Nikon Coolpix P950
Big test
PRICE: £799
NIKON.CO.UK
SPECS › Price £799
A bridge camera gives shooting convenience in a single-body solution. In the case of this Nikon that includes a truly remarkable optical zoom lens that gives the equivalent of 2000mm in the 35mm format
› In the box 1x Coolpix P950, 1x strap, 1x EN-EL20a, 1x lens hood HN-CP20, 1x lens cap › Sensor 16megapixels, 1/2.3in type CMOS › Sensor format 4608x3456pixels, 16:9, 3:2, 1:1 aspect ratios available › Lens Integral 4.3-357mm f/2.8-6.5motorised 83x zoom (35mm format equivalent range 24-2000mm). 16 elements in 12 groups construction (five ED elements, one super ED). Digital magnification gives 8000mm equivalent in 35mm terms › Minimum focus 50cmat wide end, 5mat telephoto end. Macro close-up: 1cm to infinity at wide end, 5mat telephoto end – distance fromcentre of front lens element › ISO range 100-6400 › Shutter range 30secs to 1/4000sec (actual range depends on exposuremode), B,Tup to 60secs › Exposure system PASM.Matrix, centre-weighted and spot meteringmodes › Exposure compensation +/-2EV in 0.3EVsteps,AEB › Monitor 3.2in, 0.921 million dot vari-angleTFTLCD › Viewfinder EVF, 2359 dot, diopter adjustment › Focusing system Contrast detect › Focus points Target finding AF, face priority,manual (spot, normal, wide), subject tracking, centre (spot, normal, wide) › Image stabilizer Lens shift (stills), electronicVR (movies) › Video 4K 2160 30p/25p, Full HD 30p/25p/50p/60p › Connectivity Micro USB, HDMI type D,microphone in,Wi-Fi, Bluetooth › Other key features Integral auto TTL flash › Storage media 1x SD card
Interchangeable lens cameras are wonderful in so many ways, but most models are bulky and not everyone wants to lug a bagful of lenses around; that’s why we have all-in-one bridge cameras. They have all the features photographers need in one complete package and often that includes a zoom lens with a massive range. The Nikon Coolpix D950’s built-in lens is an 83x 4.3-357mm f/2.8-6.5 which equates to 24-2000mm lens in 35mm terms. An equivalent lens for that format would probably be the size and weight of a grandfather clock and cost a fortune. The lens is a serious selling point but there is much more to look at. The P950 sports a 1/2.3in type CMOS sensor with a 16-megapixel resolution giving images of 4608x3456pixels, the ISO range is 100 to 6400, there’s the option of an electronic viewfinder or an articulating monitor and a fully featured exposure system. And all for £799. While the Coolpix P950 is a bridge camera, it needs putting into context because it’s still a sizable camera, not
far off an APS-C format DSLR, and it dwarfs most Micro Four Thirds cameras. So, if you are harbouring the notion that a bridge camera is a svelte little something to slip into a pocket, then think again. The body is dominated by the motorized zoom lens and there’s plenty of room for the left hand to support the camera. The right handgrip is very much like any Nikon DSLR in terms of design and control layout and it is the centre of operations. However, unlike Nikon’s DSLRs, the P950’s on/off switch is not on a collar around the shutter release but a small dedicated button behind the shutter release. It could be slightly bigger and perhaps more obvious but once pushed, start-up is very fast and the camera is ready to use in double- quick time. Turn the camera on and the zoom lens moves out a few millimetres into position; and there is a function where you can pick which focal length the lens goes to (up to 135mm) when you turn the camera on. As you zoom towards the telephoto settings the
lens physically extends and by the time 2000mm is reached, the lens is about 9cm out from its starting position. Zoom operation can be done with the collar around the shutter button (which takes about four seconds to cover the whole zoom range) or a rocker switch on the side of the lens (takes about six seconds to zoom through the range). The focal length is displayed in the finder and on the monitor and precise control with both methods is good. If you prefer, there’s a zoommemory feature where each flick of the shutter button collar takes you to the next focal length – there are 19 preset focal lengths and you choose which you want active. This works really well and makes accurate focal length selection easy. Or you may set two values and you can quickly go from one to the other. Pushing the snap-back zoom button on the barrel does a similar thing and that has three options – short, medium and long. In its autofocus contrast detect system, there is face detection, subject tracking and target finding settings plus three manual focus zone options.
› Dimensions (wxhxd) 140.2x109.6x149.8mm › Weight 1005g › Contact nikon.co.uk
TOP LEFT There is space on the lens barrel for hand support and the zoom control is well placed while the control to its right can be set to different functions – the default is exposure compensation and that I found perfect LEFT The P950’s top-plate will have a familiar look and feel for existing Nikon users. Control layout is clear and easy to navigate
Issue 75 | Photography News 83
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