Nikon Coolpix A Digital Camera, 16.2 Megapixel, DX Format CMOS, 18.5mm Wide Angle Lens, Full HD 1080p Video, Black

2016-12-19T19:00:00

Image quality from this camera is fantastic!! Sharp, sharp, sharp and Nikon's great color! There are a few things I would love to see in a Coolpix B or follow up model, such as 35mm fixed focal length lens instead of the 28 (that would make it a perfect pocket camera, IMO), a built in viewfinder and a separate button for video. Those are all personal preferences but Nikon - please make a Coolpix B. The image quality is really fantastic in the Coolpix A, and with the latest firmware update, the focusing speed is fine now (as opposed to being somewhat slow before that update). The initial release price was too high IMO. I bought this during the close out sale and am very happy I did. It's unassuming but you can get amazing images out of it. If you are OK with this fixed focal length and familiar with Nikon, you'll love it. If you aren't familiar with the Nikon menu system, it's easy to learn. You have quite a few options with this little camera - the same as on many of their DSLRs - spot, center or matrix metering, photo styles (standard, portrait, etc), wide ISO range, scene modes, as well as PSAM, custom white balance settings and more. Macro is great - you just have to move the focus button on the camera to the macro setting. I love it and am very happy with this as a travel / pocket camera and recommend that if you think this is an option you will like (fixed focal length) that you try it now that the prices are more reasonable - or get it before it's not available at all.

coolpixer123

Originally posted at

2015-06-05T20:00:00

Wanting a smaller, high quality, reliable digital camera primarily for 'Street Photography' use, I finally decided on the Coolpix A after much comparison with other models and brands. I am a long time, dedicated Nikon user and currently shoot primarily with my D610 and Df. The Nikon P7700 has been my 'go to' discrete camera for the last couple of years but I was really looking forward to the larger (DX sized) sensor the Coolpix A uniquely offers. When I was able to purchase a Nikon refurbished camera directly from Nikon, I snatched it up. I have been thoroughly impressed with the camera from its day of arrival. The build of this camera is nothing but quality. I purchased the dedicated leather case which offers excellent protection when carrying the camera around. I knew this camera was not intended as a do everything camera because it has the fixed {prime} lens of 18 mm (35mm equivalent of a normal wide angle 28mm} which is exactly what I was wanting for my passion of street photography. The image quality is outstanding, especially with the larger sensor and the 16 megapixel capture. And the functionality of the menus seems far more user friendly than my P7700. The focus lock-on is quite acceptable and the ease of switching ISO, picture quality, f/stop, and shutter speed quickly enables me to walk from sun to shade and shoot stationary subjects or moving vehicles very quickly. I have done some limited scenics and portraits and in that area in functions like a champ as well. I am not much of a video shooter so cannot fairly comment on those functions or abilities with any validity. It would be nice to see any possible future update to include an articulable screen which could be helpful in my street photography or general use. And, despite those consumers who purchased this camera thinking it could zoom, the fixed prime offers excellent quality, compact size, and true professional quality right out of the box.

TVDatlanta

Originally posted at

2015-01-25T19:00:00

The Coolpix A is earning my highest regards for its quality construction and professional level wide angle results. More than any previous camera I've owned, the Coolpix A consistently exposes and focuses flawlessly, with no need to correct for distortion, chromatic aberrations or color in post processing. Because its raw images are only somewhat better than its excellent jpegs, shooting at fine quality jpeg often makes my workflow simpler and easier. The lens' tendency toward vignetting can be easily corrected in post processing. I highly recommend this camera to anyone looking for high quality imaging in a very lightweight and portable camera. It is now the only camera I carry, and with total confidence.

Lightpath48

Originally posted at

2014-11-28T19:00:00

The price of the Nikon Coolpix A has been significantly reduced, making it a very good value for those who appreciate the combination of high resolution (an APS-C sensor), optical excellence, and a very small camera body. This camera also performs brilliantly as a macro device. The Pomeranian dog photo below was taken at a shutter speed of 1/125 of a second, an aperture of f/2.8, an ISO of 280, Auto White Balance, and Matrix Metering.

Scripps23

Originally posted at

2014-11-17T19:00:00

Very small yet substantial controls, no accidental changing of settings as in other small cameras that I've tried. Has a very quality feel..ergonomics couldn't be nicer. Something I hadn't read before buying - It has a beautifully designed shutter release that has a light physical click, that you feel not hear, between half and full press (very nice). Very intuitive navigation options - I was considering the GR but the navigation would take a lifetime to learn, besides the GR wouldn't AF in challenging light. I've read that the A has slow AF.. Hogwash, it's as fast as my D7100. Last but not least the picture quality is PHENOMENAL.

mallen

2014-07-10T21:00:00

I bought this as a used item but ended up returning it. I love the size and image quality but for me, a couple of things did not make it worth the cost. The auto focus was not that fast. I don't know why Nikon struggles with this, especially on a premium camera like this. The Nikon 1 system cameras focus faster. Even the older Sony RX100 focuses much faster, as does the Sony a6000. If you only shoot landscape and still life or manual zone focus, it shouldn't be a problem. I just got tired of paying a premium for cameras that have focusing issues (x100 is another example) so I sent it back. I'll wait on a future iteration. If you are familiar with the Nikon menu system, you will enjoy using this, as I did. Great to be able to carry this in your pocket or purse and have such fabulous image quality. The second reason is that I was not in love with the 28mm fixed focal length. I knew that ahead of time but thought I could learn to love it since I had rented it before and loved the image quality and some of the 28mm shots I had taken. In the end, it was too expensive for a niche camera for me that I wouldn't use every day. If you love this focal length and either manual focus or only shoot stationary subjects, you will love this. I wanted to love it. I love the size and image quality.

DEBBIE Y.

2014-06-16T21:00:00

The lightest, smallest camera with image quality rivaling a DSLR. No great photos if you left your camera home. This one is with me ALL the time. Fixed 28mm focal length lens is NO limitation for a pocket/travel camera. Tack sharp even wide open I have made 17 x 23 in prints from RAW files. I don,t shoot video so can't comment in this. Much smaller and lighter then the Fuji X100S.

Daniel A.

2014-05-25T20:00:00

I was waiting for a pocket camera with pro performance for a long time. Carrying around D800 with heavy lenses was not very enjoyable during travel and vacations. On display over the shelf Nikon A , looked very similar to P300 and other coolpix cameras. That was the only reason I hesitated for few months before trying it out. Once in hands it feels different and solid. Operation is simple for Nikon users. Yes, eye piece is missing but but overall shooting experience is pleasant and quick. I have assigned one function button to instantly change between photo and movie release options. Obviously people who will buy this camera are those who only care about quality of images and solidity of build. Believe me the images produced are so good that sometimes I have to check the photo info to see wether it is really taken by Nikon A or a DSLR . This is enough as a quality marker for me to respect this great camera. This is truly a collector item for Nikon lovers......

Nikondoc

Originally posted at

2014-05-22T20:00:00

I am a recent owner of the Coolpix A having used the Ricoh GR for most of year. I believe the Coolpix A provides better image quality (at least in my experience). On the subject of interface I prefer the simple Nikon approach when compared to the Ricoh GR - there are those who argue that the GR is far more configurable and that is true - but the GR is almost overwhelming. The Ricoh snap focus is an excellent feature and I believe this is an area where Nikon could learn from Ricoh. Some areas I would like Nikon to address in a firmware update (if possible)..Addressing a few of these issues would make the Coolpix A GR killer 1. Easy availability to lock multi-selected wheel so it can't be accidentally moved while shooting. 2. Exposure Compensation available in Manual Exposure like every other Nikon camera. 3. On the Manual focus scale a depth of field indicator (depending on F Stop) 4. In manual focus mode the user set distance stays as set when the camera power cycles, 5. Ability to turn off image review - I can't understand why this was not included. 6. Flash commander mode - the Coolpix A should have it considering it's cost - even my lowly P7700 has it. 7. Ability to turn off LCD good for shooting with the Nikon optical viewfinder. i would zero hesitation recommending this camera to anyone who is familiar with the Nikon products and is able to shoot with a single focal length and achieve good results.

streetfusion

Originally posted at

2014-01-28T19:00:00

Over the last few years I have become a real fan on Nikon's Pro-Level "P" series Coolpix camera's #owning the P7000 & P7100# I was preparing to upgrade again when last spring Nikon introduced the Coolpix A to say the least I was intrigued & set upon my quest to save a "pocket full of gold" to purchase it be cause no... it's not a cheap camera, but lets open the box and see what we are greeted with... A magnificent small, rugged, virtually all metal Nikon camera body that is actually made in Japan. You may ask how small? well its slightly smaller than a iPhone 4 and about double the thickness. That means this thing goes easy in to virtually any pocket #except blue jeans# this is what I always desired from a modern point and shoot, if only it could take great pictures.... Oh boy can it take great pictures, Images are SUPER sharp and crisp edge to edge thanks to the removal of the optical low-pass filter the colors are stunning and low light ISO #up to 1600# is superb. The menu's & controls are pure Nikon & if you love them #like I do# you will feel right at home even coming over from a DSLR. I was a little nervous with the fixed effective 28mm #DX crop# lens coverage but after taking it out and using it for what it is designed for I am now very comfortable with the field of view. You see this is your travel camera, your street scene camera, your it's 95 degrees and I don't want to carry my D800 all day at the state fair camera, yes for portraits you are going to have approach your subject sometimes #although the 16.2 MP sensor gives you plenty to crop# Is the camera perfect? no, my biggest gripe thus far is the pop up flash if you are 6ft away from your subject you might just get her illuminated... The pop up worked fine on the P7000/7100 I think the 18mm lens is too wide for it #thankfully my SB400 works great with it# I've heard complaints the auto-focus is too slow, I'll say it is as fast as my P7100 perhaps for twice the price it could be faster but no complaints from me. Could it use a viewfinder? and a 2.0 lens? sure but the addition of these would require a larger body & what you really are buying with this camera is a small highly evolved point & shoot that fits easily in your pocket while you are out, and delivers quality images with no regrets. Love the camera for what it is and every time you pull it out you will realize you have a pocket full of gold

Tony

Originally posted at

2013-12-15T19:00:00

I am a pro photographer. Really was hoping for a decent point and shoot to carry around with out the need for a heavy pro cam. This camera has trouble catching proper focus on people. There is no dedicated video record button. You have to go through the menu process to switch it on and off which is slow and clumsy. Just overall not worth the price tag!

FredLove

Originally posted at

2013-11-22T19:00:00

I really liked the idea of the Coolpix A - a large DX sensor in a very tiny body with no OLPF on the sensor promises go any where ability with DSLR image quality, even in low light. So how did it go? Well, only partially successful. The camera has stunning image quality in good light, with tons of detail; and it is very obvious that the lens is super sharp. Perfect for some serious enlargements. In these conditions, the AF is generally fast and the camera works very well. It is also obvious that the build quality is exceptional for a compact camera, like it's machined out of a solid block of metal, similar to how an an old Leica feels. Mine had taken a fall, surviving without issue, so it is obviously a very durable camera. However things drop off significantly in low light. At ISO3200, which we use a lot for shooting indoors, image quality is not that great, and often the shots aren't usable above and beyond basic family snaps. It is better than most compacts in this regards though not that much ahead of my mother in law's Coolpix P330, and it certainly isn't better than our older D90. Compared to the D600, its way behind. The above would be usable if the fill in flash worked well, but its an utter disaster. It always over exposes people and always looks awful, especially on any mode other than full auto. On full auto its OK, but no better than a $99 cheap digital camera. The Fuji X100 is much better here. The other issue, which is common with many other Nikon cameras, is that the auto white balance doesn't handle incandescent light well. You need to manually set it, and even then you need to set a manual setting on the PRE function under heavy yellow light. Overall, this camera has so much potential, but falls short in a couple key areas. This Coolpix A could have been great, but as it stands, its just reasonably good.

JCinTO

Originally posted at

2013-10-27T20:00:00

I have been doing photography for over 35 years and that makes puts me in the generation of photographers who do not believe in "spray and hope" strategy. Instead, every shot is planned, contemplated, and deliberate; and Nikon Coolpix A gives me that control. My primary equipment is comprised of a Nikon D7100, a D600 (soon to be replaced with a D610), an Olympus XZ-1, and now for about three months a Nikon Coolpix A. With the exception of its name I love everything about this camera. It is a simple yet powerful camera that gives tremendous control and when needed full automation. I love its 28mm (35mm equivalent) focal length. It captures almost everything that is within my peripheral focus and its bright f/2.8 aperture allows for great low light photography without raising the ISO. Overall, image quality is exceptional and noise is nonexistent up to ISO 400. The focus system is 95% right-on and locks in quickly; macro focussing is also very fast and accurate. I recommend this camera to anyone who uses a Nikon DSLR or is considering a Leica X2 or even a Sony RX100. I have tried both and though I absolutely love Leica's menu system, I found that the overall quality and colors of the images are on the par. Leica is perhaps a bit sharper than the Sony and just an iota better than the Nikon. Check out the samples below. Cheers!

Omer

Originally posted at

2013-10-24T20:00:00

My camera was repaired and returned quickly, thank you for the great service. I was very happily surprised!

fezlord

Originally posted at

2013-09-24T20:00:00

This is the best camera that can fit in a shirt pocket. Anything better does not fit. The DX sensor is perfectly matched with the approximately 28 mm 35 mm equivalent lens which is the real gem. It is obvious that Nikon focused on the professional photographer or enthusiast that wants something that is portable, yet still shoots like a DSLR. While not as flexible as Nikon's entry level DSLR, you would be hard pressed to match the image quality. I am looking forward to the Coolpix B - 50 and Coolpix B - 85 to supplement this Coolpix A - 28. It would be nice to choose the focal length - I would probably buy two or three.

Anonymous

Originally posted at

2013-09-01T20:00:00

My Nikon Coolpix A is a very welcome new friend. My Nikon P770 will still will be an old friend. The prime lens and clean exterior of the "A" makes this a great street camera. I used Leica M4s in NYC for two years and in Juarez Mexico for two years. I was a Leica technician in New Jersey and worked on Alfred Eisenstadt's 1,000,001 M3. For 25 years my Hasselblad on the tripod with an extensive home darkroom produced prints now in two museums. I though I knew everything about photography yet Nikon's website has given me so much inspiration and knowledge. My films camera connected me to the past and Nikon digital will connect me to the future.

Macster

Originally posted at

2013-08-13T20:00:00

DSLR like controls and quality in a compact package. It feels nice in your hands and easy to carry around. With a small body it's less invasive when you shoot. I would recommend anyone who was considering this model to quickly go to your local camera shop and try it out. 28mm wide angle with a F2.8 lens makes it easy to use in many situation. High iso looks smooth and if you want to bump it up even more just shoot it in B&W. Only downside to this camera is that it carries the Coolpix name. For what it's worth the Coolpix A should be in it's own category.

eViLpAnd4

Originally posted at

2013-08-12T20:00:00

You cannot argue with the great picture quality of the camera. It's the lens that makes all the difference. And the operation is fast. But once you get past these basics, you make a lot of trade-offs. The camera desperately needs an optical viewfinder. A camera like this should of had one. You can get an optional viewfinder, buts it's another $450 more. Image stabilization...there isn't any. Again, when you think of the uses of this camera, low light especially, this is another missing piece. The LCD is not very bright and hard to use in sunlight outdoors. Cannot adjust it. Indoors it works fine. The minimum f-stop is 2.8. Again, given what it is used for, f2 would have been a lot better. And it's what Nikon's competitors offer. Even the iPhone 5 is faster. The camera has many metal pieces, but it still feels like a regular point and shoot. I'm trying to walk the fence here because the operation and images of the camera are quite good. It just seems like you are paying a serious premium for quality and size, and it might just be worth the wait for the Coolpix a2 to fix some of these issues. Peter W

Peter719

Originally posted at

2013-08-08T21:00:00

I miss so many photos when without my D700. I can carry my Nikon Coolpix A for group and landscape photos all of the time. Anything that moves still has to be photographed with a D7000. The D700 body will be retained for use with older and better constructed lenses. You can save on filters and lenses by using the Nikon Coolpix A. See Ken Rockwell's site for more advice on the Nikon cameras and lenses.

Rich W.

2013-08-05T20:00:00

This is the best compact digital camera I have ever used, and I'm using it for both professional and personal use. I removed the neck strap because It's small and fits in my back pocket. This way it's always with me every time I leave the house. The fact that it's small means that it draws less attention, which is valuable if you wish to be a "fly on the wall" when shooting people. The camera starts up with almost no delay, just the time needed to open and extend the lens. Image quality is amazing, very sharp, excellent color rendition, and the file size is more than enough for reproduction double-page in a magazine. Auto focus is very fast and there is hardly a delay in the time between squeezing the shutter button and making the exposure. For no delay whatsoever, I often use manual focus, preset to about 3 meters, then with the lens stopped down to f8 or smaller, everything is in focus until infinity. I love the fact that the camera can capture in RAW format, or jpeg if you prefer. There's a lot of in-camera editing and color correction functions that I've played with a bit, but need to learn more about that at some point. The Coolpix A feels solid and robust because it's mostly metal, not plastic. I'm also using the optional viewfinder attached on top. I would definitely recommend this camera.

Anonymous

Originally posted at

2013-07-16T21:00:00

As a passionate amateur photographer whose primary camera is a DX3 this is the finest street camera to supplement my equipment. Features outstanding, picture quality great. Pricey but worth it.

Phyl

2013-05-13T21:00:00

Three things that best with this camera: * AF in low light (indoors and darker) is considerably faster and more accurate, overall AF speed consistent regardless of brightness – easier to anticipate shot timing *Better AWB and colour accuracy, especially in the reds *Images just seem to have slightly more pop and here some more good characteristics of this camera: *More accurate matrix metering, doesn't blow highlights as often *LCD shows focus better *Lens has better close range performance, less CA at all distances and better flare/ coma control. It also feels like there's slightly more overall contrast, giving better 'bite' to images out of camera – it's a combination of both macro and microcontrast *Dedicated manual focus ring Compatible with GPS and wifi accessories *Made in Japan (though this has little impact on immediate build quality, it may or may not speak for longevity) *Slightly faster to power on *Easy to decouple AF and spot meter – AF on via Fn1 focuses, shutter half press locks metering *Very easy to move the focus point – just use the D-pad directly

Foocando

2013-04-22T21:00:00

Great for parties and meetings. Flash free pictures indoors. Great street camera. Nice wide 28mm captures all. Very sharp pictures.

George L.