Super Zoom (Page 2): I have both the 900 and the 1000. Like most cameras, both do some things very well and miss the boat on other things. But isn't that generally true for most...

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

I have both the 900 and the 1000. Like most cameras, both do some things very well and miss the boat on other things. But isn't that generally true for most camera/lens combinations?? Can I suggest: You can get the P1000 for about $1000, which has been its price all along. Order it in from a site that gives you 30 days to return if unsatisfied. I got mine from Amazon, but I think that both Adorama and B & H have the same policy?? Having 29 nights to try it out should make you sure you will like, or not like, it. Have some fun making your decision.

shangyrhee Loc: Nashville TN to Sacramento CA

a6k wrote:

If you can.. br A. afford it br B. carry it br br... (show quote)

I love to see images of Jupiter / Saturn. Thank you. Shang

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

quixdraw wrote:

Bought the P900 used, worked with it for 10 days a... (show quote)

I have used the P900 since 2016 and have never experienced slow zoom or focus. The brightness of the EVF is adjustable in the settings. I don't understand the "finder" being small.

Ed

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

Wingpilot,

I do not understand your statement about the EVF being small and dark. I see it as large as it can be and the brightness is adjustable in settings.

Ed

a6k Loc: Detroit & Sanibel

Harold Stetson wrote:

I would love to see some of your wife's photos. I... (show quote)

She only does birds so no planets or moons.

Here are a couple of her good ones from the most recent visits to Ding Darling. These are both SOOC. She has many very good pics from her P900 but the P1000 is the best yet.

(Download)

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Harold Stetson wrote:

I love taking long pictures. I have bought severa... (show quote)

I bought a P1000 specifically for planetary, lunar and solar imaging. It has been great and worked very well for the Saturn-Jupiter conjunction and recent Lunar imaging.

It is also getting some use for grab 'n go photography from my deck, per one of our dogs shot at a full 3000mm.

As will any long lens it take practice, patience and a steady hand, preferably a solid tripod, to get the best results for anything over about 600mm and 3000mm can be a challenge.

I'm a Sony fan and have had several 'A' series cameras since 2013. However, the P1000 has impressed me.

bwa

1600mm,f6.3,500th,ISO220,Best3of14subs

(Download)

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

shangyrhee wrote:

I love to see images of Jupiter / Saturn. Thank you. Shang

Check out the UHH Astrophotography forum... Several of mine are there.

bwa

shangyrhee Loc: Nashville TN to Sacramento CA

bwana wrote:

Check out the UHH Astrophotography forum... Several of mine are there.

bwa

Thank you bwana I will do. Shang

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Canisdirus wrote:

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.

A 3000mm telescope is a beast! I had a Celestron C11, 2800mm, and it weighed 35 lbs. The P1000 is grab 'n go in comparison BUT still requires a solid tripod to get reasonable images.

bwa

Canisdirus

bwana wrote:

A 3000mm telescope is a beast! I had a Celestron C11, 2800mm, and it weighed 35 lbs. The P1000 is grab 'n go in comparison BUT still requires a solid tripod to get reasonable images.

bwa

Completely different comparison though...in fact there is no comparison.
The P1000 may be 3000mm but the marketing will tell you it is an f/8. Not true of course.
Unless you think the Celestron 11 at f/10 is just lazy engineering...but that's the amount of diameter it takes to get f/10 at that focal length.
The crop factor on the P1000 is 5.62. So as a FF equivalent...it's running 3000mm at f/40+.
Yes, it can shoot the moon...because the moon is...easy and bright...but that's about it as far as it can go astro wise.
With a proper solar filter, I suppose the sun is doable as well...again...big and bright.
It would take a star tracker to shoot the P1000 with anything resembling sharp images.
It sure isn't a light bucket...and that's pretty much what it takes without a tracker.

aginzu

shangyrhee wrote:

I love to see images of Jupiter / Saturn. Thank you. Shang

Here is a shot of both Jupiter and Saturn during the recent conjunction. This is a single exposure showing that it's very difficult to get good shots of the planets this way due to atmospheric movement. It was taken with a Sony a6300 through an 8" telescope with eyepiece projection at ISO 6400 and 1/25 sec. providing an equivalent focal length that I would estimate at around 5000 mm. Note that Jupiter is over exposed and Saturn is under exposed because of their relative brightness.

To get good shots of the planets requires multiple exposures and digital stacking. The two below were taken with a cheap 640x480 webcam through a telescope and digitally processed and would be impossible in a single exposure with any camera, even the best super zoom.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

edrobinsonjr wrote:

I have used the P900 since 2016 and have never experienced slow zoom or focus. The brightness of the EVF is adjustable in the settings. I don't understand the "finder" being small.

Ed

The image displayed in the EVF is fairly small, but it’s also not very bright. In good daylight it’s fine, though. The P950 has a brighter, clearer, sharper screen that’s a bit larger. Otherwise, the P900 performs well. I’ve noticed focusing issues with my P900, mostly at longer focal lengths and when the contrast is distinct. It tends to hunt a bit before finally locking in. When it locks the focus in, it’s generally nice and sharp.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

edrobinsonjr wrote:

Wingpilot,

I do not understand your statement about the EVF being small and dark. I see it as large as it can be and the brightness is adjustable in settings.

Ed

It’s not terribly bright, and the image projected in the EVF doesn’t fill the viewing area in the viewfinder. It’s just a small picture. Apparently enough people complained about it that Nikon made it larger and brighter in the P950. To compare, if you have a mirrorless camera or a DSLR, look through the viewfinder, then compare that with what you see in the P900’s viewfinder.

Tina 2 Loc: New Hampshire

Harold Stetson wrote:

I love taking long pictures. I have bought severa... (show quote)

Why don't you rent the camera(s) you are interested in, use them and then decide whether or not one of them would be what you're looking for.

edrobinsonjr Loc: Boise, Idaho

Wingpilot wrote:

It’s not terribly bright, and the image projected in the EVF doesn’t fill the viewing area in the viewfinder. It’s just a small picture. Apparently enough people complained about it that Nikon made it larger and brighter in the P950. To compare, if you have a mirrorless camera or a DSLR, look through the viewfinder, then compare that with what you see in the P900’s viewfinder.

This doesn't sound right. In my EVF the mage covers the entire space. I'll mess with it and see if I cna duplicate it.