Nikon Coolpix A Summary

16 Megapixels16 MegapixelsContinuous DriveContinuous DriveFull 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more but less than 4K.Full 1080p HD Video: 1920 x 1080 resolution or more but less than 4K.Manual Controls: Both fully-manual (M) and semi-automatic modes (T and V).Manual Controls: Both fully-manual (M) and semi-automatic modes (T and V).Action Photography: Shutter speeds of 1/1500 or more.Action Photography: Shutter speeds of 1/1500 or more.Night Photography: Reaches shutter-speeds longer than 4 seconds.Night Photography: Reaches shutter-speeds longer than 4 seconds.Hotshoe: Allows external flash units to be attached.Hotshoe: Allows external flash units to be attached.Spot MeteringSpot MeteringAccepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Accepts Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC), SDHC and SD memory.Neocamera detailed reviewNeocamera detailed reviewDiscontinued: No longer produced by the manufacturer. May still be in stock or found used.Discontinued: No longer produced by the manufacturer. May still be in stock or found used.

Nikon Coolpix A Assessment

The Nikon Coolpix A is the smallest digital camera with an APS-C sensor and is similarly-sized to a compact camera. This incredible achievement puts the image quality of a DSLR in a camera that fits in a coat pocket. The compromise is that its lens offers a fixed 28mm-equivalent wide-angle field-of-view. This is obviously not for everyone but those who are happy with a bright F/2.8 prime lens will be very impressed by the Coolpix A.

There is no denying that the 16 megapixels CMOS sensor of this digital camera delivers exceptional image quality. It also lacks an anti-alias filter which lets it deliver extremely sharp images at the risk of occasional moire artifacts. Image-noise is very low with clean results until ISO 3200 and usable ones until 12800. Dynamic-range is great which makes it easy to meter well.

The only real issue with the Coolpix A itself is a slow and error-prone Contrast-Detect autofocus system. It takes its time, even in moderate light and frequently missed in low-light. Luckily, a manual-focus ring is available and there is a nicely implemented Manual-Focus Assist feature.

The Coolpix A currently faces another issue, price. At $1100, it costs more than most DSLRs and near its most-established competitor, the Fuji X100S which also features an anti-alias filter-free 16 megapixels CMOS sensor, only with a special color-filter-array which avoids moire and on-sensor Phase-Detect AF. Its larger body also includes a hybrid viewfinder that switches between EVF and optical mode. The choice here is between size and speed plus an EVF, a very difficult one indeed.

Neocamera detailed reviewNeocamera detailed review Read the full Nikon Coolpix A review here.

PROS CONS
Very low image-noise Slow autofocus system
Excellent sharpness in center of frame Frequent autofocus misses in low-light
Wide dynamic-range Corner softness
Good metering WB changes not Live
Very good Automatic White-Balance Display not Exposure-Priority
Low optical distortion Strong vignetting
Very responsive Weak color accuracy
Good LCD visibility Low rear control-dial
Wide 28mm F/2.8 prime lens Easily turned on accidentally
Simple direct controls Self-timer resets
Extremely compact Limited customization
Solid build quality Short battery-life
ExcellentExcellent Excellent

Nikon Coolpix A Related Information

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Nikon A Highlights

Nikon Coolpix A
Compact digital camera

Sensor-Size: 24 x 16mm

APS-C Sensor

Actual size when viewed at 100 DPI

16 Megapixels Fixed LensISO 100-6400
Fixed 28mm lensShutter 1/2000-30s
4 FPS Drive, 32 ImagesFull manual controls
1920x1080 @ 30 FPS Video RecordingSpot-Metering
3" LCD 920K PixelsHot-Shoe
Lithium-Ion Battery
Secure Digital Extended Capacity
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