Nikon Coolpix P600 vs Olympus Stylus 1s: A Hands-On Comparison for Superzoom Enthusiasts

Choosing your next camera, especially in the versatile superzoom category, demands more than just glancing at megapixels or marketing buzzwords. With the Nikon Coolpix P600 and Olympus Stylus 1s occupying similar niches, understanding the subtle yet significant differences can empower you to pick the right tool for your creative journey. Having tested both extensively, we’ll examine their capabilities through real-world performance, technical intricacies, and the demands of various photography genres - from wildlife to street photography and beyond.

Let’s dive in.

First Impressions: Size, Handling, and Controls

Ergonomics Matter

Your connection with a camera often begins with how it feels in your hands. The Nikon P600 and Olympus 1s follow a bridge camera design - SLR-like, built for enthusiast photographers wanting DSLR handling with superzoom capabilities.

• Nikon P600: At 125x85x107mm and 565g, it gives a robust, chunky grip mimicking a DSLR’s heft. The textured body promises handling stability, especially with longer focal lengths like its enormous 1440mm equivalent superzoom.

• Olympus Stylus 1s: More compact (116x87x57mm) and lighter at 402g, the 1s is noticeably more pocketable for extended walks or travel. Its more slender profile may appeal to street photographers or casual shooters who dislike carrying heavier gear.

The size and weight difference matters practically, depending on how long you plan to carry each camera or fit it in your bag. Handling-wise, the Nikon’s bulkier body can offer better balance with large zoom ranges, while the Olympus favors portability.

Control Layout and Usability

Control schemes greatly influence shooting efficiency. The Nikon flaunts a traditional dial and button setup, whereas Olympus integrates touchscreen options.

• Nikon P600 has clearly labeled buttons, a mode dial, dedicated zoom lever encircling the shutter release, and rear dials for quick adjustments. Its articulating 3” screen, though not touch-enabled, flips out for flexible framing.

• Olympus 1s adds a touchscreen with slightly higher resolution (1040k dots vs Nikon’s 921k), easing menu navigation and focus point selection. Physical buttons are fewer but well-spaced, complemented by a tilting 3” LCD.

In practice, if you rely heavily on touch for focusing or playback, Olympus’ screen enhances the experience. Nikon’s non-touch screen might feel less intuitive to some but is sufficiently responsive to dial-and-button users.

Understanding Image Quality: Sensor Tech and Optics

At the heart of any camera lies its sensor and lens. Let's look closely at their specifications and what they mean for your images.

Sensor Size and Resolution

Olympus’ sensor is roughly 1.5 times larger in area than Nikon's smaller 1/2.3" chip. Larger sensors typically offer better image quality, especially in low-light, due to bigger photodiodes capturing more light. The Olympus 1s also supports RAW output, giving you more post-processing flexibility, while the Nikon P600 is limited to JPEG files.

While Nikon’s 16MP count suggests higher resolution, practical sharpness and dynamic range often favor the 1/1.7” sensor, balancing resolution and noise performance better.

Lens Characteristics

Nikon’s 60x zoom from 24 mm wide to a jaw-dropping 1440 mm telephoto outmatches Olympus' 10.7x zoom (28-300 mm). This difference profoundly influences use cases:

• Nikon is your go-to for extreme telephoto needs, like distant wildlife or bird photography.

• Olympus, with a fast f/2.8 aperture across its zoom range, offers better low-light and shallow depth-of-field control, suiting portraits, street photography, and indoor shooting.

Optical Stabilization

Both models use optical image stabilization (OIS), a must for handheld superzoom shooters to counteract shake. While neither offers manufacturer-claimed detailed specs, in real-world tests, Olympus’ stabilization felt slightly more effective at slower shutter speeds, particularly at wide angles. Nikon's OIS helps reach usable images at extreme zoom but can struggle on the longest focal lengths.

In-The-Field Performance: Autofocus, Shooting Speed, and Responsiveness

Autofocus Systems and Accuracy

While neither camera features advanced phase-detection autofocus, both rely on contrast-detection AF, with face detection capabilities.

Olympus boasts a superior autofocus system with 35 points and continuous AF + touch-to-focus capabilities during live view shooting. This makes it more adept at tracking moving subjects - useful in sports or wildlife photography.

Nikon’s simpler system performs well for stationary subjects but can lag when tracking fast motion or in continuous shooting modes.

Burst Shooting and Buffer

Both cameras offer a respectable 7 frames per second continuous shooting rate, sufficient for entry-level action photography.

However, Olympus edges ahead by allowing continuous autofocus during bursts, enabling better subject retention. Nikon’s fixed AF in burst mode limits its utility for unpredictable motion.

Shutter Speed Range

• Nikon P600: Offers 15s to 1/4000s shutter speeds.

• Olympus Stylus 1s: Extends from 60s (!) to 1/2000s.

The Olympus’ notably long shutter speed helps with night photography and astrophotography, an area where you might want exposures stretching beyond the usual limits.

Viewing and Composing: Screens and Viewfinders

Looking at your images and composing shots through the eye or screen is critical.

• Olympus 1s provides a 3” tilting touchscreen LCD with 1040k resolution and an excellent electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 1440k pixels and 100% coverage. The touchscreen lets you tap to focus and swipe menus - ideal for quick adjustments and shooting in awkward angles.

• Nikon P600 has a 3” fully articulated TFT LCD with 921k dots, but no touchscreen. Its EVF has no official resolution spec but is adequate for framing, although somewhat fewer details than Olympus.

For video shooters or street photographers wanting discreet or flexible framing, Olympus’ enhanced interfaces are a clear advantage.

Zoom Versus Speed: Use Cases in Photography Genres

Let’s break down how these cameras perform across primary photographic disciplines, matching features to real scenarios.

Portrait Photography

Olympus offers a faster lens allowing better subject-background separation and softer bokeh, critical for flattering portraits. Combined with finer AF control and RAW output, it stands out. Nikon struggles with background blur given the smaller aperture, leaning more on cropping or distance manipulation.

Winner: Olympus Stylus 1s

Landscape Photography

Landscape photography demands resolution, dynamic range, and weather resilience.

• Both lack weather sealing, a downside for harsh environments.

• Nikon’s 16MP sensor has slightly higher resolution, beneficial for large prints.

• Olympus’ larger sensor improves dynamic range and color depth.

• Nikon’s giant zoom enables wide-angle to ultra-telefocus framing but the slower lens hampers low-light and starry sky shots.

Considerations: For landscapes demanding high detail and flexibility, Olympus’ sensor and RAW capabilities may be preferable. Nikon’s extra reach is nice for distant elements but less critical here.

Wildlife Photography

• Nikon P600’s 60x zoom gives it a massive reach, vital for skittish wildlife at a distance.

• However, the AF system’s limitations mean focusing can be slower or jittery at full zoom.

• Olympus’ faster AF and continuous tracking are better for alert animals that move quickly but cannot match reach.

If your goal is maximum telephoto coverage for birds or mammals in the wild, Nikon wins. For closer wildlife and general nature walks, Olympus works well.

Sports Photography

Sports photography requires fast, reliable AF and high frame rates.

• Both share 7 fps shooting speeds, decent for amateur sports.

• Olympus’ continuous AF gives the edge in tracking fast athletes.

• Nikon’s AF lock during burst makes it less responsive.

Low light performance is also superior in Olympus due to f/2.8 lens and larger sensor, assisting indoor sports or evening events.

Street Photography

Street shooters seek discreet form factors and fast, accurate focusing.

• Olympus’ smaller, lighter body profiles better for candid shooting.

• The silent shutter (Nikon lacks electronic shutter), and faster aperture favor Olympus.

• Touchscreen AF brings speed.

Nikon’s bulk and slower lens aperture limit its street credentials.

Macro Photography

Nikon’s ability to focus extremely close (1 cm) at certain focal lengths offers good macro potential, but the slower lens and AF system can hinder crisp focusing.

Olympus may lose on closest focusing but delivers more consistent macro image quality.

Night and Astro Photography

• Olympus accommodates 60s shutter speeds enabling star trails and deep night scenes.

• Olympus has higher max ISO in native mode for better low-light capture.

• Both lack dedicated astro modes but Olympus’ longer exposures and RAW format provide more flexibility.

Video Capabilities

• Both record 1080p video at 30 fps; Nikon also supports interlaced modes (60i), while Olympus supports only 30p.

• Olympus’ touchscreen and mic input are missing, limiting audio recording control.

• Nikon lacks microphone/headphone ports as well.

• Both feature optical stabilization aiding handheld video.

Neither camera targets videographers, but for casual HD footage, both suffice.

Travel Photography

• Olympus 1s’s lighter weight and better ergonomics make it more travel-friendly.

• Its 10.7x zoom covers versatile focal needs without excessive bulk.

• Longer battery life (~450 vs 330 shots) boosts travel reliability.

• Nikon’s higher zoom range is tempting but bulkier size and heavier weight make it less portable.

Professional Use and Workflow

• Olympus’ RAW file support streamlines professional post-processing workflows.

• Nikon’s JPEG-only output restricts advanced editing.

• Both cameras are limited for professional multimedia creators but fine for enthusiast photographers.

Technical Summaries: Build, Battery, and Connectivity

Side-by-Side Sample Images

Nikon P600 front Nikon P600 screen back Olympus 1s front Olympus 1s screen back

Review of test shots confirms:

• Olympus produces cleaner images at higher ISO with less noise.

• Nikon’s telephoto shots capture distant subjects but require good light for sharpness.

• Colors are vivid on both with slight differences in saturation and contrast.

Overall Performance Ratings

Our cumulative testing rates Olympus slightly ahead for image quality and autofocus, Nikon scores higher for zoom range and versatility.

Genre-Specific Performance Analysis

Summary:

• Wildlife: Nikon > Olympus

• Portrait: Olympus > Nikon

• Landscape: Olympus > Nikon

• Sports: Olympus > Nikon

• Street: Olympus > Nikon

• Macro: Close call

• Video: Tie

• Travel: Olympus > Nikon

Final Thoughts: Which Camera Suits You Best?

Both the Nikon Coolpix P600 and Olympus Stylus 1s serve distinct superzoom niches. Let’s help you decide based on real-world shooting priorities.

Choose the Nikon P600 if you:

• Require extreme telephoto reach (60x zoom) for wildlife, sports, or distant subjects
• Prefer a bulkier DSLR-style grip and physical controls
• Don’t need RAW output or advanced autofocus features
• Can sacrifice portability for zoom power

Opt for the Olympus Stylus 1s if you:

• Want a fast, constant f/2.8 lens for portraits, street, and general shooting
• Need a more compact, travel-friendly camera with better ergonomics
• Desire advanced autofocus with continuous tracking and touch focus
• Require RAW output and longer shutter speeds for astrophotography
• Prefer a high-resolution EVF and touchscreen interface

Getting the Most from Your Superzoom: Tips for Buyers

• Try handling them in person: Feel the grip, test the controls - ergonomics matter greatly, especially for fieldwork.

• Consider lens coverage vs quality: Nikon’s massive zoom invites creativity but requires steady hands; Olympus sacrifices reach for faster optics.

• Use RAW if possible: Olympus’ RAW support gives you a significant advantage in post-processing.

• Invest in accessories: Spare batteries, fast memory cards (SDXC UHS-I/II), and possibly a tripod improve your shooting experience.

• Explore firmware updates: Manufacturers often improve autofocus and functionality.

Superzooms like the Nikon P600 and Olympus 1s offer unique all-in-one solutions. Your choice revolves around balancing focal needs, image quality demands, and handling preferences. Armed with this guide and firsthand experience, you’re well-equipped to make an informed purchase.

Happy shooting!