Would you be interested in a Nikon version of Fuji's X100?

With the Df's release(and its rumoured devolpment time) it does seem like Nikon have been more interested in the "retro" market than they had looked before now. That obviously begs the question whether we'll see future releases, an ASPC DSLR(or mirrorless with EVF but regular F mount) has been talked about a bit as has a retro 1 series but you could argue that a fixed lens camera might also be a good option.

Besides the FM series I'd argue that Nikon's classic design is the S series rangefinder. That's obviously not well suited to a DSLR design and the alternatives to that to me seem to be either a special version of the 1 series, a new mirrorless system or a fixed lens camera. The 1 system to me seems to present problems with functionality with existing lenses which are designed for a rather different control setup to that you'd expect on a retro camera, I'm not sure the sensor size would appeal to a premium market either. Creating an entirely new system seems like a much more expensive option and if a larger sensor is used also likely not as compact.

That to me seems to leave a fixed lens camera as potentially the best option to exploit this design. You look at Fuji's X series and the X-100/X-100s is still by far the best selling and I think a lot of this is down to the size saving it offers and many buyers using it as a second camera. To me a similar kind of design based on the S3 or SP rangefinders with Nikon's 1 series AF performance seems like it could be a strong seller. Maybe Nikon could offer a different lens option as well? a 45-50mm equivalent rather than Fuji's 35mm? that would I'd guess make it easier to have a faster lens(F/1.4?) while keeping it compact.

I doubt that Nikon would release an S100s wanna-bee model.

I like the Coolpix A, and bought it after considering the X100 and the Leica X-series. The A seemed to "check the most boxes" for my particular situation. (My wife claimed it, so I am saving for another.)

On the original topic, if Nikon were to make a compact camera with a 35mm- or 40mm-equivalent fixed-focal-length lens, yes, I would be interested. I do not need retro styling; the A's appearance is fine, as-is.

Not a 35mm quiv. fan. 28mm is more natural to me. A longish one using the same battery type as the A will be very good to go with the A. Not much else to ask for!

Nope. I'm more interested in a 16mm f/2.8 lens for my D5200. That might actually be a prime I'd buy.

Rexgig0 said:

I like the Coolpix A, and bought it after considering the X100 and the Leica X-series. The A seemed to "check the most boxes" for my particular situation. (My wife claimed it, so I am saving for another.)

On the original topic, if Nikon were to make a compact camera with a 35mm- or 40mm-equivalent fixed-focal-length lens, yes, I would be interested. I do not need retro styling; the A's appearance is fine, as-is.

Click to expand...

I see the Coolpix A and the X100 as very different camera's personally, the X100 more of a "rapid response" camera with a viewfinder and more manual controls where as the Coolpix A seems like more of a pocket landscape/interior camera.

MoreorLess said:

I see the Coolpix A and the X100 as very different camera's personally, the X100 more of a "rapid response" camera with a viewfinder and more manual controls where as the Coolpix A seems like more of a pocket landscape/interior camera.

Click to expand...

I agree that the Fuji has a viewfinder and the Nikon doesn't. OTOH the Nikon fits in a pocket and the Fuji doesn't. And they're two notably different focal lengths. But having owned both, I vastly prefer the Nikon as a rapid response street camera. It's got plenty of manual controls too - just with a more modern rather than retro take on the interface.

These are rapid enough for me:















-Ray
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Ray Sachs said:

MoreorLess said:

I see the Coolpix A and the X100 as very different camera's personally, the X100 more of a "rapid response" camera with a viewfinder and more manual controls where as the Coolpix A seems like more of a pocket landscape/interior camera.

Click to expand...

I agree that the Fuji has a viewfinder and the Nikon doesn't. OTOH the Nikon fits in a pocket and the Fuji doesn't. And they're two notably different focal lengths. But having owned both, I vastly prefer the Nikon as a rapid response street camera. It's got plenty of manual controls too - just with a more modern rather than retro take on the interface.

-Ray
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Click to expand...

Both of you make valid points.

I handled an X100 again, last week, as a local camera store had at least two pre-owned X100 cameras in the display case. I reckon that folks are trading them toward the newly-available X100s and XE2. Well, I still prefer the A. If nothing else, it is because the X100 has a notched wheel right where I want to grip with my thumb, and because the 35mm-equivalent angle of view is not quite as interesting to me, with a camera of this size, as the A's 28mm-equivalent angle of view. In "full-frame" terms, I seem to prefer 28mm, and 40mm+, to 35mm.

Not that I have anything against Fuji; an X Pro remains high on my 2014 wish list. I hope I can justify the cost of both a second A, and an X Pro. I think they would make for a very nice team during urban walk-abouts.

The A has its irritating shortcomings, such as not being able to trigger off-camera E-TTL flash with optical wireless, but I still like it. An SC-28 remains on my wish list of accessories, and of course, I am still waiting until I can justify the cost of a second A, so I will not have to beg to borrow our one A from my wife. (We do not raid each other's camera bags/cases.)

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I wear a badge and pistol, and, primarily with 7D cameras, with 10-22mm and 100mm Macro L lenses, shoot evidentiary images at night, which incorporates elements of portrait, macro, still life, landscape, architecture, PJ, and occasional action. During personal time, I enjoy using both Canons and Nikons.