NIkon COOLPIX P950 Superzoom Digital Camera | 83x Optical Zoom with Image Stabilization 16 MP 4K Ultra HD Video Wi-Fi Connectivity RAW Format and Rotating LCD Screen (Black)

Photography is a hobby to me. I have had a few cameras over the years, and still do. I have different uses for each of them. I use the Nikon P950 for nature and, in particular, taking pictures of a nearby eagles' nest activity over the past 5 years. I purchased the P950 to get close up shots that are uncropped. These pictures are right out of the camera. two of the pictures give you an idea how far away I was. All shots are hand held, shutter priority at 1/000. Shooting towards the sky sometimes requires using exposure compensation to prevent the bird being too dark (.3 or .7, or 1 easy to do.). Great image stabilization at full zoom hand held. It is my go to camera for nature photography. Sure it has a small sensor, but you can't beat it for the price and results. 2000mm Zoom!! You just have to know what you want to use your camera for. You don't need to spend $3000 or $4000 for a larger sensor camera and lens. Even doing that, you still won't get the reach this camera has. I realize in low light it will not perform as good as more expensive cameras, Again, do your research. know what you want your camera to do. Make sure it meets your needs, and price range. This is a super camera. I love it.

Recently finished a photo safari in South Africa and was very pleased with the results of the COOLPIX P950. It provided great zoom pictures of wildlife subjects at a distance. Photos taken in low light were good with minimal editing in the free Nikon NX Studio and it generally handled high speed motion well on standard settings. I was able to compare with other people on the tour using more expensive Nikon mirrorless camera and lens sets and was not disappointed in the outcome, particularly given the ease of use and freedom of motion with the COOLPIX P950. Video capture was also good.

The Nikon P950 is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to zoom—perfect for bird watching, lunar shots, solar photography, and even capturing airplanes mid-flight. The 83x optical zoom feels like magic. I’ve snapped crisp photos of the moon and some stunning birds in motion. That said, the sensor does have its limits. Shots of a falcon from 200 yards looked fuzzy when cropped, so don’t expect DSLR-level sharpness at extreme distances. Still, for the convenience and reach, this camera is a blast to use and incredibly versatile.

I received the camera 2 days after ordering. The 83X optical zoom is great for bird photos where it seems like you just can't get enough zoom. It has a small lens aperture for this much zoom so the trade off is shallow depth of field at high zoom levels. The image stabilization is really amazing with decent photos taken at full optical zoom while being hand held. This isn't a camera for those wanting very high quality photos from a distance but it does what it is meant to do very well for a very reasonable price. It does a really good job with macro images too. I'd say that the worst feature is the auto-focus, it often just won't focus on a bird that I'm zoomed in on. However this issue is made up for this by having an easy access manual focus wheel on the left side of the lens (you have to place another easy to access switch to us this feature). This is a big improvement over it's predecessor the P900. The digital zoom processing seems to have improved too.

Powerfull zoom, excellent camera

I am a complete novice photographer. The bald eagle is about 250 ft away, the Cooper's Hawk about 25 ft and the cat about 12 ft.This is a "bridge" camera - takes a little learning versus a simple point and shoot - but nothing too difficult. I bought it primarily to take bird pictures and the zoom is incredible! I take the photos in .RAW and use Nikon's free software to fix/make into JPEGs. I also considered a P1000 - but it felt too large. Of course, the first time I used it in the field there were several other birders taking pictures with these incredible lens cameras that made my P950 seem quite small - but it is so easy to carry, and great for my needs. It does super well when the day is bright. Sometimes (<5%) I have to go to manual zoom - because it seems to love to focus in on green leaves/needles. I am completely happy with the camera - I understand it's limitations, but for me it is perfect.I gave it 1 star because I ordered a "new" camera on Amazon - when it came it was clearly "used" (first hint was the used sticker on the box) - I tried to exchange for a new camera but that seemed impossible - so I returned it. It took several weeks but I got a refund. Then I went to a nearby camera store and bought a new Nikon CoolPix P950.

I was hesitant to purchase due to the cameras and quality photos taken on my phone but this camera takes outstanding picture. Awesome purchase.