Skip to main content
Cameras

Nikon Shows off an Android Sequel, a New Lens, and the J4 With a Catch

Nikon updates its Android point-and-shoot, drops a new zoom lens, and announces the J4—but not in the U.S.

We'll have a Nikon S810c review up as soon as we have one into our labs for digital camera reviews. Credit:

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Nikon unveiled several new products today, with the U.S. announcements including an updated Android point-and-shoot and a new 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DX lens. In other markets Nikon has also officially unveiled the J4 1-series camera, though there's no word yet on if it will make it stateside.

The Android camera is officially the Nikon Coolpix S810c, and it features a great deal of upgrades over Nikon's previous Android effort, the Coolpix S800c. The new model runs Android 4.2.2, has a 12x optical zoom lens with VR and an f/3.5-6.1 maximum aperture, and uses a 3.7-inch capacitive touch WVGA display with 1.2m-dot resolution.

The S810c also features full 1080/30p video, GPS with points of interest, built-in WiFi, and a 16-megapixel image sensor. Its design is similar to the S800c, though Nikon appears to have improved the screen, which should help navigating the Android experience.

The S810c has a couple of new features that should improve upon the iffy experience we had when we checked out its predecessor. According to Nikon there is now the ability to overlay text on images before you send them out, a new timeline playback function, and even a headset connector for listening to audio. Nikon is also claiming improved battery life, though the CIPA rating is still just 260 shots. The camera will rely on MicroSD and Micro USB for storage and transfer of images, respectively.

Also on the docket today is the new AF-S DX Nikkor 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G ED VR lens. It's supposed to be a redesigned version of the previous 18-300mm Nikkor lens, but with reduced size and weight (19.4oz compared to 29.3oz for its predecessor), and improved coatings.

The new lens features a 7-bladed aperture, 3-stop VR built-in, 3 ED (extra low dispersion) elements, aspherical elements, and an auto/manual focus switch. The camera is designed for APS-C sensor cameras like the D5300, and has 35mm equivalent focal length of 27-450mm on them.

Perhaps more importantly, Nikon has unveiled the J4—but for non-US markets. The new 1-series camera has a redesigned body with the same 18.3-megapixel sensor as the Nikon 1 V3. In keeping with previous 1-series cameras there's a focus on speed, with the J4 capable of up to 20fps continuous shooting with continuous autofocus thanks to the hybrid focus and 105 phase-detect AF points built into the sensor.

The Nikon 1 J4 will also house the updated Expeed 4A processor, giving it the ability to shoot 1080/60p video, use ISO speeds ranging from 160 to 12800, and shoot 120fps video for a 3-second burst at 720p HD.

The J4's body has a new touch-sensitive LCD with 1040k-dot resolution and built-in WiFi. Nikon also announced a new waterproof case (the WP-N3) which is compatible with the J4 and good for dives as deep as 147 feet. The company also showed off a new underwater Speedlight—the SB-N10—which is waterproof to 328 feet and has a guide number of 92 feet at ISO 100.

The Nikon S810c will begin shipping starting in May in black or white at a suggested price of $349.95. The new DX 18-300mm lens will also be available in May but will set you back $899.95 at retail. There's no pricing info yet available for the J4, nor is there any information about future availability at this time.

Up next