The new product of Nikon, Nikon Coolpix A,
belongs to the top of Nikon’s cameras and is one of those premium compacts
whose numbers of produced products are limited, with an APS-C size sensor,
featured by a 16.2 megapixel sensor from DX Nikon D7000 Digital SLR. In the
front size there is a 28 mm Nikkor lens with the equivalent f/2.8 wide-angle, and
a luxurious design with a badge on the top of the camera printed “Nikon optical
design” as well as “Made in Japan”.
Features
Coolpix A own the 16.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS
sensor from Nikon D7000, the Nikkor 18.5 mm f/2.8 which is equivalent to 28mm
with the film terms of 35mm, as well as completely full manual controls, RAW
shooting and HD videos.
The
Nikon Coolpix A’s lens
Is
this camera fitted your pocket?
According to Nikon, the Nikon Coolpix A is
the smallest camera in the world equipped with an APS-C sensor, even smaller
than the Leica X2. A look over the camera will bring the impression of its
unique style, and the black and titanium silver versions are available, and its
body is made of metal and it is nicely fitted anyone’s pocket.
Is
this camera fitted your pocket?
The lens is surrounded by a focus ring.
Accessories, like the optional lens hood, and an adapter allowing using the
46mm filters, are useable thanks to a screw of front. Optional accessories are
available including an optical viewfinder (DF-CP1), and it is also compatible
with other Nikon’s DSLR accessories. An optional UR-E14 adaptor ring allows us
to use the 46mm lens filters, and there is also an optional lens hood
(HN-Cp18). The Nikon Coolpix also supports WiFi dongle WU-1a, as well as GPS
technology options (GPS-1).
With the 16 MP CMOS-size DX APS-C sensor
from the Nikon D7000, the images should be very high-quality, with the
magnificent low-light performance and the camera also owns the AF-assist light
feature. Nikon has gotten rid of the optical low pass filter (OPLF), so the
detail and sharpness are all good. We were highly impressed by the results we
recorded for this device, which is powered by the lithium-ion 1020mAh 7.2V
battery.
Main features
·
16.2 megapixel DX APS-C CMOS (23.6x15.6 mm) sensor
·
18.5mm f/2.8 lens equivalent to 28mm in 35mm
film terms
·
No Optical Low Pass Filter
·
3inch 921k dot screen
·
ISO100 to ISO25600 when extended
·
Full HD 1080p, 30/25/24fps, built in stereo mic
·
4fps continuous shooting
·
2 function buttons
·
AF/Macro/MF focus switch on the side
·
Manual focus ring, and manual override in AF
mode
·
14-bit RAW (NEF) recording
·
P/S/A/M with 2 User modes
·
Made in Japan
Handling
Handling
With the typical compact-design body, the
similar layout of the controls to Nikon’s SLR digital camera series where the
buttons are placed on the left side of the screen, the camera allows adjusting
the exposure compensation, ISO as well as zoom control easily. You can also
access the settings and controls quickly on the screen on the rear screen with
the <i> button.
The
camera allows adjusting the exposure compensation, ISO as well as zoom control
easily.
The locking memory and the battery
compartment are made of plastic, and inside that plastic coat is metal, which
makes its construction seem really solid. The solid-metal made focus ring which
surrounds the lens, combined with the metal mode dial, switches and command
wheel on the top of the camera bring the camera a luxurious outlook and
feeling. There is a relatively large rubber grip in the front, as well as a
soft grip at the back for your thumb to secure the camera more easily. The
on/off switch surrounds the shutter release button so it is quicker and easier
to turn the camera on and off, which again makes us feel so comfortable and
convenient using the camera. This device will be nicely fitted into your pocket
as well.
This
device will be nicely fitted into your pocket as well.
The button for switching between both sides
allows you to choose the necessary options like manual focus, or autofocus, and
in the manual focus mode, you can also use the focus ring on the lens to
simplify the focus. You can choose the focus area yourself, right beside you or
at a very far distance. The manual focus ring is extremely sensitive, and there
is also another ring which is removable and allows adapters to be fitted in.
The
button for switching between both sides allows you to choose the necessary
options like manual focus, or autofocus.
Menus
Its menus are just like what we can see on
Nikon’s Digital SLRs, and spread over five screens, with color codes, including
even playback (blue), shooting menu (green), settings (orange), adjusting
(purple) – there also includes the RAW process, and the last menu effect option
is the latest recorded menu settings that you use.
Anyone who has already gotten familiar with
the menu system of Nikon Digital SLR will be pleased when recognizing the
similar menus on Nikon Coolpix A – you can also see your instructions on
Youtube channel. This camera also features the new <i> button which
provides the ability of quickly access the rear screen’s options, and some
buttons run along the left side of the screen that can speed up to process of
approaching the ISO and other exposure compensation.
Battery
The maximum battery life is determined to
be as long as 230 shots, according to Nikon / CIPA testing process is quite
short, and if the shooting is extended, a second battery should be necessary.
The
battery
Speed
We picked out a number of shots to test the
camera’s responsiveness, from switching to the first photo, shot to shot,
focusing speed, etc. We took some shots and then using the average to ensure
the precise and consistent result, making it easier to compare with other cameras.
Comparison between Nikon Coolpix A and
Sony RX100
Nikon Coolpix A
·
Shutter Response: 0.05
·
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response: 0.6*
·
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response: N/A
·
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo: 1.35
·
Shot to Shot without Flash: 0.8
·
Shot to Shot with Flash: 1.0 (3 shots)
·
Continuous Shooting – JPEG (shots before slow
down): 4fps (22shots)
·
Continuous Shooting – Flash: N/A
·
Continuous Shooting – RAW: 4fps (11 shots)
Nikon
Coolpix A
Sony RX100
·
Shutter Response: 0.0
·
Wide - Focus / Shutter Response: 0.3
·
Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response: 0.3
·
Switch on Time to Taking a Photo: 2.2
·
Shot to Shot without Flash: 0.9
·
Shot to Shot with Flash: 2.1
·
Continuous Shooting (shots before slow down):
7fps (speed priority mode, 15 shots)
·
Continuous Shooting – Flash: 1.6s
·
Continuous Shooting – RAW: 4fps (13 shots)
Sony
RX100
Testing with AF-S, AF-F, face recognition
and regular mode, and all were set at the same speed.
The shutter response is fabulous, although
the focus speed is quite slow, and these parameter turns out to be slower when
using the macro focus mode. The switches are accurate in time, shot-to-shot and
continuous shooting is nice, and a good number of shots are possible before the
camera slows down.
