Nikon's newest compact camera, the Coolpix A, is the company's first to house a large, DSLR-style, APS-C sensor.
Combining a fixed focal length wide-angle 18.5mm, f/2.8 lens (equivalent to a 28mm angle of view in 35mm format) with a large DX, 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor the camera aims to bring SLR-style image quality to the compact format.
Like the D800E and the recently announced D7100, the new model does away with the usual optical low pass filter in an effort to boost image detail and resolution.
It features an Expeed 2 image-processing engine, which Nikon says delivers similar speed and noise-reduction capabilities as the company's DX-format digital SLR cameras.
The camera's sensitivity range is the same as the D7100 – ISO 100 to 6400, expandable to ISO 25600 (Hi 2) – and, like Nikon's DSLR models, it supports 14-bit compressed NEF RAW files.
Movie recording is available in Full HD 1920 x 1080/30p format with in-camera movie editing allowing users to save a single frame as a still JPEG image or delete unnecessary portions from the beginning or end of a movie file.
Unusually, for a compact camera, the lens includes a manual focus ring, and the option to set the camera to autofocus with manual override. In this mode, when the shutter-release button is half pressed and the focus ring is turned, manual focus is activated.
A number of new accessories have been developed for use with the camera including a new optical viewfinder (DF-CP1) and an adapter ring (UR-E24) for attaching third-party 46mm filters. The camera is also compatible with the full range of Speedlight flash units, Nikon's GP-1 GPS unit, and the WU-1a wireless adapter, which allows images to be transferred to a smartphone or tablet devices. With the WU-1a the camera can also be operated remotely, with the live view display and shooting controls appearing on the smart device.
The high-end compact features a magnesium alloy top cover and polycarbonate body, measures 110 x 64.3 x 40.3mm (W x H x D) and weighs approximately 299g.
It is expected to be available in Australia in April. Local pricing has not been announced.
