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

As point-and-shoot camera announcements grow scarce, the Nikon P950 sits in one remaining category that smartphones can’t touch: the super zoom. With an 83X, 24-2,000mm equivalent lens, the P950 can capture subjects you simply can’t see with the naked eye. An update to the P900, the P950 adds 4K video and RAW photos, two new features that more advanced photographers will appreciate. Despite those updates, the P950 still does well in automated modes for less experienced shooters, and a new exposure compensation control on the lens barrel allows for basic brightness adjustments that anyone can use, even without understanding how exposure works. Not everyone needs an 83x zoom, but for those who do, the P950 delivers an affordable, if imperfect, solution. The Nikon P950’s body is unsurprisingly dominated by that 83x zoom lens. The lens is so big, you can feel the weight of the camera shift forward in your hands as it extends. At 35.5 ounces, the P950 has the weight of a DSLR (but with a mu...

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 Nikon COOLPIX P950 isn't bad for sport and wildlife photography. Its extremely long max focal length lets you capture very far-off subjects. However, its autofocus system performs badly, so it struggles to keep moving subjects in focus.

Extremely long zoom lens., Good overall image quality., Great shutter speed range.

Awful autofocus performance., Very bulky., Small buffer size for continuous shooting.

83 times the zoom is not to be missed, but it comes with some challenges.

Extreme zoom with good brightness and relatively good sharpness. Large and sharp viewfinder, good image stabilization. 4K video without cropping.

Not very fast, lacks touch screen and zoom ring. Lots of high noise image noise. Moderate battery life.

“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 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. 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 Nikon Coolpix P950 ($799.95) is the company's second take on an 83x zoom camera. It's got the same basic bones as the first, the P900—the lens, sensor, and design philosophy hasn't changed. Upgrades include 4K recording, Raw image capture, and a hot shoe so you can mount an external mic, flash, or other accessory. The zoom is definitely overkill for most people, but birders, wildlife specialists, and other photographers who struggle to get physically close to their subjects should take a look.So Much Zoom It's easy to mistake the P900 for an SLR when viewed from a distance—it's bigger than some. At 4.3 by 5.5 by 5.9 inches (HWD) and 2.2 pounds, it's a camera that you're going to want to carry on a strap or in a bag, not one that will get anywhere close to fitting in a pocket. The big zoom lens, and the body to support it, make that an unavoidable fact. We've seen some smartphones promise to zoom farther, but while we describe the 100x zoom power of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultr...

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 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;

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