Nikon Coolpix 4300 Review

The Nikon Coolpix 4300 offers a fair amount of flexibility in terms of controlling in camera image image processing, if so desired. (Accessed through the settings menu)

Otherwise, these parameters will be automatically controlled by the camera based on the default settings.

With the Saturation Control mode, you can adjust the saturation on the Coolpix 4300 to the "+ setting" (high color saturation, suitable for direct printing where extremely high contrast and bright color are required) or to the "- setting" (low color saturation, suitable for images intended for retouching or manipulation on a computer).

The camera's Image Adjustment mode lets you vary the degree of contrast in the image based on personal preference and depending on the type of application that the image is intended for. There is also the option of recording images in Black and White. (Screenshot above)

You can select the desired degree of in camera sharpening with the Sharpen Control mode. Selections include; Auto, High, Normal, Low and Off.

The Nikon Coolpix 4300 offers a wide range of capture modes through the settings menu; Single, Continuous, Ultra High-speed Continuous mode (allows users to capture 70 QVGA-size images at up to approx. 30 fps) and Multi-Shot 16 mode (enables shooting of 1/16-size shots for display in a single frame).

The Coolpix 4300's Movie mode allows you to capture QuickTime movies up to a maximum of 45 seconds. (No audio)

On the left side of the camera (facing from the back), there is a video out connection, so that you can connect the camera directly to a TV. The camera offers a built-in slideshow capability, so that you can easily view your images on a TV. (Handy for showing your pictures on a larger screen when gathered with family and friends.)

In our tests the Nikon Coolpix 4300 provided excellent metering and very good automatic white balance overall.

Prints made on an Epson 2200 printer with photo glossy paper were very impressive. (11 x 14 output size from JPEG at full resolution). Nicely saturated and sharp.

Based on ergonomics and overall image quality, we would highly recommend the Nikon Coolpix 4300. If what you are looking for is a high-resolution unit in a small versatile package, the Coolpix 4300 should definately be high on your list.

The EN-EL1 battery supplied with the Coolpix 4300 is rated at 1000 mAH. In our tests the EN-EL1 performed very well. (Almost 2 hrs)

We would still recommend investing in a back up rechargeable battery, especially if traveling. The camera can also be powered with a single-use 2CR5 Lithium battery (Duracell, Energizer or similar), which can be very handy in some situations.

The Coolpix 4300 in conjunction with the supplied NikonView 5 software makes sending images to a computer simple. Just connect the camera to a computer with the supplied USB cable and press the on-camera Transfer Button. The Nikon View 5 software will automatically launch and your pictures are effortlessly copied to the computer, ready for you to view, sort and organize them.

Nikon View 5 software turns a computer into a photo-album, print station, e-mail depot, slide show, and negative storage box.

A full featured yet user-friendly image editing program Adobe Photoshop Elements is also bundled with the Coolpix 4300 (in Canada), further expanding creative potential. Finally, the included ArcSoft Panorama Maker software allows you to stitch together a number of images to create a single panoramic image.