Choose the Best Compact Camera



> Buyer's Guides: Our Pick of The Best Products