Expert review of the Nikon Coolpix P1000
In short
- The 125x optical zoom allows you to clearly capture the smallest details.
- Thanks to the maximum aperture of f/2.8, you can photograph at dark locations.
- Record detailed video footage in 4K quality with 30 fps.
- The screen doesn't have a touchscreen to easily control the camera.
- The camera doesn't have a connector for an external flash.
First impression
The lens is huge, but the camera feels less heavy than I thought. It is striking that the housing is compact, despite the 3000mm lens. You can hold the camera stably, thanks to the sturdy large rubber grip. On both the top and the side, there is a zoom switch for more user-friendliness. The settings button shows that the camera has two special positions: the moon and birds. It is immediately clear that it is a versatile camera for nature lovers and astrophotographers.
The zoom range
Bridge camera with a large zoom range
This is a real super zoom camera with a 125x optical zoom. The lens extends from a 24mm wide-angle lens to a 3000mm telephoto lens. It's unbelievable how close I can get to birds and planes, it feels like I have a telescope in my hands. I can easily control the zoom button with my thumb. With the Dynamic Fine Zoom function, I can bring everything even closer up to 6000mm. Keep in mind that you lose resolution and quality with the digital zoom.
The image quality
Sharp shots and a bright lens.
The camera shoots in 16 megapixels and has a 1/2.3-inch sensor. This is smaller than a full-frame sensor, but the photos and videos are still lively, detailed and sharp. Thanks to the large aperture of f/2.8 you have a bright lens. But when I zoom in to 3000mm, the aperture automatically jumps to f/8. This means that you have to work with higher ISO values in dark locations.
Image stabilization
Take sharp telephoto photographs from the hand
When using long focal lengths, a small camera movement can be disastrous for the sharpness of your images. Thanks to the powerful built-in image stabilizer of 5 stops, I still took fairly sharp images out of hand. Are you serious about capturing wildlife or plane spotting? Take a sturdy tripod with you for a better focus when you zoom in completely.
The difference with the Nikon Coolpix P900
A camera with more possibilities
The Nikon Coolpix P1000 is a visible improvement compared to its predecessor the Nikon Coolpix P900. You have an even larger zoom range, thanks to the longer telephoto lens. You now also shoot in RAW, so that you get the most out of the editing. You can make recordings in 4K image quality with 30fps or in 1080p with 60fps. The camera has a better sound quality thanks to the external microphone connection. The LCD screen on the back is larger for better image control and settings management. The camera has a hot shoe for connecting your external flash. You can easily share your images via Bluetooth and Snapbridge.
Conclusion
If you want to capture wildlife, astronomy, or sports, but don't want to spend a fortune on telephoto lenses, this versatile camera is ideal. You get your subject very close through the large zoom range. The image stabilizer is indispensable when working with longer focal lengths. You can take photos in RAW and you can film in 4K image quality. The ease of use of the settings and the compact design makes this a great camera to take with you.
