Dave Craig

Hi guys:
Im spoiled shooting with my Canon 100-400mm IS L, 300mm IS L USM and 70-200mm 2.8 ll IS L lens and now Im leaping for a inexpensive bridge camera thats a monster without any weather sealing... Dumb on Nikon's part. It does rain in Nature, that's why I buy all Canon gear. So I watched a video on YouTube about the Nikon camera P1000, honestly I have to have it! But I think of Nikon as like a Apple product, its an odd duck and outperforms on some things yet its still not up to the best standards usually because of something some dimwit at the factory decided it did or did not need ...like weather sealing! But once again, I figure id give Nikon another try. So I purchased the new P1000 with 125 zoom which has an impressive reach of 3000 mm optically and up to 6000mm digitally, how cool is that? Is on its way and should be here any day. So my question's are, am I going to be only half happy with this hyped up camera as is the tradition with Nikon or do you think it will play well with my Canon crew? Being Nikon I'm sure its only half as forgiving as Canon but It's was too cheap to pass up! Where else can you get such monster reach without spending 10 grand or more on just a lens? This bridge camera complete was less than 1100.00 bucks what a deal! (or maybe not?) So anybody out there have any experience shooting with this beast? I hear its a bit of a fraidy cat in the dark as well as the at the long end of it's reach. Please let me know how you feel about yours and is it all its Hyped up to be. There must be a good reason Canon hasn't stepped up to create such a cool bridge camera. Give me your thoughts on your P1000 please.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Did you compare the Canon SX70 with the Nikon P1000?

Dave Craig

Kinda yes the 70 was just a teaser from the 60 with the same zoom and added 4K @ 30fps. video plus I think its got the digic 8 now, but 125 is twice the range and it also has a fantastic IS and great 4K @ 60fps. so to me the Nikon won this one but only time will tell.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Back in the Nikon P510 days, I tried a friend's and found it uncomfortable and very difficult to hold steady. I had a Canon T3i dslr at the time.

Then I bought the Canon sx50 (without trying it first ) and loved it. It felt much more comfortable in my hand, perhaps because somewhat similar build and/or location of controls to my T3i.

If you accept that the super-zoom is what it is and don't try to compare to a dslr, you'll enjoy it more IMO. I had a great time with mine for many years.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

I have a P-1000 and enjoy it. I think you will too. Is it a DSLR with some high priced lens? No. It is a Bridge Camera with all the advantages and disadvantages of any Bridge Camera. But then, is there a DSLR that doesn't have some disadvantages also??

Just as you have thoroughly learned your Canon and its assortment of lens, thoroughly learn your P-1000. You might start with Alexander White's great instructional book. Then just enjoy what it does well, and don't ask of it what it does not do well.

Enjoy your camera.

Dave Craig

Thank You and I will look into Alexanders book.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

If you use the search link at the top of the UHH page and just enter "p1000" you will see many posts on this subject. One of mine..
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-574530-1.html
But there are tons more.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

1. You really believe the lens on the Nikon will deliver the same quality of image as your current Canon equipment? If you did not, why did you buy it?
2. Speaking of weather sealed camera's, the Canon Powershot G7x Mark II is NOT weather sealed.
3. Speaking of weather sealed camera's, the Canon Powershot SX420 is NOT weather sealed.
4. Speaking of weather sealed camera's, the Canon Powershot SX530 is NOT weather sealed.
5. Speaking of weather sealed camera's, the Canon Powershot SX 70 is NOT weather sealed.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

Nobody makes a bridge camera with an equivalent zoom over 600mm that is weather sealed. The only one I’ve ever found is the Fujifilm S1 that has 1200mm equivalent but is no longer made.
You seem to like to bash Nikon without really knowing much about Nikon.

rstrick2 Loc: Beverly Hills, FL

I did the exact same thing. I had all this Canon equipment and sold all of it thinking the Coolpix P1000 was the way to go. at first it seemed ok far reaching, the moon , bird mode and others. but when I took a look at the photos I was amazed at the lack of quality. they all seemed to be soft. well most of them even on a tripod and or other support. I was really disappointed. the camera overall has many features, shoot RAW, scenes and more but most of the photos are soft. Sometimes if I don't need a lot of zoom I may get a fairly good photo. but over all to answer your question you will be only half happy. I still have it and used it sparingly as I went to a LUMIX G9 with a Leica 100-400 lens.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Our first copy of the P900 was crap. We returned it, got another and it was fine. Our P1000 is even better than our P900. If you look at some of the sample pics on UHH you will see you can get a fairy sharp picture even hand held at maximum zoom. I am not suggesting it competes with, for instance, a good DSLR. But I've made some very nice 11 x 14 prints from some of my wife's shots.

I can't know what you are doing or experiencing but I suspect based on your account that you have a bad copy.

photoman43

Many owners of expensive heavier gear like you have are buying and using bridge cameras like the Nikon Coolpix P 900, 950 and 1000 and getting excellent results. And the same goes for those using Canon, Sony and Panasonic equivalents.

Why? Lower cost, much lower weight, extended focal length range, one lens, and maybe no tripod. What they give up? Larger sensor sized images with ability to make larger pictures if needed.

In many rookeries where I go, such cameras (for some) have displaced spotting scopes, binoculars, tripods, 500mm and 600mm lenses and DSLRs, etc.

It all comes down as to what works for you.

fab47 Loc: Central Illinois

I also have several Canon bodies and many lenses. Canon does a great job. My daughter has the P900 and has taken many great pictures, getting questions like “Wow, what kind of camera do you have?” With that reference, I had been looking at the P1000 for some time and just before Christmas, I purchased one at a great deal. I did so after watching many YouTube videos and reading may reviews on the camera. Most of them pointed out that the quality would not be up to the regular DSLR. If you are a “pixel peeper” you will not like the camera, however it does take great pictures and has a reach with the 3000mm that no other camera can achieve at any amount of money. As one photographer stated, while showing a great picture of a bird, I could never get this close to take a picture like this if it were not for the P1000.
I love the camera, but I purchased it knowing the quality would not be up to par with Canon’s. If you keep that in mind you also will enjoy using this camera.

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Here is one of my wife's hand held shots that I could not even come close to with any of my gear, even my RX10-4.

You be the judge. When we are out taking pics of birds there are often times when her P1000 is the only option.

In this case the physical focal length was 306 mm out of possible 539 which means an equivalent of about
3000x306/539=1703 in 35mm terms. That is only a little more than half of what it can do.

This is a screenshot of her SOOC JPG. The aspect ratio of this camera is different than my Sony cameras which have 2:3 ratio.

(Download)

davesit Loc: Media, PA

These hyper-zoom bridge cameras such as the P950 and P1000 take very good pictures, but don't expect Nat Geo quality pictures from them. The ultra-zoom range is achieved by using a very small sensor, just like APS-C cameras would make a 500mm lens a 750mm one. The tradeoff is lower resolution and higher noise. Yes, you could get a shot of that bird 200 yards away, but it won't be as tack sharp and clean as a one shot with a full frame camera and a 600mm F4 prime telephoto. OTOH, at those prices they are terrific cameras as long as you are satisfied with "good" photos and not "great" photos. Also don't forget to use a tripod or at least a monopod whenever you zoom above 400mm or so.

BTW, here are the sensor sizes:

P1000 6.16 x 4.62 mm
D7500 23.5 x 15.7 mm
D850 35.9 x 23.9 mm

You can see how small the P1000 sensor is compared to a APS-C and FF camera.