Nikon Coolpix A

189 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
performance (110)
portability (102)
image quality (87)
usability (76)
screen (68)

Negative
focus (16)
viewfinder (12)
zoom (11)
shutter (5)
stabilizer (3)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 189 reviews of Nikon Coolpix A. The average rating for this product is 4.1/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. Reviewers are impressed by the screen and image quality. The usability and portability also get good feedback. There are some mixed opinions about the price. Many are negative about the image stabilizer and shutter.

performance, portability, usability, image quality, screen

focus, zoom, viewfinder, shutter, stabilizer

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Nikon Coolpix A is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 91/100 = Excellent quality.

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Review analysis

(Based on 189 reviews)

Expert Reviews

User Reviews

Review Ratings

(47% of reviews)
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Features

performance
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portability
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usability
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image quality
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Showing 103 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 70 of 103 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (77)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Nikon Coolpix A

alaTest has collected and analyzed 27 user reviews of Nikon Coolpix A from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 4.5/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Reviewers are impressed by the size and usability. The portability and image quality also get good views. Some have doubts about the viewfinder and zoom, while reviews are divided on the design.

price, image quality, portability, usability, size

focus, zoom, viewfinder

96% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Nikon Coolpix A

alaTest has collected and analyzed 32 user reviews of Nikon Coolpix A from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 4.3/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com. Comments about the size and price are generally positive. The image quality and performance also get good comments, but some have doubts about the image stabilizer and viewfinder.

portability, performance, image quality, price, size

zoom, viewfinder, stabilizer

91% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.ca)

Amazon.ca review summary for Nikon Coolpix A

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1 user review of Nikon Coolpix A from Amazon.ca. The average user rating for this product is 4.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.ca. Views about the reliability and screen are overall positive. The design and performance also get good comments.

performance, design, screen, reliability

100% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : David Elrich (digitaltrends.com)

Nikon Coolpix A review

It doesn't unseat Sony's RX1 as the best point-and-shoot, but it takes darn good pictures with accurate colors and sharp resolution. Users will be pleasantly pleased.

The Nikon Coolpix A is another camera we have no problems recommending. It takes darn good pictures with accurate colors and sharp resolution. Besides lackluster video, our biggest hesitation is the price – especially since you can get the similar 28mm...

Jul, 2013

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Expert review by : Richard Butler (dpreview.com)

Nikon Coolpix A

A number of factors have helped spur a great increase in the diversity of camera types now available. The Nikon Coolpix A - an APS-C compact with a fixed 28mm equivalent F2.8 lens - is something that would have seemed incredibly unlikely just a few...

Excellent image quality in both Raw and JPEG ; Sharp lens with good consistency up to fairly wide apertures ; Large sensor in genuinely small body ; Simple and responsive user interface ; Good build quality ; Good live view magnification allows precise...

Significant vignetting in both JPEG and Raw files ; Pedestrian focusing limits 'decisive moment' abilities ; No ND filter and 1/2000th sec shutter speed limit bright-light flexibility ; Extremely limited movie capabilities ; No Commander mode for use...

The Coolpix A offers DSLR-standard image quality and an excellent 28mm equivalent lens in a well-polished, pocketable camera. Its user interface will be immediately familiar to Nikon shooters and its results are dependably good. It's not the only game...

Jun, 2013

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Expert review by : Lori Grunin (cnet.com)

Nikon Coolpix A review

Nikon follows Leica and Fujifilm in delivering a fixed-focal-length lens model with an APS-C sensor, and as I suspected when I first saw it, this camera has a couple of weaknesses given its almost $1,100 price. While it delivers great photos and...

The Nikon Coolpix A produces the excellent photos you'd expect from a large sensor, and the camera is well built with a streamlined, if somewhat point-and-shoot-like, design.

For the price, it needs to deliver a little more, such as a viewfinder; aspects of its performance could be better.

If you're very picky about photo quality and prefer autofocus to manual -- but don't care about a viewfinder -- the Nikon Coolpix A is probably worth the money. Otherwise, wait for the price to drop.

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by (cnet.com)

Nikon Coolpix A ( Silver)

The trend toward larger sensor sizes is important, because all things being equal, larger sensors tend to deliver better quality, and manufacturers tend to surround them with higher quality parts. But the cameras are also necessarily larger and...

The Nikon Coolpix A produces the excellent photos you'd expect from a large sensor, and the camera is well built with a streamlined, if somewhat point-and-shoot-like, design.

For the price, it needs to deliver a little more, such as a viewfinder; aspects of its performance could be better.

If you're very picky about photo quality and prefer autofocus to manual -- but don't care about a viewfinder -- the Nikon Coolpix A is probably worth the money. Otherwise, wait for the price to drop.

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : Jim Fisher (pcmag.com)

Nikon Coolpix A

The Nikon Coolpix A is a dedicated wide-angle compact with a big image sensor. Image quality can suffer at the edges of the frame, and the autofocus is a smidge slow, but if if you want to pack a lot into your shots, it's worth a look.

Compact design. APS-C image sensor. 28mm wide-angle field of view. Good high ISO performance. Quick to start and shoot. Raw support.

Soft edges at f/2.8 and f/4. Longer shutter lag. Macro mode slows focus. Cannot disable rear LCD. No EVF option. Movie setting is buried in menus.

We've yet to see a big-sensor compact with built-in GPS or Wi-Fi. The Coolpix A supports the $60 WU-1a Wireless Mobile Adapter, if you'd like to share photos right after you've taken them. There's also an accessory port so that you can connect an...

Apr, 2013

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Expert review by : Kyle Schurman (steves-digicams.com)

Nikon Coolpix A

Overall performance is a little disappointing in this price range Shutter lag can be a little slow at times Extreme close-ups aren't possible, even in macro mode, minimum focus distance is 4 in.

Coolpix A's image quality is outstanding, compares favorably to entry-level Nikon DSLRs ; APS-C sized image sensor is rarely seen in a camera this size ; Low light results are good with or without flash ; Full manual control options ; High-quality lens...

Overall performance is a little disappointing in this price range ; Shutter lag can be a little slow at times ; Extreme close-ups aren't possible, even in macro mode, minimum focus distance is 4 in ; Autofocus results should be more consistent ; No...

When it comes to the primary job of a digital camera -- creating great images -- the Nikon Coolpix A is a star performer. Few cameras of this physical size offer an image sensor as large as the APS-C sized image sensor of the Coolpix A. This camera...

Dec, 2013

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Expert review by : Mark Goldstein (photographyblog.com)

Nikon Coolpix A Review

The Nikon Coolpix A is a new premium compact camera aimed firmly at the keen enthusiast photographer. The Nikon A has exactly the same DX-format 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor as the Nikon D7000 DSLR but with no optical low-pass filter for maximum...

The Nikon Coolpix A is an assured entry into the growing premium compact camera market, boasting an attractive combination of a proven APS-C sensor, quality 28mm optic and a small and compact body. Slightly sluggish auto-focus speed, a "slow" f/2.8...

Mar, 2013

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Expert review by : Mike Tomkins (imaging-resource.com)

Nikon Coolpix A Review

Nikon's Coolpix compact camera line finally has its first large-sensor model! The Nikon Coolpix A is the company's first entry into the burgeoning large-sensor, fixed prime lens market, and the category's first offering from a mainstream brand. It's...

Solid alloy body with true twin-dial design; Smaller, lighter, and cheaper than most direct competitors; Excellent image quality, even when compared to interchangeable-lens cameras; Numerous accessories expand upon its capabilities

Fixed prime lens is not for everybody; Ergonomics could be better; Performance is spotty; Built-in flash is rather weak; Battery life is quite modest

Other companies -- key among them being Sigma -- may have invented the large sensor, fixed prime lens camera category, but the Nikon Coolpix A represents its first really mainstream effort. Like its main rivals, it is clearly not the camera for...

Jul, 2013

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Expert review by : George Schaub (shutterbug.com)

Nikon Coolpix A: Lab Test Results & Comments

The Nikon Coolpix A is an unusual camera with a very robust, retro design and a body based on a magnesium-alloy chassis. It is extremely compact but has a 16.2MP DX-format sensor (Nikon's version of the APS-C format). It also incorporates Nikon's...

Compact camera with large image sensor (DX/APS-C format) ; Very good/realistic color reproduction ; Very good results in our noise tests ; Robust body, high-end finish ; Full HD video capabilities

Missing an optical or electronic viewfinder ; Fixed monitor (no articulation)

Mar, 2014

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Expert review by : Michael Mackenzie (layersmagazine.com)

Nikon COOLPIX A

The COOLPIX A marks Nikon's introduction to the advanced, fixed focal length lens, compact camera arena, joining companies such as Ricoh, Leica, Fujifilm, Sony, and Sigma. Characteristics of this group include fast lenses, RAW file capture, and large...

DX sensor; image quality; build quality

Price; manual focus control; accessing video mode

The question about who this camera is for is more difficult to answer. At nearly $1,100 for a compact camera, it has a limited market. The COOLPIX A is for the serious pro photographer or amateur who’s technically proficient and has deep pockets. The...

Dec, 2013

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