Nikon P900 as a Travel Camera
I'm wondering if anyone uses or used the Nikon P900 as a travel, and if so, what are your impressions? I'm trying to decide what to get for a travel camera and this one has come to my attention. I know it's pretty big for a travel camera, but then again, maybe no worse than a DSLR.
I use the Panasonic Lumix FZ-1000 as my travel camera. It has a larger sensor than the P900 and will record 4K video. It'a zoom range is not a great as the P900 but it is a Leica lens and is sharp throughout its zoom range. It may not be your cup of tea but I do encourage you to at least look at the specs.
I have the P1000 (50% heavier than P900) as a 2nd back-up camera (long story) and took it for first time on my last 5 states trip last year. I enjoyed having it, got some great distance shots of antelope and bears near Yellowstone, but it was easy to access off the back seat. Honestly, I could not imagine toting it involving airplanes and out of the country trips. But maybe with P900 a third lighter (and smaller) might not be as bad.
My first thought for a travel camera was a pocket camera such as the Sony HX99, as that is quite convenient. But a bridge camera offers more zoom. Than again, I keep wondering if I really need that much zoom and have considered other cameras such as the FZ1000 that has the 1" sensor. I'm not done looking and researching yet, although I have to admit that that long zoom on the P900 is attractive. I just wonder how good its image quality is all around.
Wingpilot wrote:
I'm wondering if anyone uses or used the Nikon P900 as a travel, and if so, what are your impressions? I'm trying to decide what to get for a travel camera and this one has come to my attention. I know it's pretty big for a travel camera, but then again, maybe no worse than a DSLR.
I used a P100 quite a bit as a travel camera and for that (knowing its limitations going in) it was a great travel camera. So, I expect that the P900 with the improvements over the 100 would also be a great travel camera.
Wingpilot, you live in AK and so can use the P900 around that wonderful state. I am primarily a wildlife photographer (particularly birds) and so need the zoom, but also really want the ability for wide angle shots for scenics and landscapes. I have had mine for 4 years now, and took it to Gambell, Prib's, Denali, Kenai, Barrow, Madagascar and South Africa. I think that it is an outstanding camera for its versatility. Granted the image quality is not as good as some DSLRs, but if I were to return to Europe for four months and only had room for one camera, this would be it. No RAW, but it does have GPS built in, and it is relatively compact when compared to a full-sized DSLR. I also have the P1000 which has an amazing zoom (gets pretty grainy past 2000mm), RAW capability, but has no GPS built in. I have been happy with this camera (P900), and even my wife ended up with one for the Madagascar and South Africa trip.
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
Wingpilot wrote:
I'm wondering if anyone uses or used the Nikon P900 as a travel, and if so, what are your impressions? I'm trying to decide what to get for a travel camera and this one has come to my attention. I know it's pretty big for a travel camera, but then again, maybe no worse than a DSLR.
Actually, too big for me. I prefer a pocket camera I can carry in a belt pouch so I am hands free. Like the Sony HX-99v or a Sony RX 100 series camera.
Actually, Wing, as a result of Age (83+) and some physical problems I use nothing but Bridge and P & S Cameras. I have a P900 and my personal opinion is that you will not find its size nor weight prohibitive to a good outing. And I can promise you will LOVE the lens reach when you need it. rcarol is correct in that the FZ1000 is a marvelous camera. And right when they advise you need to decide if the difference between its 16x zoom lens and the P900's 83x Zoom is a deal breaker for a travel camera and the type of travel you do.
In any case, good luck with your choice and use your new camera in good health!
Stash
Loc: South Central Massachusetts
I've had a P900 for several years and take it everywhere with me. I've never been bothered
by the weight or the size but that's me. It's a matter of personal choice. Go with whatever
makes you happy.
So I went and looked at a P900 yesterday and played around with it in the store. The lens is amazing, although just using it inside the store didn't do t justice, but in the end, I decided against it. I finally decided on the Sony HX99, purely for the convenience of the small size. If my big hands and fingers are able to deal with the very small controls, then I'll keep it. If not, back to square one, I guess. I have 10 days to decide if I want to keep it. If not, I can make an exchange. Right now I'm just going through the menus and setting it up. The menus are pretty easy to use, fortunately. Will there be a chapter 2 here? I'll know in the next few days. I do apprediate all the great input, and if I return the Sony, I may reconsider the P900 and just deal with the size for traveling.
I’ve carried my P900 on several trips (Oceania Cruise, vacation in mid-coast Maine, car trips) but also either a Sony a6000 or Nikon D5200. But my wife uses these latter cameras more than I do since I have some mobility issues and love the reach of the P900.
The B700 will do most of what the P900 will do, and it is lighter, less expensive, and shoots RAW. The photos I took with one, even at 1,440mm equivalent were very sharp.
Wingpilot,
I had the HX9V predecessor. At the time it was reviewed as "revolutionary" because it was the first pocket sized HD video shooter. I enjoyed that camera until my son splashed salt water on it!
Please post your opinions of the HX99!
bsprague wrote:
Wingpilot,
I had the HX9V predecessor. At the time it was reviewed as "revolutionary" because it was the first pocket sized HD video shooter. I enjoyed that camera until my son splashed salt water on it!
Please post your opinions of the HX99!
Will do.
My go-to travel camera, especially when I don't have control over the travel and photo conditions, is a Canon SX50 (the newest version is, I believe, and SX70). I'm actually a Nikon user, with both DX and FX equipment, but that Canon SX50 is by far the most flexible one I have, mainly because of the zoom and handling ease. I keep it set on the athlete icon to control the auto focus a little bit. Here's a demo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJJ0YLmm6dQ
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