Nikon Coolpix 4100 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
By: Nikon Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 41
More Information
 On: 2007-12-12
If paying under $75.00, go ahead and get it... and know that youre getting for a $75.00 camera.
Positives: it has a lot of features to alter the tint of the photos, has simple on-camera photo editing, red-eye reduction, good zoom, etc. All the very basic essentials you need. And a descent little working camera if you dont pay to much.
Negatives: The flash is way to bright for most subjects and bleaches our the foreground easily (i had to tape a tissue over my flash), has a MAJOR tendency to be extremely blurry if you opt not to use the ridiculously bright flash, gives indoor (using flash) photos a plastic, shadow-less, unnatural look, has a Looonnggg delay after you press the shutter (you WILL miss most your shots by 2 seconds), you must hold it EXTREMELY steady on some settings to produce a half-way decent non-blurred picture, many of the settings dont do what they claim (for example, the fireworks setting has never got me decent photos of fireworks-- they are always blurred, way too dark, and the shutter button delay causes you to miss the explosion every time).
Dont buy this if youre looking for a nice aesthetic (tone, shadow, etc) to your shots or quick camera response. Do get it if you need something to mess around with or arent picky about picture quality. This would probably be a great gift for a child or young teen who would love his/her first digital camera-- its simple to figure out, has the basic features, lots of settings to play with, and cheap.
 On: 2007-06-08
Ive had the Nikon Coolpix 4100 for about 2 years and I have to say that I love it. At this point Im familiar with its many modes and have experimented with taking different kinds of pictures and different situations. It has turned me into an ansul adams! This is my first digital camera and I have never enjoyed taking pictures this much.
Two gripes: the LCD screen is small by todays standards which makes it hard to see your picture. There is a noticeable lag between pictures, where you have to wait for the camera to ready itself before you can take the next picture. This isnt always a problem unless you take a lot of pictures of subjects in motion.
 On: 2006-04-20
Picture quality is excellent, especially for a 4 mp camera. The problem is, even with a high speed (80x) SD card installed it takes 5-6 seconds for the picture to save; even when taking low res pictures (that doesnt sound like much unless you consider the millisecond that a kid is able to hold still and look at the camera). When I researched SD cards, I discovered that a high speed card, should be able to transfer data at 8-10 megs a second so Im not sure why the 4100 is only able to transfer 1/2 a meg per second.
Nikon support states that the test camera they have there also saves at that rate.
My Dads 5 mp HP camera saves pictures in less than 2 seconds :(
On: 2006-04-19
Picture quality is excellent, especially for a 4 mp camera. The problem is, even with a high speed (80x) SD card installed it takes 5-6 seconds for the picture to save; even when taking low res pictures (that doesnt sound like much unless you consider the millisecond that a kid is able to hold still and look at the camera). When I researched SD cards, I discovered that a high speed card, should be able to transfer data at 8-10 megs a second so Im not sure why the 4100 is only able to transfer 1/2 a meg per second.
Nikon support states that the test camera they have there also saves at that rate.
My Dads 5 mp HP camera saves pictures in less than 2 seconds :(
On: 2006-01-14
This was a great little camera until the screen turned blck, and looked like it was shattered. We sent it in to the dealer, hoping to have it replaced as it was under warranty. They would not honor the warranty, and said Labor costs would be 180.00, plus 12.00 shipping, plus almost 8.00 tax for the repair!!! (Almost as much as the camera cost).... After many emails back and forth, they could only offer 20% good will discount. We were very disappointed that they would not try to do more to keep a satisfied customer. We will never buy another Nikon.
 On: 2005-11-17
It has been over a year now since I have bought this camera. I had upgraded from the previous Nikon 4000 model (which was equally good, but did not have a sound function for movie mode capturing.) And about 800 plus pictures and 300 movie clips later, (Although I cant post some of the pictures I made with the camera here... since I didnt make the purchase through Amazon but another store) I still love the camera very much. I have been through a lot with this camera. From the get go, Its a great buy. I recommend others buying a camera for the first time to get it. Absolutely. And Ill also post some helpful hints as to what to expect when buying this camera:
Pros:
1) Small enough to fit in your hand perfectly, (esp. with a person with small hands like me)
2)Uses AA batteries... trust me, with two Duracell batteries in there, I get about and average of 140 pictures. Its great.
3)Takes great pictures (when I say great, believe ME... it takes some GREAT pictures). And I also know too when shopping for a camera, its a pain in the behind, but it definetely helps if you know someone (like me) who has used the product EXTENSIVELY, and its fantastic. Trust me when I have it went through extensive usage... I took possibly 800 pictures plus with it. You really learn with time to really get to love this camera. I would love to share some pics that I have taken (but like mentioned the camera was not purchased on Amazon, and its very comparable to pictures that could be taken with a 4,000 dollar professional digital camera. And Im still an amateur photographer.
4)Those very handy scene modes... really great function when you learn to really know how to fully utilize them. But remember, as with any new digital camera purchase, keep in mind there will absolutely be a learning curve, where you need to use the product and know what everything does until you fully max out the cameras true potential.
5)Its pretty darn sturdy for a small camera. Its true. I dropped the camera on hard concrete, from about say oh 7 feet off the ground, and when I picked it up, I was almost in tears thinking I broke it. But I turned it on, everything worked perfectly fine. This camera is so awesome.
Now the Cons:
1) Its really hard to take pictures in low light situations. For instance, the screen looks really dark, or very grainy. Like say taking some pictures at a Chilis restaurant or something like that. You really have to work the camera to get some good pictures, and some times you wont get anything. Expect that. But when you pull it off, oh man are those some good pictures.
2) The movie mode. Again, in low light situations, its pretty grainy and doesnt understand the light flow around quite well. But oh well, its not a camcorder or anything so I guess you shouldnt expect too much from it. But in good lighting situations, it takes some good clips.
3) The time it takes from picture to picture. For this function, I need a higher end camera to get faster pictures yes I know, but its still pretty darn annoying to wait till the blinking red light on the viewfinder turns a solid green. I missed some good shots waiting for it to finish saving.
4)Digital zoom. That function is pretty much worthless. Every attempt at using the functions made 99% percent of my pictures look like junk, and thats WITH good light available. Simply limit use to the 3x zoom available and you should be fine.
5) And thats about all that I can think of at the moment. *whew*
**Final Word: This is a great camera for a beginner since its easy to use, and for intermediates also. For professionals, probably not, due to many limitations it may have. (But its not meant for that reason anywho, so that doesnt count. Its a fantastic point and shoot camera. Period.)
On: 2005-10-19
I bought this camera through Staples and thankfully purchased the warranty through Staples as well as Nikon. After one month of using the camera, the lens does not shut and every single picture I take the corners are cut off and blackened at the top right and bottom left. To fix this, I would have to send the camera to Nikon and then I would be without a camera. I have not yet (had the camera since Feb 2005) taken a GOOD photo inside with the flash. Ive tried every setting and it always turns out yellow and futuristic. This is not a good camera for the price you pay - save your money and invest in a different brand. Im waiting out until Feb 2006 when my Nikon warranty is up and am headed back to Staples to get a new camera - preferably NOT Nikon. The batteries do exhaust themselves fast - (I have rechargeable batteries) and find myself switching them up at least twice in a 24h period. I regret buying this camera every day that I use it.
On: 2005-08-30
I purchased the Nikon Coolpix 4100 for $164.00 (that was the price on Overstock... but theyve since sold out which is to be expected). I have had the camera for a little over 5 months now and still love it. I wont debate the fact that the reload time takes an extra second but are we really that impatient? Ive never missed a shot because of the reload time.
The Nikon has a lot of capabilities for its price such as video imaging and you can record a message to go along with your pictures.
Last month, I lost my Nikon for 2 weeks and I was about to purchase another camera but couldnt find any that I was willing to pay for to match up to the Nikon, but luckily I found my camera so I didnt have to worry about buying another. I dont take it for granted anymore.
As far as the batteries go, Ill admit, I used up about 3 pairs of AA batteries within the first 3 days of having my camera. At the same time I must say that I did play with it from the time I woke up until I went to bed again. To remedy the problem, I bought the Lithium AA (Energizer brand) and I havent had to replace the batteries in two months. Imagine that. :)
Get the camera, you wont regret it.
On: 2005-08-29
I purchased the Nikon Coolpix 4100 for $164.00 (that was the price on Overstock... but theyve since sold out which is to be expected). I have had the camera for a little over 5 months now and still love it. I wont debate the fact that the reload time takes an extra second but are we really that impatient? Ive never missed a shot because of the reload time.
The Nikon has a lot of capabilities for its price such as video imaging and you can record a message to go along with your pictures.
Last month, I lost my Nikon for 2 weeks and I was about to purchase another camera but couldnt find any that I was willing to pay for to match up to the Nikon, but luckily I found my camera so I didnt have to worry about buying another. I dont take it for granted anymore.
As far as the batteries go, Ill admit, I used up about 3 pairs of AA batteries within the first 3 days of having my camera. At the same time I must say that I did play with it from the time I woke up until I went to bed again. To remedy the problem, I bought the Lithium AA (Energizer brand) and I havent had to replace the batteries in two months. Imagine that. :)
Get the camera, you wont regret it.
On: 2005-05-20
If you ever want to photograph some events or occations where you cant say can you please pose for me? dont buy this camera. This is the slowest camera I have seen. You WILL miss some actions for sure.
For Indoor photos, you need to use the flash, almost always. Else it gives blurr. This eats up the battery life
It has the other features as you can see in the specifications.
Nikon itself came out with a new 4.0 MP model and ignores coolpix 4100 and that says it all.
On: 2005-05-16
Within a couple of months of buying this product, it started giving trouble in respect of sensing the battery. A couple of shots after inserting a set of brand new batteries, the camera starts indicating that the battery is exhausted/low and one cannot shoot any more photos (or do anything else). The problem is intermittent - it works sometimes. It has been a really frustrating experience and I am still trying to sort this out.
On: 2005-05-15
Within a couple of months of buying this product, it started giving trouble in respect of sensing the battery. A couple of shots after inserting a set of brand new batteries, the camera starts indicating that the battery is exhausted/low and one cannot shoot any more photos (or do anything else). The problem is intermittent - it works sometimes. It has been a really frustrating experience and I am still trying to sort this out.
On: 2005-04-22
Why dont you go ahead and buy this just for the thrill of guessing when the zoom motor will stop working. Took just over a year for me (lots of people reported the same). Sending in for repair will come in at the price of buying a new camera - which will be a non-Nikon for me.
On: 2005-04-04
I bought this camera a month ago and havent stopped taking pictures. I use it for my web pages and with 4 MP at less than 200 dollars you cant go wrong. Plus it takes full 360 degree panoramic images that are stitched together to make a 360 image. You just have to add it as a mmFlash component to your webpage.
On: 2005-03-12
I wanted at least 4.0 (guarantees a better quality photo and larger print then 3.0 & 2.0) which the Nikon coolpix 4100 has and I didnt want to pay much. When I got online and saw I could get the coolpix for under $200 (almost all 4.0 megpix are around $300) I couldnt resist buying it but then I read a couple bad reviews and wonder if I made a good buy.
After actually using the Coolpix 4100 I can clarify some of those bad reviews. I notice in most of the bad reviews the people are comparing the coolpix 4100 to $500-$1,000 cameras (that I own too)is not fair. Its like buying a ford escort because its cheap and then complaining about how it doesnt measure up to a hummer.
SHUTTER SPEED----Some reviews complained about the shutter time being to slow. After you snap your picture the screen goes black (for about 1 to 1.5 seconds) remember it has to transfer your photo to memory it TAKES TIME, before it comes back up to were you can snap another picture. !!!!!!You Really dont wait that Long!!!!!!!!! espcially if you Never used a more exspensive model then youll never EVEN notice the coolpix has a delay, others did because again they were comparing a ford to hummer. If you want a camera that has like 0.1/1000th of delay (means you can snap a picture & be back up within blink of an eye to snap another picture)so dont miss any shot, then I suggest buying a digital Canon EOS for $2,000.
BATTIER----Some reviews complain because it uses AAA battier and they dont last long. Be glad it uses AAA if it use a lithium the camera would cost $200-$300 more and you wont even be looking at it. Lithium does last longer but it cost more to build lithium capability into a camera; By Nikon putting in AAA knocks about $200 off the price.
As for the AAA battier not lasting long enough, I think those people are leaving the camera on while they sleep or something. The 1st day I got my camera (using the batters that came in the box) I took picture from 12pm till late at night testing all the different modes it had, in different lights. I even used the cameras battier to up loaded my pictures unto my computer and I still had plenty of battier power for the next day.
FLASH -- Ill agree with the reviews that said the flash isnt very good ( why I gave it 4 stars). The flash really doesnt light up a dark room, most of the picture I took inside my house at night did seem to be a little darkish & I got red eyes (with the red eye reduction on) but you could still see my kids faces and I use the software to remove the red eye so I thought the picture came out pretty good. You can shop around But I gaurentee all digital under $200 the flash wont be really that great (again why it cost less then $2,000 camera). But the one thing the coolpix has that other lower price cameras dont; is a back flash (which is a slower ISO) it will light up dark room really well (but this is something you have to set yourself in the flash menu it wont do it automatically)
PICTURE QUALITY -- with 4.0 megpix you wont be disappointed, I dont think I read any bad reviews on picture quality. I took over 60 pictures of my cats running, my kids jumping up and down and all the picture were Clear and Blur free, which amazed Me because I have hard time getting that sometimes with my Canon EOS. And the button are so easy to use on the coolpix (I figured them all out wihtout even opening the manual)
Over all if your mainly looking at size & ****PRICE**** of this camera, then you wont be disappoint. I think some people are excepting to much from the low price camera by comparing it to $2,000 digital. Im very please with this camera I think its the best camera out there for the Price, The price says it all!!!! Under $200 for 4.0 you cant do any better.
On: 2005-03-11
I wanted at least 4.0 (guarantees a better quality photo and larger print then 3.0 & 2.0) which the Nikon coolpix 4100 has and I didnt want to pay much. When I got online and saw I could get the coolpix for under $200 (almost all 4.0 megpix are around $300) I couldnt resist buying it but then I read a couple bad reviews and wonder if I made a good buy.
After actually using the Coolpix 4100 I can clarify some of those bad reviews. I notice in most of the bad reviews the people are comparing the coolpix 4100 to $500-$1,000 cameras (that I own too)is not fair. Its like buying a ford escort because its cheap and then complaining about how it doesnt measure up to a hummer.
SHUTTER SPEED----Some reviews complained about the shutter time being to slow. After you snap your picture the screen goes black (for about 1 to 1.5 seconds) remember it has to transfer your photo to memory it TAKES TIME, before it comes back up to were you can snap another picture. !!!!!!You Really dont wait that Long!!!!!!!!! espcially if you Never used a more exspensive model then youll never EVEN notice the coolpix has a delay, others did because again they were comparing a ford to hummer. If you want a camera that has like 0.1/1000th of delay (means you can snap a picture & be back up within blink of an eye to snap another picture)so dont miss any shot, then I suggest buying a digital Canon EOS for $2,000.
BATTIER----Some reviews complain because it uses AAA battier and they dont last long. Be glad it uses AAA if it use a lithium the camera would cost $200-$300 more and you wont even be looking at it. Lithium does last longer but it cost more to build lithium capability into a camera; By Nikon putting in AAA knocks about $200 off the price.
As for the AAA battier not lasting long enough, I think those people are leaving the camera on while they sleep or something. The 1st day I got my camera (using the batters that came in the box) I took picture from 12pm till late at night testing all the different modes it had, in different lights. I even used the cameras battier to up loaded my pictures unto my computer and I still had plenty of battier power for the next day.
FLASH -- Ill agree with the reviews that said the flash isnt very good ( why I gave it 4 stars). The flash really doesnt light up a dark room, most of the picture I took inside my house at night did seem to be a little darkish & I got red eyes (with the red eye reduction on) but you could still see my kids faces and I use the software to remove the red eye so I thought the picture came out pretty good. You can shop around But I gaurentee all digital under $200 the flash wont be really that great (again why it cost less then $2,000 camera). But the one thing the coolpix has that other lower price cameras dont; is a back flash (which is a slower ISO) it will light up dark room really well (but this is something you have to set yourself in the flash menu it wont do it automatically)
PICTURE QUALITY -- with 4.0 megpix you wont be disappointed, I dont think I read any bad reviews on picture quality. I took over 60 pictures of my cats running, my kids jumping up and down and all the picture were Clear and Blur free, which amazed Me because I have hard time getting that sometimes with my Canon EOS. And the button are so easy to use on the coolpix (I figured them all out wihtout even opening the manual)
Over all if your mainly looking at size & ****PRICE**** of this camera, then you wont be disappoint. I think some people are excepting to much from the low price camera by comparing it to $2,000 digital. Im very please with this camera I think its the best camera out there for the Price, The price says it all!!!! Under $200 for 4.0 you cant do any better.
On: 2005-03-03
This camera takes great shots. Nikon optics are known superb. Other negative comments are overexaggerated such as slow shutter speed. Yes, its not a fast as the $1,000.00 SRLs, but,these are not the same class cameras. The bottom line is the optics, and the abilty to view your photos on the spot for a better second "take".
On: 2005-03-02
This camera takes great shots. Nikon optics are known superb. Other negative comments are overexaggerated such as slow shutter speed. Yes, its not a fast as the $1,000.00 SRLs, but,these are not the same class cameras. The bottom line is the optics, and the abilty to view your photos on the spot for a better second "take".
On: 2005-02-26
I have this camera for 4 months now. Generally, it takes good pictures. However, if you have young children and intend to take a lot of inside photos, where the flash is used, I would not recommend this camera for the following reasons: (1) the shutter delay is very noticable (after you press the button and by the time the picture is captured, the kid has moved out of the picture), (2) when the flash is used, this camera take a long time to recharge the flash and until the flash is recharged you cannot take another picture (the delay is roughly 10 seconds for an inside shot -- for me). Anyway, I was so fustrated by having a lot of shots of my kids head and missing a few pictures waiting for the flash to recycle, I broke down and got a Kodak. But I will still keep this camera as a backup because it is fairly compact and does OK for taking outside pictures.
On: 2005-02-25
I have this camera for 4 months now. Generally, it takes good pictures. However, if you have young children and intend to take a lot of inside photos, where the flash is used, I would not recommend this camera for the following reasons: (1) the shutter delay is very noticable (after you press the button and by the time the picture is captured, the kid has moved out of the picture), (2) when the flash is used, this camera take a long time to recharge the flash and until the flash is recharged you cannot take another picture (the delay is roughly 10 seconds for an inside shot -- for me). Anyway, I was so fustrated by having a lot of shots of my kids head and missing a few pictures waiting for the flash to recycle, I broke down and got a Kodak. But I will still keep this camera as a backup because it is fairly compact and does OK for taking outside pictures.
On: 2005-02-25
After viewing many Digital Cameras from the high to low price range, I saw this one and jumped!!! It is very easy to use!!! I love it!!! <br />
<br />
It is small enough to put in my purse or pocket it takes Great Photos & for the price its really worth it!!! <br />
<br />
I could not find a better camera priced as good as this one with as many MPs... I would recommend this camera to first time users and to some one who wants a Great quality camera for a Great Price!!!!
On: 2005-02-20
I used to have an Olympus Camedia 4100, and decided to switch to a smaller camera with the same resolution. The performance of this Nikon is really disappointing. In auto-focus mode, photos mostly turn out blurry (which never happened with my old Olympus). The camera does offer different settings for different types of shots (portrait, indoor, outdoor, sunset etc.), but only portrait generally produces crispness comparable to what I am used to.
On: 2005-02-19
Good camera, good quality pictures.
3X optical zoom isnt enought if zooming is all about and this is the same to any other camera/brand!
There is an annoying point in it - the long time it takes to process the picture and get ready to new one!
Battery life may be an issue if you do use the LCD screen a lot!
Optical viewer is ok to use... note the green light for focus and shoot and may save you a lot of battery power!
On: 2005-02-13
I bought this camera after reviewing many and I am very happy with my choice (especially for the price). It is small, lightweight and very easy to use. I took it out of the box and started using it immediately. The pictures are great! The sound quality is a little low for recording but I bought a camera not a camcorder. I havent used a SD memory card yet but the internal memory holds about 15-20 pics and I have just uploaded them to clear the memory. I am very please and would definately recommend this camera.
On: 2005-02-10
I bought this camera to replace an aging Canon Powershot A10, mostly for snapshots of friends and activities. After using it for a few weeks, I had to return it.
On the positive side, it boots up quickly if you disable the power-up animation. Its light and can be used with one hand. The zoom and the controls work smoothly, and battery life is long using only two AA batteries. The macro mode seems to focus well. Write times to the memory card are average. Outdoor photos are sharp and have good contrast.
On the negative side, its SLOW. Everything about this camera is slow. Focusing is slow and not very good, especially indoors (restaurant level lighting, for example). The flash recharge is slow, but whats worse, the display shuts off when its recharging so you cant review the picture. There are too many layers to the menu, and simple functions like cycling through the flash types require more than one button (bring up flash menu, select flash type using up/down buttons, and hit OK).
For a camera aimed at the point-and-shoot user, theres too much waiting. Missing a shot is worse than getting a bad shot, and thats what I found myself doing with this camera. Ive used Canon and Olympus models in this price range, and they are both better alternatives.
On: 2005-02-10
This is my second digital camera. I own Canon Powershot G2 and I am very happy with it but I was looking for a light, small camera to take it with me anywhere is the pocket or purse. Coolpix 4100 is a cheap, handy camera, very easy to use. You can take great shots with it. The only thing which may bother is the flash. It is not very strong so pictures taken with a bad light may be blurry. And everytime you take photo with a flash, you will need to wait few seconds before the flash recharges. However, for that amount of money, I think it is a great buy!
On: 2005-02-09
I bought this camera to replace an aging Canon Powershot A10, mostly for snapshots of friends and activities. After using it for a few weeks, I had to return it.
On the positive side, it boots up quickly if you disable the power-up animation. Its light and can be used with one hand. The zoom and the controls work smoothly, and battery life is long using only two AA batteries. The macro mode seems to focus well. Write times to the memory card are average. Outdoor photos are sharp and have good contrast.
On the negative side, its SLOW. Everything about this camera is slow. Focusing is slow and not very good, especially indoors (restaurant level lighting, for example). The flash recharge is slow, but whats worse, the display shuts off when its recharging so you cant review the picture. There are too many layers to the menu, and simple functions like cycling through the flash types require more than one button (bring up flash menu, select flash type using up/down buttons, and hit OK).
For a camera aimed at the point-and-shoot user, theres too much waiting. Missing a shot is worse than getting a bad shot, and thats what I found myself doing with this camera. Ive used Canon and Olympus models in this price range, and they are both better alternatives.
On: 2005-02-07
We bought this camera and returned it because the lag time (between pressing button and camera actually taking picture) was SO SLOOOOOW. This problem is especially pronounced in lower light (like indoors with regular lights on in the room). We went to a camera store and compared identical shooting conditions to a couple of other cameras (Canon Elph and A85 among them) and the difference was huge. This camera is basically useless if you want to shoot anything alive that might move. The guy at the camera store said he has gotten similar complaints and felt it was one of the slower cameras.
On: 2005-01-30
My family and I are very pleased with this camera. The picture quality is outstanding. It is very easy to use and is lightweight. I couldnt have gotten a better camera for the price!
On: 2005-01-27
The shutter speed on this camera is so slow that it makes this camera worthless.
On: 2005-01-22
I had the chance to try this camera before I buy it and I have to say that it was a lot better than other 4 megapixels camera and its very small size is very convenient. It is powerful enough to take great pictures during the day, at night or indoors with poor light, the autofocus feature works perfectly for every situation and the AA betteries last long enough. What I like the most is the video feature, I took some and then played them with Windows Media Player and I was very impressed with its image and sound quality.
Go for it! Great digital camera!
On: 2005-01-21
I had the chance to try this camera before I buy it and I have to say that it was a lot better than other 4 megapixels camera and its very small size is very convenient. It is powerful enough to take great pictures during the day, at night or indoors with poor light, the autofocus feature works perfectly for every situation and the AA betteries last long enough. What I like the most is the video feature, I took some and then played them with Windows Media Player and I was very impressed with its image and sound quality.
Go for it! Great digital camera!
On: 2005-01-16
I got this camera as a gift and it is the first digital camera I have had. I am very happy with it and my pictures are turning out better than ever. It is simple to operate and the menus are very easy to follow and navigate. I use it mainly for snapshots and for taking along while traveling when I dont want to lug my other camera along. Its small size is perfect for putting in a pocket or purse.
The quality of the pictures it takes is Very,very good. You can compare pictures from this camera (actually the 3 Megapixel version) and the Nikon D70 (Nikons top of the line digital)at image-resource.com. The pictures from the Coolpix are nearly as good as the ones from the D70! In fact you can compare pictures from almost any camera on the market. In my opinion the Coolpix is superior to many more expensive cameras. Check it out. In the close up setting the Coolpix is far better than almost every camera out there!
I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because the flash is only average, and you can get blury shots in low light. This camera does have a neat feature with its blur warning, if it reads that light is to low it will warn you. I am still learning this camera so there might be a way to adjust for this. Putting the camera on a small tripod for low light shots would solve this too.
Overall, I am very satisfied with how easy it is to use and the quality of the pictures it takes.
 On: 2005-01-15
Ive had the Coolpix 4100 camera for a few weeks now (about 300 photos). Size, weight, controls, menus are all easy to use. Outdoor, high ambient light photos and performance are excellent. File transfer to computer is very easy becuase the camera is recognized as an external drive.
Indoors, flash is necessary for every shot even in moderate light. Time for flash recovery is 7 to 8 seconds with fresh NiMH batteries. Flash range is very short (~6 feet).
I would not recommend this camera for anyone who will use it primarily for indoor photos with short times between shots.
On: 2005-01-15
I got this camera as a gift and it is the first digital camera I have had. I am very happy with it and my pictures are turning out better than ever. It is simple to operate and the menus are very easy to follow and navigate. I use it mainly for snapshots and for taking along while traveling when I dont want to lug my other camera along. Its small size is perfect for putting in a pocket or purse.
The quality of the pictures it takes is Very,very good. You can compare pictures from this camera (actually the 3 Megapixel version) and the Nikon D70 (Nikons top of the line digital)at image-resource.com. The pictures from the Coolpix are nearly as good as the ones from the D70! In fact you can compare pictures from almost any camera on the market. In my opinion the Coolpix is superior to many more expensive cameras. Check it out. In the close up setting the Coolpix is far better than almost every camera out there!
I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because the flash is only average, and you can get blury shots in low light. This camera does have a neat feature with its blur warning, if it reads that light is to low it will warn you. I am still learning this camera so there might be a way to adjust for this. Putting the camera on a small tripod for low light shots would solve this too.
Overall, I am very satisfied with how easy it is to use and the quality of the pictures it takes.
On: 2005-01-14
I bought the Coolpix 4100 for two reasons:
1.) It was generally well-reviewed from several online sources.
2.) The price with package rebates was very good.
I was very diappointed with the performance of the camera once I got it home - my 4 year-old HP 2 megapixel camera is easier to use and takes better photos. The cameras poor performance is not due to any defect, since I purchased another Coolpix 4100 from a local source and it has the same poor performance. Nor is it operator error, since Im not a novice - but a good consumer digital camera should give acceptable performance for most situations right out of the box for even novice users.
The GOOD:
1. Uses 2 AA NiMHs - I didnt experience excessive power drain as some people have complained.
2. Very lightweight.
3. Decent outdoor performance.
4. Good macro performance.
5. Low price.
The BAD:
1. Didnt like the new 128MB SD card I got along with the camera and would reject it on power-up about 1/2 the time.
2. Menu system sub-par, requiring several layers of navigation, although it does seem to keep settings after power-off.
3. Only ISO 50,100,200 equivalent speed - no ISO 400 as found in most 4 MP cameras.
4. Slow cycle time after flash usage.
The UGLY:
1. *TERRIBLE* autofocus system with no manual alternative. Failed to achieve focus lock in most low-light settings, and even when "locked", most of my indoor photos were blurred in the default camera setting and "Indoor/Party" SCENE setting. Only using the "Backlit" SCENE setting was I able to get even marginally acceptable photos indoors.
2. Poor image quality (when not blurred) compared to my co-workers Sony DSC-P92 digicam in side-by-side tests.
3. Extreme ghosting in fluorescent lighting, even when white-balanced for that situation.
This camera (and the printer and SD card I got for the rebates) are going back...probably will get an A85 instead or stick with my trusty vintage Minolta X-700. Very, very disappointing for a Nikon product.
On: 2005-01-13
First digital that Ive owned. Find it very easy to use. If youre familiar with cameras at all, then using this camera should be rather intuitive.
On: 2005-01-13
I bought the Coolpix 4100 for two reasons:
1.) It was generally well-reviewed from several online sources.
2.) The price with package rebates was very good.
I was very diappointed with the performance of the camera once I got it home - my 4 year-old HP 2 megapixel camera is easier to use and takes better photos. The cameras poor performance is not due to any defect, since I purchased another Coolpix 4100 from a local source and it has the same poor performance. Nor is it operator error, since Im not a novice - but a good consumer digital camera should give acceptable performance for most situations right out of the box for even novice users.
The GOOD:
1. Uses 2 AA NiMHs - I didnt experience excessive power drain as some people have complained.
2. Very lightweight.
3. Decent outdoor performance.
4. Good macro performance.
5. Low price.
The BAD:
1. Didnt like the new 128MB SD card I got along with the camera and would reject it on power-up about 1/2 the time.
2. Menu system sub-par, requiring several layers of navigation, although it does seem to keep settings after power-off.
3. Only ISO 50,100,200 equivalent speed - no ISO 400 as found in most 4 MP cameras.
4. Slow cycle time after flash usage.
The UGLY:
1. *TERRIBLE* autofocus system with no manual alternative. Failed to achieve focus lock in most low-light settings, and even when "locked", most of my indoor photos were blurred in the default camera setting and "Indoor/Party" SCENE setting. Only using the "Backlit" SCENE setting was I able to get even marginally acceptable photos indoors.
2. Poor image quality (when not blurred) compared to my co-workers Sony DSC-P92 digicam in side-by-side tests.
3. Extreme ghosting in fluorescent lighting, even when white-balanced for that situation.
This camera (and the printer and SD card I got for the rebates) are going back...probably will get an A85 instead or stick with my trusty vintage Minolta X-700. Very, very disappointing for a Nikon product.
On: 2005-01-12
Im very lucky to have this camera as my first digital camera. Its as small as you can put in your pocket. Easy to transfer to computer with just one click. I wish it has bigger screen so I can be sure the quality of the picture I take.
On: 2005-01-12
The Coolpix 4100 is a pretty great camera. I use my 1964 Canon SLR for the most part, but use the coolpix for small things, I wouldnt want to process on film. It fits well in my pocket, has a small internal memory, and a decent zoom. The quality of the images almost always blows me away, and Im glad for the manual theyve included. On the other hand, I cant say Im exactly happy with the software theyve included (and perfer to use Apples iPhoto in the iLife bundle). The batteries are another problem. It requires 2 AA batteries to operate and with frequent usage, they die...FAST, within days. Aside from the software and batteries, Id have to give this item a 4.5, although it is near perfeKt.
On: 2005-01-10
If you are looking for a very easy to use, ultra compact, 4Megapixel digital point and shoot camera that takes very good quality images, performs as well or better than, and is priced below most of the cameras in this class, than this camera is a very good choice. Are there better more versatile, more feature loaded 4 MP cameras out there? Yes. But at this price, this camera is hard to beat.
I am a very experienced photographer with my 35mm SLR but the Nikon Coolpix 4100 is my first digital camera. I chose it for its simple graphic menus and ease of use. I wanted a point and shoot that was small and light to carry with me but not so thin and tiny that it cost $600 and was impossible to get a good grip on. This camera is small but not tiny and has very nice ergonomics and is comfortable to hold without worry of dropping it.
I do not agree with the negative comments and reviews about this camera. PC magazine gave it only a fair rating but Steves Digicams and CDNET and a few other sites recommend it. So you may want to investigate more but it is my opinion that this is a good 4MP camera. It is extremely simple to use and almost anyone should be able to take it out of the box, put it on auto mode and take very nice pictures with it. My 8 year old son can operate it and take pictures with it, and that was another reason I chose this camera. As for battery life, yes it eats alkalines-dont bother with them- Get rechargables or a CRV-3 pack and battery life will be better than average or very good depending on how many flash pictures you take or how much reviewing you do.
The scene modes are nice in that they will automatically adjust the cameras ISO speed, shutter, and aperture to challenging lighting situations, so that you can take good shots in otherwise tough light. The ones I have tried so far seem to work well.
I have had this camera for several days now and I have been pleased with the results so far. I have run it through a series of tests and from what I can see it is a very cabable camera and the images are crisp, detailed and clear, with nice true to life color.
There are some weaknesses but for what it will be used for 90% of the time by 90% of people these are probably not major issues. It does tend to have a little noise in the shadows and dark areas but I think most cameras in this price and size range do because of small sensors. It has a little trouble focusing in low light but all digitals do as far as I know. Colors in the blue violet range can be a bit off depending on the light conditions. The flash is a little weak but if the subject is within 10 feet or so it does fine.
It lacks manual control. If you want the ability to adjust a whole lot of stuff that will probably make your pictures turn out worse than if you let the camera do it for you, then choose a different camera like the Canon A75 or A85. The Nikon 4100 does let you adjust white balance, exposure compensation, and color options along with all the different scene modes. I find I am experimenting with all of them. Advanced users may want more controls to experiment with than this camera offers but for a small, simple point and shoot that takes very good pictures it delivers.
Is it perfect? NO. that is why I gave it 4 stars and not 5. For ease of use it should get a 5 for sure.
On: 2005-01-05
First off let me say, how this excellent digital camera has got some bad reviews from people is "Mind boggling!" One person remarks he has been using this camera for months and is difficult to use... The Nikon 4100 is a *Point and shoot* camera and it comes with a instructional video CD. The instructions are simple to read with clear diagrams. Among the his other comments as "THE UGLY..the start up sequence for the 4100 (which I think is a cool animation with sound), long the 5 second flash recharge... and STRANGER, "having problems taking pictures in (even when photographing static components)" What ever that is???. And "Taking the memory in and out" To I guess??? "Start -er- up!" Heres another "Very poor focusing system, grainy pictures" "This camera is a mutt"...Well I say "BOOLA" to you! *LOL shaking my head in mind boggling aw*
As a Graphic Artist for 15 years I have seen the evolution of digital cameras threw the years. You want to talk about pixels and grain 8 years ago.. this camera is light years ahead in how it simplified, point and shoot... with it clear and useful settings, eliminating the complex use of shutter speeds and Fstops, the Nikon 4100 does it for you. Read your manuel, trust the different screen modes in your events in taking pictures. There is even a Nikon friendly website ( www.nikoncoolpix.com/splash.html ) where you can share your pictures and information forum with other Coolpix users...find that with other digital camera name brands.
The 4100 and the 3200 Coolpix are both identical as the only difference is the 1 extra megapixel advantage with in the 4100, you wont be able to tell the difference. As an sworn Olympus user. I have found the 4100 takes very clear quality pictures and insignificant grain, indoors and out... I use it to produce pictures for cover illustrations at its 300 dpi setting, up too 11X14 print size for use in the news paper print media and some hi gloss cover art. I am as picky as you get being artist and a stickler for detail. The flash does take 5 to 6 seconds to recharge but Im in no hurry as it gives me time to think about my next shot... unless your at some party in a drunken frenzy just snapping away which I might ad there is a stetting for that too... ( party mode) As I may remind you how many pictures your old 35 mm camera came out over flashed and over blurred or darker then space... Now you remember! Digital is here to save the day and so is Nikon.
The 4100 and the 3200 Coolpix do need rechargeable batteries as the its manufactured recommended (NiMH) batteries or CR-V3 lithium batteries... it is pointless to use Alkaline batteries in any digital camera using a built-in flash unit and view screen.
Buy a large capacity SD card to store you pictures at the highest setting / 4meg. I suggest 256 or better 512.
This is not a movie camera so dont expect DVD quality movies... it makes movies at 15 frames a second at 640 x 480 pixels... get a video camera if ya want hi 8 movies. I did send a 15 sec holiday movie greeting to family, via internet and it did a good job... its the thought in sound and picture that counts at this point not the VGA quality.
If you need some more intelligent and constructive comments from novice or professional people just like you go to http://imaging-resource.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/masterid=3140957/id_type=masterid
The Coolpix 4100 is a Nikon and lives up to the highest standards of its company name. My only peeve is I wish it had a bigger screen and easy to see in bright sunlight. View my pictures and you be the judge as only you can decide if the coolpix is for you, not some strange and off the wall comments deciding for you. I give The Nikon Co. Kudos for developing a low price, hi quality in a small package, easy to use point and shoot digital camera. I give it 5 stars.
On: 2005-01-04
The Coolpix 4100 is a pretty great camera. I use my 1964 Canon SLR for the most part, but use the coolpix for small things, I wouldnt want to process on film. It fits well in my pocket, has a small internal memory, and a decent zoom. The quality of the images almost always blows me away, and Im glad for the manual theyve included. On the other hand, I cant say Im exactly happy with the software theyve included (and perfer to use Apples iPhoto in the iLife bundle). The batteries are another problem. It requires 2 AA batteries to operate and with frequent usage, they die...FAST, within days. Aside from the software and batteries, Id have to give this item a 4.5, although it is near perfeKt.
On: 2005-01-04
First off let me say, how this excellent digital camera has got some bad reviews from people is "Mind boggling!" One person remarks he has been using this camera for months and is difficult to use... The Nikon 4100 is a *Point and shoot* camera and it comes with a instructional video CD. The instructions are simple to read with clear diagrams. Among the his other comments as "THE UGLY..the start up sequence for the 4100 (which I think is a cool animation with sound), long the 5 second flash recharge... and STRANGER, "having problems taking pictures in (even when photographing static components)" What ever that is???. And "Taking the memory in and out" To I guess??? "Start -er- up!" Heres another "Very poor focusing system, grainy pictures" "This camera is a mutt"...Well I say "BOOLA" to you! *LOL shaking my head in mind boggling aw*
As a Graphic Artist for 15 years I have seen the evolution of digital cameras threw the years. You want to talk about pixels and grain 8 years ago.. this camera is light years ahead in how it simplified, point and shoot... with it clear and useful settings, eliminating the complex use of shutter speeds and Fstops, the Nikon 4100 does it for you. Read your manuel, trust the different screen modes in your events in taking pictures. There is even a Nikon friendly website ( www.nikoncoolpix.com/splash.html ) where you can share your pictures and information forum with other Coolpix users...find that with other digital camera name brands.
The 4100 and the 3200 Coolpix are both identical as the only difference is the 1 extra megapixel advantage with in the 4100, you wont be able to tell the difference. As an sworn Olympus user. I have found the 4100 takes very clear quality pictures and insignificant grain, indoors and out... I use it to produce pictures for cover illustrations at its 300 dpi setting, up too 11X14 print size for use in the news paper print media and some hi gloss cover art. I am as picky as you get being artist and a stickler for detail. The flash does take 5 to 6 seconds to recharge but Im in no hurry as it gives me time to think about my next shot... unless your at some party in a drunken frenzy just snapping away which I might ad there is a stetting for that too... ( party mode) As I may remind you how many pictures your old 35 mm camera came out over flashed and over blurred or darker then space... Now you remember! Digital is here to save the day and so is Nikon.
The 4100 and the 3200 Coolpix do need rechargeable batteries as the its manufactured recommended (NiMH) batteries or CR-V3 lithium batteries... it is pointless to use Alkaline batteries in any digital camera using a built-in flash unit and view screen.
Buy a large capacity SD card to store you pictures at the highest setting / 4meg. I suggest 256 or better 512.
This is not a movie camera so dont expect DVD quality movies... it makes movies at 15 frames a second at 640 x 480 pixels... get a video camera if ya want hi 8 movies. I did send a 15 sec holiday movie greeting to family, via internet and it did a good job... its the thought in sound and picture that counts at this point not the VGA quality.
If you need some more intelligent and constructive comments from novice or professional people just like you go to http://imaging-resource.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/masterid=3140957/id_type=masterid
The Coolpix 4100 is a Nikon and lives up to the highest standards of its company name. My only peeve is I wish it had a bigger screen and easy to see in bright sunlight. View my pictures and you be the judge as only you can decide if the coolpix is for you, not some strange and off the wall comments deciding for you. I give The Nikon Co. Kudos for developing a low price, hi quality in a small package, easy to use point and shoot digital camera. I give it 5 stars.
On: 2004-12-31
I have just recieved this as a Xmas gift and was very impressed with the size and how easy it was to use. Got great black and whites as well as video streams. However I have take 24 pictures and have eaten through 6 batteries. The store does not tel you that you will get about 10 pics (this is without video) for every 2 AA batteries. The flash and screen eat up the batteries. I was about to buy a battery charger and realized for not that much more you can buy the 4200. Same great features and size but comes with a lithium ion battery in it which can take a full memory card before recharging, definetly the better deal. Though you save some with the 4100 upgrade to the 4200 if you dont want to be recharging or replacing batteries every 10 shots!
On: 2004-12-30
I have just recieved this as a Xmas gift and was very impressed with the size and how easy it was to use. Got great black and whites as well as video streams. However I have take 24 pictures and have eaten through 6 batteries. The store does not tel you that you will get about 10 pics (this is without video) for every 2 AA batteries. The flash and screen eat up the batteries. I was about to buy a battery charger and realized for not that much more you can buy the 4200. Same great features and size but comes with a lithium ion battery in it which can take a full memory card before recharging, definetly the better deal. Though you save some with the 4100 upgrade to the 4200 if you dont want to be recharging or replacing batteries every 10 shots!
On: 2004-12-29
This camera takes great pictures, and is fairly easy to use once you figure it all out. I will use it for simple things and as a secondary camera to my large 35mm SLR. I am a fairly skilled photographer so not having manual controls for f-stop and shutter speed is frustrating, but the different modes do all that so if you can figure them out youre alright. The biggest problem with this camera I have had is battery life. I have had it three days, and it has gone through three sets of Duracell alkaline batteries. Had no problems with the software; a simple way around the previously mentioned "problem" of the program wanting to scan all your pictures is to tell it not to do it. Hope this helps!!!
On: 2004-12-28
The 4100 recommended by camera shop and I could not be happier with it. Took it to China - perhaps a thousand photos - and beaufiful results. For the digital beginner you cant do better.
On: 2004-11-29
This is my first digital camera purchase.I bought the Nikon 4100 mostly because I love Nikon products.I bought this particular camera because of the price.I love it.It is simple to use for the beginner..yet has a lot of nice added features.The movie mode is lots of fun to play with.I think it takes great pictures.I have been happy with the picture quality.I love the small size.I highly recommend this camera to anyone.
On: 2004-10-06
I have been using the Nikon 4100 for two months and have found it very difficult to use. I use a camera for work, documenting defects in building construction. The other two cameras I use are a Cannon Digital Rebel and an Olympus D-520. To compare the group, lets get the good things out of the way first. It is small and fits easily in a pocket. It uses 2 AA batteries, so it is easy to get and carry spares. The quality of the photos is what you would expect in a 4 MP camera.
THE UGLY..the start up sequence for the 4100 seems at least twice as long as the Olympus. Once on, the time between button push and actually taking a picture makes the camera difficult to use (even when photographing static components). Frequently, it will not take a photo had you have to turn it off and back on (get a sandwich and take a break). I have never used the camera for a full day when I did not have to turn it off and remove and reinstall the memory card because the camera "lost" the card. The buttons on the back are very sensitive, making the camera almost impossible to use with one hand. When using it with one hand, you end up making sound recordings, movies, etc. There is more but this should give you the picture, no pun intended!
On: 2004-09-23
I absolutley love this camera. It is very user friendly. With the many settings and the zoom... you are bound to take good pictures. Ive had the camera for about a year and a half, taken nearly 3000 pictures, and havent had one problem. Although batteries do not last long in this camera. Most of my pictures turn out beautifully.
Yes, this camera is simple... but the quality is good. I suggest this camera for teenagers who are just wanting to have fun. Ive loved it...
On: 2004-09-01
The 4100 is an easy to use camera with several nice features that deliver better than expected results. It is perfect for vacations and parties, and most other personal uses. This is not a camera for photo enthusiast requiring lots of options and lots of zoom capability. Overall, it is a great bargain.
Pros:
- Priced a significant amount lower than competing models
- Very easy to use and intuitive menus
- Great picture quality (not excellent)
- Compact and solid, but not at the expense of usability
- Usefull scene and picture framing tools
Cons:
- The batteries wont last more than twenty five pics w/flash
- The LCD display is not so great in sunlight
- The 3x optical zoom is only good enough for close objects and portrait shots (this is why it is not 5 stars)
- The digital zoom seriously sacrifices image quality
On: 2004-08-31
The 4100 is an easy to use camera with several nice features that deliver better than expected results. It is perfect for vacations and parties, and most other personal uses. This is not a camera for photo enthusiast requiring lots of options and lots of zoom capability. Overall, it is a great bargain.
Pros:
- Priced a significant amount lower than competing models
- Very easy to use and intuitive menus
- Great picture quality (not excellent)
- Compact and solid, but not at the expense of usability
- Usefull scene and picture framing tools
Cons:
- The batteries wont last more than twenty five pics w/flash
- The LCD display is not so great in sunlight
- The 3x optical zoom is only good enough for close objects and portrait shots (this is why it is not 5 stars)
- The digital zoom seriously sacrifices image quality
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-15
Its the best deal if you wanna spend around 250$.
On: 2004-07-14
Its the best deal if you wanna spend around 250$.
|
|
