Hello, I was looking into buying a new digital camera. I know I want a really good one and I know that I want it to be lightweight, take very clear photos, have a good zoom, and can take good photos in low light. I know Nikon is one of the best cameras out and I was looking into the Nikon Coolpix 4300. Any feedback on this camera? I cant spend more tehn $500 on it (the cheaper the better) but I want it to be the best I can get. Any help would be great.
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Nikon Coolpix 4300
- Thread starter Blizz
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no2apprentice
Well-Known Member
Just going by memory, Nikon digital products seem to do fairly well in publication reviews. Nikon has a reputation to maintain, so I don't think they will market a substandard product.
As far as your goal about good low-light photos, don't expect too much from digital on a non-pro level camera. Light is a key factor for the sensors to determine proper color balance. I don't know the specs on that Nikon, buy if you are able to set the color balance feature manually, do it with low-light shots. Even in good indoor light shots, and even a few outdoor daytime shots, the Auto Color Balance feature on my Kodak 4800 has been "tricked" by the light, and I've gotten the most interesting yellow and orange tints/hues in some of my shots. I happened to run into one of the photographers who works for our local newspaper. He had a Nikon 6MB res camera (the N3?) and I asked him if he experienced similar problems with the color balance on his big bucks Nikon. He said that yes, every now and then he'd get a shot with strange hues and tints. So I guess the digital industry has a little bit farther to go with that technology.
Good luck with your decision. Search the web for as many reviews as you can. Especially reviews that have comments by actual customers. Try www.cnet.com and www.zdnet.com for a start. Hope you're happy with what you get.
As far as your goal about good low-light photos, don't expect too much from digital on a non-pro level camera. Light is a key factor for the sensors to determine proper color balance. I don't know the specs on that Nikon, buy if you are able to set the color balance feature manually, do it with low-light shots. Even in good indoor light shots, and even a few outdoor daytime shots, the Auto Color Balance feature on my Kodak 4800 has been "tricked" by the light, and I've gotten the most interesting yellow and orange tints/hues in some of my shots. I happened to run into one of the photographers who works for our local newspaper. He had a Nikon 6MB res camera (the N3?) and I asked him if he experienced similar problems with the color balance on his big bucks Nikon. He said that yes, every now and then he'd get a shot with strange hues and tints. So I guess the digital industry has a little bit farther to go with that technology.
Good luck with your decision. Search the web for as many reviews as you can. Especially reviews that have comments by actual customers. Try www.cnet.com and www.zdnet.com for a start. Hope you're happy with what you get.
Yeah, well thats my big problem with my current digital camera. It takes horrible low light shots. Its a Fuji Finepix 2300. Almost all indoor shots in an area with little light is horrible. I was in new york taking night shots of Little Italy and I was so mad when I saw them and they all were so dark nothign could be seen. So I am looking for a digital, that does not cost so much and has all the features I want. I was alos looking into a few Nikon SLR Digital Cameras (I think those are the pro. versions???) and they were very pricy. But I will try ZDNet and CNET. Thanks for your help.
no2apprentice
Well-Known Member
I know the ease of downloading images from your memory card is awfully nice, but knowing what I know now, I almost kind of wish I would have invested in a good (I mean really good) desktop scanner, and purchased a decent Nikon or Canon 35mm SLR. The camera may be heavier and bulkier, and you have to deal with the film and developing...but...film is still where it's at for getting the best results, consistently.
Oh, well. Coulda, shoulda, woulda!:lol:
Oh, well. Coulda, shoulda, woulda!:lol:
DisneyCP2000
Well-Known Member
That looks like a good camera. For reviews on stuff that I buy, I usually check out epinions & http://www.dpreview.com/ too. They seem pretty reputable. If you have a flash card at home, try giving the camera a test run at the store and see how well the pictures turn out. Ask the salepeople first, or they might think you're stealing a card. :lookaroun
For low light or night shots, I think a SLR camera is the best way to take night shots. I've tried taking night shots with a 35mm and they really didn't turn out too well. With a SLR camera it'll find the BEST setting for that time of day. As for me I'm stuck with SLRs, and won't go back to point and shoot cameras :lol: (Avid Canon G2 user :lol: )
Make sure you do PLENTY of research for your new camera. And best of luck shopping for your new camera. :wave:
For low light or night shots, I think a SLR camera is the best way to take night shots. I've tried taking night shots with a 35mm and they really didn't turn out too well. With a SLR camera it'll find the BEST setting for that time of day. As for me I'm stuck with SLRs, and won't go back to point and shoot cameras :lol: (Avid Canon G2 user :lol: )
Make sure you do PLENTY of research for your new camera. And best of luck shopping for your new camera. :wave:
DisneyPhD
Well-Known Member
We had a Nikon 750 (the smaller and 2 mg verison of this camera.) It had ALOT of prolbems. Mostly it was too slow. We got it at Costco and after 9 months of frustrated use I gave up and Costco let me take it back. We really researched our next Digital camera. We looked into the Nikon 4300. A friend of mine had it too. All the problems of the 750 has been fixed. It is much faster and takes fine pictures. There is a problem with the lense cap. If you turn the camera on when it is still on it frezzes the whole thing and you have to turn if off and on again with the cap off. For some people when it first came out the whole thing froze up and had to be sent back to Nikon to be fixed.
In our quest for a a new camera we learned tha while Nikon is a good camera name, they have been having problems with there digital cameras. On DP reveiw they had a number of "problems" listed.
We decided on a Canon s230. 3 maga pixel (we didn't want 4, 3 was enough for us and the more maga pixels you have the less fits on a memory card. ) It is also small, compact and works very fast. It is very easy to use. We have had it for 2 weeks and so far just love it. Haven't had much of an opprotunty to use night pictures yet (2 weeks until our WDW vaction, I can let you know after that.) Only draw back is that it only has 2 times Opital Zoom. (Nikon has 3) I have found the picture quailty is so good you can "zoom in" yourself while cropping on the computer.
We had a hard time finding this camera in any store. It is very popluar and runs for 399 (100 less then Nikon.)
Good luck. My friend who has the Nikon 4300 really likes it has no problems so far.
In our quest for a a new camera we learned tha while Nikon is a good camera name, they have been having problems with there digital cameras. On DP reveiw they had a number of "problems" listed.
We decided on a Canon s230. 3 maga pixel (we didn't want 4, 3 was enough for us and the more maga pixels you have the less fits on a memory card. ) It is also small, compact and works very fast. It is very easy to use. We have had it for 2 weeks and so far just love it. Haven't had much of an opprotunty to use night pictures yet (2 weeks until our WDW vaction, I can let you know after that.) Only draw back is that it only has 2 times Opital Zoom. (Nikon has 3) I have found the picture quailty is so good you can "zoom in" yourself while cropping on the computer.
We had a hard time finding this camera in any store. It is very popluar and runs for 399 (100 less then Nikon.)
Good luck. My friend who has the Nikon 4300 really likes it has no problems so far.
Re: Re: Nikon Coolpix 4300
Wow, i have to look into the Nikon Coolpix 950. Can it take good shots indoors like in low light? My last digital could not take any photos out doors at night, everything would be dark unless it was light or unless it reflected the light from somethign else.
Example: (from a FujiFilm FinePix 2300)
Originally posted by wdwmagic
I took all of these...
http://www.wdwmagic.com/illum_2000_photos.htm
with a Nikon Coolpix 950.
Wow, i have to look into the Nikon Coolpix 950. Can it take good shots indoors like in low light? My last digital could not take any photos out doors at night, everything would be dark unless it was light or unless it reflected the light from somethign else.
Example: (from a FujiFilm FinePix 2300)
Attachments
Pumbas Nakasak
Heading for the great escape.
I used the same camera as Steve and got some OK stuff, I wouldnt take one again though as it struggled with loss of definition in the highlights. A mate was testing one as a replacement for the 950 and thought it was ok for what it was, just dont expect it to be a proper camera.
Well I found that the 950 is not made anymore. But the store I work at got one in the other day, so I was playing around with it, and I noticed it is heavy. So I went to Target the other day to buy some cards and I was looking at the Nikon Coolpix 2500, and I like it. It does not have much of a zoom, but it took good shots. I was supprised at what it could do. But I still have some time to look around a bit. Do any of you have feedback on the 2500?