The Nikon Coolpix 4300 packs a lot into its tiny frame: a 4-megapixel CCD, a 3x optical zoom (4x digital), and an excellent list of high-end features. It's also easy to grip and can be used entirely with one hand--for right-handers at least (as usual, southpaws will just have to get used to the design).
We were able to adjust the saturation, white balance, and noise reduction of our images even before taking a shot. The 1.5-inch LCD is smaller than average, but the bright and crisp panel was clearly visible in anything but direct sunlight.
The 4300's image quality duly impressed us--crisp, bright colors that stood up to 11-by-17-inch enlargements. You can also capture 40-second video clips, although they're silent movies. We appreciated the Best Shot Selector feature, which let us snap up to 10 quick pictures and then have the Nikon cull out the best one for us.
We were able to get over 90 minutes of use out of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery, although we had to remove it for recharging. This design works well for an optional backup battery; however, you'll need a fully-charged battery ready to go. Nikon includes a 16 MB CompactFlash card, but you'll want to upgrade early on--high-resolution images and video clips fill 16 MB rapidly.
One minor caveat: if we turned the camera on with the lens cap in place, the 4300 would flash a message telling us about it. Removing the lens cap didn't work, and we had to turn the camera off and back on to clear the message and get started.
For the price, the Coolpix 4300 delivers a lot of megapixels and excellent image quality. If you're planning on upgrading to a high-end digital camera, plan a stop right here. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Bright, crisp images
- High-end features
- Easy-to-hold design
Cons:
- Have to remove battery to recharge
- Lens cap irritation
Product Description:
Features-at-a-GlanceThe cool new Nikon CoolPix 4300 - built on the award-winning design of the Nikon CoolPix 885 - is the latest digital camera in the Nikon CoolPix line and features a 4.0 effective Mega pixel CCD and 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens. The CoolPix 4300 has a compact, sleek design, which makes taking great digital pictures comfortable, intuitive and, most importantly, fun for photographers who rely on superior image quality.The CoolPix 4300 brings the highest-quality digital photos to all photographers with Nikon's convenient, built-in One-Touch Upload feature making online photo albums, creative effects and emailing photos to friends and family as easy as the push of a button. The Nikon CoolPix 4300 is developed as a camera for photographers who depend on unparalleled image quality, portability and ease-of-use, yet still want a product that's cool and exciting. The CoolPix 4300 delivers compact size, a sleek silver design and a full range of automatic features to easily capture great pictures. The Nikon CoolPix 4300 packs a serious punch with a 4.0 effective Mega pixel CCD and a 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor lens with a zoom range of 38-114mm (35mm equivalent). The CoolPix 4300 houses Nikon's enhanced image-processing technology for sharp, vivid images with no hassle. Weighing in at only 7.9 ounces - without battery and CompactFlash card - the camera is pocket-sized and ready to go.
Nikon Coolpix 4300 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom