Nikon’s insane 125x zoom
P1000 puts focus on big picture
MARK FURLER WITH a staggering 125x optical zoom, there’s not much you can’t see with Nikon’s Coolpix P1000.
Walking along the beach and zooming out to a nearby island, I was gobsmacked by the features of the rocks in my viewfinder.
Zoom out to a surf boat well off the shore and you can see the faces of lifesavers.
In the wrong hands, this could be a dangerous camera for spying on neighbours.
The Coolpix P1000 offers an insane zoom. But can it snap a great photo?
I spent a couple of hours with it shooting surfers right along the coast. What was surprising was how quickly it can take a photo.
I was scanning the horizon and saw a surfer flying through the air. I snapped, thinking there was little chance it would be in focus. But it was – and good enough to use on the front page of our local paper.
With an ultra telephoto capability equivalent to 3000mm, this is a camera that can capture the craters on the moon in detail.
If that’s not enough, it also has a 250x Dynamic Fine Zoom (digital), which is equivalent to 6000mm.
Digital Photography Review, as a “silly exercise”, looked at the sort of kit you would need to buy to get a DSLR camera with just a 27– 1500mm capability. It would cost more than $31,000 and weigh about 12kg.
In comparison, the P1000 weighs about 1.4kg (which is still quite heavy) but lightweight when you consider its functionality.
Of course, there’s a world of difference between bridge cameras and better DSLRs. Even the Nikon 5600, for example, has a sensor that is 13 times larger, meaning it will suck in more available light.
The P1000 has a 16MP, 1/ 2.3” CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 100–6400.
It produces some beautiful images, though at full zoom they are not always going to be super sharp.
For bird watchers, it does have a bird mode, which I found interesting to use. Even at half zoom, it is hard to keep up with an eagle soaring in the air. But it’s brilliant for zooming in on birds sitting in a tree or dogs running on the beach.
The camera has decent vibration reduction, which Nikon says is equivalent to shooting at a 5.0 stop higher shutter speed (at 350mm). THE iPad Pro is at the centre of a “Bendgate 2.0” scandal after users found their devices were delivered with noticeable bends.
Upon opening their new iPads, customers were quick to post on social media, checking if others had similar problems.
However speculation regarding the cause varied. Some blamed generic wear and tear, while others were adamant their devices were delivered in a bent condition.
In an interview with The Verge, Apple confirmed some of the 2018 iPad Pros were shipped with distinct bends.
Despite the noticeable bend in the aluminium chassis, Apple denies it’s a product defect. Instead, the problem has been
You can also set the VR to “framing first” in the Normal or Active mode, which reduces the gap between what you see in the viewfinder and the captured image.
When it comes to video, the camera goes beyond many, with 4K Ultra High Definition at 30p or 25p with 24– 3000mm range. It also supports an external microphone.
One of the features I really liked was the ability to use the manual focus control ring to adjust functions like exposure, white balance and ISO while you are in auto mode.
Another clever feature is the ability to use the snapback zoom button to quickly widen the visible area if you FLAT-OUT ISSUE: The iPad Pro. attributed to “a side effect of the manufacturing process”.
When the iPad Pro is built, the tablet goes through a cooling process involving metal and plastic components of the device. Apple alleges this procedure lose sight of your subject in telephoto.
For those who like spending plenty of time after the shoot making their images sing, the P1000 shoots in RAW mode so you can adjust white balance, exposure and colour settings.
You can also easily transfer images straight to your smartphone or tablet using SnapBridge.
With a price tag of more than $1400, the P1000 is not a cheap bridge camera but it is exceptional when it comes to its reach. Those wanting to spend should take a look also at the P900, which is a lot lighter, has an 83x zoom and can be bought for under $600.
Customers in a flip over bent iPad Pro
can cause the slight bending customers have observed in both the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. iPad users have been told this is “normal”.
According to the tech giant, the bend shouldn’t affect iPad use, nor should it worsen over time. But given Apple’s history of product misgivings, customers are sceptical.
According to the ACCC, disgruntled recipients of bent products should be entitled to exchanges or refunds. Under Australian Consumer Law, customers receive an automatic product guarantee that requires items to “look acceptable” and have “no faults”.
Those who come across a bent iPad are advised to contact Apple.
Mike Cook