USB charging: yes, very slowly, while the camera is OFF only For a camera size comparison this photo shows my Nikon D7200 DSLR (with Nikon 18-140mm lens) on the left, the wife's Nikon Coolpix P900 in the middle, and my Nikon D850 DSLR (with Tamron 24-70mm lens) on the right: One of the biggest features of the P900 is the 83X optical zoom. Nikon also offers Picture Controls approximating the look achievable from the D2X and D2XS DSLRs; these can be installed and used in select Nikon DSLRs. But, if you had purchased a Z 6 or Z 7 early on, you would need to update the firmware to take advantage of the newer features. 4.7 out of 5 stars 355. Personally, I found the P950 to be just so much fun to play with, that I absolutely would spend $800 on one, as a source of photographic entertainment, observation, and really cool pictures for my Instagram. Say you are working at the upper zoom capabilities of … All in all, if you enjoy capturing highly unique perspectives of relatively commonplace subjects, then this might be the type of camera that makes you feel truly excited about photography again! Fixed Lens: 24-2000mm equivalent, (83.3x) f/2.8-6.5 aperture It’s really that simple. Real world education & resources from the most successful wedding photography studios in the world. Basically, a lot (though not all) of the necessary controls, including ISO, AF point selection, and White balance are all contained within the Fn button that is adjacent to the shutter release, and the pop-up menu that controls these settings is a bit awkwardly designed. Nikon P950, 1000mm equiv, 1/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 (Distance: ~50 miles). Price: $799 (B&H). $74.95 . But unlike with DSLRs, the P900 can be set to focus at Infinity (thanks for that Nikon!). (Hint: diffraction. CDN$ 45.00 Photographer's Guide to the Nikon Coolpix P1000: Getting the Most from Nikon's Superzoom Digital Camera. December 28, 2019 7:25 pm. COOLPIX W150, A1000, A900, A300, B700, B600, B500, P950, P1000, W100, W300 KeyMission 80 Compatible devices are those capable of acquiring location information and those that support BLE (iPhone® 5S and later, iPad® 5th Generation and later, iPhone X or later). The easy to use and hassle-free compact digital camera is built for photos and videos with 2000mm focal length from 83x optical zoom, … It too offers raw NRW capture and 4K video, however, the added zoom range from 2000mm to 3000mm is so incredibly long that you might not actually need it as much as you think. My question is can all three of these be captured with a superzoom camera at 2,000mm EFL (Nikon P900/950.) If you want a camera and lens combo that gets you to 2000mm, effectively, (without spending thousands of dollars, and/or using one or more teleconverters) …then you need to check out the Nikon P950! Discuss in the Nikon Coolpix Talk forum The Nikon Coolpix P950 is a mega-zoom camera with a lens equivalent to 24-2000mm, with an image stabilizer capable of reducing shake by up to 5.5 stops. Nikon P950 Primary Features • Better Than Your Own Eyes With the P950’s 2000mm-equivalent focal length, see more than what the naked eye is capable of with its 83x optical zoom. Moon mode automatically compensates for low light astrophotography while the advanced bird-watching mode optimizes the camera’s settings for capturing elusive creatures. Photographers who love wide landscape photographs will be able to take advantage of its wide-angle 24mm to super-telephoto 2000mm (35mm-format equivalent) abilities. To be fair, even BIF (birds in flight, for those of you who are not birders) is possible with the P950, once you get the hang of using the autofocus system, and if it’s daylight. Here’s something that I found to be disappointing, for those who are looking to capture still images at the highest-possible FPS: If you switch from RAW to JPG, you gain access to high-speed “60” and “120” modes, which appear to capture a 1-second, 60 or 120 FPS burst. ), Sensor Format & Type: 1/2.3″ (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Just know that if you want to photograph something like owls 30 minutes after sunset, well, …that’s what $12,000 “big gun lenses” are for. We really hope that Nikon is R&D-ing direct USB power for all of its cameras. Millimeters. Most compact cameras with slightly larger sensors don’t come close to reaching 2000mm; the Sony RX10 IV, the latest (2017, that is… so, the last?) When you look up at the beautiful stars above your camp site or travel destination, wouldn’t it be nice to keep them as a photograph? With that in mind, if you’re feeling at all interested in this camera, here’s what you can expect to be excited or happy about: First and foremost, indeed, is that reach. As we have already hinted at in the pros section above, getting to 2000mm in such a small package, at such an affordable price, does not come without its drawbacks…. 4.3 out of 5 stars 82. … Download the optional Picture Controls from the Picture Controls website. That's due to the camera shooting in JPEG only. 'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'). If you live somewhere with a lot of very clear weather, especially somewhere along the coast, then you might just be able to do a little casual, un-scientific flat-earth “research” just for fun. Doing a few image quality comparisons between 4K video from the P950 and the new Nikon D780 or the Nikon Z50, you will see noticeably increased fine detail (in other words, no mushy-ness at all) from the larger … Review - Astrophotography with Nikon Coolpix P900
Posted: 1 June 2018
Updated: 12 June 2018. With the Nikon P950… Nikon dubbed the P1000 the P900 replacement in South Africa, however as would soon become apparent that the P950, was in design and has become available in the meanwhile. You can still upgrade to premium anytime. Not only that, but unlike many other cameras these days, it cannot be operated directly via USB power; the camera can only charge its battery via USB while the camera is off. It could, but that’s a challenge that all artists face, with any unique, specialized tool that is at their disposal. All about the Nikon Coolpix P900, P950, and P1000 cameras This Facebook page has no affiliation with Nikon or any subsidiary of Nikon. In fact, it’s bigger than a small DSLR with a kit lens. Well, the lens itself is very sharp, however, images are only as sharp as can be with a very small sensor. In other words, just be honest with yourself: what are you really going to do with these images, and how important is portability and/or affordability to you? Tweet
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)? You can also set the image size from 4608x3456 (default) down to 640x480. Seriously, it’s really, really fun. Go to Page 2, Astrophotography with the P900. Last, there is one more disadvantage to mention that is related to the laws of optics in general. But to turn it OFF when the camera is mounted on a tripod you have to use the Setup menu. Plus, the P1000 is even larger than the P950, which is already rather oversized as far as “compact” cameras go. Ltd., 100% subsidiary of Nikon Corporation Tokyo today. Don’t get too excited, though; while raw editability is nice, the actual image quality itself has quite a few caveats, which we’ll get to in the “cons” section soon. (Interchangeable Lens Camera, meaning both DSLR and Mirrorless) …Because no other cameras can get to 2000mm as conveniently as this. And the third photo at full zoom shows many of the observatories on top of the mountain. The wife decided to replace her failing Canon compact video camera with the Nikon Coolpix P900 digital camera. Oh, and the latest Nikon 2x teleconverter (mk3) and Nikon 1.4x teleconverter (mk3) are both another $500, too. I don’t care if you do or don’t believe in conspiracies, by the way, because no matter what, this camera makes a very useful tool. You’re welcome. The basic specifications for the Coolpix P900 are:
16MP CMOS sensor (4608 x 3456 pixels)
Built-in lens, focal length 24-2000mm (35mm equivalent, 83x optical zoom)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-f/6.5 (depending on focal length)
4X digital zoom
Optical Vibration Reduction
Vari-angle 3" TFT LCD screen
Electronic viewfinder
Up to full HD 1080p video (12.5-100 fps, depending on resolution)
Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS
Auto and manual exposure control
Shutter speed 15 seconds to 1/4000sec (no Bulb mode)
ISO 100-6400 (extended 12800)
Filter thread 67mm
Memory card: SD, SDHC, SDXC
Weight 2 lbs. Copyright 2019 SLR Lounge. One other point about the lack of Raw; there is no Lightroom Lens Profile for the P900, at least not from Adobe. Fortunately, the Menu is visible in the viewfinder if the screen is OFF. The Nikon Coolpix P950 is a powerful superzoom compact camera, built around a 24-2000mm equivalent zoom lens. It is certainly much bigger than most other “compact” cameras on the market, and you definitely can’t just slip it into a jacket pocket, but it’s still extremely small. Thank you very much Nasim! She agreed to let me try it for astrophotography for this review. Second, why is this camera still worth considering, if the “good image quality range” is limited to ISO 100-400, and images still aren’t as sharp as with an ILC? The P900 makes a fine camera for bird photography: Animals make nice subjects for the P900 (both photos slightly cropped): And if you like photographing aircraft in flight, the P900 is pretty amazing at that too: I was happy with the P900 for general photography. (140.2 x 109.6 x 149.8 mm) Also, if you’ve never seen video captured at 1000-2000mm, atmospheric distortion can make a scene appear as if you’re peering through a rippling reflection on water. (The sensor is about the same, by the way.). It was purchased from B&H Photo and Video. 0. The P950 is definitely not very well-suited to traditional astrophotography, though, or even nightscape photography, due to its relatively tiny sensor. Here are two photos of my observatory, the first at full wide-angle and the second with some zoom: As an example of landscape photography, here are three photos. Premium Membership That’s an impressive reach, though, for such a compact camera, (and the autofocus is probably the best of any compact super-zoom camera around!) Reply. Hopefully, you already know which setup is right for you. The Nikon P950 is more recent, but this model packs the same 24-2000mm focal range (in 35mm terms). This “compact” digital camera isn’t exactly compact. Video: 4K (3840×2160) 30p/25p MP4 H.264 For this review, unless otherwise noted, photos taken with the P900 have not been cropped and only minimal editing was done in Adobe Lightroom and/or GraphicConverter. However, keep in mind that in the grand scheme of light-gathering equivalence, the Nikon P950’s inferior image quality (versus a D500 or Z50) isn’t going to be as big of a deal-breaker as you think. Therefore, considering the less robust autofocus system, it’s hard to recommend this camera as a truly serious action sports camera. All in all, the camera is definitely opting for a simple interface, which might be good if you don’t plan to extensively control a lot of different settings anyway. $89.00 . For starters, check out the opening clip in the video below. Your account will be downgraded to a Free Account at the end of your Premium Membership trial. It was purchased from B&H Photo and Video. Matthew Saville is a full-time wedding photographer at Lin & Jirsa Photography, and a senior editor & writer at SLR Lounge. Before I began my astrophotography tests I did some terrestrial photography in the daytime to get a feel for the camera and its optical zoom. Great idea! Weight: 2.21 lb (1005 g) The Nikon COOLPIX P950, an easy-to-carry camera that provides super-telephoto performance exceeding users’ expectations is announced by Nikon India Pvt. Unfortunately, with the small, 16-megapixel sensor of the P950, diffraction is already going to be present even at f/5.6-6.5 when you’re zooming in and leaving the aperture wide-open. Nikon P950 Review | This Compact Camera Zooms to 2000mm! Plus, adding a teleconverter costs you 1-2 stops of light, and can have a negative effect on your overall image quality and autofocus reliability, of course. Thousand. Even on a relatively cold day, if the sun is shining then all subjects farther away than a mile or two will not make for a fair test of the lens’ sharpness. It allows you to remotely trigger your camera to capture your photographs without having to actually touch your camera rig. In this section we introduce Nikon digital cameras’ useful, convenient and Nikon-exclusive features for astrophotography, followed by a features introduction of Nikon digital SLR cameras, the Nikon 1 J5, and the COOLPIX P900 and P610. Not many. Still, it’s nice to have the 4K 30p video, and it’s nice that it approximately covers the full-width of the sensor. A few buttons can be re-programmed to perform certain functions, but there are fewer customizable buttons compared to other Nikon cameras, and there are fewer options available for the buttons that are customizable. Stylize your shots with easy-to-use filters organized in five groups: Light, for brightening colour, Depth for calming atmosphere, Memory, for creating old-fashioned looks, Classical, for … Add a credit card now and it will be charged for an Annual Premium Membership ($499) at the end of your trial. However, if you’re already well-accustomed to a more advanced Nikon DSLR or mirrorless camera, but you’re getting this camera specifically for its unique zoom range, then the limitations to control and customization will likely be the biggest drawback for you. Reply. It would be fantastic to allow relatively rapid charging via traditional 5-volt USB protocols, like Sony has been offering via its micro USB compatible port and/or its USB-C port, however if 9-volt, 3-amp USB-PD is the future, we’d absolutely be happy with that, of course. My wife will be too. Holy Cow!!!! There is definitely no such thing as a free lunch here. Just like atmospheric distortion, which we can’t blame on the camera at all, diffraction is a law of optics that will soften your images no matter how sharp a lens is. 18 talking about this. To achieve effective cooling, they actually moved the sensor outside of the camera and performed several other modifications: “We took out the image … (And, in the case of the Nikon D500, you get a truly flagship autofocus system!). Gheorghe David. LIFETIME Premium Memberships Available [More Info]. in a very popular line of cameras in the 1″ sensor category, only reaches 600mm equivalent. When getting to know the P950, the first thing that anyone familiar with Nikon cameras will notice is that the physical controls and menu interface aren’t nearly as extensive as most other Nikon cameras. The first one shows my observatory (center) at full wide-angle. Nikon "1" Mirrorless Basic Astrophotography Kit (1.25") Fits Mirrorless Models V1, J1, etc. That’s a 4-stop differential. Nikon P950 Price: £799 Launched in January 2020, the P950 is built around a 16-megapixel sensor and boasts an 83x zoom magnification, giving an huge equivalent focal length of 24-2000mm – yep, you did read that correctly – from the fixed lens that features a variable maximum aperture of f/2.8-6.5. Just to the right of the observatory is Kitt Peak National Observatory (65 miles away). The title says it all, folks. However, for “astro-landscape” and even traditional landscape & outdoor photography, this is simply one of the most lightweight ways to achieve such super-telephoto focal lengths. Landscape photography may not come to mind when thinking of “things to do with a 2000mm lens”, however, events and subjects such as serendipitously aligned moonrises or sunsets can be a lot of fun to photograph, too! Add to Wishlist . But, don’t trust it to capture a truly critical moment as your primary camera angle. Despite the quirks and limitations, I would absolutely recommend it. The electronic viewfinder and the LCD screen are not active simultaneously. The COOLPIX P950’s advanced optical system features a Super ED glass element used in Nikon’s heralded DSLR lenses, which provides higher image-forming capability and effectively reduces chromatic aberration, dynamically achieving superior image quality with super-telephoto shooting. If you’re really serious about very good image quality at “only” 1200-1800mm, however, and plan to do a lot of shooting in low light and/or at ISO 3200-6400, then you might be inclined to grab yourself a Nikon D500 or Z50, plus the decently portable 200-500mm f/5.6 and a 1.4x or 2x teleconverter. That’s because it has the full-frame equivalent of a 24-2000mm lens. Or, for a truly impressive level of reach on a DX camera, just put a 2x teleconverter on a telephoto lens that reaches 600mm, and you’re at ~1800mm equivalent. While not major issues, these differences from the Nikon DSLRs I have used do take some getting used to. Creative modes. Similarly, there is no button to turn manual focus ON. Aspect ratios of 4:3, 16:9, 3:2, and 1:1 are available. She agreed to let me try it for astrophotography for this review. Unfortunately, that burst of images is captured at an extremely low resolution, just 2 megapixels for the “60” mode, and a mere VGA resolution (that’s 640×480 pixels) for the “120” mode. Yes, that’s right, image quality is going in the “cons” section of a camera that I actually like and (spoiler alert!) In fact, most photographers probably think that’s a typo, and should read “200mm”, but, no… Two. In this review, we’ll give you all the details about what makes this camera so fun and exciting to shoot with, but also how it might not live up to some expectations. This huge focal length is obviously the headline feature but … Suffice it to say, this camera’s raw file format does make it a more usable camera compared to its JPG-only predecessor, the P900. This is definitely one of the most unique cameras on the market today. Much like the P950’s ability to capture raw files, its ability to capture 4K (30p) video is very welcomed, even though its actual image quality isn’t jaw-dropping. Surprisingly, by the way, the lens is tack-sharp throughout its entire zoom range, even at 2000mm. You just don’t realize how long 2000mm is until you experience it for the first time. Now, I have to say “casual” action sports photographers, because unlike both birds and wildlife, action sports relies much more heavily on a camera’s autofocus tracking capability, not just a lens’ reach/range. Portrait. You simply can’t get past 300/400mm with most common compact camera setups. The P950 is lucky if it gets about 20-30 minutes worth of 4K video recording out of a fully-charged battery. Nikon SLR / DSLR Deluxe Astrophotography Kit (1.25") Fits All Nikon SLR & DSLR Models. Might the novelty wear off after a while? So, yes, the lens is very sharp, despite the inherent limitations of trying to shoot at the equivalent of 2000mm with such a small sensor camera. Whether you’re photographing potentially dangerous wild animals such as bears or other large mammals from many yards/meters away, or you’re trying to get close-up with harmless but extremely shy, small animals, almost every type of wildlife photography could be where a camera like this is a ton of fun. The P950 was only used to record the intro zoom-in footage, and two other super-telephoto clips throughout the video. Comments are welcome using Email. So, what other compact cameras can achieve such incredible zoom ranges? The P900 does not have a Raw image mode; it saves images as JPEG files in either Fine (compression ratio 1:4) and Normal (1:8). Or, if you want to get as long of a telephoto zoom as possible, but are on an extremely tight budget, the Nikon Coolpix B600 costs less than $300, and has a zoom lens equivalent to 24-1440mm. The minimum focus distance of the lens is just 1cm (0.4"). Astrophotography may sound difficult; however, this really isn’t the case once you’ve learned the basics. Astrophotography may seem difficult, but it welcomes your … As the very first step in astrophotography, … However, once the screen has been moved off the camera and rotated it can be placed back on the body for use. If you’ve ever raised your 70-200mm or 70-300mm lens to your eye and felt disappointed that you still weren’t “close” enough to a very distant subject, well, look no further! There is no guarantee this app will run on all devices. In other words, if you’re a serious telephoto action sports photographer with important shots that you must capture, then consider this camera to be that 3rd or 4th camera you set up, just in case it can deliver a truly unique perspective with its amazing lens. Last but not least in the compact camera realm, the Nikon Coolpix P1000 (~$1000) actually manages to one-up the P950, despite being a slightly older camera: its zoom range is equivalent to 24-3000mm! The Nikon Z50 can also take regular full frame Nikon Z lenses, of course, and also regular Nikon DSLR lenses, via the Nikon FTZ adaptor. The sea of stars twinkling in the night sky; the moon with the alluring shadows of its craters; the diverse forms cast by the planets; the mysterious nebulae and star clusters: How wonderful would it be if you could capture them beautifully in a photograph? There is a button to toggle manually between the two. Using Neutral as its base, Portrait imparts more natural appearing skin, so skin tones are more lifelike, projecting a real sense of … The price is $4,950 ($1,650 over the regular D850 price of 3,296). All Rights Reserved, By clicking "Continue" I agree to SLR Lounge's, iPhone Photography Tutorials (And Other Smartphones), Entry-level interface, customization, & autofocus. LCD Display: 3.2 in, 921,000 dots This is the camera that might even get you TOO close.