Nikon has delivered a pocket-ready point-and-shoot camera in its Coolpix A, the new flagship model in its Coolpix line up, due to be available in Japan on March 28.

It has a DSLR-like 16.2 megapixel, full-size DX format (aka APS-C) CMOS image sensor, and its fixed 22 mm f/2.8 Nikkor lens offers a very nice, wide-angle view. Around the back you'll find a 3-inch, 921,000-dot LCD screen. Early reports indicate the battery might not perform as well as other cameras in this class, but considering it's just 111 x 64.3 x 40.3 mm in size and lightweight at 299 grams, this comes as a bit of a trade-off for better portability.

As you might expect, it's a little expensive, currently available for pre-order at ¥119,800 as part of Nikon's spring campaign — but considering the unusually high image quality, it could be a solid solution for professionals who want a back-up camera that's easy to pocket.