P900: Hi Everyone, I am a new to Hedgehog. I have enjoyed photography since my teens. During the early family years I limited myself to family photos. I retired and took up photography...

Geoff B Loc: Surprise

Hi Everyone,
I am a new to Hedgehog. I have enjoyed photography since my teens. During the early family years I limited myself to family photos. I retired and took up photography again. Now I have switched to the P900. It is easier for me to carry around than a DSLR. I enjoy just carrying around extra SD cards and batteries with a lens hood.

I have been reading about problems with zoom to 2000mm. I started by reading the manual. I have changed the Vibration Resistance to Active in the menu. I am too old to hold the camera steady. I also spread my feet apart about the width of my shoulders with one foot ahead of the other. My elbows are tight next to my body. I make the camera strap tight to complete a steady platform as possible. I set my ISO higher (400). Set the camera to shutter priority (1250). I took this picture for a demo purpose only. The first one is unretouched. The second I changed the haze reduction in Photoshop Elements 14. Enjoy

(Download)

twowindsbear

Aret these at max zoom?

canarywood1 Loc: Sarasota,Florida

Why in shutter priority???

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

canarywood1 wrote:

Why in shutter priority???

EXIF data reports focal length equivalent to 2000mm in 35mm; even if the OP didn't report issues with holding the camera still, forcing the shutter speed to be that level makes lots of sense {the old 35mm rule-of-thumb would have specified at least 1/2000, but the use of image stabilization - called "vibration resistance" by Nikon- might relax that rule some}. This is certainly a good starting point.

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

Great job! Where did you get the lens hood? I am having trouble finding one.

WesIam Loc: Phoenixville, Pa

Amazon.com for lens hood

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

rehess wrote:

EXIF data reports focal length equivalent to 2000mm in 35mm; even if the OP didn't report issues with holding the camera still, forcing the shutter speed to be that level makes lots of sense {the old 35mm rule-of-thumb would have specified at least 1/2000, but the use of image stabilization - called "vibration resistance" by Nikon- might relax that rule some}. This is certainly a good starting point.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Geoff B wrote:

Hi Everyone, br I am a new to Hedgehog. I have en... (show quote)

It looks like you have it figured out.

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

WesIam wrote:

Amazon.com for lens hood

Actually that was the first place I tried. The reviews were terrible and most said it didn't fit the camera. Can you send me a link to what you bought? thanks.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

The picture is fine as we see it here, but if you download it and then click to see it full size it's not sharp at all. This is one reason why digital zooms on bridge cameras are NOT as sharp as a DSLR even with a zoom lens. But if this is acceptable to you, I see nothing wrong with it. To me, it would never be good enough detail for the type of wildlife photography I like.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

jeep_daddy wrote:

The picture is fine as we see it here, but if you download it and then click to see it full size it's not sharp at all. This is one reason why digital zooms on bridge cameras are NOT as sharp as a DSLR even with a zoom lens. But if this is acceptable to you, I see nothing wrong with it. To me, it would never be good enough detail for the type of wildlife photography I like.

To my eyes, viewed at any magnification, the left side seems to lean more than the right side does.
Is that a lens distortion not corrected by the software?

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

jeep_daddy wrote:

The picture is fine as we see it here, but if you download it and then click to see it full size it's not sharp at all. This is one reason why digital zooms on bridge cameras are NOT as sharp as a DSLR even with a zoom lens. But if this is acceptable to you, I see nothing wrong with it. To me, it would never be good enough detail for the type of wildlife photography I like.

I believe that the zoom on the P900 is all optical out to 2000mm, and beyond that it's digital. The problem with IQ at that focal length is that everything is magnified, including heat radiation and junk in the air. Also, the P900 only has a 1/2.3" sensor, which really crowds those pixels in tight, and they are small, at that, which can result in some image degradation at the focal length. So actually, that's not a bad image. To get a very sharp image at 2000mm, you'd need a full frame sensor and an impossibly huge lens. And actually, not many folks will actually zoom out that far, anyway, but it's handy to have if you need it. Wildlife photography with the P900? Might be iffy.

Geoff B Loc: Surprise

Thanks Everyone
One question was zoom. It was 2000 mm. My medadata shows up as actual zoom not 35mm size. I have to multiply by 5.60224. It will get you very close. Then just round up to the nearest whole mm.
My intent for the post was to help those who could not hand hold a zoom picture and get it sharp.

Geoff B Loc: Surprise

I went for the P900 because I am too old to carry all the equipment for a DSLR any more. I think now I will do more photography now than with my old DSLR.

Geoff B Loc: Surprise

The lens hood is a rubber one. The size is 67mm.