Nikon Coolpix 4600 4.0 Megapixel

Nikon has created a winner with the CoolPix 4600! It features a Compact Design, Lots of Automatic Features and it's priced just right for an entry level camera (about $180 retail). The CoolPix 4600 is a great choice for the person that wants to take a camera everywhere you go. Nikon has packed lots of features into this tiny 4 Megapixel camera. The camera controls and settings are intuitively designed and easily accessible. You don't need to read the manual before you can start using this camera!

The 4600 has a very small package design (approximately 3" x 2-1/2" x 1", 4 oz.). It easily fits into your shirt pocket. Even though this camera is small, Nikon has designed the body so that it's comfortable to hold without getting your fingers in the way of the lens.

The 4600 features Nikon's legendary Nikkor optics. It has a 3X optical zoom and a 4X digital zoom for an total zoom of 12X. It has a 1.5" LCD for viewing while taking or reviewing pictures. The display is a reasonable size and is easily viewable in daylight conditions.

One feature that Nikon has retained is an optical viewfinder. Many new digital cameras no longer provide an optical viewfinder. Using the optical viewfinder, instead of the LCD, is a great way to conserve power. Nikon's optical viewfinder also adjusts to the zoom level in realtime. You can get a pretty good idea of how the final image will turn out.

The CoolPix 4600's metering and autofocus use technology that works well in low/no light conditions. I have an old CoolPix 800 and it won't take a picture if there isn't enough ambient light for the metering and autofocus system. The ability to take pictures in low light is a big plus as far as I'm concerned. The 4600s built-in flash is bright and works well up to 3m (10 ft).

I would category as an advanced point-n-shoot camera. It has 12 preset scene modes and the ability to take video clips at 30 fps (no audio). This camera doesn't really have any manual options, so if you like to customize settings when you take pictures, this camera is probably not for you.

The CoolPix 4600 uses 2 AA batteries; you don't have to worry about replacing a proprietary battery. Two batteries make the camera light. Battery life is very good; you should be able to take dozens of pictures with one set or on one charge. The 4600 stores images on an SD card. It comes with a 16Mb SD card in the box. The 4600 interfaces with your computer via a mini-USB plug. It doesn't have an AV output, so you can't plug the 4600 directly to a television or other video device.

In summary, I think the CoolPix 4600 is a great value for the entry level photographer. It's numerous automatic settings & scene modes cover most lighting conditions that amateur photographers will encounter. It's 4 MP resolution and 3X optical zoom produce clear crisp images.

As of this writing, I believe that Nikon has replaced the CoolPix 4600 with the CoolPix L4. I've seen the CoolPix 4600 priced at about $150 retail at my local big box store (you might have to look for a sale). I haven't used the newer camera, but I would guess that it's an incremental update to the 4600's design. At a glance, the L4 has a larger LCD (2") and it appears that Nikon has removed the optical viewfinder.

If you have any comments, corrections or suggestions regarding this review, feel free to send me an e-mail. I'm always interested in improving my reviews and guides.

Previously I owned a Nikon Coolpix 2000 camera which my friend borrowed indefinitely. After that I bought a Sony camera that required repair twice. I decided to buy another Nikon Coolpix 2000 camera, but the price was only a little more for the Coolpix 4600. This camera takes fairly high-quality photos and is very easy to use. I like that it only requires 2 AA batteries for operation. One pair of batteries typically lasts 200 photos in this camera, with about half of the photos using the flash. Overall size is small enough to carry in my pocket, but it is not very slim.

The only things I don't like about this camera are the following:
1. In regular mode the flash off option quit working
2. The video feature does not record any audio
3. Features I like to use are missing or hard to find, like Sepia, exposure, and aperture settings
4. In cold weather, the lens cover does not always close the whole way

Overall it was a good buy and I'm happy with the product. I would buy another Nikon digital camera over any other brand any day.

Dave

First of all this little camera takes AMAZING pictures!!! Absolutely beautiful color and resolution. Secondly it has a million features and options, which I love. The lcd screen is bright and true, and all in all I'd give it a 9/10. The one thing that I saw a lot before I bought it in reviews is the lag time between pictures taken using the flash, it takes a few seconds longer than I'd like, but that is truly a minor problem when you see the incredible pictures! This camera is a must have for anyone begining photography or just wanting to catch those special moments!!

You can't find a better point and shoot for the money than the Nikon. We found it to very easy to use, of robust design and at >4.0 meg a great all around camera.

I originally bought this camera a year ago because I have a huge Sony digital that is too large and very difficult to carry around. Unfortunately I dropped it and damaged the lens so went to eBay to find another one.
This camera has all the functionality I need (I'm not a big picture taker), it's small, fits into my purse, takes great pictures, connects with my computer or my HP PhotoSmart printer with ease and it didn't cost an arm and a leg to buy. It has some wonderful features so I can experiment with different photo opportunities such as fireworks, or close up etc. If I read the instruction book a little more I'll probably find more things I can do with it. Nikon makes a great camera, and this little Coolpix 4600 is just perfect for me and my needs. It's a great all around camera at an affordable price.

This camera is absolutely wonderful! I would definitely recommend this camera to everyone. Images comes out vivid and sharp. Camera has a built in video for short movies as well. Perfect all around camera. Easy operation, nice screen for view your pictures.

It's the only digital camera I've ever owned. Image quality is out of this world. However, shooting indoors you should be close to your subject matter because the flash does not effectively light up a big room. Very intuitive controls. Very compact. Smallish display screen. I usually set the resolution at 2 megapixels. At this resolution 8 x 10 photos are crystal clear, and I can't understand why people want higher resolution. After nine months of heavy use overseas, mostly at an orphanage, and after taking more than 2000 photos, and after being handled hundreds of times by orphans the camera broke. It was a software glitch. When this happens you must send it back to the factory, and it's cheaper just to buy a new/used one on ebay. I have bought five of these cameras and given them as gifts to friends in Russia.

After reading the manual 3 times its still confusing as to how to operate the Coolpix 4600 even in the simplest mode. Very hard camera to use. I have a Kodak Easy Share which might be a lot older, but is much more easier to use.

this camera was purchased for my teenage daughter, which replaced an identical camera bought 2 years ago (due to human error),camera not waterproof.pictures are good enough to download on your computer to send.

Nikon makes a quality product. So simple to use and a pleasure to hold in one hand. only one gripe. a little slow to recover for another shot. Highly recommended

We owned a Nikon Coolpix already. We had bought it for a trip we made to the Czech Republic about a year ago. We loved the camera and the ease of operation and wanted our relatives in Europe to be able to send pictures easily and inexpensively, so looked up the camera on my favorite source - eBay!.I lost a few auctions before getting the camera for the price I wanted. The whole transaction went very smoothly and the camera arrived quickly in great condition with everything listed. This is an easy camera to learn to use and I expect to see those pictures arriving in email soon.

We purchased two of these for our children to use. Cameras are easy for them to operate. Optics and resolution of these cameras are excellent. Children love them.

The package came as described, shipped timely, and was well pretected. Would buy from seller again. The Camera came with everything it described, and in very good condition. Im very happy with the product, and the seller.

Good quality photos,easy to operate,nice camera.Nikon quality lens. The shipping
was very fast and I,am very happy with the Nikon camera.

I REALLY FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS SMALL CAMERA PICTURES ARE VERY SHARP COLORS ARE BRIGHT EASY TO HANDLE , LIGHT WEIGHT AND HAVE PANORAMIC SCENE.
I TRULY RECOMENDED.

This is the second time I have purchased this identical model. The first one was as a gift for my wife. As her job takes her around the world every week, I knew this would be an excellent camera, small enough to travel with effortlessly and also to produce excellent images. I too needed a smaller camera for quick use when it was not handy to carry my digital SLR. I keep this little camera with me at all times and I have been very pleased with it. It is quite simple to use and uses standard AA batteries. No need to recharge or run out of battery power. Memory is a common standard SD card type. I currently travel with 2, 2.0 G Ultra SD cards. Although this is an older model, it still ranks with the higher end, compact digital cameras.

I like this camera cause i like it and it works as hard as i do and it a work horse and its good to me so i like to buy them cause i need them and i work a lot cause im a worker man, and the batteries are changeable and the card is easy to find or change to a newer card. FIVE Stars ***** See the Stars

great little camera takes excellent pics and makes video(no sound)easy to use many functions to achieve good results.

My friend has one it takes great close up with its macro function. The price was right. I had problems with the seller. He never posted when he expected payment which was made within 3 days. So he said payment was late so shipping will be late. Then had the nerve to tell me I hasseled him through the whole transaction and did not leave me feedback....

I didn't I allowed my daughter to look for a camera and without reading the entire description she bid on it and I won a broken camera. I contacted seller to see if I could get out of it with no luck. I am not a repair person just a bidder trying to purchase a needed item at a price that wouldn't break me instead, I've paid for an item that doesn't work.

Ultrafast Shipping. Prdouct was here on e day after I won it!! Product is as described. Good Communication ! Great Ebayler!

I wanted a cheap digital camera because, although I am not an avid photographer, I AM not a "neophyte" either. I needed a digital camera so that I could sent pictures via e-mail and internet that are ALWAYS more usefull than verbal descriptions. Of course, you could use your cell phone camera but, hey, those things REALLY SUCK as far as delivering anything that the recipient could feel comfortable with. Having been exposed to the newest cameras, I felt that there is really no need for more than 2megapixels for most purposes and I decided to just try to get something cheap on e-bay.
Cheap? NOT ON YOUR LIFE! But it sure was INEXPENSIVE!
My Nikon 4600 is so beyond what I "needed" and as received it was so beyond what the pictures in the listing showed, that I concluded that the only reason why I was able to secure this camera for $24 was because no one knew that the pictures were lying! In fact the camera was AS GOOD AS NEW and the seller was negligent in not providing better photos. The seller lost because there have been many of these cameras sold for way more money. I have to question why I was able to get mine for as little as I did!
The camera is great, greater than my expectations for the money. What do you NEED as opposed to WHAT YOU "THINK" YOU NEED!
I am sold on getting what I NEED through e-bay as the starting point. And I have yet to look further.

I've purchased this camera as a second backup for smaller and Quick shots. It was used but lightly used. The menues and operating system is simple but very effective. With Nikon camera's I know they are stable and reasonably reliable. It's a pocket camera and one can not expect high res from them as you would from the 'D' series camera's. There are some minor tools it does not have the bigger Coolpix cams have, but can be expected in lower level units. Never the less it does what I need very well. I bought it because I have two other Coolpix and a Nikon DSLR. Their reliability goes with care I give them.