Nikcon coolpix 4600 live up to it's name... (Nikon Coolpix 4600)

Member Name: sugarcultsweetie

Product:	Nikon Coolpix 4600
Date:	10/06/09 (22 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Simple to use, hard wearing, impressive range of shooting options

Disadvantages: Memory card not overly protected...

My parents bought me this camera as a birthday present and for a school art trip to Paris, and four years later it's still my trusty companion, working perfectly and fulfilling all my casual snapper's needs. Having used several friends cameras I much prefer mine, and believe that the nikon coolpix 4600 is a brilliant buy for a non-professional photographer of any age.

Body...

The camera fits into your hand perfectly, a robust light silver block that measures roughly 3cm thick - I have seen several slimmer cameras, but the Nikon 4600 balances aesthetic pleasure and simple button and camera screen layout. A screw for mobile podiums and the battery lid are easily found on the bottom of the camera, the on/off button and shoot on the top, and the memory card slot on the side along with an area to loop a lanyard or wrist strap onto. A wheel on the back allows shooting modes and scene styles to be chosen from simply without a massive onscreen menu to navigate. The screen itself - again I have seen bigger- but it it more than sufficient to check pictures, and nagivate the simple camera options onscreen.

As a whole, this camera has proven very resistant to active wear and tear, remaining unscratched, chipped, and all buttons working perfectly. It has been repaired once - due to being inadvertantly hurled across a hard tiled floor with the lense extended, so hardly proving a surprise - this repair was carried out through a third party extended guarantee (Jessops), so unfortunately I can't offer any experience of Nikon's returns policy.

Using this camera...

Relatively ignorant of modern technology, I found this camera amazingly easy to use and was fast navigating the full range of photographic options available. 12 scene options, 6 portrait options, 5 landscape options, 6 night-time options and even specialised sports options allow any range of scenarios to be expertly photographed. Colour options (black and white, sepia etc.) and lighting balance can be controlled, and the 5 flash options proved perfect to my art portfolio with photos of items indoors, outdoors, in glass cases and deep shade being of excellent quality.

The software provided with the camera for your computer is simple to use, uploading pictures and videos being extremely easy. The USB cable is provided with the camera as expected, and simply speaking anyone is capable of both using and uploading pictures with the Nikon 4600, no matter how technology-averse.

Negative aspects....

The only problem I have experienced with the Nikon 4600 is the memory card slot. A finger-shaped dint in the lid makes it very easy to open, and unfortunatley on a night out I without noticing managed to flick this open, apply a little pressure to the memory card, that as a result pinged oput of the casmera and was never seen again. Considering the need to remove or insert a memory card in a digital camera, I would have been happier with something more difficult to get into!

Conclusion... The Nikon coolpix 4600 is a great camera for any casual user, simple to use and providing a good range of options and shooting styles. A fantastic buy!

Summary: Great choice for a family cam or casual photographer

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