X100S vs Nikon Coolpix A
Mike Kobal posted a “mini-review” where he compares the [shoplink 10075]X100S[/shoplink] (with [shoplink 10069]wide angle converter WCL-X100[/shoplink]) and the [shoplink 8820]Nikon Coolpix A[/shoplink] (both feature an APS-C sensor and don’t have an optical low pass filter).
Among the others, Fuji “scores” because its faster AF, better handling and ergonomics, while the Nikon has a better battery life and lens (“This lens/sensor combo delivers the sharpest shots I have seen from an APSC sized sensor. Scary sharp, really.“) And which sensor is better? Hard question. “I love the X trans sensor and I love the D800e sensor and now I also love the Coolpix A sensor 🙂 where will this end? Getting rid of the AA filter paid off again, mind blowing detail, if you like your images ultra sharp, then this sensor is for you. My personal choice is the X trans. 1:1 Fuji/Nikon (subjective)“
Check out Mike’s whole review here. Here is his bottom line… and keep up the good work Mike!
“Anyone who needs to pack light and small for whatever reason (expedition, extreme sports, etc), can live with the 28mm equiv FOV, has no choice, the Nikon A is the one. Unlike us purists, with both feet solid on the pavement, we do have a choice, Leica or Fuji X100s. :)”
Fuji X100S: [shopcountry 10075]
Nikon Coolpix A: [shopcountry 8820]
Fuji WCL-X100: [shopcountry 10069]
And who’s the winner for you? Just vote this poll:
[poll id=”12″]
X-E1 vs OM-D vs GH3
Admiring Light compared the Panasonic GH3 (with [shoplink 8220]Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4[/shoplink]) with the Olympus OM-D and the Fuji X-E1. As we already heard from other reviews, they conclude that:
“Well, the X-E1 is a camera with fantastic image quality, that much is certain. Not surprisingly, it produces cleaner images throughout the ISO range and retains great detail. Is the Fuji the best of these three cameras then? In pure image quality from the sensor? Yes. In other ways? Not so fast.”
Read it all and see ISO comparison here at Admiring Light.
Fuji X-E1 [shopcountry 8215]
Panasonic GH3: [shopcountry 8219]
Olympus OM-D E-M5 [shopcountry 8520]
image courtesy: Admiring Light
16 Responses
I think there is no contest between the Coolpix A and the X100s. The Fuji is a much better camera in almost every respect: Build, ergonomics, optical+electronic VF, phase detect+contrast detect AF, faster operation and AF, f2 lens,… and all for just a little more money. Much better value.
The Coolpix can match it in sensor performance and surpass it in resolution (hardly important) and size. But that’s not enough to ask $1100 for it. At $500 it could be an option, though.
$500 can’t even buy a RX100, imo $850 is about the right price point
The RX100 has better build quality, it’s smaller (when being small is the main reason of a camera, being smaller is quite an advantage), it has quite faster AF and operation, it has image stabilization, better video… and a zoom that at 28mm eq. (like the Coolpix A) has a max. aperture of f/1.8 (vs. f/2.8 in the Coolpix A). And then it goes all the way to 100mm eq. (that’s a huge advantage) Ah, and it has more megapixels too, if that’s important for someone.
At 28mm eq. the smaller sensor is mostly overcome by the faster lens (the Coolpix A has hardly 1/2 stop advantage), but everything else is clearly in favor of the RX100. By quite a margin.
So if the RX100 costs $650, why would you pay more than $500 for the Coolpix A?
Just my opinion.
Image quality i guess, that’s why the cheapest full frame camera is still way more expensive than the flagship aps-c ones.
Coolpix A sensor is ranked 27 among all tested cameras on dxomark, and RX100 is ranked 78, score 80 vs 66, huge advantage if you ask me
But that difference in IQ shows specially at high ISO. And don’t forget that at 28mm eq. the Nikon has a max. aperture of 2.8 while the Sony is 1.8. One and a third stops advantage for the Sony. Since Nikon’s sensor has less then 2 f-stops advantage because of the size, that leaves it at less than half stop advantage considering sensor/lens combination (for both, low light and DoF). Not that much.
And in everything else the Sony is quite superior. Smaller, faster, better AF, better build, OIS, better video, and HAS A ZOOM. No contest for me, I would pay more for the Sony than for the Nikon.
Or to make a different comparison: The Nikon D5100 DSLR that has the same sensor, better processor, OVF, phase detect AF, articulated screen + the 18-55mm kit zoom sells for $600. And I’m sure you can find it cheaper that that.
So it’s not the sensor that makes it so expensive. And certainly not the body and features. Nikon put that price just because it’s new and they try to market it as a revolutionary thing.
Please use the Coolpix before you dismiss it. Many people talk badly about some products that they never even used, which is not fair to those products. People did the same for the fuji X bodies, stating that it has completely unusable AF which is just not true, all depends on what you shoot. The coolpix is actually quite a good camera and the image quality is absolutely stunning (I did not expect it to be this good to be honest). Hopefully it will be even better after some firmware tweaks.
And the price, well it just hit the market. The V1 was super expensive at first as well and now you can pick it up for 250 euro’s (which is a steal! great little speed demon!). To be honest I didnt buy it, got it as a present from a store after placing a big order for my company. But after using it I now have it with me almost all of the time (sceptic at first but quite love it now). I even postponed my purchase of an X100s due to it. I absolutely miss an EVF/OVF but for now its good enough, just using the screen is a different way of shooting for me (feel a bit like a tourist haha), and different can be good at times as well :). Probably will get an X100s eventually, but until that time I will shoot many many pictures with the Coolpix A. If you get the chance use it, I am pretty sure it will be different then what you initially expected from it.
I really didn’t mean to dismiss the Nikon Coolpix A. I’m sure it’s a great camera capable of taking incredibly good pictures. I have an Panasonic LX3 and I’m happy with it, but would be much happier with a Coolpix A probably.
But the fact that it’s a great camera doesn’t mean that the X100s isn’t much better in many ways. If offers much more for a bit more money.
Honestly, $1100 for that Coolpix is stupidly high considering the competition, no matter if it’s a great camera in its own right. I bet that price will fall to half pretty fast.
Is not the D800 sensor inside Coolpix A , is D7000 sensor .
Let’s not forget the X100s was fitted with that wide angle converter. This to me gives the x100s a slight disadvantage.
Well – actually in relation to sharpness, the post-fitted wideangleconverter supposedly enhance/improve on the existing lens… at least so according to a couple of testers and Fuji’s own MFT-graphs… I think it was the Fujiguys thats said something along these lines, if my mind serves me right?
and yes, I sounds a little weird, I agree…. and perhaps it was only fully open and up to f4 – cant remember and also its a little irrelevant in a way….
The x trans is soooo……. overrated. Ive used both cameras and the nikon takes better photos but feels super cheap. . The fuji feels fake leica cheap but still far better than the nikon. Fuji also has a viewfinder. To be perfectly honest, the Nikon takes better photos and performs a lot better in the shadows. Nikon almost got it right but f2.8 isnt going to cut it for some people, also hipster’s wont be able to wear it proudly around their neck like a fake leica. If its just going to be used as a pocket camera id choose the Nikon. If your looking for something to wear with your skinny jeans and toms pick up the fuji. If your smart save for a real leica or rx1.
Spot on about saving up for RX1… except maybe you should wait for RX2 so it will have better AF. I have the X100 and I really enjoy it, but I also got it used for ~$700. The X100S is really tempting… great package and has the EVF
Hold off on it, its overrated. Keep shooting the x100 and get you 700 worth out of it 🙂
Let’s not forget that although a small camera is pocketable, it might be terribly difficult to hold while photographing. The ergonomics of the Nikon A are questionable at best. Like the Sony RX100 it is too small to comfortably hold it steady. It feels like a toy. The Fuji X100s on the other hand feels like a real camera and the bigger body provides a better grip. Combined with the amazing high ISO capabilities of the X-Trans sensor, I think it’s a no brainer.
Also, the old D7000 sensor can’t match the quality of the new Fuji Sensor. I’m not sure why people say it can, because all tests on the internet show that it can’t. Try shooting in low light with the Coolpix A, it will be a snowstorm of noise. The Coolpix A is a nice camera for vacation, family and emergency snapshots. The Fuji is a more serious camera for people who now what they are doing.