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Getting Started with the Coolpix P600
The Nikon Coolpix P600 is a superzoom bridge camera with a 60x optical zoom lens (24 to 1440mm equivalent), built-in Wi-Fi, GPS geotagging, 1080p video, and a 16 MP sensor. It slots between a compact point-and-shoot and a full interchangeable-lens camera, giving you a huge zoom range in a body that’s still small enough to carry around all day.
If you’ve used the bigger Nikon P900, the P600 shares a lot of the same controls and menu structure, just in a more compact package with a slightly shorter zoom range.
Initial Setup
When you turn the P600 on for the first time, it asks you to set the language, date, and time zone. Get the date and time right because the camera stamps this into every photo’s metadata, and accurate time helps the GPS lock onto satellites faster.
Insert a microSD card (the slot is on the right side, behind a small door). The P600 works with SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards. A 32 GB card holds roughly 4,000 full-resolution JPEGs or about 3 hours of 1080p video. Charge the battery using the included AC adapter. The EN-EL23 lasts for about 330 shots per charge. If you’re planning a full day of shooting, grab a spare.
Shooting Modes Explained
The mode dial on top of the camera has several positions. Here’s what each one does:
Auto mode (green camera icon): The camera handles everything, including shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and white balance. Point and shoot. It does a surprisingly good job in most lighting conditions.
P (Program Auto): Like Auto, but you can override individual settings. Want to change the white balance or bump up the ISO? P mode lets you do that while the camera still manages the basic exposure.
S (Shutter Priority): You set the shutter speed, and the camera adjusts the aperture to match. Use a fast shutter speed (1/500 or higher) to freeze action, like a bird in flight. Use a slow shutter speed (1/30 or slower) for motion blur effects.
A (Aperture Priority): You set the aperture, and the camera adjusts the shutter speed. The P600’s lens opens to f/3.3 at the wide end and f/6.5 at full zoom. A wider aperture blurs the background more for portraits. A narrower aperture keeps more of the scene in focus for landscapes.
M (Manual): Full control over both shutter speed and aperture. The exposure meter shows whether your settings will produce a properly exposed image. Useful for tricky lighting like shooting into the sun or mixed indoor lighting.
Using the 60x Zoom
The P600’s biggest selling point is its zoom range. At 24mm (wide end), you can capture wide landscapes and group photos. At 1440mm (full telephoto), you can photograph the moon, birds in a distant tree, or details on a building across the street.
Zoom Stabilization
At full zoom, even the smallest hand movement makes the image shake wildly. The P600 has optical vibration reduction (VR) built in, and it helps a lot, but it can’t eliminate all shake at extreme telephoto lengths.
To get sharp shots at high zoom: use a fast shutter speed (at 1440mm equivalent, aim for 1/1500 or faster), brace yourself by tucking your elbows in and leaning against something solid, and use a tripod when possible. At anything past 500mm, a tripod makes a noticeable difference.
The Snap-Back Button
This is one of the P600’s most useful features. When you’re zoomed in to 60x and lose your subject (it’s easy to do when a bird moves or you bump the camera), press the snap-back button on the side of the lens. The camera temporarily zooms out so you can find your subject again. Release the button, and it snaps back to your original zoom level.
This feature saves an enormous amount of frustration when tracking birds, wildlife, or distant subjects. Practice using it a few times and it becomes second nature.
Autofocus Modes
The P600 offers several autofocus modes, and picking the right one depends on your subject.
Target Finding AF: The camera automatically detects the main subject and focuses on it. Works well for general shooting. It can get confused when multiple subjects sit at different distances.
Face Priority: Prioritizes human faces in the frame. When it detects a face, the focus box locks onto it. Best for portraits and group photos.
Manual (subject tracking): You select a subject on the screen, and the camera follows it as it moves. This works for slower-moving subjects but can lose tracking if the subject moves quickly or passes behind something.
Center: Focuses on whatever is in the center of the frame. Simple, predictable, and reliable. Use this when you want to aim precisely, then recompose.
For everyday shooting, Target Finding AF handles most situations. Switch to Center AF at high zoom levels where accuracy matters most.
Playback Features
Press the play button to review your photos. The P600 has several playback options:
Zoom: Rotate the zoom lever to the right (T) to zoom into a photo and check sharpness. Use the directional pad to move around the image. Rotate the lever to the left (W) to zoom back out.
Thumbnail view: Rotate the zoom lever to the left (W) from normal playback to see a grid of 4, 9, or 16 thumbnails at once. This makes it fast to scroll through a large set of photos.
Calendar view: Keep rotating the lever left past the thumbnail views to reach the calendar view. This organizes photos by date. Scroll to a date and press OK to see that day’s photos.
Deleting photos: Press the trash can button while viewing a photo to delete it. The camera asks for confirmation first.
Wi-Fi Transfer
The P600 has built-in Wi-Fi for transferring photos to a smartphone or tablet. Download the Nikon Wireless Mobile Utility app (iOS or Android), enable Wi-Fi in the camera’s menu, connect your phone to the camera’s Wi-Fi network, and open the app to browse and download photos.
Wi-Fi transfer works well for sharing a few photos quickly, but it’s not fast enough for hundreds of full-resolution images. For big transfers, use a card reader.
GPS Geotagging
The P600 has a built-in GPS receiver that records the exact location of each photo in the EXIF metadata. Apps like Google Photos, Lightroom, and Apple Photos can read this data and place your photos on a map.
Turn GPS on under Location data in the menu. A flashing GPS icon means the camera is searching for satellites. A solid icon means it has a fix (usually 30 to 60 seconds outdoors). GPS drains the battery faster, so turn it off when you don’t need it.
Video Recording
The P600 records 1080p video at 30 fps or 60i (interlaced). Press the red video record button on top of the camera to start recording in any shooting mode. The camera autofocuses continuously during video.
The full 60x zoom is available during video, though zooming can pick up motor noise on the built-in microphone. Zoom slowly to reduce the sound. The camera also has an electronic VR option for video that adds stabilization on top of the optical VR. There’s no external mic input, so you’re working with the built-in stereo mics.
Side Zoom Lever Tips
The P600 has two ways to control the zoom: the lever around the shutter button on top, and a side zoom lever on the left side of the lens barrel.
The side lever is slower and more precise than the top lever. Use it when you need fine zoom adjustments, like framing a distant subject exactly right at high magnification. The top lever zooms faster, which is better for quickly changing between wide and telephoto when the action is moving.
You can also set the zoom speed for each lever in the camera’s menu. Slowing down the top lever gives you more control at the cost of taking longer to zoom from 24mm to 1440mm. Most shooters leave the top lever at its default speed and use the side lever when precision matters.
