Coolpix A

Paddy C said:
There's something wonderful about a fixed lens camera IMO. That and the fact that the lens and sensor combo of either the Nikon or the Ricoh should out-do the NEX give me the wants.
Click to expand...

For me two things really tilted me to Ricoh side vs the Nikon.
- snap focus
- 21 adapter option.

Yep no aa filter should help a lot vs nex. But it is both a plus and minus.

Gary
 
I can tell ya.. either the Ricoh or the Nikon will produce sharp images - I had to soften this guy's face. . .

8662161170_38040bde5f_b.jpg


Cheers,
Dave
 
jsrockit said:
Yeah Dave, I don't think you should be worried about the GR... just use that Nikon A and enjoy it. Both seem good to me.
Click to expand...

Agreed - and after having slapped my SB700 on top of the little thing I don't think I can top it.

While flash is not for a lot of folks here I use it fairly often and the integration of the flashes is seamless although it does look a wee bit ungainly 😀

Cheers,
Dave
 
Dave, how are you finding the AF of the Coolpix? Both speed and accuracy?

For my intended use I don't think AF speed is going to be a big deal but I'm curious as a number of the early reviews note the AF as being a mark against the camera (in some cases serious).
 
I handled a Coolpix A in my local camera store this week. My takeaways:

1. It's a very nice camera, and the online pictures don't do it justice (the black/slate gray is very nice).

2. It's really solid, and built like Nikon professional cameras.

3. The AF is slower than my RX100, and that's the first thing I noticed while shooting it in the store.

Maybe I'm spoiled by the RX100's near-instantaneous focus, but I'm not sure how the Coolpix A would do in a true "snapshot" scenario (where you lift it to frame and squeeze the shutter button). It is a neat camera though, and since I've always been a Nikon fan, it had me jonesing for it all week.
 
Just pre-ordered my GR V from B&H - they are taking pre-orders --

From what I've seen on paper, the GR V blows the Coolpix A away -- we shall see --
 
the chrome/silver in person is really lovely IMO, the finish reminds me of a T3. after a few days with it, I am happy. i haven't been at a computer to process the RAW files yet, so don't have anything to post that isn't a compressed / re-sized JPG. AF speed is a little slow, but not cripplingly so - from what i've been told from Nikon, a firmware update would likely make things snappier. i wouldn't be surprised if they rushed it to market ahead of the Ricoh GR on purpose, so hopefully a firmware update is not so far away (i'd also like to be able to turn the screen off completely & just run an OVF, that's my only other niggle - everything else is perfect).

tumblr_mlg17gzIFY1qbxd4po1_500.jpg
 
Just an FYI that dpreview has updated their GR preview. Included is their standard studio test scene which offers JPG and RAW comparison:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/ricoh-gr/8

One camera looks better in some places and not in others. The two small black and white patterns in the corners look much better in the Coolpix shot but it appears the GR sample is not in focus here. Contrast and especially colour are much better from the Coolpix.

I really question how precise dpreview is with these tests as there is no reason for one camera to not have the entire scene in focus especially when focal length and sensor size are the same.
 
Honestly, I'm not really concerned with reviews as much these days... I trust that most of these cameras are going to perform well enough. For these types of cameras, I don't think you can go wrong with either if compact size is your major concern.
 
Paddy C said:
Dave, how are you finding the AF of the Coolpix? Both speed and accuracy?

For my intended use I don't think AF speed is going to be a big deal but I'm curious as a number of the early reviews note the AF as being a mark against the camera (in some cases serious).
Click to expand...

Just seeing this now so my apologies for not posting earlier Paddy.

The AF is "fast enough" for a P&S - it's no where near the speed of an SLR of course but for a P&S it's fine.

Accuracy wise; not bad - I have to check some specs regarding how "close" is close focus before engaging Macro Mode. I think I tend to get too close to some subjects (i.e. Monty my Boston Terrier for example 😀 ) and, as a result, the focus gets blown.

I have figured a way to work around the hunting in low light as well. My subjects tend to be people and I noted if one leaves the "AF" mode to be "Normal" it will hunt vs putting it into "Face Priority AF" which actually is a lot better in low light and high ISO - I did this without turning on the AF assist lamp as well and it seemed to do quite well.

Now as for a "snap" mode in the Coolpix A as akin to the Ricoh - I've been trying to work with a Hyperfocal point on the lens at F11. I don't want to make assumptions based on other 28mm (equivalent) lenses I've used however I haven't been able to locate the information for the Coolpix A as of yet (just need to search more I'm sure).

I think, and this is my opinion only, like any camera you're going to have to get used to or understand which AF modes will work best in which situations. I have learned (with most cameras) that you can't make assumptions that just because it's an AF camera that the AF will work in the same fashion as a DSLR or a Micor 4/3 or another P&S cam. I'm not saying that the early reviews are bad/poor/or what have you, but I am saying that you can't really fully understand any camera without hanging onto it and using it for a good length of time. (just my opinion mind you).

Cheers,
Dave
 
Well, I finally saw a silver Coolpix A...and I was disappointed with it. It felt like many of Nikon's other coolpix cameras and wasn't my thing. So glad I didn't bite and waited for the Ricoh.
 
I don't know how the other Coolpix cameras feel like but I like the build quality of the A. To me it's a lot like (weight wise) the Contax T2 I used to own vs the Olympus XA (which I always found a bit "plasticky"). But that's part of the "thing" - you have to hold the camera in your hands to see if you're going to be able to use it. At least that's my take on all cameras (not just the Coolpix A).

This is one of the reasons I think the GR will do well as they've kept the basic form factor from their previous models and those were wonderful to operate.

8691528373_0f5ddce622_b.jpg

Coolpix A - Nik SilverEfex

Cheers,
Dave
 
Just my opinion Dave... it just wasn't for me compared to my other cameras. I thought I would like it more than I did. That said, I don't like many cameras that people love. It's all opinion. Didn't feel like a T2 to me. Not saying it felt like it was bad quality... quite the opposite. It just didn't have the feel I wanted.
 
Yep.. I totally get what you're saying - that's why I said one has to hold the camera (any camera) in their hands to see if they're really going to like it.

I preach it all the time but ergonomics is a big thing - especially now that sensors/cameras are becoming so "close" to each other in terms of image quality, resolution and features.

Cheers,
Dave
 
cnphoto said:
A week later & this is probably the most fun I've had with a camera in a long time - I'm glad I took the punt on the Coolpix 🙂
Click to expand...

The last three are killer. The second one of the field has a really 3D quality. I know, I know... probably the most overused term in the photo world, but those clouds really pop.

These look great!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom