Nikon P900 Review

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Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Nikon Coolpix P900
Resolution:	16.10 Megapixels
Sensor size:	1/2.3 inch (6.2mm x 4.6mm)
Lens:	83.00x zoom (24-2,000mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	EVF / LCD
Native ISO:	100 - 6400
Extended ISO:	100 - 12,800
Shutter:	1/4000 - 15 sec
Max Aperture:	2.8
Dimensions:	5.5 x 4.1 x 5.4 in. (140 x 103 x 137 mm)
Weight:	32.3 oz (916 g) includes batteries
Availability:	04/2015
Manufacturer:	Nikon
Full specs:	Nikon P900 specifications

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Nikon P900

P900 Deals

16.10 Megapixels	83.00x zoom	1/2.3 inch size sensor

P900 Summary

With unprecedented optical zoom range for a fixed lens camera, extending all the way to a 2000mm eq. optical reach, and with an approachable price tag of $600, the Nikon P900 is a great value for anyone needing extensive zoom range in an all-in-one package.

Pros

Farthest zoom reach for a fixed lens camera (2000mm eq.); Good image quality for its class; Good vibration reduction; Fast aperture at wide angle (f/2.8); Excellent value for the price.

Cons

No RAW file recording; Limited capabilities in low light, including struggling with autofocus; Lens not as sharp at full tele end; No hot shoe.

Price and availability

The Nikon P900 became available in April 2015 for a suggested retail price of $600. Demand has thus far exceeded expectations and the model is currently on backorder at most retail sites.

Imaging Resource rating

4.5 out of 5.0

Nikon P900 Review

by William Brawley, Dave Pardue and Jeremy Gray
Overview originally posted 03/01/2015

UPDATES:
06/08/2015: Field Test
08/14/2015: Test results posted. See: Optics, Exposure, and Performance tabs.
08/17/2015: Review Conclusion added

Oh, a 30x travel zoom? That's cute. A 50x superzoom? Hmm, quaint. A DSLR with an 800mm lens? A 1200mm lens? How's your back? All of these zoom cameras and telephoto lenses pale in comparison to Nikon's latest creation, as they take the all-in-one superzoom category to the next level, following closely on the heels of the previously announced P610 60x zoom camera, with the introduction of the Nikon Coolpix P900.

Indeed, the Nikon P900 goes way beyond the standard 50-65x superzoom category with a new, massive 83x optical zoom lens. Yes, optical. This means a lens that reaches as far as 2000mm(!) in 35mm-equivalence. And if for some reason 2000mm just doesn't cut it, the P900 offers a total maximum equivalent of a whopping 8000mm when you factor in full 4x digital zoom (or 4000mm equivalence with Nikon's 2x Dynamic Fine Zoom)!

In all seriousness, though, having a powerful and versatile zoom capability on your camera -- especially telephoto reach -- is an attractive feature for many people. Long telephoto lenses and powerful zoom cameras allow you to capture a variety of subjects, such as wildlife and sports, that could otherwise be very difficult or even potentially dangerous if you had to get physically closer with a shorter lens. High-powered superzoom cameras -- those with optical zoom lenses around in the 40-60x magnification have maintained a steady popularity in the marketplace with those looking for an all-in-one camera solution with a extremely versatile lens, and the new P900 is the next evolution in this popular, versatile camera category.

With a lens this powerful, reaching to never-before-seen magnifications in a compact, fixed-lens digital camera, it's not surprising that the Nikon P900 is far from a svelte, pocketable camera. The lens is absolutely massive -- especially when zoomed in to 83x -- however, the camera still felt very comfortable to hold and relatively lightweight, which the specifications indicate to be just shy of two pounds (or around 899g) with battery and memory card included. (We weighed it at 916g in the lab.)

Not only does the lens provide an enormous amount of zoom range, it's also quite bright at wide angle. With a 24mm-equivalent focal length at the widest, its aperture is a bright f/2.8, which is a nice step up from the f/3.3 aperture offered at the P610's widest, 24mm-equivalent focal length. As you zoom, though, the maximum aperture of the P900's lens falls to rather dim f/6.5, which isn't unexpected for such a long zoom lens in a relatively compact design. The lens configuration makes use of aspherical and ED elements, including a single Super ED element, which help reduce chromatic aberrations and other optical abnormalities.

As lenses get longer and longer, having of some form of image stabilization becomes more and more crucial. Keeping shots blur-free or even just maintaining a view on your subject at full telephoto -- especially at 83x in this case -- can be difficult without stabilization. Thankfully, Nikon has introduced an impressive, all-new VR system for the P900. The new Dual Detect Optical VR system, which utilizes accelerometers in the lens as well as analyzing image motion on the sensor, provides a claimed five stops* of stabilization -- the highest level vibration reduction ever included in a Nikon Coolpix camera. (*Rated at an approximate 350mm-equivalent focal length according to CIPA standards.)

Behind the powerful lens, the P900 sports a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch type CMOS sensor. Standard ISO range starts at a base sensitivity of 100 and rises to a maximum of 1600 in scene or other automatic shooting modes. The P900 does include full PASM exposure modes for more advanced shooting, and within those modes, ISO range is increased to 3200 and 6400. There is also a special boosted Hi 1 setting for ISO 12,800, however this is reserved solely for a High ISO Monochromatic special effects mode.

Like its less expensive sibling, the P610, the new P900 is able to fire off a burst of seven still images at up to seven frames per second at full resolution. According to Nikon, shooting lag for single-shot performance is approximately 0.12 seconds at the wide-end and 0.75s at full telephoto, and we measured even faster in our lab test results. As with Nikon's other superzoom cameras, they keep things simple on the P900 with only JPEG image recording; no RAW support, unfortunately.

For video, the Nikon P900 offers a standard, modern set of features including Full HD recording (1920 x 1080) at 60 frames per seconds, as well as 30fps (or 50p and 25p in PAL mode). 720p resolution is also available at 60p/30p (50p/25p) as is a neat slow-motion video mode that captures at up 120 frames per second at VGA (640 x 480) resolution. Videos are recorded using the H.264 standard in an MPEG-4 container with stereo audio.

As with many of the Nikon's recent cameras, the new P900 includes both Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity for use with Nikon's Snapbridge smartphone companion app. The Nikon P900 allows for wireless transfer of images for quick and easy sharing or mobile post-processing, however the Snapbridge app can also be used as a wireless remote control for even more creative possibilities. (Nikon's optional ML-L3 infrared remote is also supported.) The Coolpix P900 also includes a built-in GPS receiver to geo-tag your photos during your travels.

See our Nikon P900 Walkaround page for a closer look at the design and physical features of the new Nikon P900.

The Nikon P900 began shipping from April 2015 for a suggested retail price of US$599.95 and comes in black.

Nikon P900 Field Test

Great value and versatility trump a few obvious limitations

by Jeremy Gray | 06/08/2015

The Nikon Coolpix P900 has a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor and a 24-2000mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8-6.5 lens. As of this writing, the P900's MSRP is $600 USD. Considering the 83x optical zoom and its numerous features, the P900 proposes to be an excellent value.

Body and Handling. The Nikon P900 is a moderately large bridge camera, especially when the lens is fully extended. Weighing in at just under 900 grams with the battery inserted, the P900 is not lightweight either. However, it balances well and has a deep grip. When using the camera, it doesn't feel large or heavy. On the back of the camera is a 3” fully-articulating LCD with 921,000 dots. The display moves smoothly throughout its articulation range and the mechanism feels sturdy. The display itself is sharp, although it is difficult to use in bright light. Unfortunately the display isn't a touch screen, which might have allowed for quick access to more controls that don't have dedicated buttons, such as ISO and white balance adjustments.

Read our Nikon P900 Field Test

Nikon P900 Print Quality

How does it look on paper?

by Dave Pardue | 08/14/2015

The Nikon P900 delivers print sizes that you'd expect from a 16-megapixel 1/2.3" sensor size. At the lowest two ISO settings you can look forward to up to 13 x 19 inch prints, which is the largest size most anyone generally needs from a consumer-oriented camera, and the P900 can even deliver a good 4 x 6 inch print at ISO 3200. For anyone who routinely makes 8 x 10 inch prints, it would be advisable to limit your sensitivity setting to ISO 800 and below. Obviously for smaller prints and most online usage it's OK to let it go a stop or two higher, up to ISO 3200 if needed.

Nikon P900 Print Quality Analysis

Nikon P900 Conclusion

A big zoom at a great value

by Dave Pardue | 08/17/2015

When the Nikon P600 was unveiled in early 2014, it sported the farthest-reaching available zoom length at that time for a fixed lens camera at 1440mm (in 35mm terms). It also ended up taking top honors in our Best Superzoom of 2014 competition. So when Nikon announced the P900 in early 2015, promising a whopping 2000mm-equivalent optical zoom reach at the tele end and listing for a mere $100 more than the P600, we knew a good portion of our enthusiast readers would be eager to find out if this model would live up to its promise.

The short answer to that question is an emphatic and wholehearted YES! Given what this camera offers for the $600 price tag, we consider it to be a terrific value, offering a feature set that no other camera can currently match while at a price that's quite frankly causing the production lines to virtually buckle

Read our Nikon P900 Conclusion

In the Box

The Nikon P900 retail box includes:

Nikon Coolpix P900 digital camera
EN-EL23 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
EH-71P charging AC adapter
EC-E21 USB cable
AN-CP21 camera strap
LC-67 lens cap
Warranty card

Recommended Accessories

Extra EN-EL23 battery pack for extended outings
Large capacity SDHC/SDXC memory card. These days, 16GB is a good tradeoff between cost and capacity. Speed Class 6 or higher is recommended for movies.
Camera case

Comparison Shopping?

While the Nikon P900 is the undisputed king of superzooms in terms of zoom ratio at the time of writing, you're probably wondering what other manufacturers have to offer in the category. Below are some links you can use to compare the P900 to a few other superzooms including its smaller sibling, the Nikon P610. Clicking on any of them will take you to our Compare Cameras tool, where you can see features, specs, pros and cons listed for virtually any pair of cameras you'd like to compare.