• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Photography Life

PL provides various digital photography news, reviews, articles, tips, tutorials and guides to photographers of all levels

  • Reviews
  • News
  • Lenses
    • Lens Index
  • Forum
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Workshops
    • Support Us
    • Submit Content
  • My Account
    • Log In
    • Sign Up
  • Search
Home → Reviews → Cameras and Lenses → Nikon Coolpix P900 Review

Nikon Coolpix P900

By John Sherman 109 Comments
Last Updated On February 11, 2020

« »

Construction and Ergonomics

The build quality seems good. It’s mostly plastic, but there’s nothing obviously flimsy. The only thing I’d worry about is busting off the LCD flip screen if you manhandle it. Ergonomically it felt good, with a nice deep secure grip. I didn’t like the video button right under my thumb as I’m addicted to rear button focus on my DSLRs and I repeatedly accidentally hit record. As well the wi-fi button is close enough to the playback button that I hit it by mistake a lot. The 3” LCD 921K dot monitor works well even when viewed at an angle. The eye sensor that turns off the LCD and turns on the EVF is easy to block. You’ll know because your LCD inexplicably turns off. The EVF is utilitarian, which is a nice way of saying it shows you the scene and a bunch of pertinent data, but is pretty small, of moderate resolution and jumpy when panning.

The P900 is about the same size and weight as a small consumer DSLR such as a D3300 with kit lens. This is not a pocket camera and you’d need a decent size purse to slip it in. Furthermore, pairing it with a light tripod is the best way to get the most out of the P900, especially for landscapes.

Other notes

I tried the Wi-Fi and successfully triggered the camera with my phone. Sometimes it didn’t want to connect.

Here’s the breakdown on maximum apertures: f/2.8 to 30mm, f/3.2 to 55mm, f/3.5 to 85mm, f/4.0 to 150mm, f/4.5 to 300mm, f/5.0 to 650mm, f/5.6 to 1200mm, f/6.3 above 1200mm.

I got 725 shots on a full charge. It’s only rated to 360 shots, but I used the EVF a lot instead of leaving the LCD running. To charge a fully exhausted battery takes 3 hours 40 minutes. Best to carry a spare.

And lastly, what a heck, it only comes in black?

Verm-baloon-P900-3379
COOLPIX P900 @ 214mm, ISO 200, 1/500, f/6.3

Looking Forward

The P900 uses the Expeed C2 processor, which is like 100 years old in computer years. I’d be intrigued to see what it could do with something equivalent to the new EXPEED 5A processor just introduced in the Nikon 1 J5. Would we have pre-shooting cache abilities at full resolution? If so, all my complaints about the slow operation and shutter lag hurting the wildlife capabilities would vanish. How about 60 fps at full resolution? The EXPEED 5A is being offered in a $500 camera so one would think it wouldn’t bump the price up too high. The optical technology is there, the processor technology is there, sensors keep getting better (but would likely be the weak link). As we’ve seen with the sample photos, that little 1:2.3” sensor isn’t doing that bad. The real question is would Nikon be bold enough and smart enough to let the consumers have what they want? Throw in RAW capability and I’d buy that camera because it would let me get shots I couldn’t get with my other cameras, even my D4s. Yeah, yeah, the image quality wouldn’t be close to the D4s, but guess what? I could care less about the image quality of the shots I miss.

Table of Contents

  • Overview and Lens Performance
  • Frame Rates, Shooting Speed and Focusing
  • Sensor Performance
  • Camera Modes
  • Ergonomics and Other Notes
  • Summary
  • Reader Comments
« »
Disclosures, Terms and Conditions and Support Options

Primary Sidebar

Learn

  • Beginner Photography
  • Landscape Photography
  • Wildlife Photography
  • Portraiture
  • Post-Processing
  • Advanced Tutorials
  • Best Cameras and Lenses

Reviews

  • Camera Reviews
  • Lens Reviews
  • Other Gear Reviews

Photography Tutorials

Photography Basics
Landscape Photography
Wildlife Photography
Macro Photography
Composition & Creativity
Black & White Photography
Night Sky Photography
Portrait Photography
Street Photography
Photography Videos

Support Us

B&H Photo Video Banner

Recent Topics

  • Nikon Z5 recommended Nikon Z5 Settings
  • A7R IV and the gel stick
  • Nikon 14-24 f/2.8G vs Nikon 20 f/1.8G
  • sizing for digital print downloads
  • Tips for Photographing the Great Conjunction
  • Best Lens for Slide Digitisation
  • Z6ii vs. Z7ii which has better tonal gradation?
  • D850 lens mount is tight
  • Z6 II vs Z7 II – which one is better for enthusiast
  • VR Problem on AF-P 70-300 FX lens

Footer

Site Menu

  • Beginner Photography
  • Lens Database
  • Photo Spots
  • Search
  • Submit Content
  • Subscribe

Reviews

  • Camera Reviews
  • Lens Reviews
  • Other Gear Reviews

Copyright © 2021 · Photography Life

You are going to send email to

Move Comment