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Nikon Coolpix 4300 Review

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Nikon Coolpix 4300


First Look Posted 8/30/2002
Full Review Posted 10/31/02

Introduction & Physical Views


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Nikon Coolpix 4300
Click on the Coolpix 4300 to take a QuickTime VR tour


The COOLPIX 4300 is a compact, lightweight digital still camera with 4.0 effective megapixel image resolution and a Nikkor 3x zoom lens. It's an easy-to-use mid-range model with superior image quality that will satisfy the needs of beginners to advanced amateurs.

Superb optical performance is delivered by a 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens with an 8-24mm focal range (equivalent to 38-114mm in 35mm format). The Coolpix 4300's 4-megapixel imager provides ultrahigh definition and, combined with Nikon's advanced image processing technology, ensure images of remarkable color, contrast and clarity. Shooting is simplified by the general-use AUTO mode and supplemented by 12 different Scene Modes that allow you to capture great pictures in a variety of everyday situations.

The COOLPIX 4300's compact and lightweight design makes it extremely portable and its ergonomic, easy-grip design ensures easy operation. Managing pictures has never been easier, thanks to features like one-button data transfer and a Small Picture function that configures photos specifically for e-mail and Internet applications. The camera comes equipped with all the accessories necessary to immediately start taking better digital photographs. An array of optional accessories - such as an adapter that accepts Wideangle, Telephoto, Fisheye, and other lenses - will further any photographer's journey into the digital world.


Coolpix 4300 Features at a Glance:

  • 4-megapixel effective CCD for images up to 2272x1704 pixels
  • Nikkor 3x optical zoom (38-114mm in 35mm equivalent)
  • Macro focus with AF down to 1.6 inches
  • 1.5-inch TFT color monitor
  • EN-EL1 rechargeable battery and charger included
  • Programmed AE and 12 Scene exposure modes
  • Single, Continuous, UHS Continuous, 16-Shot Multi and QuickTime Movie modes
  • Shutter speeds from 1/1000 sec. to 8 sec's
  • Built-in flash with auto, fill, slow sync, and red-eye reduction
  • Control of image sharpness and saturation
  • 5-area multi-focus system and Spot-AF
  • 256-segment Matrix Metering, Center-weighted or Spot
  • Noise Reduction for long exposures
  • ISO sensitivity Auto or 100, 200, 400 (in manual)
  • Matrix Auto White Balance, 5 presets and custom
  • AE Bracketing with white balance as well as exposure value
  • Exif 2.2 and Epson PRINT Image Matching Technology compatible
  • CompactFlash Type I card slot, 16MB card included
  • Plug-n-Play USB 1.1 connectivity, mass storage compliant
  • One-Touch upload for easy image transfers
  • Can use Coolpix wide, tele and fisheye lenses (with adapter)


The Coolpix 4300 includes NikonView 5, a complete image editing and processing package, EN-EL1 rechargeable Lithium-ion battery and charger, lens cap, hand strap, video cable, 16MB CF card and USB cable.






Physical Views

Nikon Coolpix 4300

Nikon Coolpix 4300

Nikon Coolpix 4300 Nikon Coolpix 4300

Nikon Coolpix 4300

Nikon Coolpix 4300



Nikon Coolpix 4300

The Coolpix 4300 compared to a standard CD disc.





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Coolpix 4300 Specifications

CCD 1/1.8-in. high-density CCD; total number of pixels: 4.1 million
4.0 million effective pixels
Image sizes 2,272 x 1,704
2,048 x 1,536
1,600 x 1,200
1,280 x 960
1,024 x 768
640 x 480
Lens 3x Zoom-Nikkor; f = 8-24mm (equivalent to 38-114mm) F2.8-4.9 with macro; 9 elements in 8 groups; all glass, Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC) applied; glass-molded aspherical lens elements included
Digital Zoom 4x stepless digital zoom
Autofocus Contrast-detect TTL AF
5-area Multi AF or Spot AF selectable
Focus modes 1) Continuous AF mode (when using LCD monitor)
2) Single AF mode (when not using LCD monitor and/or selectable from shooting menu)
3) Manual (49 steps from 1.6 in. to infinity with focus confirmation indication)
Focus range 11.8 in. to infinity in wide angle
23.6 in. to infinity in telephoto
1.6 in. to infinity in Macro mode
Optical viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder
frame coverage: approx. 80%
LCD monitor 1.5-in., 110,000-dot, low-temp. polysilicon TFT LCD with LED backlight
brightness (5 levels) adjustment
frame coverage: approx. 97%
Auto OFF mode 30 sec.; can be set manually (1/5/30 min.)
Image Storage EXIF 2.2 compressed JPEG compliant with design rule for camera file system (DFC)
Uncompressed TIFF-RGB
QuickTime Motion JPEG (Movie, no audio)
Media CompactFlash (CF) Card Type I
16MB card included
Shooting modes AUTO, Scene, Manual, Movie
Capture modes Single
Continuous
Ultrahigh-speed Continuous (30fps up to 70 QVGA)
Movie without audio (40 sec @ 15fps)
Scene (Portrait, Party, Night Portrait, Beach, Landscape, Sunset, Night Landscape, Museum, Fireworks, Close-up, Copy, Backlight, Dawn and Multiple Exposure)
Multi-shot 16 (5fps 16 frames in 1/16 size)
Self-timer (3 or 10 sec's)
Exposure metering 4-mode TTL metering:
1) 256-segment Matrix
2) Center-Weighted
3) Spot and
4) Spot AF Area
Shutter Mechanical and charge-coupled electronic shutter
Bulb (up to 60 sec's), 8 sec. to 1/1000 sec.
Aperture Electronically controlled preset aperture
Exposure control Programmed Auto
Manual; Exposure Compensation (±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps)
Auto Bracketing (5 steps within ±2/3 EV)
Exposure range EV -3~+15 (W), EV +1.4~+16.6 (T) (ISO 100 equivalent)
Best-shot Selector Camera takes up to 10 shots (at approx 2fps) and records the most detailed image of the 10 using anti-jitter logic which is effective for telephoto and macro shooting. Not available when the speedlight is on.
ISO Sensitivity 100, 200, 400 or Auto;
can be controlled in manual exposure mode
White balance 1) Matrix Auto White Balance with TTL control
2) Manual with fine tuning (Daylight/Incandescent/Fluorescent/ Cloudy/Speedlight)
3) Preset
4) White balance bracketing
Self-timer 10 sec. or 3 sec. duration
Built-in Speedlight Shooting range approx 1.2 - 9.8 ft.
Flash control Flash modes:
1) Auto Flash
2) Flash Cancel
3) Anytime Flash
4) Slow Sync
5) Red-Eye Reduction w/pre-flash
Playback menu 1) 1 frame
2) Thumbnail (4/9 segments)
3) Slide show
4) Zoom playback (up to 6x)
Histogram indication & highlight point display
Peaking indication
Hide and protect attributes can be set to each image
Delete function Deletes all frames or selected frames
Interface USB 1.1 interface, mass storage or PTP
Supported Platforms Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP
Mac OS 9.0-9x (only built-in USB ports supported)
Mac OS X (10.1.2 or later)
Video output NTSC or PAL (selectable)
I/O terminal Power input
Video output
Digital output terminal (USB)
Power requirements Nikon EN-EL1 lithium rechargeable (supplied)
or 2CR5 one-use lithium
Battery life Approx. 90 min's. when using LCD monitor
Dimensions
(W x H x D)		 Approx. 3.7 x 2.7 x 2.0 in.
Weight
(without battery)		 Approx. 8.1 oz.
Specifications are as represented by the manufacturer


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