I’ve been getting a few questions about this so thought I’d share a post on it.
I’ve been using the P950 for 3 years now, having bought it at a Black Friday sale in November 2020. I’d done research, read reviews, even got to test a P1000 that someone had before the purchase and was convinced the P950 would be for me.
I wasn’t wrong. It’s lightweight, easy to carry as I use a shoulder strap so it’s always at my hip. And in trying out the various settings, I discovered the Bird mode which works well for me. I occasionally need to adjust the exposure compensation, depending on the lighting, but otherwise this mode chooses the settings that are needed for where I’m aiming the focus of the camera. Further, with its amazing zoom ability (the P950 also has 83x optical zoom), I can focus inside trees and bushes to get my subject, or at a far distance. Why wouldn’t I love this camera?
Not heard of Bird mode before? Don’t worry, not many cameras have it but the P950 does, as do the earlier models, the P900 and P1000. You can see the mode in the image below. You’ll also note I use Auto Focus (AF) as in the dial below that to the right. The Bird mode setting works out the shutter speed, ISO and F stop. You can set ISO ranges but you can’t set specific ISOs in that setting.
Also the images are in jpg, whereas with P,S,A and M, you can set everything yourself and images are shot in RAW. But I find that the jpg images work fine for me. Have a look and see for yourself below. I do process all images in Lightroom, therefore lightening, brightening or darkening, straightening and cropping, sharpening or removing a bit of noise, occasionally I have to remove something from an image, an annoying branch or similar, but mostly the images are as shot, with a bit of tidying up as mentioned. Below are images I’ve taken just this month to show you what can be achieved with this amazing camera.
Just beautiful shots. I’m not in any way into cameras but I certainly appreciate your camera work.
Love your bird photos, so clear.
I love these photos, Kathie. What a gift you have. Thank you for sharing these gorgeous pictures and the info about the bird mode.
Thanks Jeannine. A gift God gave me and one I love to share with others. I get so much joy learning about our beautiful birdlife and teaching others.
I’m going on a once-in-a-lifetime (for me) safari in Africa. Would the 950 and Bird Mode work for a novice photographer?
Definitely Rob. It’s lightweight and perfect for zooming to get shots of animals and birds much further in the distance. But also great for landscapes and things up close too. Make sure you get a suitable strap for carrying it with you – I use a Peak Design shoulder strap. And make sure you get practice before you leave home so you feel comfortable with the camera before your trip. I’d love to see your photos once you’ve been!
Do you know why you can’t shoot RAW images in bird mode? That seems like a big deficit?
No, I don’t, Rick. However, I haven’t found it to be a big issue and get very good quality bird shots in that mode. I suspect that Nikon wanted to offer a mix of their best options for this camera – based on their previous two models, the P900 and P1000.
I have a canon 60D and am thinking of purchasing the Nikon P950 just specifically for birding instead of purchasing a 400mm lens. Great photos above
Glad you like the photos Gayle and hope it has helped you with your decision.
Thank you for the article. I have this camera and I love it. I’m only using bird mode. Is there an easy way to improve lighting in a cloudy/rainy day?
On my to Australia next week and can’t wait to see your birds!
Sorry for the delay in answering Christine, I’ve been away on holiday.
Use the button on the right side of the ok button, for exposure compensation. Upwards increases lighting, downwards makes things darker.
Would love to see what you achieve! Do you have an Insta account?