4444 1 June 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
the front of the camera when you zoom
out, the lens almost doubles the length
of the camera at full stretch, but it doesn’t feel
top heavy and you can zoom via two different
routes: the fi rst via a switch on the top of the
camera grip and the second via a switch on the
side of the lens housing. The addition of both
switches enables users to zoom with either
your left or right hand.
Behind the lens is a 1/2.3in back-illuminated
CMOS sensor that measures 62 x 4.6mm and
serves up 16MP of resolution. And while that
doesn’t sound like a huge amount compared
to the 40+ million-pixel cameras available
today, it’s a decent return for a superzoom
camera of this type. For example, a rival option
such as the Sony RX10 IV serves up 20MP,
but can’t come close to matching the focal
range, and only offers 24-600mm.
This is a bulky camera, but that shouldn’t be
misinterpreted as heavy, as the P1000 tips
the scales at 1,415g (including battery and
single SD memory card). To put things into
perspective, my workhorse DSLR (a Pentax
K-1 Mark II) weighs 1,010g, and that’s just
the body, as adding one or two lenses to that
set-up would push the total payload towards
3,000g. Battery life is down compared to the
older P900, with a CIPA rating of 250 shots,
but in practical use, I found the P1000 is
good for a morning and afternoon of general
photography. What’s more, the weight of the
P1000 makes it easy to be carried around all
day without burdening your shoulders, and its
build would suit one of those handy holster
sling bags, making it suitable for travellers
who are short on space for photo kit in
their backpacks.
Other neat features include a 3.2in
921k-dot vari-angle screen with fi ve-level
brightness adjustment (though sadly this is not
touch-sensitive). Alternatively, photographers
can choose to use the electronic viewfi nder
(EVF), with a sensor switching between the
two options when you raise your eye up to the
viewfi nder. With such a vast focal length, it’s
no surprise the P1000 features Nikon’s Dual
Detect Optical Vibration Reduction (VR)
system, which allows you to shoot up to fi ve
stops slower than would otherwise be possible.
Nikon’s Bluetooth Snapbridge technology
(missing from the P900) allows easy pairing
with smart devices, and the P1000 can shoot
4K video at 30p or Full HD video at 60p.
Add to this USB charging and an external
microphone jack and the P1000 starts to
tread into vlogger territory – another reason
P900 users may consider upgrading.Good quality, but there are areas
of compromise
When you fi rst use the camera, the temptation
to zoom straight into 3,000mm is strong, and
it’s absolutely startling what this camera can
capture thanks to the 125x optical zoom
magnifi cation. For example, if you wanted to
shoot a picture of the moon (see panel, page
47), you would actually have to zoom back out
again as at 3,000mm, you can’t fi t the moon
into the frame. The P1000 also offers an
extended digital zoom option that stretchesThe huge zoom allows wildlife photographers to capture frame-filling
images without spooking subjects Nikon P1000 at 400mm, 1/320sec at f/5.6 ISO 400
A great amount of detail
can be recovered when
images are captured
in the raw format
Nikon P1000 at 270mm,
1/400sec at f/5.6, ISO 400The Snap Back option
helps re-establish where your
subjects are in the frame
Nikon P1000 at 400mm,
1/640sec at f/6.3, ISO 400