The Nikon Coolpix L4 combines an array of high-quality components including a 3x Zoom-Nikkor lens and a bright 2.0-inch LCD screen with in-camera image-improvement features, housed in lightweight, compact, yet elegantly finished bodies.
It boasts a powerful 3x Zoom-Nikkor lenses with a focal range equivalent to that of a 38-114mm (35mm equivalent), providing the freedom to zoom in for tight personal portraits or out to capture expansive outdoor scenes.
The CCD delivers higher performance within tighter dimensions, greatly adding to the camera's compact form and portability while offering generous effective megapixel value of 4.0 for the Coolpix L4, ensuring the refined image clarity that users have come to expect from other members of the Coolpix family.
The camera also features a bright, easy-to-view 2.0-inch LCD that's now even easier to operate with new icons and function selections as well as a new color scheme that is easier on the eye.
Specific design aspects of the Coolpix L4 make it streamlined and comfortable to hold, with a smooth, elegant finish that suggests a much higher level of sophistication. The curved grip contributes both to the camera's design elegance and its shooting stability.
The strikingly compact dimensions and light camera weight make the L4 ideal for taking anywhere you may go, reinforced by the convenience of AA-size battery compatibility. One of the most widely available battery sizes in the world--in alkaline, lithium, rechargeable, or other forms--AA compatibility allows near-ubiquitous use anywhere in the world.
In common with the entire current Coolpix digital camera range, this latest addition features a number of Nikon-inspired capabilities that give the user the power to automatically improve recorded images in-camera. Available in playback mode, for example, the D-Lighting function selects and creates a copy of images with excessive backlight or insufficient flash illumination, adding light and detail wherever needed while keeping other areas as they were.
Nikon's Face-priority AF function automatically detects and focuses in on people's faces, regardless of where they are in the frame, ensuring superb crisp-focus portraits. The In-Camera Red-Eye Fix function analyzes each image, automatically finding and then correcting the accidental red-eye that sometimes occurs in flash photography, for more natural-looking portraits.
A choice of 15 different Scene modes--four with Scene assist--makes the challenge of achieving desired results in a wide range of everyday situations that much simpler. By choosing the Scene mode best suited to the subject at hand, the Coolpix L2, L3 or L4 automatically selects the ideal settings for exactly the picture you had in mind, whether indoor party or outdoor nighttime fireworks display. Scene assist displays useful framing guides in the monitor, helping you compose shots for optimal results.
The Coolpix L4 is also compatible with widely available SD memory cards. The provision of 10 MB of internal memory allows the user to keep shooting when no additional memory is available, as well as easily moving images from one SD card to another.
The Coolpix L4 digital camera also offers movie-shooting capability in three sizes: TV movie size (640) for viewing on TV or computers; convenient Small size (320); and Smaller size (160) for extended recording or Internet usage.
With the Coolpix L4, ease of use and convenience are still priorities, even when the shooting is over. Printing is kept simple, with PictBridge capability enabling connection to a compatible printer without the need of a computer and USB connectivity eases data transfer to computers and other peripherals.
Completing the picture is the complimentary PictureProject accessory software, which greatly simplifies the importing, editing, and organizing of images. It even offers compatibility with a range of plug-ins that allows functions to be extended on demand.
Nikon Coolpix L4 feature highlights: High performance from a small CCD Utilizing space-efficient design parameters that help facilitate the compact size of the Coolpix L2/L3/L4, the 1/2.5-inch CCD adds the advantage of outstandingly high performance. Boasting effective pixel values of 4 million, the CCD enables the capture of crisp-focus images that retain their high quality even when significantly enlarged.
3x zoom capability The remarkably compact dimensions of the Coolpix L-line cameras belie the incorporation of powerful 38-114mm Zoom-Nikkor lenses (35mm equivalent), ensuring the freedom of a 3x zoom. This precision lens allows zooming in for tightly composed portraits or zooming way out for expansively wide views, providing greater compositional independence than the average digital camera. Macro mode allows shooting from as close as 4 centimeters.
Simple-to-use features improve images in-camera A range of unique Nikon functions enables the photographer to actually improve images in-camera. Available in playback mode, the D-Lighting function selects and creates a copy of images with excessive backlight or insufficient flash illumination, adding light and detail wherever needed while keeping other areas as they were. The Face-priority AF function automatically detects and then focuses in on people's faces, regardless of where they are in the frame, ensuring superb crisp-focus portraits. The In-Camera Red-Eye Fix function analyzes each image, automatically finding and then correcting any accidental red-eye, which sometimes occurs in flash photography, to produce more natural-looking portraits.
AA-size battery compatibility Despite its compact dimensions, the Coolpix L4 is compatible with AA-size batteries, one of the most widely available battery sizes in the world. The power to shoot approximately 250 shots when using alkaline batteries greatly augments its compact convenience.
Other features: - Unique combination of all-round quality, ease of operation, and elegant styling makes the Coolpix L4 the compact digital camera of choice for entry-level photographers
- Compact, portable dimensions: 86.5 x 60.5 x 34.5 millimeters (3.4 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches)
- Light weight: approximately 115 grams (4.1 ounces) (without battery and SD memory card)
- BSS (Best Shot Selector) automatically selects the shot with the sharpest focus from a series of consecutive images
- Blur Warning informs user after shooting if an image is blurred
- Time zone function enables local time to be set regardless of where you are in the world
- Single AF and Continuous AF selectable in Movie mode
- Capture modes: Single and Multi-Shot 16
- Built-in flash: features settings for Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction (In-Camera Red-Eye Fix), Off, Fill Flash, and Slow sync.
- Noise reduction provides more attractive results in low-light conditions
- Digital zoom of up to 4x
- Choice of White Balance: Auto with TTL control, 6-mode manual (Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash, and White Bal. Preset)
- USB connectivity allows quick and easy data transfer to computers and other peripherals
I was not enjoying the hunt for a consistently well-reviewed digital camera. It seemed like every camera had an upside, and every camera had a downside. Fortunately, this camera was well-reviewed and within my price range. I wasn't expecting much at first, but when I took it out of the box and started tinkering with it, I was pleasantly surprised. The camera is very user friendly, and I had few "What did I just do and how do I undo it?" moments. The menus are self-explanatory, and easily maneuvered. One of the best aspects to this camera is that I have never really had a problem getting pictures to turn out. There are multiple white balance settings along with multiple flash settings so that if a picture happens to come out too bright or too dim, a few button pushes and it is easily resolved. The face-finder feature is a great one, although I have done few portrait photos. Why? The macro setting (for extreme close-ups) proves to be an irresistable one. Ever wanted to take one of those art-gallery-type photos of flowers or bugs? This camera makes it so freaking easy! There are a few downsides: Ocassionally, the photos come out rather blurry, even when I am doing my best to hold perfectly still. This is especially true when using the macro setting and a pretty good wind is jostling your bush/flower/tree/etc... Additionally, the flash can take longer to recharge than one would probably desire, and this delay has cost me a few good pictures, but not many...Another flash issue is with the sports mode settings. These settings are great and are for use in well-lit sporting situations. Having said that, in those moments when you need fast, multiple shots that are NOT well-lit, I'm afraid you're just S.O.L. I don't really have any other gripes. The batteries usually last a fairly long time. I use crappy rechargables and have had no need to frequently change them, especially after changing the battery-type setting (yes, there's a battery-type setting!!!). I was also impressed at the number of bonuses I found in the box with the camera: a pair of batteries, a USB cable to connect the camera to my computer (easily), photo editing software with a really cool panorama maker (you can make 360-degree panoramas, too!), and loads of useful information re: digital camera use (if you want to take the time to educate yourself). All in all, I am very pleased with this camera and would readily recommend it to anyone looking for a decent yet inexpensive digicam.
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