Depending on how much you like viewing your photos or letting others view your photos, the Nikon Coolpix S1000pj is either really cool or a waste. The compact camera houses an ultrasmall projector able to display photos and video at sizes up to 40 inches diagonal at the press of the button. However, the rest of the camera is completely basic: 12-megapixels, 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens, 5x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD, and nearly fully automatic shooting options. Nikon’s less expensive S640 and the even cheaper S570 have comparable photo quality and shooting performance (the S640 is actually faster). So if you’re just after a good compact camera, the S1000pj is a waste. But, if you love to share your photos instantly and want to do it on something other than a computer screen, TV, or a tiny camera display, the S1000pj is really cool.

The camera’s design is simple and stylish and other than a little window on the front, there’s nothing about it that immediately says, “Hey, I have a built-in projector.” What’s most interesting about the S1000pj is that the addition of the projector adds little to the weight or size of the camera; it’s really not much bigger than a compact camera with similar features sans projector. Controls are, for the most part, the same as on any other compact Coolpix.

On top, along with the power and shutter release buttons and zoom ring, are a slider for adjusting focus for the projector and a button for turning on the function. In back to the right of the bright LCD and below the studded thumb rest are buttons for changing shooting modes, playing and editing images, accessing photo, video, and system setting menus, and deleting pictures. There’s a directional pad for navigation and setting exposure, flash, timer, and macro. Again, it’s all pretty standard. There are also two small squares–one in back, one in front–for receiving IR signals from the bundled remote control. (It can be used for playback and shooting.)

Now, on to the projector: It sits at the center of the camera’s front and is oddly unprotected. Press the Projector button on top and move the camera forward or back until the picture is the size you want it, and then use the focus slider to fine tune the picture. It can be set as close as 10 inches from the screen or back as far as 6.5 feet. You can immediately start navigating through your photos or hit the Menu button to start a slideshow as well as turn on transition effects and background music, adjust interval time. Included is a little stand that angles the camera upward to avoid any objects that may be on the surface you’re using. The angle, though, creates a keystone effect distorting projected images; you’re better off using a tripod or an unobstructed level surface. Also, since there is no automatic orientation of photos, you’ll need to go through and rotate images before playback. The projector is quite bright, but, of course, the darker the room, the better the experience.

All in all, it’s a successful feature that will no doubt be fun at parties with family and friends gathered around. It would be particularly nice for vacations where you want to instantly relive something you’ve just done or seen. Lastly, I can see it having some solid business uses, such as in real estate where you’d be able to give an impromptu showing of a house on a client’s wall.