Skip to main content

Nikon Introduces Coolpix S1 Digital Camera

From the press release:

Imagine a camera smart enough to find a face in a portrait shot.  Nikon’s new Face Priority AF function can do just that when selected through the Portrait Scene Mode. As its name suggests, Face Priority AF ensures that faces remain in focus when shooting portraits by automatically sensing the presence of a human face within the frame and setting accurate focus accordingly.  The result is a sharp portrait with the press of a button.
   
Beyond faces, the Nikon Coolpix S1 can also automatically detect and fix red-eye directly within the camera.  The S1 boasts Nikon’s renowned In-Camera Red-Eye Fix(TM) technology, which detects and corrects red eyes in most typical situations without the need to press buttons or select and highlight the eyes in playback.  Without the hassle of additional software, photographers will experience less red-eye photos yielding print-ready portraits.
   
The new Coolpix S1 also uses intelligent technology to help ensure a balanced exposure and sharpness. Nikon’s exclusive new D-Lighting function is another addition that can literally turn throwaway shots into frame-able memories.  The D-Lighting feature can be selected in Playback mode – automatically compensating for insufficient flash or excessive back lighting in order to obtain balanced exposure throughout the frame.  The S1 is also equipped with Blur Warning, another feature unique to Nikon which alerts the user when a shot is compromised by camera or hand shake, allowing another shot to be taken before leaving the scene.

Nikon Coolpix S1
Nikon Coolpix S1

Recommended Videos

   
Nikon has engineered the new Coolpix S1 with more features that improve the image directly within the camera and streamline the process of receiving great prints using a favorite retailer, online service or home printer. Furthermore, with its incredible, bright 2.5-inch LCD screen, images are easier to review and share than on most consumer digital cameras.
   
To further address a common need among digital camera users, Nikon has also focused its technology to reducing power consumption, allowing the Coolpix S1 to take significantly more shots per battery charge, using the camera’s rechargeable EN-EL8 lithium-ion battery.
   
To add speed to precision, the Coolpix S1 offers continuous shooting at 1.8 fps. The blazing speed even continues into the startup time, with the Coolpix S1 starting up in less than 2 seconds.

                  More Features in a Sleek, Compact Design –

     *  5.1 effective megapixels
     *  3x Zoom-Nikkor ED Glass lens with a focal range equivalent to that of
        a 35-105mm lens in 35mm format
     *  Compact dimensions of (W x H x D – 3.5 x 2.3 x 0.8 inches)
     *  Light weight of approx 4.2 oz. (without battery and memory card)
     *  COOLSTATION MV-11 cradle included for easy downloading of images and
        recharging the battery in the camera
     *  AF-assist illuminator can be switched on and off
     *  256-segment Matrix Metering with Center-weighted, Spot, or Spot AF
        metering
     *  7 manual white balance settings and White Balance Bracketing
     *  Direct printing with PictBridge compatibility
     *  4 of the 17 Scene Modes offer Scene Assist (Portrait, Night Portrait,
        Sports, Landscape)
     *  World Time function allows local time to be set easily anywhere
     *  USB compatibility enables swift transfer of image data to computers
     *  Voice memo function records up to 20 seconds of sound that can then be
        attached to an image
     *  4x digital zoom capability
     *  Choice of Single AF and Continuous AF
     *  Options for playback: Single, 4- and 9-segment thumbnail, Slideshow,
        10x magnification
     *  Built-in Speedlight: features settings for Auto, Red-eye Reduction by
        pre-flash, Anytime flash, Flash cancel and Slow sync.

The Coolpix S1 will be available at retail nationwide in April 2005 at an MSRP of $379.95.

Ian Bell
I work with the best people in the world and get paid to play with gadgets. What's not to like?
Sony’s first drone, the Airpeak S1, rockets to 55 mph in just 3.5 seconds
sony airpeak s1 drone news close

Sony has announced its first drone, the Airpeak S1, and it will out-accelerate the competition by rocketing to 50 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds and on to a maximum speed of 55.9mph. That makes it the fastest accelerating drone in the industry. It’s not competing with small consumer drones like the DJI Mavic Air 2, however -- this is a large pro-level drone designed to carry a gimbal and a full-size camera, ready for commercial use in the skies. And it costs $9,000.

The Airpeak S1 has a 644mm total span, making it similar in size to the DJI Inspire 2 but far more capable in terms of payload and ability. It's the smallest drone that can carry a full-size mirrorless Sony Alpha camera equipped with interchangeable lenses. It uses five stereo cameras and two infrared cameras along with Sony’s new Vision Sensing Processor, and power is delivered using a new propulsion system using brushless motors, and an internal battery for a flight time of up to 22 minutes. Sony promises excellent stability during windy conditions too, stating it will remain steady even when wind speed reaches 44mph or 20 meters per second.

Read more
DJI Air 2S enters pro territory with its one-inch camera sensor and 5.4K video
dji air 2s drone one camera sensor news specs price lifestyle 2 of 4

One company that’s been getting a ton of exposure lately is DJI. Just last month, the company announced its most ambitious drone to date, the DJI FPV drone, which finally brought the company into the world of first-preson view (FPV) drones. Now, it looks like there’s still more gas in the tank because we’re getting yet another brand-new drone!

Following in similar footsteps to Apple, the DJI Air 2S is a refresh of the company’s Mavic Air 2 drone from less than a year ago. Boasting the same compact and foldable design from before, the Air 2S is most notable for the 20-megapixel, 1-inch sensor it’s boasting -- a substantial size upgrade over the ½-inch sensor used by the Mavic Air 2. With a larger sensor, you can expect better results, especially in lowlight situations, because it’s able to absorb more light.

Read more
The Galaxy S21 Ultra has a hidden camera mode: Macro
S21 Ultra camera zoom lens.

The ultrawide camera on the Galaxy S21 Ultra doesn’t just take ultrawide photos. When you get right up close, some clever software and artificial intelligence processing activate an effective macro mode. The quality of the photos you get, and how easy they are to take, quickly banishes all those bad feelings towards macro cameras you may have, after potentially being disappointed by low-megapixel macro cameras on phones recently.
How does it work?
Samsung’s improved A.I. abilities make the Galaxy S21 Ultra’s macro mode possible. When you get within 10 centimeters of an object, the camera knows to switch over to its close-up mode. Best of all is that it has autofocus, so it operates in the same way as the other cameras on the phone and ensures what you point the camera at stays in focus. It’s all as simple as that, although there is one thing you have to do to make it work -- switch to the ultrawide camera.

How do you know it has worked? Sometimes you will get a notification that says, “Enhanced Focus” on the screen -- Samsung’s name for the macro/close-up mode -- when it activates, but this doesn’t always happen. The easiest way is to just look at the screen, as the object will quickly come into focus. None of this happens if you’re using any of the other camera lenses.
Macro modes are (usually) terrible
Why do I like Samsung’s close-up mode? Because it’s really good. Padding the number of camera lenses a phone has with a substandard macro camera has been an unfortunate trend over the past couple of years. The 2-megapixel macro cameras rarely take a photo that was worth looking at, let alone sharing. Sure, manufacturers may claim it makes a difference to the quality of artificial bokeh shots, but the Google Pixel 4a does a solid job without one. I’d rather they weren’t there at all.

Read more