Nikon Coolpix P900

The Coolpix P900 is a bridge camera that Nikon launched in 2015. Its lens is fixed to the body, so what you buy is the complete kit, with nothing to add or swap. Behind that lens sits a sensor in the small 1/2.3-inch format.

At 899g and 140 x 103 x 137mm, this is a camera for a strap or a bag rather than a pocket. The bulk is the trade-off for having the whole optical package built in.

Handling pairs an electronic viewfinder with a 3-inch screen that flips out, and Wi-Fi plus built-in GPS suit shooting away from home. It fits anyone who prefers one self-contained camera over an interchangeable-lens system.

Resolution is 16 megapixels on a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, a small format. Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 6400, and the Expeed C2 processor handles the image data.

Burst shooting reaches up to seven frames per second, enough for a short burst of action such as a bird lifting off. The top shutter speed of 1/4000s can freeze quick movement and helps control exposure when the light is strong.

Autofocus works from a single point, so there is no second point to switch to when the subject sits away from the first. Framing away from that point takes more care as a result.

The electronic viewfinder offers 921,000 dots, giving an eye-level alternative to the rear screen. In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, helping hold the camera steady at slower shutter speeds; it cannot stop a moving subject from blurring.

Video recording tops out at standard HD resolution, and there is no 4K mode. That ceiling reflects the camera's 2015 vintage, though HD remains workable for holiday clips, family footage and online sharing.

Frame rates reach up to 60fps, which renders movement smoothly in the modes that support it and gives you fluid footage to work with when cutting.

Clips are recorded in MPEG-4 or MOV file formats. Live view lets you compose on the 3-inch screen while recording, and the screen flips out to help with framing at awkward angles.

Timelapse is not built in, so interval sequences are not among the camera's recording features; any time-lapse work has to be done without a built-in mode.

The 3-inch TFT LCD carries 921,000 dots for a clear framing and playback image, and it flips out from the body. That movement lets you compose from waist level or above a crowd instead of guessing the frame.

There is no touchscreen, so menu changes and settings all happen through the physical controls.

Wi-Fi is built in for wireless connection, while the GPS records the location of each shot. Together they suit travel photography and anyone building a location-tagged archive.

A built-in flash covers occasional low-light needs, but there is no support for an external flash unit. The body also lacks weather sealing, so shelter it in rain or dust.

A single card slot takes SD, SDHC or SDXC media, and SDXC compatibility keeps high-capacity options open. Because there is no second slot, one card holds the whole shoot, so carry enough space for the day.

The EN-EL23 battery is rated at 360 shots. Treat that as a planning figure rather than a promise, since screen use and playback draw power between frames.

Charging does not work over USB, so a drained battery cannot be topped up from a laptop or power bank mid-shoot. Anyone covering a full day should pack a second charged battery and plan to swap it.