New Nikon Coolpix P900
Jun 11, 2017 12:32:51 #
This is the first camera that I have owned that is better than a small point and shoot. I have tried to take some decent pictures in the past to no avail. I won the camera in a contest so I thought I would try to learn how to use it.
So far I have taken less than 600 pictures (and yes, some of the moon) and end up dumping most of those. I did capture a critter in the back yard yesterday. Shooting unbalanced through the upper half of the dining room window. About 30 feet, Auto, 1/50sec., f/6.5, 357mm, 800 ISO.
Also one of the moon. Even with a tripod, these are hard.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks for having me,
Cam.79
So far I have taken less than 600 pictures (and yes, some of the moon) and end up dumping most of those. I did capture a critter in the back yard yesterday. Shooting unbalanced through the upper half of the dining room window. About 30 feet, Auto, 1/50sec., f/6.5, 357mm, 800 ISO.
Also one of the moon. Even with a tripod, these are hard.
Please let me know what you think.
Thanks for having me,
Cam.79
Jun 11, 2017 12:44:22 #
These are great, I have the Nikon coolpix 840 and I absolutely love it. The zoom is amazing and I use at at airshows. I also own a Canon T6 which is boss.
Jun 11, 2017 13:04:40 #
GeneS
Loc: Glendale,AZ
Make sure you hold the shutter button half way long enough to have really sharp focus.
try and focus on the eyes.
The moon is hard, just keep experimenting with settings
try and focus on the eyes.
The moon is hard, just keep experimenting with settings
Jun 11, 2017 13:16:26 #
The moon take practice...
I like the critter photo...just leave a little more room in front of it next time if you can....and shooting thru your window well give a hazed look
I like the critter photo...just leave a little more room in front of it next time if you can....and shooting thru your window well give a hazed look
Jun 11, 2017 13:45:13 #
It's a fun camera, and the technology is amazing. Your photo provides a good example: you're at 357mm, or 2000mm FF equivalent, at 1/50s (through glass) and you got a good, clear shot. By rule of thumb, your shutter speed should have been 1/2000s but the vibration control on this camera is just stunning. It won't replace my DSLRs but when I need a LOT of reach, it's my go-to camera.
Shooting the moon gets old and you'll need to figure out what interests you. If you're shooting w/ Auto (green), check out the Scene Mode and all the different shooting styles -- by selecting the right one you should get better results than Auto. For critters and birds, try Bird Watching mode.
Shooting the moon gets old and you'll need to figure out what interests you. If you're shooting w/ Auto (green), check out the Scene Mode and all the different shooting styles -- by selecting the right one you should get better results than Auto. For critters and birds, try Bird Watching mode.
Jun 11, 2017 14:12:26 #
Thanks for all your replies, you have been kind. I want to get used to the camera in Auto mode and then start using the camera for what it was designed to do. I mainly got it for wildlife and mountain scenes. I need to do a lot of practice because the Eclipse is coming up in a couple of months and will only be a couple of hours away.
Again, thank you for the kind and educational words.
Again, thank you for the kind and educational words.
Jun 12, 2017 07:36:02 #
I bought a used P900 about a year ago and have used it much more than I thought I would. It's a great travel camera that allows me to avoid using my legs as the telephoto which is increasingly difficult as I venture through my 80s. Last year, I used it on a boat trip from Barcelona to NYC and got shots that would not have been possible with my D300 and 18-200.
Jun 12, 2017 10:10:01 #
rhadams824
Loc: Arkansas
cam.79 wrote:
This is the first camera that I have owned that is... (show quote)
For the chipmunk I would set the ISO to not go higher than 400 and increase the shutter speed to see if your image looks less soft. It is a very good effort especially for 1/50th a sec. Try to match the shutter speed to the lens length and see what happens. Keep the ISO as low as possible and still get the shot. Because of the 800 ISO and the 1/50sec you appear to have a low light situation with which is harder to get a very sharp image.
When you get an image you feel is not a keeper look at your settings and situation to ascertain what needs to be changed to have gotten a keeper. When you can, take several photos with different settings and see the effect on keepers. I use a monopod with mine and it helps. Long zooms require much greater stabilization and higher shutter speeds to get a sharp image.
Search the UHH for moon and look at their photo data for setting.
Keep shooting.
Jun 12, 2017 10:54:09 #
I just ordered a quick-release fluid pan head for my monopod to use with my P900 to try to help with stabilization issues. With a long zoom, you almost need a sighting scope to find objects although the snap-back zoom is useful.
Jun 12, 2017 11:04:10 #
That is a nice camera for sure. I just happened to be experimenting with my Fuji bridge camera the other day when we had a full clear moon. What I found was none of the scene modes worked. I had to use spot metering and center AF to get a bearing on the correct exposure and focus otherwise the moon was always blown out. I used Program mode to get close and then switched to manual and had to chimp and change settings as I went. Results were not spectacular as my max focal length is only 670mm and with the small sensor cropping was not impressive even with a tripod. Hope this helps. Good luck with the new camera!
Jun 12, 2017 12:13:56 #
It's a fun camera.... I have had mine for a little over 2 years and use it mainly to take pictures of Bald eagles and the moon
Jun 12, 2017 12:58:07 #
I have one that I've had for over two years. I've found that the lens on my camera is extremely sharp, and I've won several prizes from my camera club from the pictures I have taken with it. Now that I'm approaching ninety, I am now leaving my other heavy camera at home and just use this one. The only real drawback I can figure is; it eats up the battery so I have to carry an extra.
Jun 12, 2017 14:20:54 #
Isn't it the Nikon Coolpix P900 is a point & shot camera, and most adjustments are automatic? Correct me if I'm wrong, even the ISO, speed, & aperture are all in auto mode.
Jun 12, 2017 17:00:09 #
Backspinlob wrote:
Isn't it the Nikon Coolpix P900 is a point & shot camera, and most adjustments are automatic? Correct me if I'm wrong, even the ISO, speed, & aperture are all in auto mode.
There are a lot of adjustments on the camera. You can shoot videos with it and also set the shutter speed and aperture. Set the ISO from 100 to 800. Exposure bracketing. But not as many as on my D7100. I usually just leave it in the Program mode.
Jun 12, 2017 17:29:43 #
I was in Alaska 2 years ago and would have killed to have had this camera then. Your eagle shot is GREAT. I saw a lot of eagles in Alaska but all I had was a $90 point and shoot.
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