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Forget megapixels. For ultimate quality it’s all about the size of your sensor – and this trim trio are giants
Nikon Coolpix A
Sizing upIf you’re looking for maximum power from the smallest package, the teensy Coolpix A could fill your aperture. Despite packing the same size sensor as most of Nikon’s DSLRs, this is the only truly pocketable compact of the trio tested. Some of the svelteness is due to the retracting wideangle lens and the lack of a viewfinder. It’s also not quite so tooled up in the controls department as its rivals. The built-in lens cap is welcome, though.
Big time?
The Coolpix A is a camera you really want to love. With seemingly little effort it manages to look and feel premium, yet it’s subtle enough for discreet street photography. Image quality is really very good, but this cutie’s hampered by slow autofocus that has to hunt for subjects far too regularly. The 28mm-equivalent lens is also too wideangle to be versatile – you won’t be taking many portraits with it, that’s for sure – and the f/2.8 max aperture is a little slow for low-light shooters.
Tech
« 16.2MP « 28mm equiv. f/2.8 « 3in LCD, 921k dots « 111x64x40mm « 299g « Price £1000
SAYS 5/4 Capable of great results, but suffers from slow focus and a lack of versatility
Fujifilm FinePix X100S
Sizing up
You might think you know all about this Leica-alike, but the pumped S version promises a real performance step-up from the original X100. In particular, the improved focusing speed and updated APS-C sensor are what Fujifilm hopes will keep competitors at bay. That said, it hasn’t fixed what wasn’t broke, keeping the 35mm-equivalent f/2 lens, array of manual controls and hybrid viewfinder that impressed us so much on the X100. It also retains the retro looks and solid-but-lightweight magnesium build.
Big time?
The work that’s been put into improving autofocus speed is undeniable, with the X100S snapping into focus quicker and more accurately than its rivals. Picture quality is exceptional, and almost equal to the Sony, even when shooting RAW. But it’s also just a joy to use, with great controls, a nice feel in the hand and an eye viewfinder that gives you plenty of options for how you want to shoot. Our only niggle is that the faux- vintage styling seems overdone now. We’d like a subtle black version.
Tech
« 16.3MP « 35mm equiv. f/2 « 2.8in LCD, 460k dot « 27x74x54mm « 445g « Price £1000
SAYS 5/5 Fast, feature-packed and fun – the FinePix X100S is the finest compact around
Sony DSC-RX1
Sizing up
The RX1 is the real big boy of this group, not just in overall size but because of the mahoosiveness of its 24MP sensor, which is full-frame – the size of a standard 35mm film frame. You can’t get a smaller full-frame camera than this, but the necessarily oversized lens means it’s still no pocket cam. Along with the pro spec and pro price, you get pro build, with a metal body that could probably stop a bullet. As with the Fujifilm, the RX1’s 35mm Carl Zeiss lens has manual aperture and focus rings.Big time?
For outright image quality, the RX1 can’t be touched. The RAW files are stunning throughout the entire ISO range. Autofocus lags a little behind the Fujifilm, but it’s still acceptable. The biggest downside is the price – and that’s before you add the optional OLED viewfinder at £380, or £500 for the Carl Zeiss optical finder. And there’s no flash, either. It’s a huge investment, but you’ll be rewarded with the best picture quality you can get from a compact camera.
Tech
« 24.3MP « 35mm f/2 « 3in LCD, 1228k dot « 113x65x70mm « 482g «Price £2600
SAYS 5/4 , An awesome camera, but hampered by an eye-watering price that’s hard to justify
Nikon Coolpix A , Fujifilm FinePix X100S , Sony DSC-RX1 Test
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