Nikon P950: update to popular P900 megazoom bridge camera packs a punch

Nikon Coolpix system gets a fresh update with the Nikon Coolpix P950
(Image credit: Nikon)

Nikon has announced that it will be updating its popular P900 superzoom bridge camera with the brand new Nikon Coolpix P950. With specs promising to be perfect for wildlife, motorsport and aircraft photographers, this bridge camera might just catch your attention. New features include RAW shooting, 4K video, an external mic socket, and an accessory shoe. 

Boasting an impressive 83x optical zoom, the P950 has an equivalent focal length range of 24-2000mm (the same as on the P900). However, if you really want to get even closer, the 166x Dynamic Fine Zoom is able to digitally extend the upper limit to an amazing 4000mm. 

Long lenses can often run the risk of increasing camera shake, but luckily the Nikon P950's fixed lens has a wide f/2.8 maximum aperture. It also offers Dual Detect Optical Vibration Reduction, which should help you prevent blurry shots.

Read more: Best Nikon camera

The Nikon Coolpix P950 will have a vari-angle LCD screen, making it perfect for video (Image credit: Nikon)

Meanwhile, video enthusiasts will be excited to hear that the Nikon Coolpix P950 can shoot 4K/ UHD 30p footage, or Full HD (1080p) video at frame rates of up to 60p. You can also record in stereo sound and manually adjust key exposure settings while you're filming. There's also a full-size hot shoe that can be used to accommodate a mic or dot sight, and a larger vari-angle 3.2in LCD screen monitor that can be tilted and twisted in almost any direction. The P950 also has an improved 1cm 2360k-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with eye-sensor.

Gabriela Januario, Commercial Planning Manager at Nikon UK, commented, "The Coolpix P950 is a feature-packed update to the Coolpix P900, which changed the market for superzoom cameras with its 83x optical zoom. This new camera keeps the impressive zoom range of its predecessor and adds many of the features people have been asking for, including: 4K movies, an improved EVF, RAW support, and a hot shoe for accessories." 

The addition of a hotshoe not only means the P950 can be used with a speedlight, it can also be used with Nikon's DF-M1 Dot Sight to aid framing at supertelephoto settings (Image credit: Nikon)

Some other interesting features include RAW file support, in-camera time-lapse and connectivity via WiFi, USB and Bluetooth. The Nikon Coolpix P950 is also able to sync photos to your smart device, or even use the smart device to shoot remotely via SnapBridge. Even more impressively, you can even transfer RAW files as well. 

The Nikon Coolpix P950 will be available nationwide from early spring 2020 at an RRP of $799/£799, and will replace the existing P900.

Preorder the Nikon P950 at B&H Photo

Preorder the Nikon P950 at Wex Photo Video

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Louise Carey

With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and  Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.