Nikon's 2004 4MP entry compact — 1/2.7" CCD, 3x zoom, SD plus internal memory, runs on AA cells.
The Nikon Coolpix 4100 was announced in late May 2004 as the 4-megapixel version of the entry-level Coolpix 3200, filling out Nikon's consumer line for that summer. It kept the same compact AA-powered body style and simple scene-mode operation while adding resolution for buyers wanting larger prints.
It uses a 4.0-megapixel 1/2.7-inch CCD (2288x1712 maximum image size) behind a 3x Zoom-Nikkor covering roughly 35-105mm equivalent at f/2.8-4.9, plus 4x digital zoom. Fifteen scene modes include four with Scene Assist framing guides. Framing is via an optical viewfinder or the 1.6-inch 80,000-dot TFT, there is 14.5MB of internal memory alongside an SD card slot, and two AA batteries provide power in a body weighing about 140g without cells.
Like its 3200 sibling, the 4100 is a snapshot camera pure and simple — no manual exposure, minimal buttons, and automation aimed at first-time users. It appeals now as a cheap early-2000s CCD compact whose AA power and SD storage make it far easier to run than CompactFlash or proprietary-battery rivals of the same vintage.
Check used bodies for lens-error messages on startup, corrosion in the AA compartment, and a working flash, and remember older cameras like this only accept smaller-capacity SD cards. The internal memory allows a quick function test without a card. Working examples cost very little, so pay accordingly and favour listings showing the camera powered on.