Urgent! Who uses/knows a user of the Nikon Coolpix 4500 or 5000?

airplanenut

The Fuji S602 I've been boasting about recently is skyrocketing in price, and the Coolpix 4500 (or 5000) has a great rebate deal right now. If anyone has any thoughts on the camera as a coin camera (I think it is the latest model of what Anaconda uses?) please share what you know with me. This could potentially save me $200!

Thanks for your time!

Jeremy

RKKay

PM sent.

NBSQLGeek

I love my coolpix, the macro zoom, booyah.

Was so amazed, and that was the selling point for me. Once I saw that I stopped looking at evrything else.

K6AZ

I use the 4300 which is around $450 right now, and couldn't be more pleased with it. If you have seen any of my images in the last couple of months, they were taken with the 4300.

baccaruda

if you're looking for "bang for the buck" i still say the ricoh 4200 is your best bet. about $100.

shylock

I have the Coolpix 995 but if I were buy a camera today it would be the 4500. The images I've seen from it look great and have a similar look to the 995's, they seem to be sister cameras. I also have a Nkon 5700 and so far don't like it nearly as much as the 995 (for coins). The 8X zoom lens on that reads the color differently, wish I'd bought the 4500 instead.

ursabear

Airplanenut...

Buy the camera, not the box (Sorry, I had to do that...)

The later generation Nikons are sweet!

Go for it! (IMHO)

If you do, let me know - I've got a nice 64 meg card for the Nikons that you can have for a song.

Jimmy Bear

tjkillian

I have the Nikkon CoolPix 4500 and I love it! It takes great close up pictures. You want to see the die chip inside the "S" on a 1909-S-VDB Lincoln? Not a problem with the 4500.

Tom

airplanenut

<< <i>if you're looking for "bang for the buck" i still say the ricoh 4200 is your best bet. about $100. >>

I considered that one, but I also want a manual camera that will allow me to get all sorts of stuff, and large prints if need be.

Locally, after the rebate, the 4500 will cost me $375-$400, so I'm going for that

Jeremy

RotatedRainbows

Works great for closeups!!

Barry

4500 here. Great camera!

airplanenut

<< <i>Works great for closeups!!

>>

Too small

JR

Go for the Nikon Coolpix 4500 over the Fuji S602 Zoom. The Nikon 4500 has a $200 rebate (good until 6/30/03), and after rebate you will be into the camera for approximately $400. This camera is an outstanding value at a net cost of $400.

I own a Nikon Coolpix 950, and I just sold my Nikon Coolpix 995 so I can buy the Nikon Coolpix 4500 with the current $200 rebate. Among other things, you can't beat the macro mode native to the Nikon Coolpix cameras.

I looked into the Fuji S602 Zoom camera as well. The Fuji is a very good digital camera, but at 3.1 MP, it loses out to the 4.0 MP Nikon 4500, and also the Fuji uses the Smart media cards Vs the Compact Flash media. The biggest problem with Smart Media cards is that they don't come with large enough capacity - especially for the higher resolution digital cameras out there now, and they are more expensive than the Compact Flash cards. The Fuji S602Z also is supposed to be able to use compact Flash cards, but in actuality, the S602Z is rated to use the 512MB and 1 GB Compact Flash Microdrive cards - jot the standard Compact Flash cards.

My understanding of why the Fuji S602Z is going up in price now, is because demand now exceeds supply due largely to the SARs epidemic sweeping China (and Asia) right now. SARs has hurt the production output of many companies throughout Asia, and I don't foresee a letup anytime soon.

Jim

airplanenut

JR,

I did cancel my order today I have a pricematch in to see if I can save an extra $15 (hey, that's a coin to me!) and then I will go from there... $00+tax+37cents for the rebate With the extra money I'll have a big head start for Baltimore (nothing like $200 extra in your pocket ) and I might buy a lens or two. I have a Microdrive waiting, so my only loss was the $38 for a rapid battery charger... I need different batteries, anyway Oh, well... $10 each on eBay

Jeremy

ldhair

I really like Nikon. Some of the images I see are really great.
What do you get from the 4500 over the 995?
Thanks

airplanenut

More f stops... 10.3 max instead of 5.1
Official approval of microdrive compatibility
Big rebate (will be cheaper in the long run)

There are probably more things, but this is what I picked up from the basic specs...

JR

<< <i>I really like Nikon. Some of the images I see are really great.
What do you get from the 4500 over the 995?
Thanks >>



The reviewers most have said that most Nikon 995 users would not find much advantage in switching over to the newer Nikon 4500. I want the 4500 so I sold my 995, and kept my 950 (for now anyway). Here is a link, which lists what is different with the 4500 as compared to the 995 (look about midway down in the review.

Nikon 4500 review.

Jim

PS: Those planning to take advantage of the current Nikon rebates should be aware that the rebates are ONLY good if you buy your Nikon from an authorized Nikon dealer (many sellers of Nikons are not Nikon authorized dealers). The Nikon website lists authorized dealers in your area by entering in your ZIP code. Here is a link to Nikon:

Nikon Authorized Dealers

airplanenut

JR,

I almost got burned- when I called, a company that had it not only cheap, but said "PRICE BEFORE REBATE!!!" wasn't an authorized dealer... that would have pissed me off...

I'm getting it at OfficeMax or 6th Avenue Electronics... companies that large that advertise rebates are good for them.

Jeremy

JR

Jeremy,

I almost fell into that trap myself. Having lost out on rebates from other companies before, due to the seller not being an "authorized" dealer, I checked to see which sellers were Nikon dealers and which ones weren't. When in doubt, check the Nikon website.

The Nikon 4500 is a steal with the $200 rebate, but if the rebate were not in effect, there are a couple of other cameras worth checking out.

Jim

airplanenut

The Nikon site isn't great... it didn't list them, but 6th Ave's site says they are... I don't see how a large chain store would advertise the rebate if it weren't eligibile. I would have stayed on backorder if I hadn't seen the rebate.

Jeremy

ldhair

Great info.
Thanks

ANACONDA

I do use the Nikon Coolpix 4500 and am satisfied with it. I paid about $600 for mine and got a $50 rebate. I actually have two of them (one for office and one for home) and one 990. I gave one of my 990s to my Dad.

I have only had one problem with any of them...one of the 990s has developed a problem....when i take an image, there is a spot on the image that always comes up orange....about 4-10 pixels wide......at about middle 2:00.

That's about it.

The only thing i could ask more for is to get a wee bit closer and to have sharper images. I usually get fairly sharp shots but not as sharp as when i use my scanner.

adrian

airplanenut

Adrian,

For the sharper shot, try buying an extra macro lens- that could do the trick.

For that orange spot- that is just a developed problem... which is why I'm getting a 5 year extended warranty beyond the first that will cover all problems and a yearly cleaning.

And when you use the camera, it must be good- your pictures are all stunning

Jeremy

PS- No, I don't think that suck up remark will get me anything free

PPS- But maybe...

PPPS- Just maybe...

WWW

Hey Jeremy,
I have had really good results from the Nikon series. Here's a link to a cool digital photography site and
my camera: Nikon CoolPix 5000

And here's a sample coin image:



The main drawback to the 5000 is the flash sensor. It's placed too close to grip and thus your finger can
block it rendering an improper flash exposure. Otherwise, it's an extremely versatile and durable 5MP camera.

Bill

airplanenut

Great shot, WWW! I think I will stay with the 4500 since the price difference is tremendous... some $300

Jeremy

marcmoish

Jeremy,

Try B&H in NYC. They've got the coolest largest collection of cameras and access this side of the universe. Monthly catalog over 200pgs and I belive their store is almost a NYC block long!!




Marc

WWW

Cost is a huge factor alright. But check around, as the price on this model is starting to drop.

airplanenut

<< <i>Jeremy,

Try B&H in NYC. They've got the coolest largest collection of cameras and access this side of the universe. Monthly catalog over 200pgs and I belive their store is almost a NYC block long!! >>

True, but they are going to cost mucho more money... after rebates around $450ish, plus I'd have to pay shipping, so up the cost to $475

A few local chains have it, so I'm good

airplanenut

<< <i> >>

How insightful!

marcmoish

wow, you really did your research huh?
I'd have thought they were major majoe competitive in price...........


Good luck Jeremy!

airplanenut

<< <i>wow, you really did your research huh?
I'd have thought they were major majoe competitive in price...........


Good luck Jeremy! >>

They're competitive in the retail line- not if you compare them to other online retailers. 6th Avenue is cheaper than them, as well as the cheapest place of which I know, since the only ones cheaper (after shipping) aren't valid for the rebate, which makes the purchase not so/as good...

Jeremy

tristarz

One comment about B&H - they will not ship to a PMB (personal mail box, ie Mail Boxes Etc).

Barry

Jeremy,
About B&H. Nikon doesn't let them put their final price on the first web page you look at. To see their real price, add it to your shopping cart (you can always remove it), and the real price will appear in the cart. I've ordered from B&H for a long time and find their service excellent and their prices very competitive.

RotatedRainbows

The only thing i could ask more for is to get a wee bit closer and to have sharper images. I usually get fairly sharp shots but not as sharp as when i use my scanner.

I have found I can get sharper pictures by using as little zoom as possible, go until you get at the very beginning of the macro (where the icon just turns yellow). If I keep zooming in after the macro icon has turned yellow it seems to lose a little clarity the farther you go but that is just my experience.

airplanenut

<< <i>Jeremy,
About B&H. Nikon doesn't let them put their final price on the first web page you look at. To see their real price, add it to your shopping cart (you can always remove it), and the real price will appear in the cart. I've ordered from B&H for a long time and find their service excellent and their prices very competitive. >>

Barry- that's only on some cameras... when that is the cse, it says to click a box for the real price to be emailed to you... $649.95 before the rebate there, plus I'd have to pay shipping- they would need to drop it below $380 after the rebate for it to be cost effective... truly below $360 to make up for the extra I save on a price match.

Jeremy

VonZipper

Hey jeremy, just a word of caution. A friend of mine bought a nikon a couple years ago from a authorized dealer and sent the $150.00 rebate in and Nikon refused to pay it. The reason is they said it was not a USA model and it did not qualify. It had the same model number and features like the usa model but they would not say what the difference's were and he never got his rebate, so you might check with nikon first.

airplanenut

Von,

I just called Nikon... they said they're not authorized dealers... . I think I might go to the physical store to get the camera, just to be sure.

Jeremy

airplanenut

Walmart has it for $400 after the rebate and they ARE an authorized dealer, so says Nikon.

Jeremy