Nikon's latest superzoom camera improves upon the D900 in a few key ways

If you’re looking for a camera with boasting rights when it comes to optical zoom, then the Nikon Coolpix P950 delivers a range that zooms all the way to 2000mm equivalent. Smaller and lighter than the Nikon Coolpix P1000 , the P950 is still a large and heavy camera, at 1kg.

83x optical zoom lens; Full manual controls and raw shooting; 4K video recording; mic socket; Larger screen; Improved electronic viewfinder

Shorter battery life; Size; and weight (1005g); Lacks a touch-screen

“The Nikon P950's 83x zoom lens captures excellent detail, but performance is sometimes sluggish.”

83x zoom lens; Bright f/2.8 aperture wide-angle; Macro mode; Exposure compensation dial; Easy-to-use auto modes

Slow buffer; Ocassional autofocus misses; Annoying battery life indicator

The mere thought of shooting with a 2000mm lens must excite you if you are a photographer. Think of all the times you’ve been too far away from a subject to capture it properly. Baseball games and other sports. Birds and wildlife. Scores of other situations.

The Nikon Coolpix P950 excels for its colossal zoom range and lens quality, but its image quality is disappointing in 2020. Only if you absolutely must have this much zoom reach is it worth considering, and even then the price is tough to justify. You can't have everything in one camera.

83x optical zoom, Portability vs; zoom reach, Good ergonomics, 4K video and quality EVF

Disappointing image quality; Do you really need 83x zoom?; Huge price tag

The Nikon Coolpix P950 is an appealing camera for wildlife specialists, but most won't need its exceptional zoom power.

83x zoom lens; Strong image stabilization; Manual controls; Raw imaging and 4K video; EVF and vari-angle LCD; Mic input and accessory shoe; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Autofocus struggles with small and fast-moving subjects; LCD doesn't support touch; Larger and heavier than competitors

The P950 is a solid evolution from its predecessor, with a good set of upgrades. If you absolutely must have 83x optical zoom and mostly shoot wildlife, then its reach and quality make it worth considering.

Huge zoom; Fully articulating screen; Raw format shooting; 4K video recording

Relatively small sensor; A bit unwieldy; No touchscreen; Single UHS-I card slot

The Nikon Coolpix P950's main selling point is its huge zoom range and provided you have a steady hand or a tripod, you can get tightly composed shots of far-distant subjects. There probably aren't that many occasions when you need a 2000mm lens, but it could fun to take away on holiday or on a day...

83x zoom range; Good quality electronic viewfinder with an eye sensor; Can shoot raw files as well as Jpegs

Moderately high ISO results are disappointing; Bulky; 83x zoom range is overkill in many situations

The P950 is a solid evolution from its predecessor, with a good set of upgrades. If you absolutely must have 83x optical zoom and mostly shoot wildlife, then its reach and quality make it worth considering. But the flagship P1000 isn't much more expensive and there are better options for those craving a travel all-rounder.

Huge zoom; Fully articulating screen; Raw format shooting; 4K video recording;

Relatively small sensor; A bit unwieldy; No touchscreen; Single UHS-I card slot

The only reason to consider buying the Nikon Coolpix P950 is its lens, which – covering an equivalent focal length range of 24-2000mm – is extraordinary. There are very few cameras that can match the P950's versatility, although you'll get better image quality and more advanced autofocus from several similarly-priced (but less ambitious) compact cameras.

Birding, travel (especially cruises, safaris etc), and those situations where you need to shoot for the moon – literally;

Landscapes, fast-moving subjects or any situation where critical image quality is more important than zoom range;