Editorial Review:Product Description:A compact, lightweight 4.0 effective megapixel digital still camera with 4x zoom lens, the Coolpix 4500 is the latest in a line of celebrated Coolpix 900 series cameras, and features a stylish, radically cool swivel design. The camera's core target users reach from advanced amateurs to more experienced digital photographers looking for a smarter way to take superior pictures, and those who want quality images with full control potential. The 4x Zoom-Nikkor lens, with its 7.85-32mm focal range (equivalent to 38-155mm in 35mm [135] camera format), delivers superb optical performance. 4.0 effective megapixels provide ultra high definition and combine with Nikon's image processing algorithm to ensure images of remarkable color, contrast and clarity.The compact, lightweight Coolpix 4500 boasts a radically exciting swivel design that provides unprecedented response and allows you to shoot at any angle. 16 Scene Modes for specific settings enable users to capture the essence of every picture while experiencing a new dimension of digital photography fun and convenience. What's more, it accepts a variety of existing Coolpix 900 series accessories, such as Wideangle, Telephoto and Fisheye converters and the MACRO COOL-LIGHT SL-1. Indeed, with so many features and accessories, and a remarkably easy-to-use design, the Coolpix 4500 promises to win over countless new users to the increasingly exciting field of digital photography.
Amazon.com Review:Nikon's Coolpix 4500 offers 4-megapixel resolution in the same swiveling frame as their previous Coolpix 995. The left half of the 4500--which houses the lens and flash--can be twisted around 360 degrees, making it simple to for you take pictures at a variety of angles. It's especially handy for taking self-portraits, as you can see how you look in the 1.5-inch LCD viewfinder.
A 4-megapixel capability means that you can take pictures at up to 2,272 by 1,704 pixels in size, which can be printed out at 11 by 14 without any loss of quality. Our images duly impressed us, with sharp edges, bright colors, and an incredible amount of detail. Also impressive is the 4500's 4x optical zoom. Higher than most digital cameras, the 4x zoom lets you get close to your subject, with another 4x of digital zoom available after the snap.
A built-in flash pops up when needed, and the audio recording capability lets you dictate memos to match your pictures. The rechargeable battery provides about two hours of life, although it must be removed from the camera for a recharge.
Although the 4500 features a broad range of tools for the more advanced digital photographer, it's easy enough for the beginner to use. Its 16 different scene modes--including various portraits and a panorama assist mode--make taking different types of pictures a one-click task.
Nikon includes only a 16 MB CompactFlash card, but it supports Type I and II cards, meaning you can pop in a 512 MB or 1 GB microdrive for the ultimate in storage.
The 4500 is a hefty metal camera, and you can't just drop it into a breast pocket. But you also won't be afraid of damaging it easily. It looks and feels like it works--sharp, dependable, and versatile.
--J. Curtis Pros: - Bright, detailed images
- High resolution and optical zoom
- Innovative twist design
Cons: - Hefty
- Have to remove battery to recharge
Amazon.com Product Description:Nikon's Coolpix 4500 digital camera combines Nikon's world-renowned Nikkor optics, a 4x optical zoom, and a 4-megapixel CCD sensor for imagery at resolutions up to 2,272 x 1,704 pixels--providing prints up to 11 by 14 inches.
The 4x optical zoom (35mm equivalent of 38-155mm)--as well as the 4x digital zoom for a total of 8x zoom--provides versatility and control over picture composition.
The Coolpix 4500 sports the classic twist design of the 900 series Coolpix digital cameras, providing you creative control to shoot from any angle--from over-the-crowd shots to self portraits.
Advanced photographic controls are available, as are 16 scene modes (including the new multiple exposure and panorama assist). Select from four metering options, six white-balance options, a myriad of exposure settings and compensation modes, and more. Shoot in program, aperture priority, shutter priority, or full manual modes.
The automatic pop-up style built-in flash moves the flash away from the lens, which minimizes red eye. The camera's meter will detect if there is a low-light situation and automatically pop up the flash for you. Alternately, you can use the optional multiflash bracket to attach up to five external Nikon Speedlights to the Coolpix 4500, giving you a huge range of lighting options
The Coolpix 4500 comes bundled with NikonView 5 browser software (for Mac and Windows), which makes it simple to organize, retrieve, and print images. It includes a lens cap, neck strap, 16 MB CompactFlash card, AV cable, USB cable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (EN-EL1), and battery charger. It is compatible with type I and II CompactFlash memory cards as well as IBM Microdrives (512 MB and 1 GB).
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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Excellent Camera!
This is an excellent camera. One of the best features is this camera can be rotated to take picture in any angle. i.e. you can keep the camera a feet above your head and by looking at the LCD display you can take a perfect picture! This is an awesome feature!!
Rating: -
Some nice features
On the good side, the swivel body is well integrated into the design (great for take picture over the head of crowds or take picture close to the ground), easy to hold (comfortable in the hand), has an optical view finder in addition to an LCD display (makes picture taking in bright sunlight a breeze), fairly rugged, lots of manual adjustments that have well behaved automatic defaults, the PC/Mac software if user friendly & many good features, optical zoom is totally internal (no lenses moving back & forth), excellent macro capability (focuses down to 2" - great for taking pictures of small items for eBay ads), wide selection of exposure times (compatible with time exposures), very good panoramic image stitching mode, very good color rendition, great optics (no perceivable optical distortion at any zoom level)
On the bad side: Poor battery life (make sure to get a couple of spare batteries, you WILL need them), fairly long time delay between pushing the shutter and taking the picture (makes taking action shots very difficult), built in flash is very limited, connection for external flash requires custom Nikon cable, poor auto-focus in low light conditions, slow lens (high f/#).
Rating: -
Great little camera
I've owned this camera for a long time and have have shot thousands of pictures with it. I even use it with a Kaidan panoramic mount and both the fisheye and wide angle lenses without any problems. All I can add is that it is a tough camera with lots of features and great quality.
Rating: -
Best design in a digital camera to date.
This is one of the finest digital cameras that has been sold. Currently Nikon may have "more powerful" but overall less appealing devices out. Two of the 4500's strongest points include the totally enclosed lens system and the swivel design. Both of which were changed in more recent designs by Nikon. Another superb feature includes the macro ability - you can get within 0.8 inches of a subject. This is fantastic for nature photography.
I currently have two of these units. The first 4500 had over 55,000 shots on it before any problems appeared. The second was purchased as a backup while the first was being repaired by Nikon. The only real negative that I have encountered would be Nikon's outrageous repair costs. The zoom button gave out after 55,000 shots (this is heavym mostly outdoor use and it's failure is not a complaint). Nikon wanted $230+ to repair/replace this switch. Considering the camera was only $400 new this was highway robbery! They also wanted an additional $150.00 to re-adhere the rubber finger grip to the camera body!!!!! Such unrealistic repair costs must be to get the user to buy a new camera but only leaves a very bad taste for Nikon's service department instead.
If you can still pick one of these up new or in like-new condition I strongly reccomend it, as there simply has not been a newer model that can do all this unit is capable of.
Rating: 
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JUNK
Just after the one year warranty and I turn on the camera to hear loud clicking noises. Have to take the battery out to shut off. "SYSTEM ERROR". $200 to repair from Nikon - oh and they won't tell me what's wrong with it. I'm not the only one. My friend had the same problem, but he had it repaired in greece for $100. I've read that a number of people have had the same problem, actually some on Amazon reviews, where are they now?
Way to go Nikon. I won't be a return customer thank you.
