Nikon Coolpix 4800
Digital Camera Review

Looking for a good compact camera? The Nikon Coolpix 4800 is a very flexible compact digital camera at a reasonable price.

The 4 megapixel resolution, powerful 8.3x optical zoom, coupled with excellent features and optics, make this camera a hot seller in the market. Having said that, the downside to this camera is that it is slow to boot up. The test unit which I had took a 4.4 seconds to power on and extend the lens. Let’s have a look at the features and benefits of this little camera in this article.

The Nikon Coolpix 4800 digital camera
 

Design and Construction

The dimensions of the Nikon Coolpix 4800 are approximately 4.2” by 2.6” by 2.2” (WHD). The all silver body makes it look very attractive. I really like the fact that it weighs only 9 ounces and has a nice, ergonomic design.
 

Optics and Resolution

The Nikon Coolpix 4800 comes with a 4 megapixel CCD and takes great pictures. The test pictures which I took for this camera showed great color accuracy and brilliance. 

The 8.3x optical zoom is awesome. However, because the camera doesn't have an image stabilizer, you should definitely use a tripod or place the camera on a steady surface if you are shooting telephoto. A good tripod which complements the Coolpix 4800 is the SLIK SDV-20 Photo/Video Tripod. This is a versatile and well constructed tripod which you can get for under $20.
 

User Controls

There is a 1.8 inch LCD screen on the back panel of the camera, which is bright and clear. You can easily navigate and access most functions of the camera from the LCD. If you like to experiment with shooting pictures under a variety of lighting conditions, the Coolpix 4800 has 15 scene modes for you to select from. I really like the Best Shot Selector allows you to snap pictures continuously and let the camera select the sharpest picture of the lot.
 

Storage and Transfer

The Coolpix 4800 accepts SD cards which are fast gaining acceptance amongst various camera manufacturers. It also has USB 1.1 connectivity for transfer of photos from the camera to the PC.
 

Battery Life

The camera comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The advertised battery life is about 240 shots per charge, which I’ve found to be pretty much correct. I was able to pull off about 250 shots each time I charged the camera.
 

Shortcomings

There’s one complaint I have about this camera – its slow to boot up. The test unit which I had took a miserable 4.4 seconds to power on and extend the lens. If you’re shooting quick photos, a 4.4 second wait is way too long. Nikon should definitely improve in this area.
 

Conclusion

On the whole, the Nikon Coolpix 4800 is an affordable digital camera with nice features. The 8.3x optical zoom is a great plus, although the boot up time of the camera is a bit slow. A good compact camera for beginners and intermediate level camera buffs.

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