Nikon Coolpix S600 Users Manual

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Inserting Memory Cards
First Steps
Removing Memory Cards
Before removing memory cards, turn the camera off 
and confirm that the power-on lamp is off. Open the 
battery-chamber/memory card slot cover and press the 
card in 1 to partially eject the card 2. The card can 
then be removed by hand.
BFormatting Memory Cards
If the message at right is displayed, the memory card must be 
formatted before use (A106). Note that formatting permanently 
deletes all pictures and other data on the memory card. Be sure 
to make copies of any pictures you wish to keep before formatting 
the memory card.
Use the rotary multi selector to choose Yes and press k. The 
confirmation dialog will be displayed. To start formatting, choose 
Format and press k.
•Do not turn the camera off or open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover until 
formatting is complete. 
•The first time you insert the memory cards used in other devices into the COOLPIX S600, be sure to 
format them using this camera (A106).
BThe Write Protect Switch
SD memory cards are equipped with a write protect switch. 
Pictures cannot be recorded or deleted and the memory card 
cannot be formatted when this switch is in the “lock” position. 
Unlock by sliding the switch to the “write” position.
BMemory Cards
•Use only Secure Digital memory cards.
•Do not perform the following during formatting, while data 
is being written to or deleted from the memory card, or during data transfer to a computer. Failure 
to observe this precaution could result in the loss of data or in damage to the camera or memory 
card:
- Take out the battery or memory card
-Turn off the camera
- Disconnect the AC adapter
•Do not format the memory card using a computer.
•Do not disassemble or modify.
•Do not drop, bend, or expose to water or strong physical shocks.
•Do not touch the metal terminals with your fingers or metal objects.
•Do not affix labels or stickers to the memory card.
•Do not leave in direct sunlight, closed vehicles or areas exposed to high temperatures.
•Do not expose to humidity, dust, or to corrosive gases.
Card is not formatted.
Format card?
No
Yes
Write protect switch
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select A (Auto) Mode
This section describes how to take pictures in A (auto) mode, an automatic, 
“point-and-shoot” mode recommended for first-time users of digital cameras.
1Press the power switch to turn on the camera.
The power-on lamp will light up, the lens will open and 
the monitor will turn on.
Proceed to step 4 when A is displayed.
2Press e.
3Use the rotary multi selector to choose A and 
press k.
The camera enters A (auto) mode.
4Check the battery level and number of 
exposures remaining.
Battery Level
Number of Exposures Remaining
The number of pictures that can be stored depends on the capacity of the memory or 
memory card and image mode setting (A76).
MonitorDescription
NO INDICATORBattery fully charged.
BBattery low; prepare to charge or 
replace the battery.
N
Battery 
exhausted.Cannot take pictures. Recharge or 
replace with a fully charged 
battery.
Shooting
161616
Battery level indicator
Number of exposures 
remaining
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Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select A (Auto) Mode
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Indicators Displayed in A (Auto) Mode
Information displayed in the monitor during shooting or playback will appear for a 
few seconds (A101).
When the monitor is turned off, press the power switch or the shutter button to 
turn it on (A105).
CMonitor brightness boost
Holding down the c button while the power is on will switch the monitor brightness to the 
maximum setting. Hold down the c button again to change back to the original brightness. The 
b icon will be displayed on the monitor when the brightness setting is set to the maximum by 
pressing c.
DAvailable Functions in A (Auto) Mode
In A (auto) mode, macro mode (A31) and exposure compensation (A32) can be applied and 
pictures can be taken using the flash mode (A28) and self-timer (A30). Pressing d in A (auto) 
mode displays the shooting menu. This menu allows you to specify the image mode (A76), white 
balance setting (A78), and to apply continuous shooting (A81), ISO sensitivity (A82), color 
options (A83) and AF area (A84), to suit shooting conditions or your own preferences.
DVibration Reduction
Vibration reduction (A103), when On (default setting) is selected, can be applied to effectively 
reduce blur, caused by slight hand movement known as camera shake, that commonly occurs when 
shooting with zoom applied or at slow shutter speeds.
Vibration reduction can be used in all shooting modes.
Turn vibration reduction off when using a tripod to stabilize the camera during shooting.
161616
Shooting mode
A displayed in A (auto) mode.
Image mode
Display image size and quality 
set in the image mode menu. The 
default setting is K Normal 
(3648 × 2736). Internal memory indicator
Pictures will be recorded to internal memory 
(approximately 45 MB). When memory card 
is inserted, C is not displayed and pictures 
will be recorded to memory card.
Vibration reduction icon
Vibration reduction will be adjusted.
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 2 Frame a Picture
1Ready the camera.
Hold the camera steadily in both hands, keeping your 
fingers and other objects away from the lens, flash, self-
timer lamp, microphone and speaker.
2Frame the picture.
Position the main subject near the center of the monitor.
Using the Zoom
Use the zoom buttons to activate optical zoom. Press 
f (h) to zoom out, increasing the area visible in the 
frame, or g (i) to zoom in so that the subject fills a 
larger area of the frame.
Press the zoom button and a monitor indicator will 
show the current zoom ratio.
161616
Zoom out
Zoom in
Optical 
zoomDigital 
zoom
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Step 2 Frame a Picture
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Digital Zoom
When the camera is zoomed in to the maximum magnification (4×), holding down 
g (i) triggers digital zoom. The subject is magnified up to 4×, for a total 
magnification of 16×.
The focus area will not be displayed and focus will be on the center of the screen 
when digital zoom is in effect.
If the crop would be smaller than the current image size, additional pixels are 
added through a process known as interpolation, creating a slightly “grainy” 
image.
Interpolation will not be applied before the position of the V on the screen; the 
zoom indicator changes to yellow when interpolation is in effect.
BMaximum zoom ratio without interpolation
If possible, digital zoom will create a picture by cropping the area visible in the monitor to the 
current Image mode (A76), increasing magnification without affecting quality, and changing the 
position of 
V.
The amount of zoom available before interpolation is used depends on the option currently 
selected for image size, as shown in the following table. The camera pauses temporarily in its 
zooming operation when it reaches the maximum zoom ratio possible before interpolation is used, 
during which the zoom indicator changes from white to yellow.
Digital zoom can be turned off (A104)
Image ModeZoom rateImage ModeZoom rate
,,hiK4×M6.4× (1.6 digital zoom)
(maximum optical zoom)N13.6× (3.4 digital zoom)
L5.6× (1.4 digital zoom)O16× (4 digital zoom)
Optical zoom 
(up to 4×).Digital zoom is in effect.
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 3 Focus and Shoot
1Press the shutter-release button halfway.
Camera automatically selects the focus area (one of nine) 
containing the subject closest to the camera. When the 
subject is in focus, the active focus area glows green.
When digital zoom is in effect, the focus area will not be displayed and the camera will 
focus on the subject in the center focus area. The focus indicator will glow green and the 
focus area will not be displayed.
Press the shutter-release button halfway to display the shutter speed and aperture.
Focus and exposure remains locked while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
When the camera is unable to focus while the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, 
the focus area or focus display will blink red. Change the composition and try again.
2Press the shutter-release button the rest of 
the way down.
The picture will be recorded to the memory card or 
internal memory.
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F2.7F2.71/601/601/60 F2.7
Shutter 
SpeedAperture
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Step 3 Focus and Shoot
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
CDuring Recording
While pictures are being recorded, the O(wait) icon will be displayed and the number of exposures 
remaining display or the movie length display will blink. Do not turn the camera off, open the 
battery-chamber/memory card slot cover, or remove or disconnect the power source while these 
icons are displayed. Cutting power or removing the memory card in these circumstances could 
result in loss of data or in damage to the camera or card.
CAutofocus
Autofocus may not perform as expected in the following situations. In some rare cases, the subject 
may not be in focus despite the fact that the active focus area or the focus indicator glow green:
•Subject is very dark
•Objects of sharply differing brightness are included in the scene (e.g. the sun is behind the subject 
and is in deep shadow)
•No contrast between the subject and surroundings (e.g. when the subject is standing in front of a 
white wall, wearing a white shirt)
•Several objects are at different distances from the camera (e.g. the subject is inside a cage)
•Subject is moving rapidly
In the situations noted above, try pressing the shutter-release button halfway to refocus several 
times, or focus on another subject and use focus lock (A85). When using focus lock, be sure that 
the distance between the camera and the subject with which focus was locked is the same as that 
for the actual subject.
DShutter-release Button
The camera features a two-stage shutter-release button. To set focus and exposure, press the 
shutter-release button halfway, stopping when you feel resistance. Focus and exposure lock while 
the shutter-release button is held in this position. To release the shutter and take a picture, press the 
shutter-release button the rest of the way down. Do not use force when pressing the shutter-release 
button, as this may result in camera shake and blurred pictures.
DAF-assist Illuminator and Flash
If the subject is poorly lit, the AF-assist illuminator may light by pressing the shutter-release button 
halfway, or the flash may fire by pressing the shutter-release button all the way down.
The illuminator has a range of about 3.0 m (9.8 ft.) at the maximum wide-angle position and 1.5 m 
(4.9 ft.) at the maximum telescopic position. The AF-assist illuminator can be set to Off manually 
(A104), although in this case the camera may not focus when lighting is poor.
Press the shutter-
release button the 
rest of the way down 
to take picture. Press the shutter-
release button 
halfway to set focus 
and exposure.
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Step 4 Viewing and Deleting Pictures
Viewing Pictures (Playback Mode)
Press c.
The last picture taken will be displayed in full-frame playback 
mode.
Rotate the rotary multi selector or press H, I, J or K to 
display the pictures (
A9).
Pictures may be displayed briefly at low resolution while being 
read from the memory card or internal memory.
Press c to switch to shooting mode.
When C is displayed, pictures stored in the internal memory 
will be displayed. When memory card is inserted, C is not 
displayed and pictures stored on the memory card will be 
displayed.
Deleting Pictures
1Press l to delete the picture currently 
displayed in the monitor.
2Use the rotary multi 
selector to select Yes 
and press k.
To exit without deleting the 
picture, choose No and press 
k.
15/05/2008 15:3015/05/2008 15:300004.JPG0004.JPG0004.JPG
4 44 4
15/05/2008 15:30
Internal memory
indicator
No
Yes Erase 1 image?
Done
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Step 4 Viewing and Deleting Pictures
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
CPlayback Mode
The following options are available in full-frame playback mode.
CPower on by pressing c
If the c button is pressed continuously while the power is OFF, the power will be switched ON 
and playback mode will be started up. However, if the last mode selected before the power was 
switched OFF was Voice recording mode (A56) or Sound file playback mode (A58), Sound file 
playback mode will be started up instead.
CViewing Pictures
•Pictures stored in the internal memory can only be viewed if no memory card is inserted.
•Pictures taken in Face Priority (A88 ), while in full-frame playback, will be rotated (if necessary) 
and displayed.
•When the monitor is turned off, press the power switch or the shutter button to turn it on (A105).
CDeleting the Last Picture Taken
In shooting mode, press l to delete the last picture taken. When 
the confirmation dialog shown at right is displayed, use the rotary 
multi selector to choose Yes and press k.
To exit without deleting the picture, choose No and press k.
OptionUseDescriptionA
Playback zoomg (i)Press g (i) to enlarge view of picture 
currently displayed in monitor, up to 
about 10×.
Press k to return to full-frame playback.43
View thumbnailsf (h)Press f (h) to display 4, 9, 16 picture 
thumbnails.42
Record/play voice 
memokPress k to record or play back voice 
memos up to 20 seconds in length.48
Switch to shooting 
modecPress c to switch to the shooting 
mode selected in the shooting-mode 
selection menu.26
No
Yes Erase 1 image?
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Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode
Using the Flash
The flash has a range of 0.5-6.5 m (1.6-21.3 ft.) when the camera is zoomed out all 
the way. With maximum optical zoom applied, the range is 0.5-3.0 m (1.6-9.8 ft.) 
(when ISO sensitivity is set to Auto). The following flash modes are available.
Setting the Flash Mode
1Press m (flash mode).
The flash menu is displayed.
2Use the rotary multi selector to choose the 
desired flash mode and press k.
The icon for the selected flash mode is displayed at the 
top of the monitor.
When U (auto) is applied, D will disappear after a 
few seconds regardless of the monitor settings (A101).
If a setting is not applied by pressing k within a few 
seconds, the selection will be cancelled.
UAuto (default setting for A (auto) mode)
Flash fires automatically when lighting is poor.
VAuto with red-eye reduction
Reduces “red-eye” in portraits (A29).
WOff
Flash will not fire even when lighting is poor.
XFill flash
Flash fires when a picture is taken. Use to “fill-in” (illuminate) shadows and back-lit 
subjects.
YSlow sync
U (auto) is combined with slow shutter speed.
Flash illuminates main subject; slow shutter speeds are used to capture 
background at night or under dim light.
26
Flash mode
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