CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
    • All Cameras
    • Cameras by Brand
      • Sony Cameras
      • Canon Cameras
      • Nikon Cameras
      • Pentax Cameras
      • Fujifilm Cameras
      • Olympus Cameras
      • OM-System Cameras
      • Panasonic Cameras
      • Leica Cameras
    • Cameras by Body Type
      • Mirrorless Cameras
      • DSLR Cameras
      • Compact Cameras
      • Bridge Cameras
      • Waterproof Cameras
    • Cameras by Lens Mount
      • Sony E Mount Cameras
      • Canon RF Mount Cameras
      • Nikon Z Mount Cameras
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cameras
      • Leica L Mount Cameras
      • Nikon F Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF M Mount Cameras
      • Canon EF S Mount Cameras
      • Pentax KAF Mount Cameras
      • Sony Alpha Mount Cameras
      • Fujifilm G Mount Cameras
      • Sigma SA Mount Cameras
      • Nikon 1 Mount Cameras
  • LENSES
    • All Lenses
    • Lenses by Mount
      • Sony E Mount Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF M Mount Lenses
      • Canon EF S Mount Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Lenses
      • Pentax KAF Mount Lenses
      • Fujifilm G Mount Lenses
      • Sigma SA Mount Lenses
      • Sony Alpha Mount Lenses
    • Teleconverters
    • Cinema Lenses
      • Sony E Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon RF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon Z Mount Cine Lenses
      • Canon EF Mount Cine Lenses
      • Nikon F Mount Cine Lenses
      • ARRI PL Mount Cine Lenses
      • Fujifilm X Mount Cine Lenses
      • Micro Four Thirds Mount Cine Lenses
      • Leica L Mount Cine Lenses
  • TOOLS
    • Cameras
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Lenses
      • Smart Find
      • 1-on-1 Comparison
  • BLOG

Nikon A Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Nikon A

    Select a Camera to Compare

    x
    Add a Camera for comparison

    Main Features

    • 16MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 6400( expands to 25600)
    • 28 mm f2.80 Prime Lens
    • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
    • 4.0fps continuous shooting
    • 299g. 111 x 64 x 40 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Nikon A Overview

    Launched in June 2013 , Nikon Coolpix A is a 16.0MP Large Sensor Compact camera with a APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and 28 mm F2.8 lens.

    Nikon A Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Nikon A is the latest member of Nikon's Large Sensor Compact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

    Nikon Large Sensor Compact Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Nikon A
    2013 16.0MP - APS-C 4.0 fps 111 x 64 x 40mm 299g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
    Nikon A


    **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Related Blog Posts

    DPReview to Close
    Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more
    100-400mm Lens Size Comparison: Leica vs Sony vs Canon vs Nikon
    Sirui 24mm f2.8 Super35 Anamorphic 1.33x Lens %50 Off
    Nikon Z9 firmware Update v3.10 Released
    Best Selling Lenses in Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X and Canon EF Mounts in 2023
    Daily Deals: Sigma 12-24mm Lens, SmallRig Cage, LED Lights and more
    Sigma to Release 16mm f1.4, 30mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.4 Lenses in Nikon Z Mount

    Nikon A PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Nikon A review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    External Flash Shoe
    Full HD Video
    Optical (Optional) Optional Viewfinder
    RAW Shooting
    Face Detection Focusing
    Face Detection Focusing
    921k dots LCD Resolution
    299g Light Body
    Manual Focusing
    Manual Exposure
    Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide
    Fast 2.80 Lens at Tele
    Good Low Light ISO - 1164
    AE Bracketing
    Flash Sync Port
    Report a correction

    Buy Nikon A from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Image Stabilization
    No Articulating Screen
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    Only Unknown Focus Points
    Low Battery Life: 230 shots
    No Environmental Sealing

    Report a correction


    Nikon A Physical Specs
    Nikon A weighs 299 g (0.66 lb / 10.55 oz) and has external dimensions of 111 x 64 x 40 mm (4.37 x 2.52 x 1.57″). Considering that the average weight of Large Sensor Compact type cameras is 398g, Nikon A is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 40mm, it is also quite small, 15mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Nikon A
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Nikon A
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Nikon A with the dimensions:

    Nikon A Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Nikon A Camera Body


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Nikon A, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Nikon A Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Nikon A Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery



    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Nikon A with its main competitors:

    Nikon A Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs A Thickness vs A
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Ricoh GR III
    Compare
    257g 42g lighter 33mm 7mm thinner
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Ricoh GR II
    Compare
    251g 48g lighter 35mm 5mm thinner
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Fujifilm XF10
    Compare
    279g 20g lighter 41mm 1mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Fujifilm X70
    Compare
    340g 41g heavier 44mm 4mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Sony RX100
    Compare
    240g 59g lighter 36mm 4mm thinner
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Sony A6000
    Compare
    344g 45g heavier 45mm 5mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Panasonic LX100
    Compare
    393g 94g heavier 55mm 15mm thicker
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Fujifilm X100
    Compare
    445g 146g heavier 54mm 14mm thicker

    Weather Sealing

    Nikon A doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Nikon A Lens

    Nikon A features a 28 mm F2.8 Prime lens. This prime lens makes A a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens.

    Wide Coverage

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    A
    Widest - Sony ZV-1F
    Average
    Telezoom

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    A
    Longest - Panasonic ZS200
    Average

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    A
    Fastest - Panasonic LX10
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    A
    Fastest - Leica X (Typ 113)
    Average

    Nikon A's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.

    Nikon A Sensor and Photography Features

    Nikon A has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4928 x 3264 pixels. A has a native ISO range of 100 - 6400 which can be boosted to 25600 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Nikon A is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Fujifilm X-T5 with its 40.2MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon A vs Fujifilm X-T5 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Nikon A DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Nikon A sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 80 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Nikon A here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Nikon A's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Nikon A Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Nikon A Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Nikon A LCD

    Nikon A has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Nikon A back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Nikon Coolpix A doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    A doesn't have a built-in viewfinder but an optional external viewfinder is available. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III (Compare) or Canon PowerShot G5 X (Compare).
    Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

    Nikon A Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Nikon A has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Nikon A Battery

    Nikon A is powered by EN-EL20 battery which provides a battery life of 230 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Large Sensor Compact type cameras is 304 shots, Nikon A has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend A owners to invest in some extra batteries.

    Battery Life Comparison in Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Nikon A
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Leica X Vario with its 450shots is the model with longest battery life among Large Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon A vs Leica X Vario or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

    Nikon A Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Ricoh GR III
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 shots Yes No No
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Ricoh GR II
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 320shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Fujifilm XF10
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 330shots Yes Yes No
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Fujifilm X70
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots Yes No No
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Sony RX100
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No Yes
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Sony A6000
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 360shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Panasonic LX100
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 300shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon Coolpix A Camera Fujifilm X100
    Compare
    1280 x 720 300shots No No No

    Nikon A Video Features

    With Nikon A, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 30,25,24 fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Nikon A will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    Video Resolutions Comparison Chart



    Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

    Nikon Coolpix A has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Nikon A doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Large Sensor Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider or in a similar price range.

    Also read:

    • Best Compact Cameras with Microphone Port
    • Best Compact Cameras with Headphone Port

    If you are getting into videography and want to know what are the must-have video accessories for your camera, read our article:
    Essential Videography / Filmmaking Accessories for your Camera

    Nikon A Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Nikon A can shoot continuously at max speed of 4 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

    Flash

    A has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing

    Nikon A features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

    Nikon A also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.



    What type of Photography is Nikon A Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Nikon A in 5 different photography areas.

    Nikon A for Portrait Photography

    Nikon A has a score of 50 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
    RAW shooting capability
    External Flash Shoe
    Manual Focus Mode
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon A for Portrait Photography

    Nikon A for Street Photography

    Nikon A has a score of 63 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Small Body
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon A for Street Photography

    Nikon A for Sports Photography

    Nikon A has a score of 41 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Good Low Light ISO
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    External Flash Shoe
    RAW shooting capability
    Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
    Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon A for Sports Photography

    Nikon A for Daily Photography

    Nikon A has a score of 66 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    299g
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
    RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon A for Daily Photography

    Nikon A for Landscape Photography

    Nikon A has a score of 38 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA.
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon A for Landscape Photography
    Nikon A Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Nikon A compares with other Large Sensor Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon A alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Nikon A

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Nikon A amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Ricoh GR III
    Ricoh GR III
    Compare
    Ricoh GR II
    Ricoh GR II
    Compare
    Fujifilm XF10
    Fujifilm XF10
    Compare
    Fujifilm X70
    Fujifilm X70
    Compare
    Sony RX100
    Sony RX100
    Compare
    Sony A6000
    Sony A6000
    Compare
    Panasonic LX100
    Panasonic LX100
    Compare
    Fujifilm X100
    Fujifilm X100
    Compare

    Nikon A Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Nikon A with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Nikon A's price range.

    Nikon A Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Nikon A has an Overall Score of 53/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Nikon Coolpix A is ranked #44 out of 62 in Large Sensor Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #418 out of 1259 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #418 out of 1259 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #44 out of 62 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
    #46 out of 64 in Top Ranking Large Sensor Compact Cameras
    #180 out of 270 in Top Ranking APS-C Sensor Cameras
    #12 out of 29 in Lightest Compact Cameras with APS-C sensor(299g)
    #158 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
    Geek Score: 0

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon A
    Does the Nikon A have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Nikon A have RAW support?
    Does the Nikon A have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Nikon A have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Nikon A?
    What is the Sensor Size of Nikon A?
    is the Nikon A a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Nikon A have Touch Screen?
    Does the Nikon A have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon A?
    What is the Weight of Nikon A?
    What are the Dimensions of Nikon A?
    Nikon Coolpix A Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Nikon
    Model Nikon Coolpix A
    Announced 2013-06-06
    Body Type Large sensor compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 28 mm (1×)
    Max Aperture F2.8
    Macro Focus Range 10cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology TFT LCD monitor
    Screen Size 3.00"
    Screen Resolution 921k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Optical (optional)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/2000s
    Max Continuous Shooting 4.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 11.50 m
    Max Flash Sync 1/2000s
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 80
    DxO Color Depth 23.4
    DxO Dynamic Range 13.8
    DxO Low Light ISO 1164
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size APS-C
    Sensor Dimensions 23.6 x 15.7 mm
    Sensor Area 370.52mm2
    Sensor Resolution 16 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4928 x 3264
    Max Native ISO 6,400
    Max Boosted ISO 25600
    Min Native ISO 100
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points Unknown
    Number of Cross Focus Points 0
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25, 24 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Optional
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 299g
    Physical Dimensions 111 x 64 x 40mm
    Battery Life 230 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model EN-EL20
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS Optional
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1


    FOLLOW US


    Most Popular Large Sensor Compact Cameras
    Sony RX1R II
    42 MP | Full frame Sensor| 35 mm
    Panasonic ZS100
    20 MP | 1″ Sensor| 25-250 mm
    Leica Q2
    47 MP | Full frame Sensor| 28 mm
    Sony RX100 VII
    20 MP | 1″ Sensor| 24-200 mm
    Canon G1 X III
    24 MP | APS-C Sensor| 24-72 mm
    Fujifilm X100F
    24 MP | APS-C Sensor| 35 mm
    Panasonic LX100 II
    17 MP | Four Thirds Sensor| 24-75 mm
    Leica Q
    24 MP | Full frame Sensor| 28 mm
    Latest Compact Cameras
    Sony ZV-1F
    20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 20 mm
    Sony ZV-1
    20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 24-70 mm
    Fujifilm X100V
    26 MP | APS-C Sensor | 35 mm
    Sony RX100 VII
    20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 24-200 mm
    Canon G5 X MII
    20 MP | 1″ Sensor | 24-120 mm
    Canon G7 X MIII
    20 MP | 1' Sensor | 24-100 mm
    Leica Q2
    47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
    Leica Q2 Monochrom
    47 MP | Full frame Sensor | 28 mm
    Copyright © 2023 by CameraDecision
    Privacy About Contact Us SpeakerDecision

    Report a Correction