Nikon

digital overhead projector / visual presenter

(courtesy Frans Buhrs)

Since the late 1990's Nikon Corporation offered various digital overhead projectors and - as Nikon called them - visual presenters. These two presenters - Nikon PI-30E (see on this page) and the Nikon PI-30X - have a built-in digital camera with which documents can be scanned or pictured and projected via an additional (not Nikon) beamer or other projector.

The foldable presenter, featuring a 1/3 inch CCD sensor with 738x582 pixels (output 800x600 pixels = nearly 0.5 Mp), can capture via a Zoom-Nikkor 1.8-2.8/4.5-64.8 mm. any document with a minimum size of 16 x 12 mm. and a maximum size of 396 x 287 mm. The PI-30E weights in at 2.8 kilogram. The Nikon PI-30X has some extras like an auto/manual zoom-Nikkor 3.5-4.2/4.5-64.8 mm, video capturing, one 4W fluorescent lamp, ecited at a high frequency (and color temperature: 5000K), remote control and negative/positive conversion of the captured slide/image/object/document.

The Nikon PI-30X weights in at 2.8 kilogram, too. It measures 190 x 420 x 680 (LxWxH) in operation.

Both presenters are powered via a Nikon PU-30 power unit and they have a connector for a mouse and microphone. When attached to a beamer (via SVGA output cable SV-20 or SV-50) an on-screen menu allows you to save or freeze any picture and to use an electronic pointer (via the mouse). Images can be rotated CW and CCW. Both digital presenters can capture an A4-format document without any optical distortion. It is also possible to place a small object on the plate. And both presenters accept a 35mm.-slide in a slot just under the lamp. An image can be stored on a CF-memory card via a PCMCIA-slot (PI-30X only) or transferred via a VGA-connector to a PC, laptop, beamer, recorder or TV-set. Both visual presenters were/are mainly sold in Asia. In Europe and in the America's they are very rare.

The Nikon PI-30X - finally - has a remote control, allowing to manage your presentation at distances up to 8 meters.

Above the lampunit the lens

(PS-Nikkor) Zoom-Nikkor 1.8-2.8/4.5-64.8 mm. (nearly 15.5 x zoom)