Nikon’s new Coolpix P1000 sports a dedicated moon mode, but with its mighty 125x optical zoom, you might be tempted to target Mars
The Nikon Coolpix P1000 and it's 3000mm equivalent zoom.
Nikon has announced the Coolpix P1000. This 16.79MP bridge camera succeeds the P900, which gave us a lens that could reach a (then) market-leading 2000mm (83x) optical zoom. However, the photography giant has gone a stage further with the P1000 and its whopping 125x optical zoom – now the biggest focal length range on the market!
The P1000 features a vari-angle rear LCD screen and the highest resolution electronic viewfinder in a Nikon Coolpix camera.
The huge 24-3000mm equivalent Nikkor lens starts at f/2.8 and goes up to f/8 at the 3000mmm end, while retaining effective autofocus. The lens itself consists of 17 elements, including five ED (extra low dispersion) and one super ED, which should help to minimise chromatic aberration as well as colour-fringing.
As you’d expect, the extra zoom length does make the body slightly bigger and the camera weighs in at 1,415g. However, although this is heavy for a compact, it’s not at all bad given the huge zoom length available. Just like the P900, the body is similar in styling to a DSLR, with a deep hand grip, multiple external control options and a hotshoe that is compatible with Nikon Speedlights.
If that mighty 125x optical zoom wasn't enough, the P1000 features a 6000mm equivalent 250x Dynamic Fine Zoom.
With the ability to zoom so far into a scene, there is an increased risk of camera shake. However, Nikon has built in a 5-stop vibration reduction for ultra-steady shots. You can now shoot in RAW (unlike the P900), giving you the best dynamic range possible and far more control when editing images in post-production.
You'll also find dedicated bird and moon modes on the mode dial, but Nikon hasn’t stopped there. You can set a maximum zoom via a menu system on the rear LCD and once you’ve hit the OK button, the lens will automatically zoom to the selected focal length. This, paired with an ergonomically placed zoom toggle, should make it easier to acquire and reacquire targets.
If you tend to use images straight from the camera, you can add a little something extra, thanks to built-in colour filters. Images can be transferred to and shared from your smart device via Nikon’s SnapBridge app (iOS and Android), which utilises the P1000’s built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features.
The P1000’s video features include being able to shoot 4K in ultra-high definition at 30fps, while the incredible reach of the lens system should make picking out unseen details a breeze. Both stills and video can be composed with the 2,359k-dot OLED viewfinder and 3.2in, vari-angle rear LCD screen.
About the Author
Amy Moore is Wex Photo Video’s Content Marketing Manager. She enjoys numerous types of photography, especially landscapes and meteorological photography. Check out her instagram here!
