Nikon's 2002 swivel-body prosumer Coolpix — 4MP CCD, 38-155mm zoom, 2cm macro, CompactFlash
The Coolpix 4500 was announced in May 2002 as the penultimate model in Nikon's celebrated swivel-body prosumer line descended from the Coolpix 950, 990 and 995. The magnesium-alloy body splits into a lens section and a monitor section joined by a rotating hinge, letting the lens swing from -90 to +210 degrees for waist-level, overhead and self-facing shooting.
It uses a 4-megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD with a 4x zoom covering 38-155mm equivalent, capturing JPEG or uncompressed TIFF at up to 2272x1704 pixels. Its macro mode focuses to roughly 2cm, one of the closest of its era. Exposure options span full auto, 16 scene modes and complete P/S/A/M control, framed on a 1.5-inch TFT monitor or through the optical viewfinder. Storage is CompactFlash Type I and power comes from Nikon's EN-EL1 rechargeable battery.
It remains a favourite for extreme close-up work — the swivel design plus near-lens-touching macro made it a fixture in dentistry, collecting and nature photography. Manual controls reward experienced users, though startup, autofocus and card writes are slow by modern standards and the tiny screen demands patience.
Check the swivel joint first: it should turn with firm, even resistance, and intermittent screen or control faults can indicate a worn ribbon cable in the hinge. EN-EL1 batteries are old, so expect reduced capacity and factor in a replacement. CompactFlash remains purchasable but bring a modest-capacity card, and confirm both the LCD and optical finder are clear.