Nikon Coolpix P950 Review
Introduction
Announced at the very beginning of 2020, the Nikon Coolpix P950 is a new bridge camera. It features an 83x optical zoom, giving you a whopping 24-2000mm (equivalent) focal length - which is the same length as its predecessor, the P900.
This focal length puts it below the even longer Nikon P1000 camera, which offers 3000mm (equivalent), but still makes it one of the longest zoom lenses in the bridge camera market.
Also staying the same as its predecessor is the 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor, but there are other improvements to be enjoyed, including a better 2.4-million-dot electronic viewfinder and 4K video recording. Up to 7fps shooting, raw format support and a native ISO range topping out at ISO 6400 also remain from the previous iteration of the camera.
Aimed pretty squarely at nature photographers, the Nikon P950's price is (at the time of writing) £799 / $799. You can still find the older P900 model in some retailers for £449, while the P1000 will set you back £899.
Ease of Use
Front of the Nikon Coolpix P950 |
By standard bridge camera sizes, the Nikon P950 is a very large offering. In fact, you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a DSLR from first glance. Of course, what it offers is the equivalent of a DSLR and a bag full of lenses, so it still makes sense as a travel type of camera for those who want to travel reasonably light.
For those who already owned a P900 camera, very little has changed on the outside of the camera. There’s a chunky grip at the front of the camera, while much of the camera has a textured coating which helps to give a feeling of high quality.
If you think that the Nikon Coolpix P950 looks big, wait until you extend the zoom lens - the chances of remaining discreet while wielding this are pretty slim. However, if zoom is particularly important to you - such as for nature photographers - then you’ll likely be happy to consider the unbalanced nature of the camera a worthy sacrifice.
Rear of the Nikon Coolpix P950 |
At the top of the camera’s grip you’ll find the shutter release button, as well as one of two ways to zoom the lens in and out. If you prefer, you can also use a switch on the left hand side of the lens to extend it from the wide-angle to the telephoto end of the lens.
Attempting to track a subject when the lens is extended to its full length can be tricky, particularly if the subject is non-static. To that end, a button on the side of the lens comes in very handy. You can hold it down to zoom the lens out to help you relocate your subject. On releasing the button, the lens will zoom back to the extended position you had it in.
You can adjust this setting to zoom out just a little, a medium amount and the full way, which can be helpful depending on the subject you’re shooting. For example, if you’re shooting a distant, but reasonably static animal, having it zoom out just a little is probably quicker than having it zoom all the way out. However if the subject is much faster - such as a bird - you may be better off with the full zoom out setting enabled.
Top of the Nikon Coolpix P950 |
Also found on the side of the lens is a small dial which can be assigned to various controls depending on what you’d prefer to have quick access to. By default, it will control exposure compensation but you could change it to ISO, white balance, shutter speed or aperture if you prefer. Or you could choose to disable the dial altogether, perhaps if you find yourself prone to knocking it.
On the top panel of the Nikon P950 you’ll find a mode dial which allows you to choose the exposure mode you want to work in. There’s the standard P/A/S/M options, as well as fully automatic, scene, creative control, birdwatching mode, night mode and a slot which allows users to save a custom group of settings - helpful if you often find yourself shooting a particular type of scene. Also on the top panel is a secondary dial which controls shutter speed if you’re shooting in manual mode or shutter priority.
Flipping to the back of the Nikon Coolpix P950, and there’s a pretty familiar set of controls here - particularly if you’ve used one of Nikon’s bridge cameras in the past. All of the buttons are grouped on the right hand side of the camera, so you can make adjustments with just your thumb. It’s not exactly a camera that you’ll want to use one-handed, but it’s good to be able to keep your second hand free for steadying the camera considering how large it is.
Side of the Nikon Coolpix P950 |
Buttons on the back include a playback button, video record button, exposure compensation button and a delete button. There’s also a menu button for accessing a reasonably extensive main menu. There’s not as many options here as you’d find on one of Nikon’s DSLRs, so it’s perhaps for this reason that there isn’t a quick menu available for favourite settings. There’s an OK button which comes in useful when you want to adjust the focus point, which can be moved around the screen to meet your subject.
There are also buttons for activating exposure and AF lock, as well as a button for switching on and off the electronic viewfinder. There’s also a sensor on the viewfinder which will see it automatically activate once you lift the camera to your eye.
The viewfinder is one of a small number of improvements which have been made to the Nikon P950 compared with the P900. At 2359k-dots, it has more than twice the resolution of its 921k-dot predecessor. In use, it’s much more pleasant to use the newer viewfinder, giving you a bright and clear view of the scene. If you’re somebody that very often uses a viewfinder, and you’re struggling to decide between the P900 and the more expensive P950, this is something which may just sway you.
Side of the Nikon Coolpix P950 |
Joining the viewfinder is a 921k-dot, 3.2-inch articulating screen, which has the same resolution as its predecessor, but is a little larger (3.2-inches, compared to 3.0). It seems odd that in 2020, a screen without touch-sensitivity has entered the market, and it’s a shame not to see this improvement compared with the older model. Still it’s useful that you can position the screen any which way you like, and is particularly handy for video recording and taking selfies. It’s also good to be able to turn the screen to face inwards to protect it when on the move.
Battery life has reduced a little when compared to the previous model, now offering 290 shots per charge, as opposed to 360. This could be a result of the new higher resolution viewfinder, but it’s also worth remembering that this is the official rating - in real world use, you’re likely to get much more out of it. We found in day to day use it would easily last a whole day of reasonable use. USB charging is available, which is good news for quick power bursts on the go, and means you don’t need to remember to pack a separate external battery charger.
Memory Card Slot / Battery Compartment |
The Nikon Coolpix P950 has a single SD UHS-I memory card slot. It would have been nice to perhaps see some UHS-II compatibility here to boost the frame rate beyond the 7fps offered.
In good light, focusing speeds are quick and, on the whole, accurate. In lower light conditions, there can sometimes be a little back and forth before the lens locks onto target. Occasionally, in such conditions the lens fails to get there at all, but it’s rare for a false confirmation of focus to be displayed.
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 16 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 7Mb.
We didn’t expect there to be any surprises when it came to image quality from the Nikon Coolpix P950, considering it uses the same sensor and lens combination as its predecessor, the P900.
What that means is that you get nicely vibrant images which show a good degree of realism. As we’d expect from a small sensor, the best results can be seen when shooting in good light.
An improvement to the Nikon P950 comes in the shape of adding raw format recording support. This means you now have more flexibility to tweak images after the fact, which is likely to be welcome news for enthusiast photographers.
As we saw before, images directly from the camera have an overall good impression of detail when you’re viewing them at normal web or printing sizes (A4 or below). It’s possible to see some evidence of image smoothing when viewing images at 100% at even reasonably low or mid-range ISOs, such as ISO 400, but it only becomes particularly apparent at normal viewing sizes from ISO 800 onwards.
It’s best to stick to below ISO 3200, or even ISO 1600 if at all possible, for best image quality. At the wide-angle end of the lens, the aperture opens up as fast f/2.8, which is good news for keeping to lower ISO numbers where possible.
With up to 83x optical zoom available, it’s important to discuss how well the zoom performs. The biggest problem is that aperture narrows to f/6.3 at the furthest reach, so if light is anything but optimal, you might see some obvious loss in image quality, even at reasonably small sizes.
On a more positive note, image stabilisation does a reasonable job of keeping most images blur free. We’d probably recommend steering clear of the digital zoom, but with 83x available, it’s debatable whether you really do need it in the first place.
The vast majority of the time, the all-purpose metering setting does a good of producing well-balanced exposures. With the ability to shoot in raw format introduced, being able to tweak highlights and shadows in post-production is a welcome feature on the occasion that a high-contrast scene might throw it off. For those that prefer to get it right in-camera, dialling in a little exposure compensation can help to lift some dull scenes.
Again, as before, automatic white balance is excellent, producing accurate colours under a variety of different lighting conditions. Though specific white balance presets are available, you might find little need to use them - especially with the addition of raw format shooting support.
Noise
The Nikon Coolpix P950 has 7 sensitivity settings ranging from ISO 100 to ISO 6400 at full resolution for both JPEG and Raw file formats.
JPEG | RAW |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
Focal Range
The Nikon Coolpix P950's 83x zoom lens provides an astonishing focal range of 24-2000mm in 35mm terms, as demonstrated below.
24mm |
2000mm |
Sharpening
The out-of-the camera images from the Nikon Coolpix P950 are slightly soft at the default sharpening setting and benefit from some further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop. You can alternatively change the in-camera sharpening level to suit your tastes.
Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
Chromatic Aberrations
Given the range of the zoom lens, the Nikon Coolpix P950 shows remarkably little purple fringing, with limited effects in areas of high contrast as shown in the examples below.
Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop) |
Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop) |
Macro
The Nikon Coolpix P950 allows you to get as close as 1cm to your subject.
Flash
The flash settings on the Nikon Coolpix P950 are Auto, Auto with Red-eye reduction, Fill Flash, Manual (Full, 1/2, 1/4 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64), Slow Sync, Rear-curtain Sync and Flash Off. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
Flash Off - Wide Angle (24mm) |
Flash On - Wide Angle (24mm) |
Flash Off - Telephoto (2000mm) |
Flash On - Telephoto (2000mm) |
And here are a couple of portrait shots.
Flash Off |
Flash On |
Night
The Nikon Coolpix P950's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds in the Manual mode, which is good news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 100.
Filter Effects
You can apply 10 different filter effects in-camera to photos that you have already taken with the Nikon Coolpix P950.
Cross Process Blue |
Cross Process Green |
Cross Process Red |
Cross Process Yellow |
High Contrast Monochrome |
High Contrast Monochrome 1 |
High Key |
Nostalgic Sepia |
Selective Color |
Soft |
Panorama
The Nikon Coolpix P950's Easy Panorama mode allows you to take vertical or horizontal panorama photos simply by moving the camera in the direction of the on-screen guides. Multiple shots are then combined into a single panorama photo. The angle of view can be selected from 180° (normal) and 360° (wide).
Easy Panorama - 180° |
Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Nikon Coolpix P950 camera, which were all taken using the 16 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
1/160s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
35mm
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1/60s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/50s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/80s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/60s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/60s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
33mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
33mm
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1/50s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
28mm
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1/40s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/60s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
75mm
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1/80s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/15s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
47mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/60s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
80mm
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1/125s · f/5.6 · ISO 180
320mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 110
24mm
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1/50s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
55mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
24mm
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1/100s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
60mm
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1/80s · f/4 · ISO 100
115mm
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1/50s · f/4 · ISO 100
43mm
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1/60s · f/4.5 · ISO 100
170mm
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1/60s · f/4 · ISO 100
115mm
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1/80s · f/6.5 · ISO 800
2000mm
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1/30s · f/6.3 · ISO 200
43mm
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1/100s · f/6.3 · ISO 400
220mm
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1/125s · f/6.3 · ISO 400
350mm
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1/30s · f/6.3 · ISO 220
70mm
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1/13s · f/6.3 · ISO 800
150mm
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1/30s · f/6.3 · ISO 100
70mm
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1/125s · f/6.3 · ISO 250
380mm
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1/320s · f/6.5 · ISO 400
2000mm
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1/80s · f/4 · ISO 100
47mm
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1/160s · f/4 · ISO 100
125mm
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1/250s · f/5 · ISO 320
450mm
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1/250s · f/5 · ISO 360
450mm
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1/125s · f/5 · ISO 250
380mm
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1/400s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
43mm
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1/50s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/200s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/200s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/200s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
650mm
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1/200s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/60s · f/4 · ISO 110
85mm
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Sample RAW Images
The Nikon Coolpix P950 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Nikon RAW (NRW) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).
1/160s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
35mm
Download original
1/60s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
33mm
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1/80s · f/4 · ISO 100
115mm
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1/60s · f/4.5 · ISO 100
170mm
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1/80s · f/6.5 · ISO 800
2000mm
Download original
1/100s · f/6.3 · ISO 400
220mm
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1/13s · f/6.3 · ISO 800
150mm
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1/320s · f/6.5 · ISO 400
2000mm
Download original
1/250s · f/5 · ISO 360
450mm
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1/400s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
43mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/200s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
24mm
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1/200s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
650mm
Download original
1/60s · f/4 · ISO 110
85mm
Download original
Sample Movies & Video
This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 20 second movie is 157Mb in size.
This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1280 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 20 second movie is 85.7Mb in size.
This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1920x1280 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 19 second movie is 42.5Mb in size.
This is a sample fast-motion movie at the quality setting of 1920x1280 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 5 second movie is 13.1Mb in size.
This is a sample slow-motion movie at the quality setting of 640x480 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 123 second movie is 53.6Mb in size.
Product Images
Conclusion
From the outside, the number of upgrades that have been made to the Nikon Coolpix P950, when compared to its predecessor, the P900, seem relatively few. However, at least two of those upgrades are important - the ability to shoot in raw format and the addition of 4K video recording. The former is particularly important for enthusiast photographers, and was one of the most disappointing omissions from the P900.
4K may be less important to you if you’re not often shooting videos, but it’s good to have it available for travel/holiday clips and family videos.
Another improvement comes in the shape of a boost to viewfinder resolution. This makes the viewfinder much more pleasant to use, and will again be welcomed by enthusiasts.
It’s a shame not to see some other improvements made elsewhere though. The screen, although ever-so-slightly larger than its predecessor, remains not touch-sensitive. An odd decision in 2015, and a baffling one in 2020. We’d also like to see some better fast shooting options, to help put the Nikon P950 in the same league as other bridge cameras on the market, such as the Sony RX10 series and the Panasonic FZ2000.
At the time of writing, the Nikon Coolpix P950 retails for around £799, making it a fairly hefty investment. Its predecessor can still be picked up for almost half the price, at £449. It’s worth considering whether you actually need the newer model, especially considering that both the lens and the sensor remain the same. If you can live without raw format shooting, and 4K video shooting, then you can safe yourself a good chunk of change by going for the older model.
It’s also worth considering whether you might want to add just a little bit to the budget and go for the P1000, which at the time of writing is just £100 more than the P950. For your extra money, you get an even longer zoom (albeit a more unwieldy one), so if zoom is the most important factor it’s worth considering.
If zoom is not the most important thing, and you’re happy to go for something with a little bit less power in this area, then we’d recommend the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000, which has a larger one-inch sensor coupled with a 20x optical zoom lens. At the time of writing, it can be picked up for around £100 cheaper than the Nikon P950.
Overall, it’s interesting to see Nikon still investing in this area of the market. It shows that there’s still some interest in bridge cameras, perhaps particularly for travel photographers and wildlife enthusiasts who don’t have the means, or the space, for the equivalent lenses you’d need for either a mirrorless or DSLR system.
Ratings (out of 5) | |
---|---|
Design | 4 |
Features | 4 |
Ease-of-use | 4 |
Image quality | 4 |
Value for money | 3.5 |
Main Rivals
Listed below are some of the rivals of the Nikon Coolpix P950.
Canon PowerShot SX70 HS
The new Canon PowerShot SX70 HS super-zoom camera features a 65x zoom lens with a massive focal range of 21-1365mm, a new 20 megapixel image sensor, Digic 8 processor, 4K video recording, 10fps burst shooting, 3 inch vari-angle LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, full manual controls, RAW format support, and built-in wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Read our Canon SX70 HS review now to discover if this is the ultimate all-rounder camera...
Kodak PixPro AZ901
The Kodak PixPro AZ901 superzoom camera has a jaw-dropping 90x optical zoom lens, which offers a maximum telephoto length of 1980mm - try doing that with your smartphone! Other stand-out features include 5fps burst shooting, an articulating LCD screen, RAW file support and wi-fi connectivity. Find out if the Kodak PixPro AZ901 can live up to its far-reaching potential by reading our in-depth review...
Nikon Coolpix P900
The Nikon Coolpix P900 is a new super-zoom bridge camera with an astonishing 83x zoom lens, providing a focal range of 24-2000mm! The Nikon P900 also has a back illuminated 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3-inch 921K-dot vari-angle LCD screen, full 1080p high-definition movies with stereo sound, built-in GPS, Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, an electronic viewfinder and 7fps burst shooting. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix P900 review now...
Nikon P1000
The Nikon Coolpix P1000 is a new super-zoom bridge camera with an astonishing 125x zoom lens, providing an effective focal range of 24-3000mm! The Nikon P1000 also has a back illuminated 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3.2-inch vari-angle LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, 4K Ultra HD movie recording, and RAW file support. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix P1000 review now...
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ2000 is a flagship super-zoom compact camera, offering a large 1-inch image sensor with 20 megapixels, 4K video recording, and a 20x zoom lens with a 26-480mm focal range. Priced at £1099.99 / $1199.99, read our expert Panasonic FZ2000 review to find out if this is the ultimate do-it-all camera...
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330
The Lumix DMC-FZ330 (also known as the FZ300) is Panasonic's latest super-zoom compact camera. Stand-out features of the weather-proof FZ330 include a 24x zoom lens with a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the 25-600mm range, 5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S + system, 4K movie recording, high-resolution LCD touchscreen and EVF, fast auto-focusing, 12fps burst shooting, RAW file support and a 12 megapixel MOS image sensor. Read our expert Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ330 review now...
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX350
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX350 is a new super-zoom bridge compact camera. A 50x, 24-1200mm lens, 20.4 megapixel CMOS sensor, BIONZ X processor, 1920x1080 50p Full HD video with stereo sound, high-resolution tilting 3-inch screen, manual shooting mode, 10fps continuous shooting, and a full range of creative shooting modes are all offered by the HX350. Read our expert Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX350 review to find out if it's the right bridge camera for you...
Sony RX10 III
The Sony RX10 III is a new premium super-zoom camera featuring a 28-600mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8-4, a 20.1 megapixel 1.0-type CMOS sensor, 4K video recording, wi-fi and NFC connectivity, support for the Raw format and full manual controls. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III review now...
Review Roundup
Reviews of the Nikon Coolpix P950 from around the web.
digitalcameraworld.com »
The Nikon Coolpix P950 excels for its colossal zoom range and lens quality, but its image quality is disappointing in 2020. Only if you absolutely must have this much zoom reach is it worth considering, and even then the price is tough to justify.
Read the full review »
Specifications
Type |
Compact digital camera |
---|---|
Effective pixels |
16.0 million (Image processing may reduce the number of effective pixels.) |
Image sensor |
1/2.3-in.type, CMOS, Total pixels: approx. 16.79 million |
Lens |
NIKKOR lens with 83x optical zoom |
Focal length |
4.3 to 357 mm (angle of view equivalent to that of 24 to 2000 mm lens in 35 mm [135] format) |
F-number |
f/2.8 to 6.5 |
Lens construction |
16 elements in 12 groups (5 ED lens elements and 1 super ED lens element) |
Magnification |
Up to 4x (angle of view equivalent to that of approx. 8000 mm lens in 35 mm [135] format); Up to 3.6x when recording movies with [2160/30p] (4K UHD) or [2160/25p] (4K UHD) |
Vibration reduction |
Lens shift (still images), combination of lens shift and electronic VR (movies) |
Autofocus |
Contrast-detect AF |
Focus range |
[W]: Approx.50 cm (1 ft 8 in.) to infinity, [T]: Approx.5.0 m (16 ft 5 in.) to infinity, Macro close-up: [W]: Approx.1 cm (0.4 in.) to infinity, [T]: Approx.5.0 m (16 ft 5 in.) to infinity (All distances measured from center of front surface of lens) |
AF-area mode |
Target finding AF, face priority, manual (spot), manual (normal), manual (wide), subject tracking, center (spot), center (normal), center (wide) |
Viewfinder |
Electronic viewfinder, 1 cm (0.39-in.), approx. 2359k-dot OLED with the diopter adjustment function (-3 to +3 m-¹) |
Frame coverage |
Shooting mode: approx. 99% horizontal and vertical (compared to actual picture); Playback mode: approx. 100% horizontal and vertical (compared to actual picture) |
Monitor |
8.1cm (3.2-in.); Approx. 921k-dot, (RGB), wide viewing angle TFT LCD with anti-reflection coating and 5-level brightness adjustment, vari-angle TFT LCD |
Storage media |
SD, SDHC, SDXC |
File system |
DCF and Exif 2.31 compliant |
Storage file formats |
Still images: JPEG, RAW (NRW) (Nikon’s own format); Movies: MP4 (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Audio: AAC stereo) |
Image size (pixels) |
16 M [4608x3456], 8 M [3264x2448], 4 M [2272x1704], 2 M [1600x1200], 16:9 12 M [4608x2592], 3:2 14 M [4608x3072], 1:1 12 M [3456x3456] |
Movie - frame size (pixels) and frame rate |
2160/30p (4K UHD), 2160/25p (4K UHD), 1080/30p, 1080/25p, 1080/60p, 1080/50p, 720/30p, 720/25p, 720/60p, 720/50p, HS 480/4x, HS 720/2x, HS 1080/0.5x |
ISO sensitivity |
ISO100 to 1600, [100-400], [100-800], [100-1600] (default setting), [100-3200], [100-6400], [100], [200], [400], [800], [1600], [3200], and [6400] are available when using P, S, A, M, U, or Movie manual mode |
Exposure metering |
Matrix, center-weighted, spot |
Exposure control |
Programmed auto exposure with flexible program, shutter-priority auto, aperture-priority auto, manual, exposure bracketing, exposure compensation (–2.0 to +2.0 EV in steps of 1/3 EV) |
Shutter type |
Mechanical and CMOS electronic shutter |
Shutter speed |
1/2000 to 1s; In P, A mode, 1/2000 to 2 s (at ISO sensitivity [100-1600]) or 1/2000 to 30 s (when ISO sensitivity is fixed at [100]); In S, M mode, 1/4000 (at wide-angle position, with largest f-number setting (smallest aperture)) to 30 s (can be set at ISO sensitivity 3200 or lower); Bulb and Time setting (can be set when ISO sensitivity is 1600 or lower in M mode): Up to 60 seconds. When recording movies, 1/8000 to 1/30 s (at Frame rate [30 fps (30p/60p)]) or 1/8000 to 1/25 s (at Frame rate [25 fps (25p/50p)]) |
Flash sync speed |
Synchronizes with all shutter speeds |
Aperture |
Electronically-controlled 6-blade iris diaphragm |
Aperture range |
10 steps of 1/3 EV (W) (A, M mode) |
Flash range (approx.) |
[W]: 0.5 to 11.5 m (1 ft 8 in. to 37 ft), [T]: 5.0 to 7.0 m (16 ft 5 in. to 22 ft) (ISO sensitivity: [100-1600]) |
Flash control |
TTL auto flash with monitor preflashes |
Exposure compensation |
In steps of 1/3 EV in the range between –2 and +2 EV |
Accessory shoe |
ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock |
USB |
Micro-USB connector (Do not use any USB cable other than the included UC-E21 USB Cable.), Hi-Speed USB |
HDMI output |
HDMI micro connector (Type D) |
External microphone connector |
Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter; plug-in power supported) |
Accessory terminal(s) |
Compatible with the following accessories (available separately): MC-DC2 Remote Cord, WR-R10/WR-1 Wireless Remote Controller |
Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) standards |
IEEE 802.11b/g (standard wireless LAN protocol) |
Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) operating frequency |
2412 to 2462 MHz (1 to 11 channels) |
Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) maximum output power |
9.2 dBm (EIRP) |
Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN) security |
Open system, WPA2-PSK |
Bluetooth standards |
Bluetooth Specification Version 4.1; Operating frequency: Bluetooth: 2402 to 2480 MHz, Bluetooth Low Energy: 2402 to 2480 MHz; Maximum output power: Bluetooth: 7.2 dBm (EIRP) Bluetooth Low Energy: 7.2 dBm (EIRP) |
Power sources |
One EN-EL20a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery (included) EH-5d AC Adapter; requires EP-5C Power Connector (available separately) |
Charging time |
Approx. 3 h (when using EH-73P/EH-73PCH Charging AC Adapter and when no charge remains) |
Battery life |
Approx. 290 shots when using EN-EL20a4 |
Actual battery life for movie recording |
|
Tripod socket |
1/4 (ISO 1222) |
Dimensions (W x H x D) |
Approx. 140.2 x 109.6 x 149.8 mm (5.6 x 4.4 x 5.9 in.) (excluding projections) |
Weight |
Approx. 1005 g (2 lb 3.5 oz) (including battery and memory card) |
Operating environment - temperature |
0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
Operating environment - humidity |
85% or less (no condensation) |
Supplied accessories |
Strap, LC-67 Lens Cap, EN-EL20a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, EH-73P Charging AC Adapter (A plug adapter is attached depending on the country or region of purchase. The shape of the plug adapter varies with the country or region of purchase), UC-E21 USB Cable, HN-CP20 Lens Hood |
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¹ Magnification of Dynamic Fine Zoom is calculated from the combined total of optical and electronic zooms at the maximum wide-angle position.
² By selecting a Scene Mode from Cityscape (default), Landscape, Sunset, Night Sky, or Star Trails, the most appropriate shooting interval is automatically set.
³ Based on CIPA standards.
⁴ Battery life does not reflect the use of SnapBridge and may vary with the conditions of use, including temperature, the interval between shots, and the length of time that menus and images are displayed.
⁵ Individual movie files cannot exceed 29 minutes in length, even when there is sufficient free space on the memory card for longer recording. The maximum size of a single movie file is 4 GB. If a file exceeds 4 GB even when you record for less than 29 minutes, it is split into multiple files and cannot be played back continuously. Recording may end before the maximum recording time is reached if the camera temperature becomes elevated.
News
With an unbelievable 83x optical zoom NIKKOR lens, the 16-megapixel Coolpix P950 is a powerful new addition to Nikon’s superzoom bridge camera lineup, which delivers unprecedented image quality from extreme distances.
With 5.5 stops of VR image stabilization, 166x Dynamic Fine Zoom, Target Finding AF capabilities and 7 fps continuous, the Nikon P950 enables stargazers and birdwatchers to capture high-quality photos or 4K UHD videos at extreme distances with ease.
The new Nikon P950 also adds RAW (NRW) photo recording, an enhanced high-resolution EVF and Nikon Snapbridge to seamlessly share images or remotely control the camera.
The Nikon Coolpix 950 will be available from early spring 2020 priced at £799 / $799.95.
Nikon UK Press Release
REACH FURTHER WITH THE NEW COOLPIX P950 SUPERZOOM
London, United Kingdom, 7th January 2020: Nikon adds to its impressive line-up of bridge cameras with the COOLPIX P950, which boasts an impressive 83x optical zoom. This robust superzoom camera updates the COOLPIX P900 with a range of sought-after features that make it exceptionally easy to capture distant subjects in extraordinary detail – in stunning close-up images and strikingly sharp 4K movies.
With its extensive reach, the COOLPIX P950 is the ideal companion camera for photographers who want to photograph birds or wildlife, or for keen aircraft spotters. The 83x optical zoom offers a focal length range of 24–2000 mm1, while the 166x Dynamic Fine Zoom digitally extends the upper limit to an incredible 4000 mm2.
Wildlife or bird photographers shooting at first light or at dusk get great results thanks to the bright NIKKOR lens with wide f/2.8 maximum aperture. Image quality is sharp, even when shooting at high zoom. Video shooters can record breath taking 4K movie footage of elusive subjects and users can adjust key exposure settings while filming, which is ideal in changing light. The COOLPIX P950 also supports RAW (NRW) image capture so users can make the most of advanced processing/editing programs. And a full-size hot shoe enables use of Nikon accessories like mics or scopes.
Gabriela Januario, Commercial Planning Manager at Nikon UK, comments: “The COOLPIX P950 is a feature-packed update to the COOLPIX P900, which changed the market for superzoom cameras with its 83x optical zoom. This new camera keeps the impressive zoom range of its predecessor and adds many of the features people have been asking for, including: 4K movies, an improved eVF, RAW support, and a hot shoe for accessories. It’s a great addition to the Nikon family of superzoom cameras: people can choose between an 83x optical zoom and the extraordinary 125x optical zoom of the COOLPIX P1000 depending on their passions.”
Key Features
Incredible Zoom. 83x optical zoom (24–2000 mm) and 166x Dynamic Fine Zoom (4000 mm).1,2
Bright NIKKOR lens. With f/2.8 maximum aperture and Super ED glass to help reduce distortion at high zoom.
Standout Shots. 16 MP backlit CMOS sensor, fast EXPEED image processor, and Dual Detect Optical Vibration Reduction.
RAW Support. Save and export uncompressed RAW (NRW) images to processing/editing programs.
4K movies. Easily record stereo 4K/UHD 30p footage, or Full HD (1080p) video at frame rates of up to 60p. Record in stereo sound and manually adjust key exposure settings while filming.
In-Camera Time-Lapse. Record time-lapse movies of approx. 10 seconds duration, which play back at 25 fps or 30 fps.
Vari-angle LCD monitor. Bright and larger 8.1 cm (3.2 in) 921k-dot LCD monitor can be tilted and twisted in almost any direction.
Clear Electronic Viewfinder. Twice as large 1 cm (0.39 in) 2360k-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with eye-sensor.
Smooth & Functional Control. The large grip, side dial for auto focus, side zoom control, and snap-back zoom button ensure steady handling.
SnapBridge. Sync photos to your smart device or use the smart device to shoot remotely, even for RAW files.
Full-size Hot Shoe. Mount Nikon accessories like Speedlights and mics. Or try Nikon’s DF-M1 Dot Sight, a foldable scope that helps track even fast-flying birds.
Connectivity. Connect using Wifi, USB and Bluetooth.
SnapBridge Compatibility
Nikon’s SnapBridge app for iOS and Android must be installed on a compatible smart device before SnapBridge can be used with this camera.
1 35mm equivalent.
2 Magnification of Dynamic Fine Zoom is calculated from the maximum wide-angle position of the optical zoom.
Pricing and Availability
The Nikon COOLPIX 950 will be available nationwide from early spring 2020 at an RRP of £799.
Nikon USA Press Release
COOLPIX P950: 2,000mm Zoom Power, 4K UHD Video & More
With an unbelievable 83x optical zoom NIKKOR lens, the 16-megapixel COOLPIX P950 is a powerful new addition to Nikon’s superzoom bridge camera lineup, which delivers unprecedented image quality from extreme distances. Beyond the staggering 24-2000mm lens, the COOLPIX P950 packs an advanced feature-set complete with Nikon’s renowned NIKKOR optics and advanced stabilization technology with 5.5 stops of VR image stabilization, allowing stargazers and birdwatchers to capture high-quality photos or 4K UHD videos at extreme distances with ease. Plus, by using the COOLPIX P950’s 166x** Dynamic Fine Zoom for far-away subjects and Macro Shooting capabilities to get as close as 0.4 inches, adventure-seekers can bring the unimaginable closer than ever.
Users can rely on the P950 to photograph life’s most unique subjects with incredible accuracy and focus thanks to its Target Finding AF capabilities, 7 fps continuous shooting and ISO sensitivity up to 6400. A great option for photographers of all skill levels, the COOLPIX P950 features user-friendly controls alongside an intuitive menu system and a 2359k-dot EVF, making it easier to review and capture one-of-a-kind shots. Using dedicated Bird-Watching and Moon Modes, photographers can effortlessly snap photos of their world and beyond. The new P950 also adds RAW (NRW) photo recording, an enhanced high-resolution electronic viewfinder and Nikon SnapBridge2,3,4 to seamlessly share images or remotely control the camera.
The COOLPIX P950 is also equipped with an accessory shoe to enable compatibility with a variety of useful accessories, including the optional DF-M1 Dot Sight, which helps users locate subjects and compose shots from far-away distances.
The COOLPIX P950 will be available in February for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $799.95.
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