Nikon's 2006 budget 4MP compact — 3x 38-114mm f/2.8-4.9 zoom, AA power, simple auto operation
The Coolpix L4 was the cheapest of the three L-series (Lifestyle) compacts Nikon introduced in early 2006, selling for $149.95 beneath the L3 and L2. It offered the same easy AA-powered formula with a lower 4-megapixel resolution and a few trimmed features for first-time digital camera buyers.
It pairs a 4-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD with a 3x Zoom-Nikkor covering 38-114mm equivalent at a relatively bright f/2.8-4.9. The 2-inch LCD has 115,000 dots and there is no viewfinder. ISO is automatic only, from 50 to 200, shutter speeds run 4s to 1/3000s, and movies record at 640x480 and 15fps. Storage is 10MB internal plus SD cards up to 2GB, and two AA batteries deliver about 450 shots on NiMH cells.
It suits absolute beginners and anyone wanting a dirt-cheap CCD compact: 15 scene modes, Face-Priority AF and D-Lighting cover the basics, and the f/2.8 wide end helps indoors. The auto-only ISO ceiling of 200 limits low-light work, and the 15fps video is jerky even by 2006 standards.
The 2GB SD limit is the key practical catch — SDHC and SDXC cards will not work, so a small legacy SD card is required. AA power keeps it running cheaply; check the battery bay for leakage corrosion, confirm the lens extends promptly on startup, and inspect the small LCD for bleed or dead pixels.