Super Zoom
Dec 28, 2020 11:01:39 #
Harold Stetson
Loc: Marquam 97038
I love taking long pictures. I have bought several lenses and love playing. But. I have trouble with things like Jupiter's moons. Getting a perfect focus on them is a problem. I have had some good shots but haven't had a good shot of the conjunction yet. Mainly clouds but had a chance and missed. I am looking at the Nikon P1000 and am amazed at what it can do. A You Tube video was truly amazing. Stabilized and auto focus and up to 125x zoom not to mention the electronic available. Some pretty good buys right now. The P 950 is down around 650 bucks. The P1000 about a thousand. These are my toys and I hate to spend a grand on a camera but probably would if it got enough accolades. I thought I would ask experts about it and see what the thought is.
Dec 28, 2020 11:28:40 #
Bought the P900 used, worked with it for 10 days and returned it to the vendor. Finder was small and dark, zoom was slow, in every way inferior to my regular Nikon DSLRs. I can't comment on the 950 or 1000 based on personal use, but would suggest you get one in your hands and see how you like it, or buy from a firm that allows return. If you do buy and like it, and it uses EN EL 23, I have two unused BM batteries and charger from my short lived experiment that you can have for postage. Good Luck with your purchase and outcome!
Dec 28, 2020 11:35:03 #
Harold Stetson wrote:
I love taking long pictures. I have bought severa... (show quote)
Are you trying to auto focus? If so you need to go to manual. Since your camera can not focus, or you are having a problem doing it, then during the day, with enough light to focus, focus on something at infinity, and mark your lens somehow. The lens will go slighly past infinity, for adjustment. A fine point white pen is good for this.
Dec 28, 2020 11:35:24 #
Harold Stetson wrote:
I love taking long pictures. I have bought severa... (show quote)
I know people that have the P900 which is two steps below the P1000. Their images are usually quite impressive. I have seen some outstanding ones. As to the P1000, what I have heard is quite positive. I am tempted to buy one for when I don't feel like schlepping my heavy artillery.
Good luck to you!
Dec 28, 2020 11:50:35 #
I have the P900. Generally speaking, it turns out pretty good images, and the long zoom is amazing. But it has a couple shortcomings. The EVF is small and dark, and the resolution isn’t great. It also has issues focusing in low light and at full zoom, and it only shoots jpeg, no raw. Shooting only in jpeg may or may not be an issue for you. Fortunately Nikon appears to have been listening to the complaints, because the P950 seems to have addressed the problems. It does shoot in raw, it has a larger, brighter, sharper EVF, and some of the focusing issues appear to have been resolved. If I didn’t already have the P900, I’d go for the P950. The P1000 is essentially the same camera but with a longer zoom, 3000mm eq. as opposed to 2000mm eq. Of those I know who have the P1000, all like it very much.
As for image quality, here’s a shot of the moon I took with the P900 using the moon mode. It’s an interesting feature, and it seems to work well. I don’t know if it would work for trying to shoot the conjunction, but it does set the camera to infinity focus.
As for image quality, here’s a shot of the moon I took with the P900 using the moon mode. It’s an interesting feature, and it seems to work well. I don’t know if it would work for trying to shoot the conjunction, but it does set the camera to infinity focus.
Dec 28, 2020 12:04:07 #
a6k
Loc: Detroit & Sanibel
If you can..
A. afford it
B. carry it
then buy the P1000. No kidding, Nikon really did something impressive with that camera. My wife, by her own admission, is a poor photographer. She shoots in "bird" mode exclusively (selected on the camera). At its full extension, the magnification is roughly equal to a 10X telescope. Some of her pictures are simply not achievable with another camera. That you can own it for less than most decent lenses is amazing. The internet is full of examples but if you want some of hers the PM me. She also has the 900. There is simply no comparison. Even yesterday when we were reviewing our shots from that morning at Ding Darling Refuge, she produced some that were a lot better than any of mine. I'm not as good as I'd like to be but I have knowledge, skill and hand strength. She has none of those and still gets great shots.
Do it.
A. afford it
B. carry it
then buy the P1000. No kidding, Nikon really did something impressive with that camera. My wife, by her own admission, is a poor photographer. She shoots in "bird" mode exclusively (selected on the camera). At its full extension, the magnification is roughly equal to a 10X telescope. Some of her pictures are simply not achievable with another camera. That you can own it for less than most decent lenses is amazing. The internet is full of examples but if you want some of hers the PM me. She also has the 900. There is simply no comparison. Even yesterday when we were reviewing our shots from that morning at Ding Darling Refuge, she produced some that were a lot better than any of mine. I'm not as good as I'd like to be but I have knowledge, skill and hand strength. She has none of those and still gets great shots.
Do it.
Dec 28, 2020 12:42:08 #
The Nikon video does not impress because of heat/air degradation on the long zooms of some guy standing on a hill. Would work great in space! But I guess for shots 500-1000 feet away, it is different.
Dec 28, 2020 13:01:10 #
radiojohn wrote:
The Nikon video does not impress because of heat/air degradation on the long zooms of some guy standing on a hill. Would work great in space! But I guess for shots 500-1000 feet away, it is different.
One of the problems with ultra long zoom is that atmospheric conditions, such as heat distortion, haze, dust,etc., become greatly magnified when the lens is zoomed way out there. It’s not bad on a clear, still day, but if it’s hot, or windy or hazy, it becomes an issue. But if you really want to bring that subject in, then you’ll just have to accept that it may not be a stellar image.
Dec 28, 2020 13:42:17 #
Wingpilot wrote:
One of the problems with ultra long zoom is that atmospheric conditions, such as heat distortion, haze, dust,etc., become greatly magnified when the lens is zoomed way out there. It’s not bad on a clear, still day, but if it’s hot, or windy or hazy, it becomes an issue. But if you really want to bring that subject in, then you’ll just have to accept that it may not be a stellar image.
Atmospheric conditions affect ALL lenses. Therefore, from that standpoint the P1000 is not at a disadvantage.
Dec 28, 2020 13:45:45 #
Dec 28, 2020 15:49:05 #
FotoHog wrote:
Atmospheric conditions affect ALL lenses. Therefore, from that standpoint the P1000 is not at a disadvantage.
True enough, but it’s even more so with the superzoom lenses.
Dec 28, 2020 22:50:16 #
Harold Stetson
Loc: Marquam 97038
I would love to see some of your wife's photos. I am looking at three courses of action. One is to not buy. 2 is to buy a cheap super zoom used to see if I like it. I can get a really good camera with a 50 x zoom for 75 bucks. Try it and see if I like it. The third is to buy a P1000 but it's a little richer than I really want to spend. One reason I am looking is I noticed a P 950 new for 646 bucks and knew that was a good buy. Then you go, for a few bucks more I can have to 1000 and everyone seems to like that camera.
Dec 29, 2020 09:06:05 #
After much research and in store hand holding, I chose the P950 over the 1000. Not so much the money but the size and weight. I hike and bird so I attach it to a Rapid strap and it has been great. Had it about 6 weeks now and must say that for what I want, I am very happy. I have the D750 but carrying a lens that can produce the reach I want is not happen because of weight and jus too cumbersome. I will say that at the far end of the zoom(2000), if you have any shake it will show. Another thing I have done is attach it to an monopod to give me stability with the shot. The P1000 was just too much for me, heavier and really the extra zoom wasn’t necessary. Hope this helps. Sandy from Cincy.
Dec 29, 2020 10:07:49 #
Shooting the moon with long lenses is a piece of cake. It's well ... bright...and big.
Saturn/Jupiter is a different animal.
Dark, and small...very small.
The tighter you zoom in, the more movement there will be on your image.
Dark subjects need fast lenses to help compensate...or a star tracker for the necessary longer exposure.
If you want to get serious, buy a telescope and attach camera.
Otherwise...use a wider lens...and capture some sky along with Jupiter/Saturn.
Saturn/Jupiter is a different animal.
Dark, and small...very small.
The tighter you zoom in, the more movement there will be on your image.
Dark subjects need fast lenses to help compensate...or a star tracker for the necessary longer exposure.
If you want to get serious, buy a telescope and attach camera.
Otherwise...use a wider lens...and capture some sky along with Jupiter/Saturn.
Dec 29, 2020 10:15:23 #
Sidwalkastronomy
Loc: New Jersey Shore
Find a local astronomy club. not worth $1000 just for the moons. Ser what they are doing
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