NIKON COOLPIX P950

[chrisj]

I recall some time back , that there was discussion about cameras and people photographing 'Trails' .  I think the Nikon P950 was mentioned as it has a very long telephoto lens .  Has anyone got and use this camera ?  What is it like to use - easy or does one require extra hands ?   What is the quality of photos like ?  What sort of life could be expected from the battery in terms of number of photos ?   
I ask because some years back I used a bridge camera and found it very convenient as no lens changing required .

Thanks .    Chrisj 

[Jeff]

Hi Chris, we bought one a couple of years back, mainly for wifes new found bird spotting hobby. Initially she was using my canon DSLR with a 400mm lense but that was just too heavy. We looked at the P1000 but that is a lot bigger than the 950 as well as being heavier.
Battery life if great but we did buy a couple of after market batteries just in case, very rarely have to use them though. Picture quality is pretty good, zoom is incredible and there are lots of settings to use from full auto to full manual.... Its even has a bird and a moon setting lol..... Downside is airshows or fast moving birds as with all bridge cameras. I will try and find some photos to post..... Please feel free to ask any questions and I will try and answer for you.

[Jeff]

All with the P950

aviationforall.proboards.com/thread/19657/mco-nov-22

[Jeff]

These were also taken on the P950 if you wanted a wildlife perspective

aviationforall.proboards.com/thread/19749/merritt-island-wildlife-refuge

[chrisj]

Thanks Jeff for reply and 'samples' . I used to have a bridge camera and whilst it has some limitations , it is handy when , say , photographing along a static line up and something interesting fly by . Just a quick zoom with no need to try to quickly change lens . Also , I have a Canon now but find their customer services / tech services 'some what wanting ' ! I found an online report for the Nikon and the reporter said the zoom was a bit slow which concerned me . I think the auto focus may also of been a touch slow too . But one must remember that the reporter is probably used to a somewhat much more expensive camera . I shall dig about a bit more and see what comes up . So far I have found offers of new camera two hundred pounds cheaper that many advertise so it does pay to look . Thanks again . Chrisj

[Jeff]

This is where I got mine from

nextdaydeal.co.uk/

[chrisj]

Jeff , that's where I found the best price at £609-99 ! Bit better than the £800+ of some . Chrisj

[Jeff]

I think these are grey imports though, so not 100% sure on warranties etc

[chrisj]

Thank you for 'warning' I shall try to check . Chrisj

[graham]

Another option Chris might be to look for a decent second Canon body on the likes of Ebay or MPB Photographic website. I picked up a very good condition Canon 60D on Ebay for a hundred quid a while ago, low shutter count and barely a mark on it. I now use one body with my 18-125mm lens and the other with my 150-500mm. Those two lenses cover just about every eventually and save the hassle and the chance of dust or grit entering the bodies when changing lenses. I've also bought stuff from MPB and found them extremely pleasant to deal with and very fair on their prices. Each to their own naturally

There's a Canon 7D on Ebay today in VGC with just one bid at £99.

tinyurl.com/yxunyke8

[chrisj]

Yet more Thanks Graham . Considering all options ! Chris

[chrisj]

I have just been in touch with nextdaydeal and they give a two year UK warranty with any faulty Nikon returned to Nikon for repair which sounds good . Part of my requiring to change brands is the 'not user helpful' Canon customer services / tech services . I have several Canon products and even the simplest question can take ages to sort if it ever does . So I thought I might change loyalties . Thanks for your help . Chris

[chrisj]

Well , following my experience at RIAT I decided to take the plunge and went for the Nikon P950 . At RIAT I needed to change lens several times and suffered from dust getting onto the sensor of my Canon . So I thought I would do away with the need to change lens and there by keep dust out . I ordered from Next Day and true to their word it arrived the next day . So I charged the battery and have been 'playing ' since . The manual is down loadable off the good old net as like so many products now , there is not one included . As expected the zoom is fantastic but takes some steadying at max . Also with loads of zoom and autofocus set it is easy to loose the subject and then focus goes out . ( I was trying aircraft at 32000ft overhead ) A button will momentarily reduce the amount of zoom to aid finding the subject . I have not anything going by to try out a combination of zoom and panning a moving subject but I have tried manual focus and zoom to enlarge the subject . This has shown me a problem which is probably my finger trouble . I get the subject to a suitable size and the camera enlarges it in the viewfinder as I press the 'button' ,this makes me wonder if this happens with a moving subject , just what size is the subject in the photograph ? As with most digital cameras there are many functions that probably will never get used or just once as an experiment . So , when (IF) the rain stops I shall get on with more learning . if there are any users out there , could they please suggest settings and techniques for panning with increased focal length ? Chrisj

[Jeff]

Hi Chris,
May sound strange but Ive always used to bird setting for aircraft, you will need to go manual for prop blur and you will struggle with moving object at airshows etc. You really must try the moon setting as well when you get the chance 😊

[graham]

Hi Chris, about two years ago I was fed up lugging my Canon DSLR bodies and lenses about, sold the lot and bought a new Panasonic Lumix, can't recall which model, it had 80x optical zoom but I could never get on with it, one of the major issues being as you describe when panning at, or trying to find a moving object, especially at high altitude. I couldn't "find" the object, if I did it would never stay in focus. I tried every possible combination of settings and it still wouldn't find these high altitude objects or remain focused on them. The Lumix weighed virtually nothing, and having seen Jeff's Nikon, it is a heavy piece of kit and I think that weight gives more stability and control.

I gave up on the Lumix after a few months, flogged it on Ebay and bought myself a good old Canon DSLR again. Happy now...

[chrisj]

Thanks Jeff & Graham for replies . I have seen the part of the manual with various 'built in' programs for Moon and Pets and so on so may try some if we get a good clear night and the dog behaves herself ! The camera is on the heavy side if you have been used to lighter models but I think I prefer the slightly heavy cameras . So far my experiments with aircraft going over at height have largely been successful and I think the next time I might try the sports setting as it gives a short burst ( so manual says ) so should get at least one reasonable shot . I shall try a few more experiments with panning anything that comes along and see how it goes . Thanks . Chris

[Jeff]

Let us know how you get on, re the bird setting, im using that for aircraft mostly, for various reasons

[chrisj]

Jeff , I have not yet tried the Bird setting but will . I have tried Sports yesterday and found that one has to be careful ! The shutter operation is quiet and can be like the gun on an A-10 ! Fires off many at a fair old rate ! I keep the camera at the ready in the hope that some traffic will come along but that is very thin here near Chivenor at the moment but could pick up ( I hope ) . I will keep you posted . Chris

[graham]

Chris, totally unrelated to aviation but seeing as you're near Chivenor, does G T Ales still operate from a unit on the Chivenor Business Park do you know? We found them by accident about four years ago, bought some beers from their shop and really enjoyed them. I'm up to that neck of the woods for work sometime in the next couple of weeks and just wondered if they were still there, given the perilous state of the UK brewing industry. Thanks

[chrisj]

Graham , a simple reply is that I do not know but will try to find out . There is a brew of some sorts but I can not recall the name . As you may recall , the entrance to the site is a narrow road and there used to be loads of home made signs at the entrance . I passed by about a week ago and there was not a sign in sight ! I think may be the council may of had them removed . I am told that the café there is very good but again , I have not used it . Sorry not much help . I live across the river from Chivenor at Yelland so only go over that way now and then . Chris

[chrisj]

Graham , just been on the net and it seems GT Ales is still there . Chris

[graham]

Many thanks Chris, very good of you to look.

[chrisj]

Jeff and anyone else ! Unfortunately the weather has prevented the usual crop of aircraft from coming my way and giving me a chance to try out the 'Bird' mode and other items of the P950 . But I did find a book on the net which may be of help to other users . Where the Nikon manual give details of various modes and settings , this book is more practical and gives examples of the camera's use . It is an American book so references to available items extra to the supplied must be largely ignored but there are some good items . It was found on Amazon ( like most items ) Photographer's Guide to the Nikon Coolpix P950 by Alexander s. White . ISBN 978-1-937986-86-5 paperback and after the 7986 -87-2 for the ebook . It has a good write up , that is why I went for it . Just the thing for these dull wet days - Is it winter yet ? Chrisj

[Jeff]

Thx Chris

[chrisj]

A few days ago we had a Wildcat doing many trips in and out of Chivenor so I had a few goes at panning and so on . I found the 'Bird' mode OK if one had the time to find the subject , focus and press OK before adjusting the zoom . Easier to select 'Sports' mode having first quickly selected a zoom of about three to four hundred mm . Only problem with using auto focus for me is that as the subject is followed passed trees and the like , the focus can go off the subject . Probably not a problem at a show unless something else gets in the way . I had planned to try some landing shots at the coming Popham LAA Grass Roots but an unfortunate health problem has put paid to that . Still , always another day ... ? chrisj