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Nikon A900

 
Nikon Coolpix A900 front
 
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-840mm (F3.4-6.9) lens
  • 289g - 113 x 67 x 40mm
  • Launched February 2016
  • Successor is Nikon A1000
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
88
Imaging
46
Features
58
Overall
50

Nikon A900 overview

Nikon A900 is Nikon's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera initially released on February of 2016. The camera houses a 20MP, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a maximum resolution of 5184 x 3888.

Nikon introduced the updated Nikon A1000 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to improve this model.

The A900 is rated #19 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras & all around #428 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to look at our Advanced camera filter to get camera ratings based on your custom criteria.

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Here is a diagram of different criteria used in the scoring system.

Nikon A900 history

The Nikon A900 has a history of related cameras. Here, you can check out all earlier and most recent models alongside main features.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Nikon-Coolpix-A1000 front thumbnailNikon A1000
A900 vs A1000
24-840mm
F3.4-6.9
16MP1/2.3"2019
Nikon-Coolpix-A900 front thumbnailNikon A90024-840mm
F3.4-6.9
20MP1/2.3"2016
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Nikon-Coolpix-AW130 front thumbnailNikon AW130
A900 vs AW130
24-120mm
F2.8-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2015
Nikon-Coolpix-AW120 front thumbnailNikon AW120
A900 vs AW120
24-120mm
F2.8-4.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
Nikon-Coolpix-AW110 front thumbnailNikon AW110
A900 vs AW110
28-140mm
F3.9-4.8
16MP1/2.3"2013
Nikon-Coolpix-AW100 front thumbnailNikon AW100
A900 vs AW100
28-140mm
F3.9-4.8
16MP1/2.3"2011
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Nikon A900 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of pluses and minuses of the Nikon A900 based on factors which are oftentimes viewed as necessary in a digital camera.

amazing zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
does have HDMI port
flash built-in
great zoom (840mm)
has bluetooth
lighter than competition in class (289 grams)
NFC connection
nice screen size (3 inches)
provides face detect focus
provides tracking focus
really wide (24mm)
screen has good resolution (921 k dot)
screen tilts up and down
very good min ISO (80)
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
doesn't have headphone port
doesn't have mic port
external flash not possible
lack of manual focus
lacks phase detect auto focus
lacks RAW format
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
max zoom aperture not good (f6.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Nikon A900 Sensor specs

The specification of the sensor in the Nikon A900 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor has the capability to resolve 5184 x 3888 pixels using aspect ratios of 4:3. The camera has Image Stabilization (Optical). In body stabilization is superior than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.

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The BSI-CMOS sensor has 20 megapixels and delivers a standard ISO range of 80 - 3200. Sadly, RAW format is not saved so the user has less margin for error.

The image underneath illustrates the A900's sensor size when compared to other popular sizes. The A900 sensor has a crop factor of 5.8 and is displayed in green.

Nikon Coolpix A900 sensor size OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus

To get an idea of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon A900 dimensions

Nikon A900 weighs 0.64 pounds (289 gr or 10.19 ounces) & has outer dimensions of 113mm x 67mm x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6"). The weight of normal Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387 gr so the Nikon A900 is lighter as compared to various rivals.

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Here is a image of the Nikon A900 beside a softdrink so you're able to get a sense of its size.

Nikon Coolpix A900 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will show you the button arrangement on the A900.

Nikon Coolpix A900 topview buttons dials

Nikon A900 Lens details

The A900 includes a built in lens offering a focal range of 24-840mm giving it a 35.0 x zoom which is very good and can make it easier to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 24mm, the lens has an aperture of f3.4 making it somewhat sluggish and not the best for low light occasions and you might struggle to get a shallow depth of field. You would also have to raise your ISO setting leading to noisy shots. On the long end, 840mm is brilliant zoom and comes to f6.9 which is pretty slow and you would have to utilize slower shutter speeds.

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Nikon A900 Connectivity

The A900 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • Bluetooth Yes
  • NFC Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Cameras which include NFC or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be controlled wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to copy files and at times alter camera settings without connecting straight with the camera.

A few apps also provide a Liveview and click the shutter in case you aren't near the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external screen. Virtually all cameras enable you to recharge the battery using the USB port.

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Nikon A900 Video details

The maximum video quality in the Nikon A900 is 3840 x 2160 and you can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 2160p offers a superb quality for video recording. You are able to downsample to Full HD in order to get better results. Be mindful of the huge file sizes and ensure you have decent SD cards with good write speeds. The body doesn't feature a microphone or headphone jack so you have got absolutely no control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to have a look at another model should you need better audio for your videos.

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Nikon A900 Weather Sealing

There is no weather sealing on the Nikon A900 so you have to be cautious in wet or dusty conditions.

Nikon A900 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon A900 is equipped with a 3" tilting screen having a resolution of 921k dots.

Sadly the screen isn't a touch screen.

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The ViewFinder details for Nikon A900 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite helpful for sunny outdoor conditions which can easily make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Nikon A900 Shutter details

Nikon A900 has the capability to shoot continuously at 7.0 frames per second. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000s.

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Nikon A900 Flash and Hot shoe details

Nikon A900 has just in-built flash with no external flash ability.

Nikon A900 Autofocus details

Nikon A900 has only Contrast Detect AF & is missing Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection focusing is a lot snappier and precise as compared to Contrast Detect focusing. The camera supports Face detection making it helpful for portraits.

It also has Tracking AF for things on the move. Nikon A900 lacks manual focus. Manual focus mode is good for low light or you require more precise control on depth of field.

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Nikon A900 Battery life

The battery (EN-EL12) on the Nikon A900 is built to last for 300 shots according to the CIPA specifications which is about the same as it's rivals. The general Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has the highest possible (600) battery life for this range of cameras.

Underneath is a list of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras having the highest battery life:

Nikon A900 for different kinds of photography

The following bar chart gives a summation of the Nikon A900 for different kinds of photography. To understand more, have a look at the specific section underneath.

Nikon A900 as a Portrait photography camera

The Nikon A900 receives a points tally of 40 which is low, meaning that it is simply not good for portrait photos. Shooting portrait photos leans heavily to sensor dimension, RAW support & capability to use external flash.

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good resolution (20 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
no manual focus
no external flash support
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files

Street photography with Nikon A900

With a above average points total of 69, the Nikon A900 is a respectable fit to use in street photography. A very good street photography camera comes with a fine balance of image quality and portability.

OM System OM-1 Set to Enhance Autofocus
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (289g)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format

Nikon A900 Sports photography information

A reasonable sports photography points total of 56 means the Nikon A900 is reasonably appropriate for shooting sports. A camera needs to have great autofocus and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.

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incredible zoom range (24-840mm 35.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF

Nikon A900 Travel photography information

Size is really important when buying a camera for travel. All round, the Nikon A900 gets a nice 74 as a travelling camera which is a respectable option to take on your holidays.

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lighter than others (289g)
has bluetooth
good MP (20MP)
flash built-in
quite wide (24mm)
great reach (840mm)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.4)

Nikon A900 Landscape photography information

For anybody who is planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photographs, the most critical factor will be image quality. The Nikon A900 at it's moderate rating of 49 as a landscape camera is reasonably suitable within the current marketplace.

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pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format

Vlogging with Nikon A900

A camera for vlogging should really come with a moving display screen, microphone port and if possible IBIS. Taking all things into account, the Nikon A900 is simply not good for vlogging as it comes to a low rating of 34.

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pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (289g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no external microphone jack

Nikon A900 Alternatives

If you are interested in alternatives to the A900, here is a range of the highest rated cameras which fall under the family of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The chart down below shows you a summary of the A900 compared to it's top ranked competitors suggested earlier.

Here are a handful of other cameras you might take a look at as alternate options. To check out a detailed comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Nikon
Model
Nikon Coolpix A900
Class
Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched
2016-02-23
Body design
Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions
6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area
28.1mm²
Sensor resolution
20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
4:3
Full resolution
5184 x 3888
RAW images
Max native ISO
3200
Minimum native ISO
80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
24-840mm (35.0x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.4-6.9
Macro focus distance
1cm
Crop factor
5.8
Screen
Screen type
Tilting
Screen diagonal
3 inches
Screen resolution
921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO All around score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
8 secs
Maximum shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed
7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
6.00 m (at Auto ISO)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions
3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p, 25p)
Max video resolution
3840x2160
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
289 grams (0.64 lb)
Dimensions
113 x 67 x 40mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.6")
Other
Battery life
300 images
Battery form
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL12
Self timer
Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
Single
Launch pricing
$400