Coolpix A

I agree, those old hi-end film compacts aren't eternal - once they malfunction, they are out of game. Even if film GR's still are serviced, cost and parts availability are ticking.

As for this Coolpix - I personally would like to see body shaped with some kind of grip which adds a lot to ergonomics and also helps to accomodate battery of decent capacity. Just like modern cameras need 🙂

For a compact of this class I'd prefer sealed non-retractable lens. Not only easier to make (I guess...) but also less chance of pumping dust onto sensor. Don't get why people rave about pants pocket test? Carrying camera in a pocket is a way to shorten service time, second to taking it to the beach. I know, cameras are meant to use, but putting it into belt pouch/small bag/whatever suits you isn't too limiting....at least for me. And as a kid I were told not to carry big things in pockets as they loosen and wear looks oversized 😀 Small light camera - yes, but this already is too big and heavy for a pocket.
 
Phantomas, you have this camera? How did you get it so quickly?

I'm very interested in this, perhaps because a large sensor GRD has been so long coming. The AF speed and accuracy doesn't look that promising, though. I hope that this will be improved by the time the camera hits the shelves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a-bbHX9O3M

The camera itself looks decently small and I don't mind its boxiness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3XbZ6rf3JE

And the operation and menu system does look rather good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWYx1qpPkNY
 
the 28ti is my favourite P&S of all time, I don't mind the bulkyness of it either, maybe I'm a little biased, but the Coolpix A is kind of a digital version of it, wanted to get a merril first, but this could fit the bill, I'll wait until early adopter have and will buy well thought second hand. I will also hold and see when ricoh announces the GRD-V, exciting
 
MikeAUS said:
Phantomas, how small is it in reality? I love Sony RX100 size and only use 28mm, can this Nikon camera fit in a jeans pocket - this is very important to me. Also AF how fast - oh and the most important - is the shutter silent or near silent. Hope it doesn't have the horrendous M240 'clunk' shutter 😱 Thanks!
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Size - body is smaller than the classic 28Ti, thinner, but the lens protrusion puts them on par. You could fit it into jeans, unless you're wearing hipster tight ones, but while it's OK to occasionaly "hide" the camera I wouldn't carry it like that for two reasons: the lens "leaves" can be damaged inside tigter pocket and, more importantly, the on/off switch, while excelent in shooting operation to start the camera with a flip, is very likely to catch on something and extend the lens in your pocket, embarassing you in front of the ladies (due to small size of the lens). I do not have any reservations to carry it in the jacket pocket though.

AF - I don't have the measuring equipment and I'm not sure where do those that comment on AF speed and accuracy get the info, let's indeed give them benefit of the doubt, but I notice no issues with AF. It's fast enough and accurate for sure. In normal mode min focus is 50cm, in macro it's 10cm. Macro AF is very slow and should only be used when focusing at least than 50cm (forget it and suffer slow AF across the range). Otherwise the only other thing I've tried noticably faster is Nikon 1 (of course I haven't tried ALL cameras on the market). The only lag during startap is about 1 sec, which is what it takes for the lens to extend.

AF sound - it's an electronic shutter, no sound. You can enable or disable "artificial" shutter sound in the menu (no dog bark sound available though) and if you choose silent the only thing you'll hear is aperture blades, if you listen veeery closely.

Design - I like it. People that call it boxy, OK, but what about Contax T series? Nikon Ti series? Leice CM series? This camera follows similar shapes, just more modern (and smaller than all of those).
 
Also, I think some will be interested in seeing the back of the camera (sorry, another cellphone pic):



item.JPG




The screen here is in info mode which you access by pressing that < i > button. Works same as on Nikon DSLRs. Most/all important functions are there to be changes easily without going into menues. By the way, typical straight-up user won't even need it that much because aperture, ISO and focus point controls are all direct access, as is presence of two programmable Fn buttons (although with limited options). You would go to this <info> screen typically to change shutter (continuous, single, timer, etc), focus mode (AF-C, AF-S), metering and maybe white balance. Of course there are more features there, but the above are typical ones, and even then I don't think many change focusing modes and WB often enough to complain about having to press a button twice 🙂
 
Phantomas said:
Design - I like it. People that call it boxy, OK, but what about Contax T series? Nikon Ti series? Leice CM series? This camera follows similar shapes, just more modern (and smaller than all of those).
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I actually like boxy cameras and hate grips. Loved all the cameras you have mentioned.
 
To me pocket size is crucial. It's the difference between having the camera with me and leaving it home. I'm over bags. I want the smallest thing possible that gives a great image.

There are two sizes of cameras, pocketable and not pocketable.

Been shooting with my GR1 for the last year or two because besides being a great camera, I can put it in a pocket. Maybe not in my jeans if I'm wearing "hipster tight" jeans but in jacket pocket without it feeling like I'm carrying a brick.

Once I need a bag, everything changes and I might as well take a Mamiya 7.
 
nightfly said:
To me pocket size is crucial. It's the difference between having the camera with me and leaving it home. I'm over bags. I want the smallest thing possible that gives a great image.

There are two sizes of cameras, pocketable and not pocketable.
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The only camera I can fit in the pocket of my jeans or (comfortably in my shorts) is my iPhone. So come summer I find pocketable gets impossible.

So to me there are three sizes of camera:

Pocketable
Small (light/unobtrusive: RX100 - NEX - M43 - etc.)
Big (look at me I've got a real camera!)

Small needs to fit in a decent sized jacket pocket. But the other qualities are very important.

The more I look at this camera the more I like it and find it very tempting.
 
wear the right pants and you don't have to worry so much about camera size. i recommend bill's khakis m1.
 
GR1 is as good as it gets for a thin bodied camera. Thinner than the digital version.

I'm happy with my clothes and my camera at the moment but know at some point I might need something digital so I see these as a step in the right direction.
 
Size Comparison

Size Comparison

If you look at the small size of this camera, it's obvious that Nikon gave up the viewfinder and faster lens for pocketability . . .

coolpixA_x100.jpg


You can also imagine how differently these would handle in practice.
 
everybody stop talking about this camera, the gas station is opening up slowly... ;-)

the camera reminds me of a mix of my most favourite p&s, Contax T3, Minolta TC-1 and some 28Ti

as much as I want to love the merril I might feel limited by it's ISO 400 barrier.., but when this nikon can go up to 3200 without issues, it might be worth the money alone for this... also this would be a good base for a mirrorless camera, nikon should have gone this route, instead of the dinky J1/V1 stuff
 
Phantomas said:
Collpix A out in the streets video
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First of all someone should tell nikon that street photography is dead....... lol


Anyway, this ad is wrong on many levels. First of all it implies to leave all those DSLRs for coolpix-A, while declining DSLR price and demand is running Nikon out of business.

Then there is awkward clothing choice for the "model", I mean who on their right mind wears a leather jacket for street photography? What are you a street photographer or some kind of a wiseguy?

Then someone the same age group of the model in the video who goes about hipshoting with a small camera will attract a lot of negative attention. Unfortunately middleaged guys with small camera shooting discreetly is not a good idea.

finally, nikon waking up to the reality of the current market is a little too late to the party, they missed the chance with Nikon 1 and now this little compact while very nice is priced unrealistically.



Samsung or Panasonic buys Nikon - end of a legendary company...
 
upceci said:
Then there is awkward clothing choice for the "model", I mean who on their right mind wears a leather jacket for street photography? What are you a street photographer or some kind of a wiseguy?
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How are street photographers (or photographers in general) supposed to dress?
 
jsrockit said:
How are street photographers (or photographers in general) supposed to dress?
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Like an undercover cop working on the streets.

I mean, as simple as that. Being one fish among all other fish. Anything shiny that can catch an eye makes the diff between a good shot where everything is natural and an awkward one where the subject stares at photographer suspiciously.

Dressing up and appearance is the most neglected aspect of street photography.
 
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