Overview
The Nikon Coolpix 4600 is a standard digital camera with four megapixels and a three times optical zoom lens. It is a pretty straightforward model and it is easy to get started with. It has all the key features to suit the requirements of the typical social photographer. By using the camera's automatic mode you can be up and running with the Coolpix 4600 more or less straight away. This type of digital camera is fine for all the usual holiday photos, general social gatherings pictures and shots for the family album.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
4
3x
1.8 inches
85 x 60 x 35mm
130g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
4cm
No
No
AA
SD
Image Quality
Like the majority of digital cameras the Coolpix 4600 performs a lot better outside than it does indoors. The four outdoor photos produced for the review are all of a high standard. My only gripe is that the colour of the sky in one of the shots by the river is somewhat washed out. Otherwise the shots are very good and I like the depth of colour in each of the photos too. The outside portrait is well balanced with good skin tones.
The specific colour test also produces a good result. Nikon cameras in general tend to get the colours spot on and the Coolpix 4600 is no exception.
The macro shot is also a good attempt and I would say it is better than the majority of macro test shots. The image is bright and clear.
Moving indoors is where the problems start. The indoor portrait and the picture of the bottles, taken in very low light, cause the camera major problems. The pictures are nowhere near sharp enough. Throw in a touch of red eye and the indoor results are disappointing.
Shutter Lag and Recycling Times
Shutter lag is the time it takes to take each picture. A constant criticism of digital cameras is the delay in between clicking the shutter button, the picture being taken and also the camera being ready to take the next picture. From a pure shutter lag view the Coolpix 4600 took a picture and recorded it in 0.42 seconds. This is a relatively new test, so I feel a degree of caution is called for, but I have to say early indications are that this is an average time.
In terms of recycling times I was able to take five pictures in the space of 8.28 seconds. That works out at a rate of 1.66 seconds per picture. I am not claiming that this is the most scientific tests, but it should give you an indication of the recycling speed of the camera. This is a fairly fast time. My test is carried out indoors under standard conditions and it is possible that you would see better results outside.
Features
The three times optical zoom lens has the equivalent focal length of 34-102mm on a traditional 35mm camera. The optical zoom is supported by a digital zoom feature that can zoom in by up to four times.
For lining up shots you can choose between an optical viewfinder or the 1.8" LCD screen. The LCD screen is also used for accessing the menu system.
The automatic shooting mode is backed up by a wide selection of preset scene modes. These scene modes help the camera to capture the best possible shot for different types of photo opportunities. The scene modes are Party/Indoor, Beach/Snow, Sunset, Dusk/Dawn, Night landscape, Close up, Museum, Fireworks show, Copy, Back light, Panorama assist and Underwater.
There are five flash modes you can choose from. These are automatic, automatic with red eye reduction, always on, always off and slow synchro. Slow synchro is often used at night when you would like the background to be illuminated as well as the foreground. The maximum range of the flash unit is 3.3m. This drops down to two meters when the optical zoom lens is in use.
To add something different to your photos there are a number of colour options you can select from. These are vivid colour, black and white, sepia and cyanotype.
For when you would like to appear in the picture there is a self timer with a ten second delay. Copies can also be made of a photo you have already been taken. The copies are suitable for sending by email.
You can shoot TV quality movies (resolution 640x480) at a rate of fifteen frames per second. You can also shoot at lower resolutions suitable for sending by email.
More advanced features include white balance controls, shutter speeds between four and 1/3000 seconds, matrix metering and continuous shooting at a rate of 1.3 frames per second for up to three frames.
Nikon supplies all the necessary cables and software to connect the Coolpix 4600 to a computer, television set and a PictBridge compatible printer.
A waterproof case is available to buy separately.
Ease of Use
To get yourself started all you need to do is load the batteries and turn the camera on. There is not an awful lot to get to grips with before you know just about all you need to know about the camera. There are a few buttons and dials on the back that you soon become familiar with. These control features such as flash, close up photography, reviewing and deleting images. The menu system is also straightforward and you should soon be able to find your way around.
Cost
You can pick up a Nikon Coolpix 4600 for around £120. This compares to around £125 for a Fuji Finepix A345, £160 for a Sony DSC S80 and £165 for a Canon Powershot A520.
Style
This is a typical, shiny, silver, rectangular digital camera. It is a little too wide to fit easily into a pocket, but it is still easy enough to carry it around with you. It weighs around 130g and has dimensions of 85 x 60 x 35mm. To help you hold the camera steady when taking a shot there is a useful grip on the front of the camera.
Batteries and Memory Cards
Two AA batteries are used to run the camera. To keep running costs down it is well worth considering buying some rechargeable batteries and a charger.
14mb of memory is built into the Coolpix 4600 and no memory card is supplied. If you are taking pictures using the high quality setting there is only room for seven photos to be taken before the internal memory is full. Therefore it is advisable to pick up a high capacity SD card to go with your camera.
Click here to save money on SD Cards
Points I like:
Low price
Easy to use
Strong colours
Where it is not so hot:
Disappointing indoors
Summary
In terms of price the Coolpix 4600 can be found at the lower end of the market. If you are looking for a digital camera that you will primarily use outdoors then I would say that this model offers good value for money. If you are looking to take a fair proportion of indoor shots then that is a different matter altogether and you will probably need to look to spend more to find a camera to suit your requirements.
Nikon Coolpix 4600 Front View
Nikon Coolpix 4600 Back View
Nikon Coolpix 4600 Top View
Sample Menus
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Related Pages
Nikon Coolpix 4600 Review Nikon Coolpix 4600 Specification Nikon Coolpix 4600 Sample Images
