Superzoom cameras, like Nikon's Coolpix P1000 ($999.99) are popular because, let's face it, people who buy entry level DSLR's rarely, if ever, take the kit lenses off their cameras.

I love the 3000mm zoom, not a big fan of the weight, this thing is a beast. That being said, I am getting great photos of craters on the moon.

These alternatives are better fits for most photographers. But not everyone falls into the bucket of most. If the P1000's lens speaks to you, and you understand the camera's limitations and quirks, it could serve you very well.

Incredible 125x (24-3,000mm) zoom range; 7fps burst; Vari-angle LCD; EVF; Raw support; 4K video; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Image quality suffers at maximum zoom; Unresponsive after bursts; No weather protection; Pricey; Bulky; Screen omits touch support

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 ($999.95) is beyond an audacious idea for a camera. It marries a small 16MP image sensor—about the same dimensions as what you find in a top-end smartphone—to an absurdly big, long 125x zoom lens. The result is a bit of a Frankenstein device, with a body as big as an SLR, and a large, permanently attached lens. It's not the right camera for every photographer or situation, and it requires a good deal of skill to use effectively at maximum zoom. But it does succeed in filling a niche, and will find a place in the heart and bag of some photographers, especially for use in capturing images of distant wildlife. That said, for most photographers we recommend the Canon PowerShot SX60 HS as our Editors' Choice for cameras that exceed a 50x zoom ratio. It costs about half as much as the P1000, seems to be about half the size, and is a better all-arounder. But if you laugh at a zoom with a "mere" 1,365mm reach, the 3,000mm zoom of the P1000 may lure you in with its...

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 has the longest zoom of any fixed lens camera yet, but it takes a good deal of skill to master.

Incredible 125x (24-3,000mm) zoom range; 7fps burst; Vari-angle LCD; EVF; Raw support; 4K video; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Image quality suffers at maximum zoom; Unresponsive after bursts; No weather protection; Pricey; Bulky; Screen omits touch support

It's hard to place the Nikon Coolpix P1000 into a single box. Its focal range is unmatched, making it ideal for wildlife and lunar photography (or spying on your neighbors, we suppose).

Capturing the moon and still wildlife from incredible distances

High image quality for most situations; focusing on moving subjects; a long day of shooting

The Nikon Coolpix P1000 is all about its incredible zoom range. If you need a focal length of 3000mm, it's the only game in town. If you don't need that much zoom then there are far better cameras for equal or less money.

Capturing the moon and still wildlife from incredible distances.;

High image quality for most situations, focusing on moving subjects, a long day of shooting;

The P1000 is a loveable beast and an optical marvel, but it's difficult to recommend. Max zoom is rarely required in real world shooting, and the optic necessitates a small sensor with underwhelming image quality.

Stunning zoom range; Good EVF; Excellent image stabilisation; 4K video and RAW photos

Average image quality; Poor low light performance; Big and heavy; Focusing and VR struggle at extreme zoom

I have the Nikon P900 and waited patiently for the 1000 to come out. In my search for the "best deal" I found Beach Camera. I so appreciate the competitive pricing as well as the customer service. This camera is all that I hoped it would be and more.

I can't imagine a more versatile camera to take on long hikes, or as a travel camera. In a relatively compact and lightweight package, it combines the ability to shoot wide enough to get a good context shot of a large building, yet with enough zooming capability to zero-in on an architectural detail...

We fully expected the Nikon P1000 to be too unwieldy at 125x zoom to use handheld, but we were pleasantly surprised to be wrong. Outdoors on a sunny day, the P1000 doesn't require a tripod, but the hit rate for great shots isn't perfect at the telephoto end.

Crazy telescopic zoom; Excellent optical stabilization; Solid image quality in good light; On-lens zoom controls; Decent build quality

Large and front-heavy; Controls inaccessible while processing images; Autofocus; image quality suffer in low light