Nikon Unveils New Android Powered Camera

Nikon Unveils New Android Powered Camera

Nikon has publicly announced the availability of a new line of COOLPIX cameras, one with Android OS and WiFi connectivity. The new S6400, S800c and the S01 are all designed to give intuitive control on the go, and the S800c is built in with an Android OS and WiFi connectivity. All three cameras boast a host of new features, so be sure to read all the details!

The S6400 is equipped with a backside illumination CMOS image sensor with an effective pixel count of 16.0-million pixels, a 12x optical zoom NIKKOR lens with coverage for angles of view for focal lengths from the wide-angle 25 mm to 300 mm (equivalents in 35-mm [135] format), and a touch panel for natural operation, all in a compact and slim body. In addition to excellent basic camera performance, the S6400 offers a number of advanced photographic functions that ensure recording of images as intended with the simplest of operations. Chief among these functions are Target Finding AF, with which the user need simply point the camera at the intended subject and the camera automatically identifies and focuses on that subject; Quick Effects, which allow users to create images with special effects in just three easy steps–shoot, select, and save; and functions for recording full-HD movies with superior picture quality.

The S800c establishes a new line in the COOLPIX S series powered by Android with built-in Wi-Fi® compatibility for operation similar to that of a smartphone and wireless Internet connection. With its backside illumination CMOS sensor with an effective pixel count of 16.0-million pixels and 10x optical zoom NIKKOR lens, however, the S800c enables capture of sharp, blur-free and beautiful images that can be extremely difficult to capture with smartphones. What's more, users can take full advantage of the camera's other features, including support for recording of full-HD movies, to upload their stunning photos and movies to social networking sites. The S800c fulfills Nikon's latest proposal for new ways to use digital cameras–Capture, View, Connect, Enjoy–all in a single, compact body.

The S01 is the smallest and lightest digital camera in the history of the Nikon COOLPIX series, combining the simplicity of a cell phone with the advanced capability for expression of a camera. The body is smaller than a standard business card, measuring approximately 77 mm wide, 51.2 mm high, and 17.2 mm deep, and with a weight of approximately 96 g, it fits easily in the palm of the hand. Special attention was also paid to the design of the camera and materials used. It has a smooth form, regardless of the angle from which it is viewed, and is constructed of a durable yet thin stainless steel that also enables a beautiful finish. The S01 is also equipped with a touch panel display and a user interface (UI) that enables intuitive operation easy enough for anyone to master. As simple operation was also a primary goal for this model, the UI offers a number of convenient features, including a four-section grid structure that anyone can easily master. This is a camera that users will enjoy using and keeping with them at all times.

S6400 PRIMARY FEATURES:




A 12x optical zoom NIKKOR lens with coverage for angles of view for focal lengths from the wide-angle 25 mm to 300 mm (equivalents in 35-mm [135] format)
Backside illumination CMOS sensor with an effective pixel count of 16.0-million pixels enables capture of images exhibiting little noise at the high sensitivities required for night landscapes and
Simply point the camera at the intended subject and Target Finding AF identifies and focuses on that subject
Primary quick effects
Intuitive touch panel operation
Recording of 1920 x 1080p/30-fps full-HD movies with stereo sound

 

S800c Primary Features


The Android 2.3 and Wi-Fi® support for operation that feels like a smartphone and wireless Internet connection

In addition to superior basic camera performance, the S800c offers the natural operation and communications functions of a smartphone (except the phone function), making it a single product for shooting, viewing, connecting, and enjoying. Nikon proposes new ways of enjoying digital photography with the S800c and the fun it offers with network connections.

Primary functions
Simple setup and connection
Browse and post to social networking sites (SNS)
Simple image transfer to other smart devices

Basic performance

Equipped with a 10x optical zoom NIKKOR lens with coverage for angles of view for focal lengths from the wide-angle 25 mm to 250 mm (equivalents in 35-mm [135] format), and built-in lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function
Backside illumination CMOS sensor with an effective pixel count of 16.0-million pixels enables capture of images exhibiting little noise at the high sensitivities required for night landscapes and pictures taken indoors under dim lighting
Functions for recording 1920 x 1080p/30-fps full-HD movies with stereo sound (recording of slow-motion movies that play back at 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 normal playback speed for a dramatic effect, and fast-motion movies that play back at twice normal playback speed for a comical effect is also possible)
my Picturetown app for using Nikon's image storage and sharing service, my Picturetown
When the my Picturetown app on Google Play™ is downloaded and installed, images captured with the S800c can be easily uploaded to my Picturetown. In addition, the app can be used to browse uploaded images, or to post a URL to a specific my Picturetown album to Facebook or tweet them on Twitter. It can also be used to view a list of my Picturetown albums, to rearrange albums using drag-and-drop operations, or to change their layout. Since images stored on my Picturetown can be accessed directly from the camera, users can easily view or share them with others, almost as if they were carrying photo albums around with them.

GPS function (A-GPS* compatible) for recording position information with images

S01 Primary Features


The smallest and lightest body in COOLPIX history
The body is smaller than a credit card, measuring approximately 77 mm wide, 51.2 mm high, and 17.2 mm deep, and with a weight of approximately 96 g, it fits easily in the palm of the hand. As the S01 can comfortably hang around the neck, or easily fit in a pocket or purse, it can be taken everywhere, ensuring that you never miss another photo opportunity.

A premium and stylish design utilizing smoothly curved lines
A new GUI and optimized touch panel for natural and easy operation despite the compact body
4-section grid structure that is easy to operate
Simple operation using a shortcut menu
In playback mode, tap and hold an image to add a star icon and add it to favorites, or delete images with a single operation.
The superior basic performance expected of a Nikon camera with advanced shooting and editing functions
The S01 offers the superior level of basic performance that is expected of a Nikon digital camera. It is also equipped with a number of functions that make photography simple and fun.
A 10.1-million pixel CCD image sensor
A 3x optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers a broad range of focal lengths from wide-angle 29 mm to 87 mm (equivalents in 35-mm [135] format)
The EXPEED C2 high-speed, high-precision image-processing engine that enables rich expression of tones
Built-in xenon flash
Easy auto mode with which the camera automatically determines the best scene mode based on shooting conditions when the camera is pointed at a subject
Special effects (Nostalgic sepia, High-contrast monochrome, High key, Low key) that can be applied prior to recording of photos or movies to achieve the desired exposure or colors
Filter effects (Toy camera effect, Soft, Fisheye, Miniature effect, Vivid color, Black-and-white, Sepia, Cyanotype) for in-camera editing of photos after they have been captured
HD movie recording (720p format)

Jaron Schneider's picture

Jaron Schneider is an Fstoppers Contributor and an internationally published writer and cinematographer from San Francisco, California. His clients include Maurice Lacroix, HD Supply, SmugMug, the USAF Thunderbirds and a host of industry professionals.

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16 Comments

android? no, thanks

Oh wow, yet more fan boy comments.

The fact is, Android is open source, so it's easily augmented for many applications. This is just another one of many it can and is used for.

Rather than take such an obtuse opinion toward it, as you have, I actually think it's quite ironic that cameras now use the same OS as cell phones. 

Sorry, but Open Source is just a marketing bullshit. But I’m not an iOS fan.

Can you tell me what more do you have on Android because it’s Open Source but is not available on iOS for example? The only thing that came into my mind is viruses because it’s not controlled by any authority. A friend of mine got a virus and applications started to open by themselves, SMS were sent automatically without writing them. It never happened to me something like that.

What does Open Source mean to me? Most of applications, but not all applications I agree, including Android itself have a poor design; bad user experience, etc. This is why I like professionally designed applications even when they may have a few features less.

What are you taking about? Why are you talking about iOS vs Android?

This is a discussion about an open sourced OS on a point and shoot, where does iOS come into play?

I'm not even going to be drawn into a 'discussion' about iOS vs Android, and who has what viruses.

It's just refreshing to see a new take on point and shoots, that's my opinion. As you seemingly come across as an Apple user I could care less if it was the other way round and Apple did the same thing. It's nice to see a change in what is otherwise a pretty boring market.

This camera is a statement of the kind of things that can be done with Android because it's open-sourced software. It wouldn't make sense for Nikon to come out with this camera if they didn't have access to an open-sourced operating system made for small, not too powerful devices with touch screens. The cost to make the operating system would have been enormous, especially if they made something that allowed 3rd parties to create software for it. They don't have that expertise either. Also, no 3rd party would have bothered making apps for it. Now it should just work with all the apps that work on Android.

Point and shoot? No thanks.

 Smaller than a credit card? No thanks.

Not really seeing where Gingerbread comes in to play (really, they could only put Gingerbread on there?!?)

Why would you want more? It's a camera not a phone, I assume Wi-Fi and maybe Bluetooth would work, it's not going to have the Google Play or any Google apps as they are all copy written by Google. It'll be a basic AOSP ROM probably locked down with an overlaid program that is the cameras UI. 

That's not to say it couldn't have, and infact probably will have the kernel hacked opening up a few more possibilities. But is your wife really going to want to hack the kernel in her point and shoot so she can install Angry Birds? Probably not.

I think it'd be pretty cool to have the ability to share, like Kodak used to do, to specific sites.  Integrate G+, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all that nonsense and you've got a pretty cool OS phone.  I don't even know what the hell Picturetown is.

I saw this earlier today but didn't look at it because I thought it was a joke! I think it's pretty cool actually!

This is where the consumer market is going... I wouldn't be surprised if this were just a test for Nikon to see how they like working with android... I would LOVE to see something like my Galaxy S III with a real optical zoom and half way decent glass...

I think it's cool if they were to have an instant share button to all the major pic sites like (Rich Kessler said). Now just having the Android OS is a waste cause it's a slow,clunky open operating system. 

You've obviously not used a decent Android handset. I can assure you AOSP Android is not slow and clunky, maybe you've used a shitty HTC Sense, or Motorola Blur, or Samsung Touch Wiz UI, but Android in it's pure native form is very snappy, especially Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean.

I notice the only people who complain about Android are the ones who used a first generation phone.  That's like saying an iPod is a piece of shit because of the iPod 1.

It will take me less than an hour to install google market/play on any GB android. Kernel source could give developers at xda a chance to upgrade it to jelly bean (cyanogen)
More interesting is taking the Nikon camera apps and adding them to my HTC amaze.