Las Vegas, NV—Nikon introduced the Coolpix A1000 and Coolpix B600 point-and-shoot cameras with integral long-zoom capabilities. For the everyday photographer who wants optical capabilities that far exceed a smartphone, the new compact cameras feature lenses with 35x and 60x zoom, respectively.
“Customers looking for a compact camera are seeking features smartphones simply cannot deliver. This includes amazing zoom and the low-light capabilities to capture the moments that matter most,” said Jay Vannatter, executive vice president, Nikon Inc. “The Coolpix A1000 and Coolpix B600 are the ideal tools to deliver just that, by providing the photo, video and optical power that users need to take their photography to the next level.”
Coolpix A1000
The A1000 sports a sleek, pocketable body. Moreover, its 35x optical zoom lens covers a focal range that begins at the wide-angle 24mm equivalent and extends to the super-telephoto 840mm equivalent. As a result, it captures everything from expansive landscapes to distant subjects.
In addition, with Dynamic Fine Zoom technology, sharpness is preserved throughout the digital zoom range. This technology expands the zoom to 70x, or a 1680mm-equivalent focal length. Furthermore, macro close-up mode lets users shoot as close as 0.4 inch to the lens at the maximum wide-angle position.
Utilizing its 16 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, the A1000 records 4K UHD (3,840×2,160) video with stereo sound. While recording, hybrid VR enables smooth and steady footage.
The camera also provides Nikon’s Active D-Lighting function for enhanced photo quality in high-contrast scenarios, such as shooting backlit portraits. In addition, this function, which reduces the loss of details in highlights and shadows in scenes with great contrast, also works during movie recording.
Another feature is the camera’s 1.17M-dot electronic eye-level viewfinder. The EVF aids in the framing process and also enables users to compose their shot in bright light. It is complemented by the A1000’s 1.04M-dot, 3-inch, tilting touch-screen display, which permits image capture from challenging angles.
Other specs include: snap back zoom and side zoom controls to adjust camera settings while using the viewfinder; an ISO range up to 6400 (using PSAM modes); uncompressed RAW (NRW) capture for easier post-processing using Capture NX-D; lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) for shooting sharp images without a tripod; five preset creative modes; 20 image effects; and built-in Wi-Fi as well as Bluetooth connectivity for sharing via the Nikon SnapBridge app and a mobile device.
Coolpix B600
The lightweight Coolpix B600 employs a 60x optical zoom Nikkor lens with a focal length range equivalent of 24–1440mm. It enables users to capture scenes from wide-angle landscapes to super-telephoto close-ups of a ballplayer sliding into home plate, for example. In addition, snap back zoom and side zoom controls enable photographers of all levels to capture faraway subjects.
The B600 also has a 16MP BSI (backside-illuminated) CMOS sensor and advanced Expeed processor to capture detailed images in challenging light. Additionally, with Dynamic Fine Zoom technology, it captures subjects at a 120x equivalent.
Furthermore, the point-and-shoot camera takes close-ups via macro mode. This permits photographers to shoot as close as 0.4 inch to the lens at the maximum wide-angle position.
Moreover, to capture sharp photos and smooth video, Nikon integrated a vibration reduction (VR) mechanism that reduces camera shake to the same degree as a 3.0-stop increase in shutter speed (still photography). In addition, 4-axis hybrid VR effectively reduces blur with movie recording. The camera records 1080/60i (50i) and 1080/30p Full HD movies with stereo sound.
Also notable are 19 scene modes that automatically optimize settings according to the scene being capture. For instance, multiple exposure lighten mode captures nightscapes and light paths—like the flow of car lights. In addition, photographers can select from 36 creative effects and filters to bring a creative vision to life.
Another feature is built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity that works with Nikon’s SnapBridge app to automatically transfer images to a smart device. The camera will also transfer content while the user continues shooting.
Other features include: support for Nikon’s ML-L7 remote control, which is capable of various operations over a Bluetooth connection; and an EN-EL12 USB-rechargeable Li-ion battery.
Pricing & Availability
The Coolpix A1000 and the Coolpix B600, both available in black, will ship this March. They will have SRPs of $479.95 and $329.95, respectively.
