Nikon CoolPix 4500Nikon updates the hugely successful Coolpix 995, adding a full 4.0-megapixel CCD!<<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 3:DesignReview First Posted: 5/29/2002 |
Design
The Coolpix 4500 maintains a similar design aesthetic to that of its predecessors, the Coolpix 990 and 995 models, albeit quite a bit more streamlined than either. Nikon continues with the same swivel-lens design that characterizes the Coolpix line, allowing the lens to swivel more than 270 degrees. The lens can point back towards the user, straight ahead, or straight down to the ground, while keeping the LCD screen oriented for easy viewing. The camera body is compact and light weight, measuring approximately 5.3 x 2.9 x 2.0 inches (135 x 74 x 51 millimeters) with the lens stowed in its upright position. The Coolpix 4500 weighs about 12.7 ounces (363 grams) without battery or memory card. Though the camera won't likely fit into a shirt pocket, it should do well in most larger coat pockets and average-size purses. It does come with a neck strap, but I'd recommend picking up a soft camera case for travel.
With the lens facing forward, the front of the camera is pretty sparsely populated.
The lens itself doesn't protrude much from its barrel, and is protected by a
tiny, spring-loaded lens cap, which tethers to the camera body to prevent it
from being accidentally lost. The Self-Timer lamp and front side of the optical
viewfinder fit snugly beside the lens. Underneath the lens barrel, at the back
of that part of the housing, is the diopter adjustment dial for the optical
viewfinder. A redesigned, sleeker pop-up flash unit is on the top side of the
lens barrel along with the Flash Mode / ISO button and the external flash sync
socket (covered by a tiny, and easily lost, plastic cap). Also visible from
the front of the camera is the DC power input jack, just inside the hand grip
and covered by a soft rubber flap.
Looking at the top of the camera body, there's a Power switch, Shutter button,
Mode and Function buttons, and a small Command dial for changing various camera
settings. The Function button is programmable through the Setup menu in Manual
exposure mode to access various exposure options. This was designed specifically
to allow one handed camera operation, as you can hold down either of the top
buttons with your index finger and scroll through the chosen options with the
Command dial. The normal function for this button is to change the camera's
exposure compensation. Also on top of the camera is a small microphone to record
audio with movies, or voice annotations for captured images.
The majority of the controls are located on the back panel of the camera, along
with the LCD monitor. The layout of the controls is nearly identical to the
previous Coolpix 995, with the addition of a new joystick-like Multi-Selector
button, and the deletion of the size/quality button. The Monitor, Playback,
and zoom control buttons line the top of the LCD panel. Beneath the LCD are
the Focus Mode and Menu buttons, and the new Multi-Selector joystick control
(the "Set" button consists of just pressing down on the joystick).
In the bottom right corner is a speaker and an eyelet for attaching the neck
strap. When the lens is rotated to point forward, the optical viewfinder is
visible from the back panel. Two LEDs located directly beside the viewfinder
report the status of the autofocus and flash.
The joystick-like Multi Selector control is new on the 4500, and I found myself liking it quite a bit more than the typical rocker pad as used on the 995. It seemed much easier to navigate menus with it, and I never found myself moving the menu cursor when I was just trying to access the "set" function (by pressing down on the center of the control), as I sometimes do with rocker pads.
I like the hand grip on the right side of the camera, which provides a firm,
secure hold. The soft rubber surface fits directly under your fingers, providing
additional friction for a good grip, and the angle of the grip itself is just
right. Located inside the hand grip are the USB I/O jack, the A/V Out jack,
and the CompactFlash compartment. The digital and video inputs are covered by
a soft, flexible rubber flap at the top of the grip that presses into place
quickly and securely. The placement of the CompactFlash slot makes it easy to
change cards when the camera is mounted on a tripod and the plastic door simply
flips open and shut. There is no access light to let you know when the camera
is accessing the card, so you'll have to pay attention to the LCD monitor to
know when it's OK to change cards. (It's important to never remove a memory
card while the camera is writing to it, lest you corrupt your images or even
damage the card.) Also on the hand grip is another eyelet for the neck strap.
There's not much to say about the left side of the camera, as there are no
connectors or controls on it. The whole left side of the camera acts as a hand
grip for your left hand when the camera is in its normal operating position,
with the lens facing forward and the LCD pane oriented vertically.
Finally, the flat bottom of the camera holds the battery compartment and a plastic
tripod mount that are unfortunately too close together to allow battery changes
while on a tripod. (A necessary consequence of the swivel design.) The battery
compartment has a sliding latch that keeps the door tightly shut. A sliding
lock next to the tripod mount controls the amount of lens swivel. When slid
towards the lens, the switch allows the lens to rotate through its full range
of roughly 280 degrees. Sliding the switch towards the tripod mount limits the
lens rotation to 180 degrees, from the front to the back.
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