Cameras
Camcorders
Cell Phones
Components
Desktops
HDTV
Home Theater
GPS
Laptops
Monitors
MP3 Players
Networking &
Printers
Storage
Nikon CoolPix 4300 Digital Camera (Nikon-25507)
Print
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
More…
- Spec Navigator
- Image Processor
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Dimensions
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Warranty
Bottom Line
Novices and experts alike may find the Coolpix 4300's menus aggravating, but few cameras of this size take such nice pictures, or offer as many features.
Nikon Coolpix 4300
CoolPix 4300 Digital Camera (Nikon-25507) Review, by Alan Stafford November 27, 2002
WHAT'S HOT: The Coolpix 4300 has what many buyers are looking for in a digital camera, namely a small body and (somewhat) sophisticated controls. Sporting a large grip on the right side, it's easy to operate with one hand (especially if you're right-handed). Yet it has exotic (and useful) functions like white-balance bracketing and noise reduction, as well as several other image-manipulation adjustments that you can make before taking a shot (for example, brightness, contrast, and sharpness).
In our lab tests, the 4300 scored the highest of any camera in recent memory. It distinguished red from orange better than most cameras, and all of its shots looked very sharp. Its wide range of apertures (f2.8 to f13.4) makes it very flexible: In a test photo that stressed depth of field, objects in the foreground looked just as sharp as those in the background. The camera focuses easily, quickly, and quietly--and the minimum focus of just 1.6 inches in macro mode means you can take a picture of just about anything.
WHAT'S NOT: Like many cameras, the Coolpix 4300 tries--and fails--to be easy for novices while allowing expert users quick access to advanced features. For example, just to change the resolution, you must press a button to enter the menus, and then press the thumbwheel control buttons at least 12 times. And that's only if you're using the camera's manual mode. If you're in automatic mode, the camera will not allow you to enter the menus at all, so you'll have to turn the dial on top of the camera to exit shooting mode and enter the setup mode, then press four buttons, and then turn the dial again to return to shooting mode.
If you turn the camera on while the lens cap is still in place, the camera will instruct you to remove it, but after you do so, you have to turn the camera off and back on again for it to work.
You can adjust aperture and shutter speed manually, but it's not easy or very useful on this camera. You must hold down one button with your left thumb and then press the thumbwheel on the back while watching the values on the screen. If you forget to push the first button and press the up-thumbwheel button, the settings disappear--you have to press two more times to get them back. While the camera takes advantage of a wide range of apertures in its full-automatic mode, in full-manual you can choose from only two values at a given focal length--for example, either f4.9 or f13.4, nothing in between. (You can, however, choose from several shutter speeds.) The 4300 does not offer aperture- or shutter-priority modes.
The battery lasted for 277 shots in our tests, a little over an hour and a half; that's about 20 percent less run time than the average of cameras we've reviewed.
WHAT ELSE: The battery charger is small, but the cord you have to use with it is 6 feet long, so it's larger than the charger. Like many Nikon digital cameras, the Coolpix 4300 lets you set exposure by choosing from 12 scene modes, including selections like Portrait, Museum, and Sunset. The scenes may help beginners get the correct exposure, but telling the difference between scenes often requires consulting the manual. And sometimes the scenes pick settings we wouldn't if we were in charge: Night Landscape on one shot implemented a 1/30-second shutter speed and f4.9 aperture, while Landscape resulted in a 1/4-second speed and f4.9, rather than the other way around as you might expect.
The camera's Best Shot mode, however, is somewhat useful: After you choose this mode and hold down the shutter release for as many as ten shots, the camera decides which one is sharpest and retains it, discarding the rest.
You can take QuickTime movies without sound; they look sharp and relatively smooth (for 15 frames per second).
UPSHOT: Novices and experts alike may find the Coolpix 4300's menus aggravating, but few cameras of this size take such nice pictures, or offer as many features.
Show Less 
0 Comments | 0 Topics | Print Only This Review
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
-
Reviewed by: drdan25
Strengths: Fair quality pictures
Weaknesses: Camera failed 1 month after the warranty ended. Unit would not power up. Problem was not the battery. Nikon wanted to charge $175 to repair the unit.
Overall: While it worked, the camera took fair quality photos.The menu was a bit cumbersome.Will never buy another Nikon camera again.They are garbage and will not outlast the warranty.
-
Reviewed by: ABM0715
Strengths: Great size, Comfortable for your hand. Great value for the camera. Has great clarity, easy to use.
Weaknesses: Slow reload time!
Overall: I have had this camera for a long time and I love Nikons. It is a great camera, we have used it for every occasion and it has never failed us. The only thing that bothers me is how long it takes me to be able to take another picture. It is a good 5 seconds if not more. If you miss your shot you probably aren't going to get it again. We did have another camera and have not been half as happy as I am with my Nikon. The zoom is really good too, we have got things that we wouldn't have with the other camera. I will be very upset if it breaks or I have to get a new one. I love it!!! And the software is great too!
-
Reviewed by: shyweb07
Strengths: Great options for photography! Good picture quality, ease of use, good size for handling, decent price.
Weaknesses: Bad ON/OFF switch design.
Overall: This is my first digital camera. After a month of using this camera- and plenty of experimentation- I totally adore it. There are a lot of fun options such as continuous shooting mode, 16 shots per frame, sepia, B/W, etc... I've printed some of the pictures out 5x7 and the quality is fantastic. I haven't had too much problem with auto-focusing, however, the reboot rate between pictures is slow. The camera body is strong, as tested by my clumsiness. However, due to bad power switch design, the camera turns on whenever it bounces around in the bag. As a result, the camera's lens jams. And after several reoccurences, the camera is rendered useless.
-
Reviewed by: chipnyuma
Strengths: Compact size, image quality, zoom.
Weaknesses: Recovery rate.
Overall: This has been a great little camera for us. It fits in many pockets, making it easy to carry. The images are great. But the camera takes a couple of seconds to recover after taking a picture.
-
Reviewed by: rbaugh
Strengths: Easy to use
Weaknesses: Poor battry life. Requires constant battery recharging.
Overall: Because of constant battery recharging, the battery lid has a design fault. That fault is, it will not continue to close properly. Nikon will not honor its warranty agreements. I had this camera for less than 6 months when I returned it to Nikon for repair of the battery cover that would no longer close completly! They would not honor the warranty and charged me $154.00 to repair the plastic cover. I am upset with their customer service. They will not honor their warranty if you buy their products!!!! Buy at your own risk!!!
Sorry, the product you requested isn't currently available from any of our sellers.
Cameras similar to the Nikon CoolPix 4300 Digital Camera (Nikon-25507)
We recommend these Cameras for their similarities to the Nikon CoolPix 4300 Digital Camera (Nikon-25507) in features, specs, ratings, and user interest.
- Before you buy
- How to Buy a Digital Camera
Featured APC Accessories
-
APC Back-UPS ES Safeguards your equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along your utility & data lines.
-
APC Smart-UPS Loaded with cutting-edge features, unique battery life predictor, unbeatable on-line efficiencies and software agents allowing remote UPS monitoring. Get 10% off your entire kart purchase!
