Nikon Coolpix P950

The Coolpix P950 is a Nikon bridge camera released in 2020. Its lens is fixed to the body, so there is nothing to swap and no extra glass to buy or carry.

It pairs a 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor with a burst rate reaching 7fps and built-in stabilisation, a package suited to casual photographers and anyone who prefers one self-contained camera over a lens system.

At about a kilogram and 140 x 110 x 150mm, it is a substantial body rather than a pocket compact. The electronic viewfinder and flip-out screen cover eye-level and awkward-angle shooting, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in for wireless connectivity.

The P950's 16 megapixels come from a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, a small format, with Nikon's Expeed processor behind it and a permanently fixed lens on the front.

Sensitivity spans ISO 100 to 6400. That range favours daylight and well-lit scenes, and dim conditions will push the camera toward the top of its scale.

Autofocus relies on a single point, so precise composition may need a focus-and-recompose approach. Stabilisation in the body counters camera shake at slower shutter speeds, which helps handheld work, though it cannot stop subject movement.

Burst shooting reaches 7fps, enough for short action sequences at that maximum burst rate. The 2,359,000-dot electronic viewfinder gives a detailed view for framing each shot, and a 1/4000s maximum shutter speed leaves room to work in bright light or freeze quick motion.

The P950 records 4K video. The maximum listed frame rate is 60fps, but the supplied facts do not confirm which resolution and rate combinations work together, so check the recording modes before planning a specific project.

Footage records in MPEG-4 or H.265, so check that your editing software handles whichever format a project uses.

The flip-out screen helps with framing at waist level or on a tripod, and live view on the rear LCD keeps the scene visible while you frame each clip. The built-in stabilisation counteracts camera shake rather than subject movement.

A timelapse function is built in, so interval sequences of a sunset or a building project need no external timer.

Framing comes from a 3.2-inch, 921,600-dot LCD that flips out, which helps at low and high angles, alongside the electronic viewfinder for eye-level work. There is no touchscreen, so settings are changed through the buttons and menus.

The camera carries both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. There is no GPS, so location data has to come from your phone or be added later.

Both a built-in flash and an external flash fit the camera, giving a path from casual fill light to an add-on unit when you need more light.

The body has no weather sealing, so it needs care around rain, spray and dust.

A single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot handles storage, with UHS-I support for faster cards. One slot means no second copy of your files as you shoot, so anything important is worth backing up promptly.

The EN-EL20a battery is rated at 290 shots, a figure best treated as a comparison point rather than a daily promise. For a long day out, a charged spare is a sensible plan.

USB charging is convenient between shoots. The supplied facts do not confirm that every power bank will work or that you can charge while shooting, so plan around the mains or a known-compatible charger.