Everyone knows that I am a Canon girl, and I still have my Canon EOS M50 Mark II. Thing is, I need a camera specifically for wildlife photography. The problem with the M50 is that Canon hasn’t manufactured zoom lenses for their popular vlogging camera. So camera shopping I went last weekend and that’s when I came across the Nikon Coolpix P1000.

With our upcoming trip to South Africa, wildlife is the main goal, however there are several other reasons why a camera equipped with a long zoom lens is a must have especially if you are a traveler. Therefore finding the best zoom camera within my budget was not negotiable.

NIKON COOLPIX P1000

The P1000 features a 16-megapixel CMOS image sensor. With its 3000mm equivalent zoom there isn’t another bridge camera that comes close to the Nikon Coolpix P1000. Not only will you get your shot, but those shots will be high-quality images with true natural colors. It’s DSLR-like handling and excellent EVF ticks all the right boxes. Well, almost all the them!

With its amazing zoom lens, birders and wildlife enthusiasts will be impressed with the reach of the Nikon Coolpix P1000. The ability to shoot at 3000mm is an incredible benefit for bird photographers in particular. Shooting with the Nikon P1000 while on Safari will still need to be determined once I arrive in South Africa. That being said reviewers found the ergonomics when shooting with the P1000 to be great, but that would mean living with a few drawbacks all in the name of an amazing zoom lens.

There is no doubt that the powerful zoom of the P1000 is everything and more, but the camera limitations can be frustrating. The end product is outstanding when all the conditions are perfect.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Camera type – bridge
• Sensor – 1/2.3-inch CMOS
• Megapixels – 16MP UHD
• Lens – 125x, 24-3000mm f/2.8-8 (equivalent)
• Video – 4K
• Connectivity – Bluetooth & Wi-Fi
• Size – 146 x 119 x 181mm
• Weight – 1415g (includes battery and memory card)

PROS OF THE NIKON COOLPIX P1000

• Best zoom camera for ultimate telephoto reach
• Enormous 125x zoom 
• DSLR like handling 
• Good EVF

CONS OF THE NIKON COOLPIX P1000

• Poor in low light 
• Extremely heavy and bulky 
• Struggles at maximum zoom 

INCLUDED IN THE BOX

• Camera strap
• Rechargeable battery
• Charging AC adapter
• USB Charger
• Bayonet lens hood
• Warranty
• User manual

I bought my Nikon Coolpix P1000 from Carrefour and received free accessories worth AED 330 (Benro tripod, camera bag and 128 GB Lexar Professional SD card) and a one year warranty. Just for the record this is not a sponsored post.

I also bought a few other compatible accessories which I was able to find on Amazon.

FINAL VERDICT

The Nikon P1000 is built for one thing and that’s it’s impressive zoom capabilities which it certainly delivers on. That zoom however comes with a few drawbacks. The gigantic P1000 becomes front heavy as you zoom. It’s pure design makes it difficult to carry around.

Using a tripod does help, but if you are on a game drive (safari), using a tripod in the vehicle isn’t an option. On the point of tripod, the P1000 will definitely test your tripod due to the size and weight so invest in a sturdy and professional one. I highly recommend using a hand grip strap which will give you better control of the camera. Weighing in at almost 1.5kg using the supplied neck strap is also not a good idea and can result in back and neck pain after long exposure.

The long and short of it is that this is not an all round everyday camera. The Nikon Coolpix P1000 has been manufactured for a specific niche. So if it fits your budget and you want a camera with an impressive zoom … this is it. Every time I went on safari I would leave regretting that I didn’t have a camera with an amazing zoom. The Nikon Coolpix while not ideal in all respects, does fit my budget while delivering on the specs I want.

I’d highly recommend getting enough practice with the Nikon P1000 to fully understand its capabilities and shortcomings before you venture out on your next safari.

South Africa, see you soon. I’m officially counting sleeps until I get to fill my cup with nature and wildlife.