Design and Build Quality
The Coolpix A100 is a point & shoot compact. Its exterior is made using a combination of plastic and metal and appears reasonably strong. The camera is shirt pocketable and weighs just 119g with battery and memory card.
Key Features
The Coolpix A100 is a 20-megapixel compact that employs a 1/2.3" Type CCD sensor supported by a 26-130mm equivalent zoom lens. The lens has 6 elements in 5 groups, with an aperture range off/3.2 - 6.5. Its autofocussing uses Contrast Detect technology while vibration reduction is via Electronic VR (The camera uses higher ISOs to compensate for hand-movement during exposure).
ISO sensitivity can be set between 100-1600. Though in Auto Mode, ISO sensitivity is available up to 3200. The aperture range is limited to f/3.2 and f/8 at the wide-angle end ; f/6.5 and f/8 at the telephoto end. While three types of metering modes are available (Matrix, Centre-weighted and Spot), the exposure mode is Program AE. Shooting mode can be set to Scene auto selector (the camera automatically recognises the scene in front of you and changes the shooting mode icon depending on the scene being photographed), Scene (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night portrait, Party/indoor, Beach, Snow, Sunset, Dusk/dawn, Night landscape, Close-up, Food, Fireworks show, Backlighting, Panorama assist, and Pet portrait), Special Effects (Nostalgic sepia, High-contrast mono, Selective colour, Pop, Toy camera effect 1, Toy camera effect 2, Cross process, Soft), Smart portrait (enhances human faces during shooting and allows Smile Timer function) and Auto mode (for general shooting). Exposure can be compensated up to +/- 2 EV. The 4-way Multi-selector can be used to set the Flash mode, Self-timer, Macro and Exposure compensation. Flash modes available are Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Slow-synch and Off. Focus area can be set to Face Priority, Center, Manual with 99 focus areas, Subject Tracking and Target Finding AF. Shutter speeds range from 1 second to 1/2000 sec but if Fireworks scene mode is selected, the shutter is kept open for 4 seconds. A TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes is built in. Images can be viewed on a 2.7" approx. 230K-dot monitor.
The camera uses SD/SDHC/SDXC card for storing the captured images, along with an internal memory of approximately 25MB. The camera is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion Battery (EN-EL19, included). An AC Adapter (EH-72PCH) is also included. The battery can be charged whilst in the camera but if you wish to charge the battery without using the camera, you will need an optional Battery Charger MH-66. The camera measures approximately 94.5 (W) x 58.6 (H) x l9.8mm (H) and weighs 119g.
Ergonomics
The A100 being small and lightweight, is very easy to carry along the whole day. To prevent accidentally dropping the camera, the supplied hand-strap should be used at all times. The user interface is somewhat complicated. In sunlight, it was difficult to clearly see the images on the LCD screen.
Performance
It's important to consider every product against its price. With that in mind, I would say that the Coolpix A100 produces good images with good colours and sharpness, but one should not compare the image quality with expensive models. Also keep in mind that people using low-cost cameras are not likely to print their images or if they do, they'll print them in small sizes. Darkening of corners at the widest end, at the widest lens opening, was minimal, which is a good thing. Distortion too was well controlled, with minor barrel distortion at the wide end. Autofocus was okay in bright light but struggled in low light. Highlights did tend to overexpose in strong light. Flare and slight blue fringing was visible in strong against- the- light shots. In terms of digital noise, at 16.7% screen size, the entire ISO range (from ISO 80-3200) showed no discernable noise (At ISO 3200, the megapixel rating drops). At 25% screen size, ISO noise was okay up to ISO 400, though ISO 800 was usable. At 50% screen size, ISO 800 was noisy, but could be used if really necessary. At 100% screen size, noise could be seen at all ISO sensitivities.
Image sharpness at the centre was okay at all focal lengths, though corners were comparatively softer. White Balance performance was decent. The electronic VR (Vibration Reduction) does help to get you shake-free images (by increasing the shutter speed) but also results in noisier images.
KEY SPECIFICATIONS
Effective pixels: 20.1 million (Image processing may reduce the number of effective pixels)
Imaging sensor: 1/2.3" Type, CCD
Lens: 26-130mm equivalent, f/3.2 - 6.5
Lens construction: 6 elements in 5 groups
Vibration reduction: Electronic VR
Autofocus: Contrast Detect
Focus area selection: Face Priority, Center, Manual with 99 focus areas. Subject Tracking, Target Finding AF
Monitor: 2.7" Diagonal, approx. 230K dot
Storage media: SD, SDHC, SDXC. Internal memory approx. 25 MB
File formats: Still images: JPEG Movies: AVI (Motion-JPEG compliant)
ISO sensitivity: 80-1600. ISO 3200 available in Auto Mode
Metering: Matrix, Centre-weighted, Spot
Exposure mode: Program (Exp. Compensation: +/-2EV)
Shutter type: Mechanical and CCD electronic shutter
Shutter speed range: lsecto l/2000sec. 4 seconds in Fireworks scene mode
Aperture range: 2 steps. W: F/3.2 and f/8; T: F/6.5 and F/8
Built-in flash: Yes. TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes
Power source: Li-ion Battery EN-EL19 (included). AC Adapter EH-62G (available separately)
Dimensions WxHxD: Approx. 94.5 x 58.6 x 19.8mm
Weight: 119g with battery and memory card
PLUS
• Shirt-pocketable
• Good value for money
MINUS
• User interface could have been simpler
• Average image quality (but consider the low cost!)
• LCD could have been better
VERDICT
As indicated earlier, every product should be considered against its price. Hie A100 is a low-cost camera and cannot (and should not) be compared against expensive models. Used diligently, it can produce fairly good results (please see the two images shot using this camera).