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Nikons Coolpix A is good but should have been better for the price

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jonikon

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Image quality in terms of the sensor is excellent with accurate colors and good dynamic range for shadow recovery in post processing. Lens sharpness is good wide open and tack sharp at f5.6. So why only 3 stars? Here’s why:
  1. CDAF is very slow and sometimes just gives up leaving the subject OOF.
  2. No phase detection AF so no subject tracking for moving subjects.
  3. Native lens distortion is huge as is vignetting.
  4. No in camera lens distortion nor vignetting correction.
  5. Face detection is unreliable.
  6. No EVF
  7. No wireless flash control with the built in flash.
  8. No weather sealing.
  9. Fixed focal length at 18mm.
Pros:
  1. Small to the point of being pocketable.
  2. Auto motorized lens extension and collapse with auto lens covering as well.
  3. Capable of excellent images if using RAW and taking the time to correct lens distortion and vignetting.
  4. Flash syncs for all shutter speeds which is great for removing shade on the subjects face in sunny conditions.
  5. Two custom setting banks available on the mode dial.
  6. Rear LCD is hard to see in bright sunlight.
I have been very happy with some of the landscape images I have shot with the CPA which are comparable to a much larger DSLR , but it has come with some luck and some serious post processing work as well. It’s a shame Nikon didn’t do a full feature proper design with this rather expensive camera, which makes me question Nikon management’s judgement.


Jon
 
Well, the camera has been discontinued for a while now. I bought mine as a refurbished unit in the $300 range and it meets my expectations. As another poster noted, I knew what I was getting (a D7000 era DX chip with a 28mm lens and a shutter that could Sync at any speed.
 
Nikonparrothead said:
Well, the camera has been discontinued for a while now. I bought mine as a refurbished unit in the $300 range and it meets my expectations. As another poster noted, I knew what I was getting (a D7000 era DX chip with a 28mm lens and a shutter that could Sync at any speed.
Click to expand...
 
jonikon said:
What can not be fixed is the very slow and too often failed auto focus, which has made me miss a shot. Nikon makes great DSLRs, but for some reason Nikon seems snake-bit when it comes to mirrorless cameras.

Jon
Click to expand...
The AF of my CPA is not lightning fast, but definitely fast enough for what I used it for. Of course, it all depends on what you would call very slow.

Sounds like you might have left your AF selection switch at Macro. That will certainly slow down the AF.

Or else, you might be better off getting a J5 instead, if you want super fast AF.
 
jonikon said:
However I was shocked when I saw how bad the distortion and vignetting was especially since it is merely 18mm. These faults could have been easily fixed with in-camera processing, but inexplicably Nikon chose not to include it. But at least these issues are correctable in post. What can not be fixed is the very slow and too often failed auto focus, which has made me miss a shot.
Click to expand...
This seems strange. In my four years use of the camera, mainly for landscape, I’ve experienced very little distortion and no vignetting at all, whilst AF has been rapid and accurate. Sounds as if there might be some misalignments in your camera.
 
jonikon said:
Nikonparrothead said:
Well, the camera has been discontinued for a while now. I bought mine as a refurbished unit in the $300 range and it meets my expectations. As another poster noted, I knew what I was getting (a D7000 era DX chip with a 28mm lens and a shutter that could Sync at any speed.

--
'Nice pen, bet you write good stories with it.'
Click to expand...
Yes, I bought mine for $299 in a close out sale as well, but the original price was $1100 which is substantial. I knew the sensor was a good one because I owned a D7000 so no issue there, but as a Nikon DSLR user I expected the lens to not only be sharp, but also have low distortion and little vignetting. However I was shocked when I saw how bad the distortion and vignetting was especially since it is merely 18mm. These faults could have been easily fixed with in-camera processing, but inexplicably Nikon chose not to include it. But at least these issues are correctable in post. What can not be fixed is the very slow and too often failed auto focus, which has made me miss a shot. Nikon makes great DSLRs, but for some reason Nikon seems snake-bit when it comes to mirrorless cameras.

Jon
Click to expand...
I usually read your posts with interest but am not sure I follow this time...?

Working with a sort of architecture, I am deeply allergic to distortion in images. And with the fine sensor output from the CPA I shoot in jpeg only - works fine with this camera. I see very little distortion. Yes, it is there sure enough but I never felt it harmed an image for me. Just an example, not a special image but this was the most revealing example I found on my latest download:

fccac820f0514426aa9440335804108b.jpg


I agree that the AF is slow, though. It is vital, as noted above, to make sure you are not in macro mode but I do get an oof image from time to time.

The CPA is great with the Nikon WC-E68 wide angle adapter. Gives you 28mm + additional 18mm in a pocket. I mention this because even with the wide angle adapter, the distortion is not too bad. In order to take advantage of this, I believe you need to use jpeg though.

Gabriel
 
WPMChan said:
jonikon said:
What can not be fixed is the very slow and too often failed auto focus, which has made me miss a shot. Nikon makes great DSLRs, but for some reason Nikon seems snake-bit when it comes to mirrorless cameras.

Jon
Click to expand...
The AF of my CPA is not lightning fast, but definitely fast enough for what I used it for. Of course, it all depends on what you would call very slow.

Sounds like you might have left your AF selection switch at Macro. That will certainly slow down the AF.
Click to expand...
No, it was not in Macro mode which is excruciating slow. Comparing the Nikon A Auto focus speed to that of my Fujifilm X-T10 it is 2-3 times slower. If the Nikon A had the same focus speed as the X-T10 I would be very happy indeed.
WPMChan said:
Or else, you might be better off getting a J5 instead, if you want super fast AF.
Click to expand...
I own two Nikon V2s and yes, in good light the V2 focusing is lightening fast even when using the 10-100mm lens.


Best regards,
Jon
 
I am guessing your Pro number 6 is not really a pro.

For $1100, the A is not a value in my eyes. For the $300 I paid for it, it’s a flat out bargain. I have not noticed the distortion you speak of, and can tell you I am not getting any vignetting either.
 
Mackiesback said:
I am guessing your Pro number 6 is not really a pro.
Click to expand...
You are correct. My error.
Mackiesback said:
For $1100, the A is not a value in my eyes. For the $300 I paid for it, it’s a flat out bargain. I have not noticed the distortion you speak of, and can tell you I am not getting any vignetting either.
Click to expand...
I suspect you are shooting JPEG with the CPA and the camera is electronically correcting the image for you. If you shoot RAW, (as I always do), you will see it clearly.
 
jonikon said:
Mackiesback said:
I am guessing your Pro number 6 is not really a pro.
Click to expand...
You are correct. My error.
jonikon said:
For $1100, the A is not a value in my eyes. For the $300 I paid for it, it’s a flat out bargain. I have not noticed the distortion you speak of, and can tell you I am not getting any vignetting either.
Click to expand...
I suspect you are shooting JPEG with the CPA and the camera is electronically correcting the image for you. If you shoot RAW, (as I always do), you will see it clearly.

--
Best regards,
Jon
Click to expand...
You are correct, I use this thing as a little jpeg machine. I would not have guessed RAW made a difference. Even though it is capable as a fully manual camera, I imagine the majority of A users are also using jpegs. I like the jpegs that come out of it.



Thanks for the tip Jon!



 
Bu t isn't it possible to set up a basic correction on the RAW files to take care of the distortion, so it's as painless as possible?
 
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