The Nikon Coolpix P900 is a delightful camera to use. It excels in the defining feature for this class of camera — optical zoom — not just by boasting the biggest spec, but also by offering the crisp optics and superior image stabilization that are required to make the feature useful. Image quality, and especially colors and textures, is quite high, and holds steady up to even the highest-resolution displays. (None of these tiny-sensor cameras will work for gallery prints.)
If you want RAW image support and the ability to capture video beyond home movie grade — go for the Canon SX60 HS, which has the added benefit of costing less. But for the ultimate in optical-zoom cameras, the P900 is unrivaled.
The Nikon Coolpix P900 boasts the longest zoom range of any camera on the market, but a lack of detail at higher ISOs holds it back.
Nikon P900 Specs
| Pixels | Actual: 16.76 Megapixel Effective: 16 Megapixel |
| Maximum Resolution | 4608 x 3456 |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.3″ |
| Image File Format | JPEG |
| Image Stabilization | Optical |
| Focal Length | 4.3 to 357mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 24 to 2000mm) |
| Optical Zoom | 83x |
| Digital Zoom | 4x Maximum (332x Combined Zoom) 2x Optimized (166x Combined Zoom) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 to 6.5 |
| Focus Range | 1.64′ to Infinity / 50 cm to Infinity (Wide) 16.4′ to Infinity / 5 m to Infinity (Telephoto) Macro 0.39″ to / 1 cm to (Wide) |
| Optical Design | 16 Elements in 12 Groups |
| Filter Size | 67 mm |
| ISO Sensitivity | 100 to 6400 (Extended: 100 to 12800) |
| Shutter Speed | Electronic Front Curtain Shutter 1/4000 to 15 Seconds in Manual Mode |
| Metering Method | Center-Weighted Average, Matrix, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Aperture Priority, Auto, Manual, Shutter Priority |
| Exposure Compensation | -2 to +2 EV (1/3 EV Steps) |
| White Balance | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Preset Manual |
| Continuous Shooting | Up to 7 fps at 16 MP for up to 7 Exposures |
| Interval Recording | Yes |
| Self-Timer | 2/10-Second Delay |
| Special Options | Beach, Fireworks, Handheld Night, Landscape, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Panorama, Party/Indoor, Portrait, Snow, Sports, Sunset |
| Recording Modes | MOV/H.264/MPEG-4 Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 12.5p/15p HD (1280 x 720) at 25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p SD (640 x 480) at 25p/29.97p/100p/119.88p |
| Video Encoding | NTSC/PAL |
| Audio Recording | Built-In Microphone (Stereo) |
| Audio File Format | Linear PCM (Stereo) |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder Resolution | 921,000 Dot |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% |
| Diopter Adjustment | -3 to +1 |
| Monitor Size | 3″ |
| Monitor Resolution | 921,000 Dot |
| Monitor Type | Articulating LCD |
| Built-In Flash | Yes |
| Flash Modes | TTL Auto |
| Effective Flash Range | ISO Auto 1.6 to 37.7′ / 0.5 to 11.5 m (Wide) 16.4 to 23.0′ / 5 to 7 m (Telephoto) |
| External Flash Connection | None |
| Memory Card Slot | 1 x SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Connectivity | HDMI D (Micro), USB 2.0 |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi |
| GPS | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | 32 to 104°F / 0 to 40°C |
| Battery | 1 x EN-EL23 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 3.8 VDC, 1850 mAh (Approx. 360 Shots) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 5.5 x 4.1 x 5.4″ / 139.5 x 103.2 x 137.4 mm |
| Weight | 31.71 oz / 899 g |
| Package Weight | 3.6 lb |
| Box Dimensions (LxWxH) | 10.2 x 7.6 x 6.3″ |