The Best Family Camera for Dads: Get Close-Up Photos of Your Kids… Even If You’re In Different Zip Codes

Camera snobs will surely disagree but, I’m calling it. The Nikon COOLPIX P1000 is the best camera for dads that wanna take great pics of the kiddos.

Sure, there are cameras that have more bells and whistles. Ones that pack way more megapixels. And even cameras that sport better image quality.

But what sets this camera apart is its mind-blowing Mega-Ultra-Super-Extreme zoom.

This camera has a zoom lens that goes up to 3000mm. I could try to explain what that means in technical terms but it’s better if you just see it in action. Watch this video and behold the crazy awesomeness of this camera’s zoom…

Yeah… Holy Crap is right!

If you wanted a 3000mm zoom on a fancy DSLR camera, it would be the size of a Volkswagen and cost a lot more.

But this Nikon gives you magical zooming powers you can hold one-handed. Think of the possibilities this gives you as a dad…

No more getting to Little Johnnie’s school play an hour early to try to score front row seats. You can stroll in at the last minute, stand in the back and still get shots that are so close you’ll be able to see the snot bubble hanging outta Little Johnnie’s nose.

Photo of Little Johnnie using most cameras:

Photo of Little Johnnie from the same spot using a Nikon P1000:

Don’t feel like standing outside for an hour or two during that ball-numbingly cold end of season soccer game? No worries. Stay in your car. Your pictures will still look like you were right there on the field. Your wife will never know.

Little Suzie grows up to be an astronaut? You’ll be able to get photos for the family album without leaving your backyard! (Joking aside, you can legit get amazing moon shots with this camera that’re so zoomed in you’ll get details of craters and all.)

A Few Complaints About the Nikon P1000

There are a few odds and ends people whine about with this camera. They usually fall into 3 main categories.

Weight

This camera weighs 3.1 pounds. And people have the nerve to complain that it’s too heavy!

If 3.1 pounds is too heavy for you, Man Up dude. That’s about the weight of a loaded diaper. And, at least with the camera, you can hang it around your neck with the included strap if your little girlie arms get tired.

Image Quality

The photo snobs will point to any number of fancy cameras that have better image quality than the P1000. Screw ‘em. The truth is the image quality of this camera is really good. It’s more than you need for kid photos.

The P1000 packs 16.7 megapixels. Which is plenty.

Let’s face it, you’re not gonna be hanging pictures of your kids in an art gallery. 16.7 megapixels will give you all you need to share photos with the grandparents and to plaster them all over your Instagram feed. And for the handful of photos you actually want to print out and/or include in your annual family calendar, you’ll be fine. Seriously.

Cost

The P1000 comes in at just under $1000. Which, for what you get, ain’t bad at all.

However, if that’s more than you want to spend, check out the Nikon P900. It doesn’t have all the features of the P1000 but it’s still got a powerful super zoom (2000mm instead of 3000mm) and costs under $600.

Why The Nikon P1000 Is The Best Family Camera For Dads

Whining aside, there’s a lot to love about the P1000 aside from is Mega-Ultra-Super-Extra-Zoomy zoom:

It takes 4K HD video so you can record all those birthday parties, school plays, sporting events and more. Now, if you’re like most parents, you’ll never watch any of those videos… but if you’re the rare bird that does, you’ll be able to enjoy them in full HD.

It’s got image stabilization so your photos/videos will come out clear and steady in low light situations or when you’re drunk.

It comes with Bluetooth & WiFi so you can quickly send photos from your camera to your phone.

You can get it with an optional remote (and what dad doesn’t want another remote!) so you don’t even have to hold the camera to control it.

Also, while it zooms up to 3000mm, it also zooms down to 24mm so you can get great closeups of your kids if you actually want to be near them.

All this adds up the Nikon P1000 being the ideal camera choice for bird photographers, astrophotographers, stalkers and, especially, dads.