Nikon has introduced a new WiFi camera, the 9 megapixel S52c COOLPIX ($279.95), an upgrade from the earlier 8 megapixel S51c camera. Both cameras offer built-in WiFi.
The S52c camera is also available as the S52 ($249), which is essentially the same camera without the connectivity of Wi-Fi.
Both cameras feature 9.0 megapixels and a 3x 38-114mm Zoom-NIKKOR lens. Vibration reduction is included to compensate for image blur and the camera features up to ISO2000 sensitivity, useful for injecting unusable noise artifacts. The rear LCD is a 3-inch high resolution display.
The cameras have an auto ISO control that selects the optimal sensitivity from a range of ISO 100 to ISO 800. The Wi-Fi connection of the S52c allows users to email images directly from the camera and supports Nikon’s my Picturetown. Image storage for both cameras is to SD or SDHC cards. The S52 and S52c will both be available in May. The S52 will sell for $249.95 and the S52c will retail for $279.95.
Nikon’s S50c, S51c and now S52c also offer direct connection to Nikon’s photosharing service called my Picturetown. Like the Nikon Coolpix S50c, a 7.2 megapixel camera that preceded both cameras, users can send images and videos to friends and family from the nearly 8,500 T-Mobile HotSpot locations nationwide, using Nikon’s my Picturetown server, for instant sharing.
Nikon’s photosharing site, Picturetown, was upgraded this month and now features;
- The ability to upload RAW (NEF) files viewable as JPEGs
- The ability to search for photos by the date they were uploaded or taken using a calendar
- A full-screen slideshow option for viewing photos customizable with now up to 25 choices for background music
- The ability to receive photos uploaded via the Eye-Fi card
The Eye-Fi card is a combined 2Gig SD memory card with WiFi adapter. They have also collaborated with Nikon on firmware in Nikon’s new D60, digital SLR to upload photos to “my Picturetown” for photosharing. The Eye-Fi card can upload full size images to web galleries but only works with access points that have no additional ‘login’ layer (ie. only home / office access points, not public access points).
Using the Eye-Fi SD WiFi/memory card users can upload photos to one of 20 online photo sharing, printing, social networking and blogging sites.
Perhaps the best thing about Nikon’s S50c, the S51c and the S52c is that the cameras can upload directly to Flickr, so as soon as you take a picture, it can be uploaded (via WiFi) and shared via your Flickr photostream. If you’re a Flickr pro member ($25/yr), you can now share videos up to 90 seconds. Flickr says the 90 second limit is a good thing.
Nikon also announced the COOLPIX P80, a 10.1 megapixel compact with an 18 to 1 zoom (but no WiFi) for $399.
Nikon’s WT-4A Wireless Transmitter ($800) is for their Nikon D3 and D300 DSLR Cameras. It supports wireless LAN conforming to 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g, and 5 GHz 802.11a, as well as wired LANs conforming to IEEE 802.3u (100BASE-TX) and IEEE 802.3 (10BASE-T).
Ad-hoc mode enables peer-to-peer connection of a WT-4 and a computer or FTP server. Infrastructure mode enables connection via an access point.
With Camera Control Pro 2 software (optional), camera settings can be remotely controlled and images taken can be transferred and saved on a computer.
One of the nice thing about Canon cameras, like the inexpensive point and shoot Canon S5-IS, is that they can be remote controlled by BreezeSystems software ($50). You might hook them up to $500 Ultra Mobile PCs — even link a network of cameras together — using cellular or mobile WiMAX backhaul.
Mobile WiFi Routers (with cellular backhaul) include the Kyocera KR2 EVDO Router, Motorola’s AP-7131 Access Point and others.
Related DailyWireless stories include; Reuters Wireless Photography, Wireless SD Card, Eye-Fi Gets Nikon Connection, Starbucks Welcomes WiFi Cameras, Super Bowl XLII photography, CNN’s News Bureau in a Bus, Photostories, Pro WiFi Camera Adapters and Chicago’s Net of 3000 Cameras.
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