Home > Consumer Reviews > Nikon COOLPIX 4300 Digital Camera [4MP 3xOptical]

I recently took the plunge to digital mainly because I was getting sick of carrying round a big (but very good) SLR plus lenses, plus remembering to buy film, plus remembering to keep my processing slips, plus having to wait for a week after holidays to see the results.
I checked out a variety of brands with my work colleagues and after a lot of research, had a "short" list of 6 cameras. I then took the easy option and asked the saleslady at a photographic store which one she would buy from my list. "The Nikon 4300", she said "is the hands down winner in the 4 MP category". What a great recommendation. I am stunned at the quality of output regardless of light conditions, sun position, etc. The scene modes make it all so easy and I haven't had a photo yet that hasn't turned out perfectly. Battery life isn't great, but what electronic device has anything better? I bought a spare battery, a second 256MB card, a quick card reader ($12) and it all fits into a small camera bag. Leads, charger, etc. fit into a second small bag.
Downloading is simple and very fast. One of the more intriguing facilities is the panorama programme - simple to set up and the results are so clear with no sign of joins. Really quite stunning.
Overall I would give it a "6" if Amazon would let me.

I have always been a keen photographer but not dedicated enough to print my own photographs. However, I have used many different makes of "point and shoot" cameras and I have used my trusty Canon AE1P for over 20 years. Early in 2004 I decided to buy a more up-to-date camera that would give me the best variety of shots at an affordable price and the camera had to be easy to carry around too.

I chose a 4MP camera because I wanted to have decent prints up to A4 size. I found the Nikon Coolpix 4300 met all my requirements.

The camera has an AE facility for "beginners" which produces excellent shots. I gravitated to the manual selections whilst on holiday in February and was delighted with the 'museum' setting that allowed indoor shots without use of the flash (although the photographs produced looked as though the flash had been used!).

I took wonderful (even if I say so myself!) photographs in the snow in January which I could never have taken on my other cameras - the white balance was perfect!

I would highly recommend this camera to anybody wishing to upgrade to a digital camera (from novice to professional). I have had a lot of fun with my Nikon Coolpix 4300 and I have been highly delighted with ALL the photographs I have taken. (I couldn't say that before, on any of the older cameras I have used!)

I bought this camera about 10 months ago and have used it quite alot. I would highly recommend it. The following are key things I would like to point out:

Good:
Macro lense - 4cm but does go a closer in manual mode (manual focus)
Manual features -
*has a B setting (although that the longest time is 60 seconds, 8, 4, 2, 1 seconds then the standard SLR settings
*the aperture has two choices which change according to how zoomed you are.. e.g. no zoom = f2.8 and f7.6 where as x3 zoom = f4.9 and f13.4
- Good range of scene settings for quicker snaps.
- Nikon software enables quick upload and easy to use package.
- movie mode excellent (no sound though)
- extremely easy to use - can work most things out without reference to manual, although some of the manual features need a quick flick through the manual e.g. manual focus,
- light weight and small in size
- rechargeable battery

Bad:
- viewfinder does not quite line up with image on screen - so you have to use the screen to take pictures.
- extremely slow when taking long exposures through manual mode i.e 60 second shot takes about the same to render.
- manual mode does take its toll on the battery - so have a spare
- smallish screen - about 3 x 2.5 cm

Being a novice to digital photography I have read all the reviews of various brands of digital cameras available on this and other websites for more than three months before deciding which camera I should buy... and I don't regret a minute of the time spent because I'm sure I've made the right choice. The Nikon Coolpix 4300 is a real gem! Image sharpness is incredible even when image is enlarged. The twelve scene modes available makes it easy to take photos in any condition although I have already started to explore the manual mode. Perhaps the only drawback I could find in this extaordinary little camera is the relatively short battery life, especially when using the manual mode. Certainly I would recommend this camera and add...you don't have to wait 3 months like I did to decide in favour of the Nikon Coolpix 4300 - go buy it now!!

I purchased this camera for £400 about 8 months ago, and it is truly a fantastic piece of equipment. Where as the more traditional digital cameras are simply point and shoot, the Nikon allows you to really make the most of any situation due to the many different features and settings. I am looking for another digital camera for a christmas present, and I am unable to find a better camera for the money! You will not regret this purchase, especially now it is under £300!!!