The Nikon p900 camera is one of the best on the market. The night-vision photographs that are taken by this camera remain unrivaled by competitors, but that’s only if a photographer knows the best tips and tricks to guarantee that their shot turns out flawless. There are several things that photographers can do with the Nikon p900 to get those crisp, clear night shots that are worthy of a magazine cover.
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1. Watch YouTube
There are plenty of YouTube videos that will show you how your camera works, and explain the settings. While this single form of education will not compare to real-life experience, you can never have too much knowledge.
Open your search engine of choice, type in Nikon p900, and get started when you have some free time. Some of the videos on YouTube are not the best, but there are stellar ones that will teach you everything you need to know. For visual learners, this is necessary for learning how to make the most of the Nikon p900.
2. Invest In A Stabilizer
A stabilizer is a product that holds the camera instead of a person holding it. There are larger ones that are designed specifically for a Nikon p900, but a cheaper tripod will also work wonderfully.
The additional stability that is provided helps increase the quality of images by making them more clear. It eliminates the chance of a person accidentally moving the camera, which is always a risk when shooting with a camera in your hand. Additionally, it makes it easier for photographers to utilize the zoom feature, something that can be complicated for beginners to do while holding the camera.
During nighttime photography, slow shutter speed is often used. Because it is harder to hold the camera perfectly still during the slow shutter speed, it is highly encouraged to use a tripod for night time images. Beginners that have yet to purchase a tripod find it helpful to lean against something to help prevent camera shake.
The Nikon p900 is known for its ability to take fantastic shots of the moon, making it a favorite among those that enjoy astrophotography. However, these particular photos require a longer zoom than up-close pictures. The longer zoom creates more vibrations with each picture, making it important to properly stabilize the camera for these images. Those without a tripod can set the camera on something to act as a stabilizer until they have something more suitable.
3. Opt For A Wireless Remote
One slight movement of the camera can hurt the image, which includes a tiny nudge as you push a button to snap the picture. The higher the zoom is that you are using, the more a slight movement can hurt your picture. This is why most professional photographers opt for a wireless remote for their Nikon p900.
4.Start Your ISO At 3200
Different shots will call for a different ISO. This is why 3200 is simply a starting point. After setting your ISO, continue to look through the lens and make small adjustments as needed. While night shots typically call for a lower ISO, photographers want to get there one minor adjustment at a time to ensure that they do not go too low or too high, which can result in an image of lesser quality.
The Nikon p900 is known for having less detail retention at higher ISO levels, but this can be a necessary compromise to take night-time photos. If this is not a compromise you are willing to make, try other options, and play with the settings until you can find the ideal settings for your niche.
5.Practice Makes Perfect
Watching videos online and reading the information regarding the Nikon p900 are both exceptional ideas, but they do not compare to real-world experience. It’s important that photographers get out their camera every night, even if just for a few minutes. Take the time to adjust the settings to determine how the affect images. This also applies to using new products, such as your tripod. Make sure to do this before heading out for stellar night photography sessions to ensure that when you attempt the perfect shot at night, it turns out flawless.
It’s important to note that there is a slight learning curve with the Nikon p900. Take a lot of pictures during practice sessions to learn more about how the different settings affect the pictures.
6.Invest In A Lens Protector
A minor scratch on your lens can ruin the entire shot. Smaller scratches that are invisible to the naked eye can create blurry photographs. These small scratches are often a part of normal wear and tear.
Using a lens protector will prevent scratches from reach through to the lens. A UV light filter can provide the same level of protection while giving you additional benefits.
7. Adjust The Shutter Speed
Higher zoom levels often require a quicker shutter speed for the picture to turn out crisp. Likewise, a slower shutter is necessary for pictures taken at a lower zoom level. While you are practicing with your camera, adjust the shutter speed to determine the appropriate settings for different zoom levels.
8. Manually Adjust Vibration Reduction
Vibration reduction is a setting that is designed to correct small vibrations that occur when photographers take a picture. This setting can be convenient, leading to most photographers leaving it on at all times. However, it is intended to be used when you are holding the camera. If photographers use this setting when they are using a tripod, the camera will overcorrect for vibrations that are not there, creating a slightly blurry image.
9. Try Auto Focus
The autofocus on the Nikon p900 has a success rate of over 70% when shooting pictures of wildlife. This insinuates that it would be higher when used for still life pictures. Utilize test sessions to determine if the autofocus feature will benefit you during night photography sessions.
It should be noted that the autofocus feature does not work as well in low lighting areas or when taking pictures with several focus points, such as cityscapes. In these scenarios, the manual focus tends to work better. Try the autofocus during your night time photography sessions first to determine if it should be used.
10. Use A Neck Strap
The Nikon p900 is one of the heavier Nikon models. It can easily tire out a hand or arm after carrying it and then using it for hours. Utilize a neck strap to carry some of the weight to ensure your hands are not tired when it comes time to take a picture or two.
11. Invest In Good Books
There is a manual included with the purchase of the Nikon p900, but it does not cover everything photographers need to know about this camera. Instead of relying on this manual, invest in photography books related to the camera to learn more about features and settings.
12. Good Technique Is Critical
A good handholding technique is essential to ensure that pictures are clear. When standing, hold the camera at a nice balance point. Make sure that feet are spaced wide apart, and are perpendicular to the item that is being photographed. Rest your elbows against your body to prevent movement. The more that your elbows move, the more your hands will move, resulting in the camera moving.
It can also be helpful to breathe out while snapping the picture. This same technique is used on the shooting range. It is because the body is more still when you breathe out, resulting in less camera shake.
13. Start Shooting At A Shorter Length
Avoid using longer lengths, such as the moon feature, in the beginning. Instead, beginners should focus on shorter-range pictures. This gives them time to adjust to the various settings and camera weight, which will make it easier to take long-range pictures.
14. Choose The Right Location
The lights against the night sky are breathtakingly beautiful, but this is only if the picture is taken from the proper location. If the photographer is too close to the lights, there will be too much exposure resulting in the lights becoming a blur. If they are too far away, there may not be enough exposure. Most nighttime photographers scout locations during the day and post them in Facebook groups.
15. Research Your Niche
All night-time photography is not the same. The settings for shots of the moon will be different than they will be if you would like to create a photograph of star trails. Before taking pictures, research popular settings and locations to create the photo that you are thinking of. Then, practice and adjust the settings as you need to.
16. Use Manual Settings
When taking night time photos, it is easier to take pictures in manual mode. The auto-adjust features of the Nikon p900 are known for adding too much white to the picture, which often shows up in the background or makes the end result appear blurry. Instead, slowly adjust the settings once you get to your location of choice.
17. Skip The Flash
The flash of the Nikon p900 does not encompass the entire photo when taking night time photos. Instead, it is known for providing uneven coverage. The corners of the photo may appear darker, and lighting can be unevenly creating warm hues in specific areas. When using this camera for night-time photos, skip the flash if possible. Taking a flashlight for night time photography trips can be beneficial for closer pictures.
18. Smaller Pictures Are Clearer
As a general rule of thumb, smaller pictures that are taken preserve more details when compared to larger image sizes. The Nikon p900 gives owners a variety of sizes to choose from, but photographers that want to preserve detail will need to opt for the smallest image size they can.
Taking pictures in a variety of sizes can help photographers get the perfect shot. If you stick with thumbnail-size pictures but find that you need a larger image, you will see an increase in smudging. However, if you have a variety of sizes to choose from, it will guarantee that you get the one you are looking for.
19. Try Turning The Active D Lighting To High
Because pictures tend to be more grainy at higher ISO levels, some photographers opt for a lower level. To increase your lighting without the grainy effect, turn the Active D lighting to high. This creates more light without the extra noise in the picture.
If this does not create the picture you would like, leave the Active D Lighting at high. Then, adjust the IOS as necessary. The end result will still be a picture that is less grainy than it would be without adjusting the Active D Lighting.
20. Low Noise Reduction
Noise in photos often comes with busy, active pictures. However, most night time photos already have a low noise level. Photos that are taken of city lights and other areas that have a higher noise level offer the light and dark contrast that naturally balances out the noise. Because of this, switching the noise reduction setting too low can produce clear pictures. If this setting is left on high, the camera will attempt to reduce noise over the entire picture even though this is unnecessary.
21. Join A Forum To Learn New Things
The Nikon p900 has so many uses, settings, and options that are not listed in the manual it can take years to learn them without additional help. Because of this, it can be helpful to join online photography forums. Users can post questions, and they can post pictures to receive advice on which settings they can change. This can be extremely useful to beginners that are ready to start using their Nikon p900 to create their dream photographs.
The Nikon p900 remains well known for its high versatility, superior ability to capture photos of planets or the moon, and for its wide array of settings. Because it has so many settings, there is a learning curve, but these tips and tricks will help beginner photographers land the perfect shot.
