Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)First off, let me point out that John A. Wincek in an earlier review gave a misleading account of dpreview.com's review of the Coolpix 4800. Yes, the 4800's noise level at ISO 400 was higher than the Canon camera dpreview used for comparison, but not to the level of total trash as Wincek seemed to be implying. And dpreview points out that the 4800 uses less noise reduction than the competition (all digital cameras employ some kind of in-camera noise reduction algorithm to "filter out" noise.)
Ok, what really surpised me about the 4800 was how big it was. I mean, it still qualifies as a small point-and-shoot, but given how it looks like the Coolpix 3200 and 4200, I thought it was going to be sub-compact, but I was wrong. It's big enough that it won't fit in a pocket. The lens compartment protrudes. Together with the grip, the camera is quite deep at over 2 inches. This does give a good grip and you can use it in one hand -- it weighs about 11 oz. with the LiIon battery.
The 8.3x optical zoom is awesome. Its 35mm equivalent is 36-300. Because the 4800 doesn't have an image stabilizer -- a controversial feature among photo enthusiasts -- you MUST use a tripod or place the camera on a steady surface if you are to use the tele end of the zoom. At anything over 6x zoom, your handshakes will magnify many times and result in blurry photos, no matter how well lit the scene is. One problem with the 4800 is when you are beyond 6-7x zoom, focus feels slow and keeps flipping, which is very frustrating.
The all-plastic camera feels solid but the decision to use proprietary LiIon rather than AA disappointed me, as I have a good collection of AA NiMH batteries and older Coolpix models used such batteries. Battery life is respectable; I got over 100 shots mostly with flash and I zoomed in and out a lot. (I hate to say this, but "Camera buff" was probably lying about recharging every six pictures, unless he/she got a defective unit or didn't know what he/she was doing.)
The upshot is, if you want a power zoom in a small package, the 4800 is worth a look. On the other hand, its relative bulky size, so-so picture quality and the lack of a optical viewfinder (an electronic one doesn't cut it for me) make it less attractive to someone seeking a sleek, compact point-and-shoot. Its lack of controls over picture-taking makes it unsuitable for serious photographers.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Nikon Coolpix 4800 4MP Digital Camera with 8.3x Optical Zoom
The 4 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 4800 provides prints as large as 11 x 17 inches. Its amazing8.3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens includes ED Glass for incredibly sharp, clear images. The 4800features 15 Scene Modes which automatically adjust the camera controls for the best possiblepicture in typical shooting situations. Four of the Scene Modes include Scene Assist, whichhelps set focus and framing for the most common shooting scenarios. Use the Close Up to get asclose as 1/2 inch from the subject, and Movie Mode for recording live action with sound.Choose between an Electronic Viewfinder and bright LCD monitor; both provide enhancedframe coverage and easy viewing.Nikon’s world renown Nikkor optics are combined with a 4 megapixel CCD to create images at resolutions up to 2288 x 1712 pixels, which provides spectacular prints as large as 11" x 17". The amazing 8.3x optical zoom (35mm equivalent of 35–280mm zoom (35mm equivalent), anduses aspherical elements, Super Integrated Coating and ED (extra-low dispersion) Glass forsuperior image quality. You can also capture the action while it happens, complete with an audio soundtrack, with Movie Mode.
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