Neat, compact family digital camera (Nikon Coolpix 4200)

Member Name: dognick75

Product:	Nikon Coolpix 4200
Date:	27/04/06 (85 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Light, compact, easy to use. Excellent for home use. Quality build.

Disadvantages: Not a professional's camera

Coolpix 4200 is a very good entry level
'camera makers' camera from Nikon.
Easy to use and gives good if slightly
technicolour images with satisfactory resolution
from nice lens.
Feels slightly too small and compact in my hands
but build quality is fine.
Takes rather a long time to recharge flash after
each shot.
The right-hand grip, the weight of two AA batteries and a comfortable space for the right thumb ensures confident, steady handling. In use the 4200 is intuitive and its combination of buttons and on-screen menus are easy to master. To improve the speed of operation I invested in a Sandisk Ultra II 512mb memory card, which suits the camera well, plus some high-capacity rechargeables. Image quality is as good as you would expect from a well-known brand like Nikon, although the images straight from the camera appear rather soft. Using the software supplied to sharpen the images is highly recommended and the Nikon image-editor also allows you to straighten any wonky horizons. Nikon has a good reputation for macro shots and close-ups of flowers really shine with this camera.
Has lots of preset modes and image adjustments.
A fine snapshot camera but for more creative work,
a SLR type digital camera is a better long term buy.

Summary: Good value for money from reputable company

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