Photo/Alberto Lima
Shoot for the moon– literally– with the powerful Nikon Coolpix P900. The P900 is the only super-zoom camera with an insane 83x optical telephoto lens that can shoot subjects at a jaw dropping 2m focal distance.
Let’s take a minute to talk about who the Nikon Coolpix P900 is best suited for. The P900 is a bridge camera, which is to say that it offers better image quality than a bargain point-and-shoot or smartphone camera, but doesn’t have the option of interchangeable lenses. If you’re not quite sure if you’re ready for a interchangeable lens camera (DSLR or DSLM – mirrorless) but know you’ve outgrown smaller options, then a bridge system may be right for you. The P900 offers a lot of bang for the buck in terms of an intermediate hobbyist’s camera that offers photographers the ability to shoot everything from macro photography to detailed images of the moon. Though astro-photography may not be the P900’s intended daily use function, if you’re doing any traveling and want to keep your bag light, the P900 offers a good all-around camera to carry.
Photo/Alberto Lima
On the technical side of things, the technology packed into the Nikon Coolpix P900 make it your do-it-all camera. Powering the P900 is a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor that pumps out 16-megapixel images (full stills resolution of 4608 x 3456) and with Nikon’s lens-shift Vibration Reduction, the P900 performs well even in low-light. The P900 has an ISO range of 100-12,800 (extended) with a few quick set functions that lock the ISO range in two groups (ISO Range 100-400 and ISO Range 3200-6400) for continued ease-of-use.
Photo/Nikon Website
The P900 is also equipped with a variety of sharing and tagging technologies that allow you to make the most out of your memories. With Nikon’s Wireless Mobile Utility app (available on the Android Play Store or the Apple App Store) you can easily download and share images immediately or even control the camera using your smartphone or tablet. The P900 also includes a GPS radio that will tag your shots for you making it even easier to capture and catalog your memories.
For the video enthusiast, the Nikon P900 delivers some solid features as well. The P900 can shoot full-HD video at 60/50/30/and 25 frames per second and is aided by the 3-inch variable-angle swivel TFT-LCD display. The display has the added benefit of a glare-resistant coating that allows for functional use even in mid-day sunlight.
Now, truthfully we’ve been leading you on; the reason why you’re here is to learn more about the P900’s 83x optical zoom lens. Make no mistake the lens is a true Nikkor ED lens with a fast f/2.8-6.5 aperture constructed in 16 lens elements and 12 groups. The electronic aperture has an electronically-controlled 6-blade iris that helps deliver a pleasant bokeh effect that is often associated with much larger cameras. The optical zoom maxes out at 2000mm (35mm equivalent) and even at the long end, autofocusing times are quick and responsive.
Photo/Nikon Website
From a design perspective the P900 has the look of a DSLR on first glance with some definite nods to the form-factor. The major difference between the P900 and a mid-sized DSLR is the difference in weight – the P900 is deceptively light for its size. The P900’s weight lies in the lens, which is expected with such a large zoom range. Though the weight distribution is heavily front-loaded due to the lens, the overall handling of the P900 is fairly balanced and comfortable to hand-hold for extend periods of time. The chunky grip helps a lot in this respect, allowing even larger hands to wrap around comfortably while maintaining minimal throw between the users thumbs to the camera’s control dials. Speaking of control dials, one of the delights of using the P900 is the fact that there are multiple control dials! Two for dedicated camera controls – aperture/shutter speed while in Manual mode. The thumb command dial has a smooth throw but definitely requires and intentional spin – a reassuring trait when shooting out in the real world. During the course of this review, we opted for a wrist strap over the included neck strap and the experience was comfortable even when shooting all day.
Photo/Nikon Website
Intended for the intermediate level hobbyist photographer, the Nikon Coolpix P900 offers one of the shortest learning curves of any camera available. Packed with a wealth of auto features, the P900 makes it easy for beginners and intermediate level photographers to dive right in and being creating stunning images. With advanced auto-setting “Scene” mode including quick access to “Sunset,” “Night Shooting,” “Portrait,” and ‘Panorama” options, the right setting is never more than a couple of clicks away. Unlike other bridge cameras, the P900 also includes options for advanced user settings as well including full manual controls of the camera, making it one of the few cameras in this category that has room to grow with its user or offer a true travel option for more advanced photographers.
For most of our review period, we shot almost exclusively in manual mode – to truly see what we can get out of the P900. After a couple of weeks of shooting we’re confident that the P900 can deliver images that are pleasant not just online but even in print. The option for manual controls allowed us to compose the shot we saw with very little need for working up in post-processing. The auto-settings were also impressive; the image processor on the P900 was able to identify and capture the shot we were looking for without leaving us hunting for focus points or having to overcompensate on exposure readings. One of our personal favorite auto-settings was the 360-panorama mode – it allowed us to create a very different perspective all in-camera.
Photo/Nikon Website
We also spent some time using the wireless functions of the P900 and found the experience to be straight forward with one step less when using the Android version of the Nikon Mobile Utility app (unfortunately iOS does not allow the use of the NFC radio for anything other than mobile payments). Once paired with your smart-device, we were able to use our phones as a wireless trigger and transfer images without incident. In practice, the wireless connectivity in the P900 feels like the natural progression of where all cameras should be and Nikon’s execution is a very user-friendly experience.
While the Nikon Coolpix P900 was built for ease of use, there’s no question that this is a Nikon camera through and through; the P900 produces some spectacular images with an unprecedented focal range that allows you to capture shots that just aren’t possible with other cameras or heavy investment on a range of lenses at different focal lengths. Whether you’re into birding, photographing craters on the moon, or if you’re simply looking for the best camera to take on vacation, the Nikon Coolpix P900 is hands down on of the most agile cameras you can buy.
-370x280.jpg)