Nikon A100 Review

Name: Nikon Coolpix A100
Brand: Nikon

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Main Features

20MP - 1/2.3' CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600( expands to 3200)

26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 Zoom Lens

2.70" Fixed Type Screen

1.1fps continuous shooting

and HD at 30fps Video Recording

119g. 95 x 59 x 20 mm

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Nikon A100 Overview

First introduced in January 2016, Nikon Coolpix A100 is a 20.0MP Ultracompact camera with a 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and 5.0x zoom 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 lens.

Nikon A100 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Lens
Photography Type Scores
Recommended Accessories
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Nikon A100 is a member of Nikon's Ultracompact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Nikon Ultracompact Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
Nikon A10 Compare	January 2016	16.0MP - 1/2.3'	1.2 fps	96 x 59 x 29mm	160g
Nikon A100	January 2016	20.0MP - 1/2.3'	1.1 fps	95 x 59 x 20mm	119g
Nikon S7000 Compare	February 2015	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	9.2 fps	99 x 60 x 27mm	165g
Nikon S6900 Compare	February 2015	16.0MP - 1/2.3'	9.0 fps	99 x 58 x 28mm	181g
Nikon L31 Compare	January 2015	16.0MP - 1/2.3'	fps	96 x 59 x 29mm	160g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side-by-side:
Nikon A10 vs A100 vs S7000 vs S6900 vs L31

**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.

Nikon A100 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Nikon A100 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Face Detection Focusing

20.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

119g Light Body

25MB Internal Storage

26mm Wide Angle Lens

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CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Image Stabilization

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No RAW Shooting

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

Small LCD Screen ( 2.70")

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.1fps

Low Battery Life: 250 shots

No Manual Focusing

No Manual Exposure

No Environmental Sealing

Slow Lens at Wide: f3.20

Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50

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Nikon A100 Physical Specs

Nikon A100 weighs 119 g (0.26 lb / 4.20 oz) and has external dimensions of 95 x 59 x 20 mm (3.74 x 2.32 x 0.79″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, Nikon A100 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 20mm, it is also quite small, 8mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Nikon A100

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Nikon A100

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Nikon A100 with the dimensions:

Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Nikon A100 Camera Body

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Nikon A100, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Nikon A100 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Nikon A100 with its main competitors:

Nikon A100 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs A100	Thickness	vs A100
Sony W830 Compare	122g	3g heavier	23mm	3mm thicker
Nikon S2900 Compare	119g	equal weight	20mm	equal thickness
Canon IXUS 165 Compare	128g	9g heavier	22mm	2mm thicker
Nikon S3500 Compare	129g	10g heavier	21mm	1mm thicker
Nikon A10 Compare	160g	41g heavier	29mm	9mm thicker
Sony W810 Compare	111g	8g lighter	21mm	1mm thicker
Nikon S3100 Compare	118g	1g lighter	18mm	2mm thinner
Sony W800 Compare	125g	6g heavier	21mm	1mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Nikon A100 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 A100 Lens

Nikon A100 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 26mm, and 130mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

A100

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

A100

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f3.20 at 26mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f6.50.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

A100

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

A100

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Nikon A100 Sensor and Photography Features

Nikon A100 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 5152 x 3864 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9. A100 has a native ISO range of 80 - 1600 which can be boosted to 3200 but unfortunately, Nikon A100 doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider Nikon Coolpix P7000 or Olympus XZ-1 in the same price range.

Nikon A100 is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Canon SX740 HS with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon A100 vs Canon SX740 HS or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Nikon A100's 1/2.3' sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Nikon A100 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Nikon A100 LCD

Nikon A100 has a Fixed Type 2.70-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.70", the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

Unfortunately Nikon Coolpix A100 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.

A100 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. 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 Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare).
Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

Nikon A100 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

Nikon A100 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

Nikon A100 Battery

Nikon A100 is powered by EN-EL19 battery which provides a battery life of 250 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 256 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Ultracompact Cameras

Nikon A100

Min

Average

Max

Nikon L32 with its 320 shots is the model with longest battery life among Ultracompact cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon A100 vs Nikon L32 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

Nikon A100 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Sony W830 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Nikon S2900 Compare	1280 x 720	250shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon IXUS 165 Compare	1280 x 720	220shots	No	No	No
Nikon S3500 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No
Nikon A10 Compare	1280 x 720	200shots	No	No	No
Sony W810 Compare	1280 x 720	200shots	No	No	No
Nikon S3100 Compare	1280 x 720	220shots	No	No	No
Sony W800 Compare	1280 x 720	shots	No	No	No

Nikon A100 Video Features

With Nikon A100, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30p fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

Microphones, Speaker and Headphone Connections

Nikon Coolpix A100 has a built-in Mono microphone and a Mono speaker. On the other hand, Nikon A100 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Nikon Coolpix P7000 or Samsung PL120 in a similar price range.

Nikon A100 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Nikon A100 can shoot continuously at max speed of 1.1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/2000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately A100 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Nikon A100 features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system.

Nikon A100 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 A100 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Nikon A100 in 5 different photography areas.

Nikon A100 for Portrait Photography

Nikon A100 has a score of 17 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA100.

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe

No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Nikon A100 for Portrait Photography

Nikon A100 for Street Photography

Nikon A100 has a score of 37 for Street Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Street We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA100.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small Body
No Built-in Viewfinder

No Manual Focus Mode
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Nikon A100 for Street Photography

Nikon A100 for Sports Photography

Nikon A100 has a score of 15 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA100.

Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
130 mm Tele Lens
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.1fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
No Built-in Viewfinder
No External Flash Shoe
No Image Stabilization
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Nikon A100 for Sports Photography

Nikon A100 for Daily Photography

Nikon A100 has a score of 46 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
119g
Body Thickness 20mm

5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Nikon A100 for Daily Photography

Nikon A100 for Landscape Photography

Nikon A100 has a score of 21 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 theA100.

26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode

No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Nikon A100 for Landscape Photography

Nikon A100 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Nikon A100 compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon A100 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Nikon A100

Here are the eight most popular comparisons of the Nikon A100 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Nikon A100 Alternatives in Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare the Nikon A100 with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Nikon A100's price range.

Nikon A100 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Nikon A100 has an Overall Score of 31/100 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 A100 is ranked #472 out of 632 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #1124 out of 1276 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#1124 out of 1276 in Top Ranking Cameras
#472 out of 632 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
#85 out of 152 in Top Ranking Ultracompact Cameras
#582 out of 741 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
#50 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(119g)
#758 out of 920 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Nikon A100

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Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon A100

Does the Nikon A100 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Nikon A100 have RAW support?
Does the Nikon A100 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Nikon A100 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Nikon A100?
What is the Sensor Size of Nikon A100?
is the Nikon A100 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Nikon A100 have Touch Screen?
Does the Nikon A100 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon A100?
What is the Weight of Nikon A100?
What are the Dimensions of Nikon A100?

Nikon Coolpix A100 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Nikon
Model	Nikon Coolpix A100
Announced	2016-01-14
Body Type	Ultracompact
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	26-130 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F3.2-6.5
Macro Focus Range	10cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	2.70"
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	4s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/2000s
Max Continuous Shooting	1.1 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	4.00 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash Modes	Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, off, fill flash, 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	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
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Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/2.3'
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	20 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	5152 x 3864
Max Native ISO	1,600
Max Boosted ISO	3200
Min Native ISO	80
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
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1280 x 720 (30p)
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	119g
Physical Dimensions	95 x 59 x 20mm
Battery Life	250 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	EN-EL19
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage Slots	1
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