FixThePhoto Verdict: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
FixThePhoto always tries to find the best cameras on the market that are suitable for all categories of photographers, which is why I decided to write this Nikon Coolpix P950 review. It provides a fantastic zoom range, top-tier image stabilization, and reliable 4K video resolution support.
It’s a great camera if you’re interested in mostly taking photos of distant subjects. Even though it falls below models with higher sensor resolutions, its functionality and performance ensure it’s the perfect option for animal, landscape, and everyday photography.
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✔️ 83x optical zoom lens |
❌ Battery doesn’t last long |
Key specifications:
Working as a photographer and retoucher for FixThePhoto, I tend to handle a large number of cameras and lenses. This camera caught my attention with its terrific zoom capabilities, flexibility, and picture quality. My coworkers have just as much photography experience and participated in reviewing this model while testing it in a variety of scenarios.
How I tested. The Nikon P950 was very pleasant to use, providing satisfying performance in a wide range of shooting scenarios, and its zoom never let me down. I employed this camera for portrait, fashion, and landscape photography, and its functionality helped me take highly detailed images regardless of how far I was from the subject. My coworker assisted me in setting the optimal parameters (sharpness, contrast, etc.) to elevate the quality of my photos even further during the retouching stage.
When I was first introduced to the Coolpix P950, I was impressed by its robust build and DSLR camera style handling. Even though its frame is primarily made of plastic, the metal accents, lens barrel, and flash hot-shoe make it feel a lot more impressive. With a weight of just above 1kg and 140.2 x 109.6 x 149.8mm dimensions, you can’t carry it in your pocket, so I recommend transporting it in a padded bag to ensure it doesn’t get damaged.
This model has a handy rubberized grip that makes it a lot more convenient to hold. Along with the texturized lens barrel, the grip ensures the camera feels stable in my hands, which is particularly relevant for lengthy photoshoots. Throughout the review process, I used the P950 in nature a lot and the comfortable grip helped reduce fatigue. Keep in mind that you’ll have to use both hands when handling the camera, especially when leveraging the 83x zoom.
This bridge camera offers a highly convenient control layout, as most buttons can be found to the right and operated with a single hand. Photography and videography features are separated, making it easier to navigate them for different users. It has a separate WiFi/Communications menu along with setup menus. I also want to highlight the buttons that allow instantly using flash, exposure compensation, self-timer, and macro. Additionally, the P950 has a configurable button on top.
I’m a huge fan of the zoom rocker on the lens barrel, which is perfect for gradual, highly accurate framing. It’s especially handy when taking wildlife pictures, enabling me to make intricate adjustments without causing camera shake. My coworkers praised the improved lens controls and the available snap-back zoom button, as it allows easily reframing dynamic subjects that leave the scene.
Even though the absence of touchscreen controls makes the navigation process slower, the adjustable Fn button and the classic dials are still very convenient to use. The default configuration of the Fn button enables continuous drive mode, but you can swap it to handle ISO or white balance, based on your needs.
The Nikon 950 offers Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity to ensure you can conveniently copy files to your phone or laptop without messing around with cables. It supports the brand’s proprietary SnapBridge app, which can copy 2MP JPEGs to Android and iOS phones automatically using Bluetooth. Remote control and copying of bigger photos can be performed via WiFi.
This camera for photography comes with a micro USB charging input, micro HDMI output, and a 3.5mm mic jack. It also has one SD-card slot that is compatible with SDXC cards and offers UHS-I transfer speeds. You can find it right next to the battery. To ensure the camera is compact, it was supplied with a smaller EN-EL20a battery, which lasts for about 290 photos or 80 minutes of filming.
In-camera charging is supported thanks to the micro USB port, but I had some trouble using the provided charging cables. While the native cable works great, other cables that are compatible with all my other devices didn’t charge up this camera. My coworkers had similar issues and confirmed that the P950 struggles with third-party cables. The lack of a USB-C port is also a bit disappointing.
The Nikon Coolpix P950 has impressed me with its efficiency and performance and how beginner-friendly it is, even in the midst of highly dynamic scenarios. You can turn it on in less than 2 seconds before it’s ready to shoot. The AF system is superfast even at wider angles, capturing the subject in 0.1 of a second, which is very important for wildlife and event photography.
The burst photography mode has a speed of seven shots per second, which is good enough for action, animal, and bird photography. Sadly, the buffer is filled very fast, particularly if working in RAW format, which can cause a 5-10 second delay while files are copied to the memory card. I used it with a variety of SD cards for DSLR cameras and discovered that faster cards decrease the delay, which was much appreciated.
If you want to take photos at superfast framerates, you can pick between the 60fps and 120fps modes. Sadly, this drastically reduces the resolution, lowering it to 2MP and 0.3MP, respectively. Even though these modes are great for some experimental shooting of dynamic subjects, the low resolution makes them nearly unusable for professional use.
The P950 Nikon camera comes with a 2.36-million-dot digital viewfinder (EVF), which produces a crisp, bright picture that is clearly visible even under direct sunlight that is typically a weak point for LCD screens. It’s very useful when doing wildlife photography while my coworkers leverage the automated eye sensor, which makes the process of switching between the EVF and LCD screen effortless.
Even though I’m generally satisfied with the provided viewfinder, it’s not as impressive as the ones included in premium-grade mirrorless cameras. It can sometimes suffer from lagging when I’m panning swiftly, which makes taking action photos a bit more challenging.
The 3.2” vari-angle LCD screen is very convenient. I can easily tilt and rotate it to accommodate the different angles I need to shoot at when out in the wild. The only drawback of this display is its resolution. Even though 921k dots is solid, the image isn’t as sharp as the ones produced by competing cameras in the same budget range. I noticed this when taking a closer look at the pictures and videos I captured.
The main selling point of the Nikon Coolpix P950 digital camera is its cutting-edge 83x optical zoom, equivalent to 24-2000mm in 35mm terms. Such a wide range makes this model suitable for all kinds of shots from wide-angle landscapes to telephoto animal pictures.
While preparing for this review, I managed to take photos of distant birds while capturing them in stunning detail even at full zoom. This camera is also a good fit for fashion photography, enabling you to take intricate pictures from different distances, showcasing clothing and different items in all their glory.
If you set the maximum 2000mm range, you’ll need incredibly steady hands or a tripod since even the smallest movement can ruin the shot. Luckily, the camera has fantastic image stabilization, minimizing blur and increasing the sharpness of handheld photos. Add to that the snap-back zoom button and reframing dynamic subjects like flying birds becomes a lot easier. Adjusting the zoom speed using the lens barrel is also very convenient and feels natural.
In addition to a highly efficient optical zoom, this Nikon photography camera also comes with an extra electronic zoom (Dynamic Fine Zoom), boosting the range to a whopping 4000mm equivalent. I used this mode when taking a picture of the moon and managed to even capture its crates, which is a level of detail that is unachievable for the optical zoom.
The 16MP 1/2.3-inch sensor produces clear, colorful photos if taken in appropriate lighting. Whether I'm taking a landscape picture at 24mm or using zoom to snap a photo of a distant wolf at 2000mm, the result is consistently sharp and detailed. The built-in JPG processing delivers satisfying image quality, but as a professional photographer, I usually work in RAW.
The Nikon P950 is in its element when used in the bright outdoors. It captures natural colors and maintains a balanced level of contrast. When testing the camera in a nearby park and was impressed by how great it is at capturing intricate details like the feathering of a bird or leaf textures. My coworker Robin also praised its level of sharpness at midrange zoom settings.
That said, the smaller sensor of this camera has its drawbacks. It can struggle with poor lighting conditions, producing visible noise even at bigger ISO values. I used it indoors and outside at dusk and while the photos looked okay, they didn’t have the sharpness present in daytime images. My FixThePhoto teammates also stick to using this model in properly lit environments and suggest getting a travel tripod for low-light settings to ensure you can set a reasonable ISO value.
I dedicated a couple of hours to recording footage in 4K using the Coolpix 950 and I think this video camera offers respectable results for casual video makers, even if it has its flaws. My 4K videos had impressively accurate colors and a high level of detail.
The footage I recorded in handheld mode was enhanced using the built-in optical stabilization, which got rid of most camera shake, meaning you can use this model without extra gear in challenging recording environments.
Sadly, when using the telephoto zoom for video recording, I noticed that the provided stabilization doesn’t solve all issues as the captured footage suffered from quirky artifacts and a "swimming" effect in the background created by the rolling shutter. This is why a video tripod is mandatory for such scenarios.
Each video file cannot be longer than 29 minutes even if you still have space on your SD-card. The maximum file size for a video is 4GB. This is acceptable to me since I mostly use this camera for recording social media content.
When testing the focusing mechanism for my Nikon Coolpix P950 review, I ended up feeling satisfied. While I’ve had faster cameras in the past, this model can still handle most scenarios without any issues. The AF doesn’t have any issues dealing with slow- or predictably-moving subjects. I managed to receive focused, detailed photos without any delay. For instance, when I was taking pictures of a sitting sparrow using this bird photography camera, the focus was entirely on the subject even when it started moving a bit.
Sadly, when used on highly dynamic subjects, the AF mechanism wasn’t nearly as flawless. If the subject’s trajectory is too chaotic, the autofocus can no long preserve its precision and starts taking unfocused pictures. It’s still possible to receive decent results, but it usually requires a lot more tries or using manual focus to help the camera if it loses the subject.
Nikon Coolpix P950 ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
For a modest price of $797, the Coolpix P950 provides a fantastic zoom range, capable of handling both expansive landscapes and distant smaller subjects, representing an attractive camera for photographers who value versatility. It offers a sturdy build, a convenient grip, and diverse connectivity options (Bluetooth and WiFi), simplifying the process of sharing your images.
Even though its AF and manual focusing systems offer average speed, they can still handle most shooting conditions with ease. The provided 4K video recording support and built-in stabilization are pleasant inclusions, but they aren’t suitable for professional projects, especially if used at higher zoom values. The included battery is solid, but this camera’s incompatibility with some micro-USB cables is a slight cause for concern if you lose its native cable. Overall, the P950 offers a great bang for your buck if you want a versatile zoom camera that can capture sharp images and is simple to use.
Good for
Not so good for
