If you want a camera lens with a zoom range of 24mm to 2,000mm, you won't find it in a DSLR. In order to get that kind of preposterous wide-angle to telephoto reach in one package, you’ll have to opt for Nikon’s new Coolpix P900 fixed-lens ultrazoom.
If you do the math, that translates to an impossible-sounding 83X optical-zoom range (well, 83.33X to be precise) in a camera the size of a small DSLR. That's plenty of reach for moon photography, and nature shots that keep you a safe distance away from that grizzly bear.
A tripod is always a good idea at that sort of range, but you may even be able to shoot those long distances handheld. Nikon has developed a new optical system for the P900 that provides five shutter-speed stops of shake compensation, which is a must for a lens with this kind of telephoto reach. There's also a snap-back zoom feature that helps you reframe a shot if your optics lose a faraway subject.
The major tradeoff compared to a DSLR, of course, is the sensor size. The P900 has a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch type sensor that’s closer to the size of what you'd find in your smartphone than the APS-C sensor most DSLRs employ. And in order to shoot handheld at full telephoto with a fast shutter speed, you’re going to need plenty of light (or to jack the ISO close to its 6400 max setting): The maximum aperture at full zoom is F6.5, while it’s a much brighter F2.8 at 24mm wide-angle.
In terms of build and features, it’s a lot more DSLR-like. The full-bodied P900 has a beefy handgrip, full-manual exposure controls, an exposure bracketing mode, 7fps burst shooting, and 1080p video recording at up to 60fps. Along with a 3-inch flip-and-swivel LCD screen, there’s an eye-level optical viewfinder. Like most modern-day cameras, Wi-Fi and NFC are also built in.
At $600 starting in April, it’s pricey for a fixed-lens camera with a sensor that small. But given that its zoom capabilities are one-of-a-kind, it just might be worth it to you. It’s no secret that standalone cameras are struggling now that smartphones are the everyday cameras of choice for nearly everyone. At least with the P900, you'll never wonder if your iPhone would be just as good---or at least, if it could see quite as far.
