Nikon Coolpix A

The Coolpix A is a 2013 compact camera that fits an APS-C sensor into a body measuring 111 x 64 x 40 mm and weighing 299 g. It slips into a jacket pocket, which is the point of a camera like this.

The lens is built in, so the camera always frames the world the same way. That suits photographers who want a carry-everywhere camera and are happy to work with a single framing rather than a whole system.

You frame shots on the 3-inch LCD, or you can add the optional optical viewfinder for eye-level shooting.

The headline here is the 16.2 megapixel APS-C sensor. It is the sensor size found in many interchangeable-lens cameras, and in a compact body it gives plenty of scope for prints and cropping.

The lens is fixed, so there is no moving to a wide or long focal length. You adapt by stepping closer or further back. Photographers who enjoy that discipline will get on with it; anyone wanting a different focal length will not find one here.

Shooting pace is unhurried. The burst rate tops out at 4 fps, the shutter reaches 1/2000, and sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 6400. Those numbers suit portraits, street scenes and everyday subjects rather than fast action.

In-body stabilisation is absent, so in dim light you need a steady hold, a faster shutter speed or a higher ISO. The Optics score of 50 is modest, and the camera sits in the lower range of cameras in our database for Optics.

Full HD is the highest resolution on offer, and the fastest frame rate available is 30 fps. That covers ordinary clips for family use and the web. Recordings save as MOV files.

Handheld footage can show camera shake, because the camera offers no in-body stabilisation. Bracing the camera against something solid or using a tripod keeps footage steadier.

Timelapse is not built in, so sequences shot over time have to be created by other means.

The Video score of 43 is modest. For a camera from 2013 the available recording options cover the basics, but anyone whose main interest is higher resolutions or faster frame rates will want to keep looking.

The 3-inch LCD carries 921,000 dots, which is sharp enough for checking focus and detail. It flips, which helps when you compose from high or low viewpoints.

There is no touch input, so settings are adjusted through the physical controls. Live view shows the scene on screen as you shoot, which is the normal way to work with a camera like this.

Wi-Fi is built in, though there is no Bluetooth. Both a built-in flash and support for an external flash are included, which gives useful lighting options for a camera this size.

Weather sealing is absent, so the camera needs care in dust or rain. The Features score of 41 is modest: the screen and live view are the strengths, while touch input, Bluetooth and sealing are missing.

A single card slot takes SD, SDHC and SDXC media. With one slot you swap cards as they fill, and there is no second card inside holding a copy.

The EN-EL20 battery is rated at 230 shots. That rating is a guideline rather than a promise, and real use varies. For a full day out, a charged spare is a sensible addition.

USB charging is not supported, so you cannot top the battery up from a laptop or a shared cable.

The Storage & Battery score of 13 is limited, and it comes down to these points: one slot, a modest battery rating and no USB charging. None of them stops the camera working; each just asks for some planning before a shoot.