Nikon has announced the Nikon Coolpix A, a compact point-and-shoot camera with some seriously advanced specs.
The headline feature of this compact camera has to be its 16.2-megapixel DX-format image sensor – the first of its kind to be found in a Coolpix camera. This is the same size as can be found in many of Nikon’s full DSLR cameras, not to mention the APS-C sensors found in the Sony NEX range.
Unlike the Sony NEX-6 and co, however, the Nikon Coolpix A has a fixed and fully retractable zoom lense. In this sense (and in its general design) it’s closer to the Sony RX100.
The lens itself is an 18.5mm (28mm equivalent) prime lens with an f/2.8 aperture. Nikon claims that autofocus performance is quick, and is accompanied by a 4fps burst mode.
The camera is capable of ISO 100-3200, which is expandable to 6400. It’s also capable of capturing RAW/NEF image files.
As the new flagship device in the Coolpix range, the Nikon Coolpix A comes with an array of manual controls. These include a PASM dial and a manual focus ring, much like the aforementioned Sony RX100 and the Canon S110. It also sports a full size hot shoe port on the top for adding optical viewfinders and flashes (though there’s also a built-in pop-up example here). Around back there’s a 3-inch VGA LCD viewfinder.
The Nikon Coolpix A will be available in March for a suggested retail price of £999.99.
Are you interested in the Nikon Coolpix A as your next point-and-shoot, or is it just too expensive? Let us know in the comments section below, or take to the Trusted Reviews Twitter and Facebook feeds to have your say.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
