Within a couple of months of buying this product, it started giving trouble in respect of sensing the battery. A couple of shots after inserting a set of brand new batteries, the camera starts indicating that the battery is exhausted/low and one cannot shoot any more photos (or do anything else). The problem is intermittent - it works sometimes. It has been a really frustrating experience and I am still trying to sort this out.

Why don't you go ahead and buy this just for the thrill of guessing when the zoom motor will stop working. Took just over a year for me (lots of people reported the same). Sending in for repair will come in at the price of buying a new camera - which will be a non-Nikon for me.

I bought this camera a month ago and haven't stopped taking pictures. I use it for my web pages and with 4 MP at less than 200 dollars you can't go wrong. Plus it takes full 360 degree panoramic images that are stitched together to make a 360 image. You just have to add it as a mmFlash component to your webpage.

I wanted at least 4.0 (guarantees a better quality photo and larger print then 3.0 & 2.0) which the Nikon coolpix 4100 has and I didn't want to pay much. When I got online and saw I could get the coolpix for under $200 (almost all 4.0 megpix are around $300) I couldn't resist buying it but then I read a couple bad reviews and wonder if I made a good buy.

After actually using the Coolpix 4100 I can clarify some of those bad reviews. I notice in most of the bad reviews the people are comparing the coolpix 4100 to $500-$1,000 cameras (that I own too)is not fair. It's like buying a ford escort because it's cheap and then complaining about how it doesn't measure up to a hummer.

SHUTTER SPEED----Some reviews complained about the shutter time being to slow. After you snap your picture the screen goes black (for about 1 to 1.5 seconds) remember it has to transfer your photo to memory it TAKES TIME, before it comes back up to were you can snap another picture. !!!!!!You Really don't wait that Long!!!!!!!!! espcially if you Never used a more exspensive model then you'll never EVEN notice the coolpix has a delay, others did because again they were comparing a ford to hummer. If you want a camera that has like 0.1/1000th of delay (means you can snap a picture & be back up within blink of an eye to snap another picture)so don't miss any shot, then I suggest buying a digital Canon EOS for $2,000.

BATTIER----Some reviews complain because it uses AAA battier and they don't last long. Be glad it uses AAA if it use a lithium the camera would cost $200-$300 more and you won't even be looking at it. Lithium does last longer but it cost more to build lithium capability into a camera; By Nikon putting in AAA knocks about $200 off the price.

As for the AAA battier not lasting long enough, I think those people are leaving the camera on while they sleep or something. The 1st day I got my camera (using the batters that came in the box) I took picture from 12pm till late at night testing all the different modes it had, in different lights. I even used the camera's battier to up loaded my pictures unto my computer and I still had plenty of battier power for the next day.

FLASH -- I'll agree with the reviews that said the flash isn't very good ( why I gave it 4 stars). The flash really doesn't light up a dark room, most of the picture I took inside my house at night did seem to be a little darkish & I got red eyes (with the red eye reduction on) but you could still see my kids faces and I use the software to remove the red eye so I thought the picture came out pretty good. You can shop around But I gaurentee all digital under $200 the flash won't be really that great (again why it cost less then $2,000 camera). But the one thing the coolpix has that other lower price cameras don't; is a back flash (which is a slower ISO) it will light up dark room really well (but this is something you have to set yourself in the flash menu it won't do it automatically)

PICTURE QUALITY -- with 4.0 megpix you won't be disappointed, I don't think I read any bad reviews on picture quality. I took over 60 pictures of my cats running, my kids jumping up and down and all the picture were Clear and Blur free, which amazed Me because I have hard time getting that sometimes with my Canon EOS. And the button are so easy to use on the coolpix (I figured them all out wihtout even opening the manual)

Over all if your mainly looking at size & ****PRICE**** of this camera, then you won't be disappoint. I think some people are excepting to much from the low price camera by comparing it to $2,000 digital. I'm very please with this camera I think it's the best camera out there for the Price, The price says it all!!!! Under $200 for 4.0 you can't do any better.

This camera takes great shots. Nikon optics are known superb. Other negative comments are overexaggerated such as slow shutter speed. Yes, its not a fast as the $1,000.00 SRLs, but,these are not the same class cameras. The bottom line is the optics, and the abilty to view your photo's on the spot for a better second "take".