PatrickCheung
Well-known
Well, I started a rather... unsuccessful... thread on the AF600/Lite Touch and it's focusing indicator. I got my first roll back and it seems like the little half second flash of red in the flash-ready indicator next to the viewfinder is the signal for an in focus image.
I've heard great things about this camera... mostly about the lens, and after viewing my first roll, I find it all to be true. There doesn't seem to be much info on this camera here, so I guess I'll start with a thread with some info and a few image samples.
The Nikon AF600 is a nice little fully automated point and shoot camera that sports a tack sharp 28mm f3.5 lens. It's only a tad wider than the XA, making it incredibly portable. It has a panorama mask built in, which can be activated by a switch on the back of the camera.
The viewfinder is a little hard to find, it's small and if your eye is even a little bit off, all you see is black. It shows you the 28mm framelines, the panorama framelines, focus point, and a set of the three corrected for parallax. The manual says to use the parallax-corrected indicators for shots at 1m-0.35m. The viewfinder is rather cluttered.
There is only one indication light next to the viewfinder, which serves as an in-focus/flash-ready indicator. You line up your shot with the little circle in the centre of the viewfinder, half press the shutter, and wait for a short half-second blip of red to go on next to the viewfinder. The blip means the camera has calculated the distance of your subject AND that the flash is ready, delivering an in-focus and possibly flash-filled shot.
There are a few different modes the camera can be set to, you can set it to pre-focus at infinity, a standard selftimer mode, and a selftimer mode that takes two shots, set apart by 10 second intervals, and of course... your standard flash modes.
That's about it, really. Here are some photos. These were taken on a roll of Kodak Gold 400, scanned with an Epson V500 at 2400dpi and passed through some editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.
I've heard great things about this camera... mostly about the lens, and after viewing my first roll, I find it all to be true. There doesn't seem to be much info on this camera here, so I guess I'll start with a thread with some info and a few image samples.
The Nikon AF600 is a nice little fully automated point and shoot camera that sports a tack sharp 28mm f3.5 lens. It's only a tad wider than the XA, making it incredibly portable. It has a panorama mask built in, which can be activated by a switch on the back of the camera.
The viewfinder is a little hard to find, it's small and if your eye is even a little bit off, all you see is black. It shows you the 28mm framelines, the panorama framelines, focus point, and a set of the three corrected for parallax. The manual says to use the parallax-corrected indicators for shots at 1m-0.35m. The viewfinder is rather cluttered.
There is only one indication light next to the viewfinder, which serves as an in-focus/flash-ready indicator. You line up your shot with the little circle in the centre of the viewfinder, half press the shutter, and wait for a short half-second blip of red to go on next to the viewfinder. The blip means the camera has calculated the distance of your subject AND that the flash is ready, delivering an in-focus and possibly flash-filled shot.
There are a few different modes the camera can be set to, you can set it to pre-focus at infinity, a standard selftimer mode, and a selftimer mode that takes two shots, set apart by 10 second intervals, and of course... your standard flash modes.
That's about it, really. Here are some photos. These were taken on a roll of Kodak Gold 400, scanned with an Epson V500 at 2400dpi and passed through some editing in Lightroom and Photoshop.
useless generation
Established
Nice shots 
I'm trying to track one of these down to complement my mju-II!
When you half press the shutter Does it lock the focus and exposure and can you recompose?
I'm trying to track one of these down to complement my mju-II!When you half press the shutter Does it lock the focus and exposure and can you recompose?
eurekaiv
Established
These are great little cameras (and nice shots) but as you mention, the tiny viewfinder that's difficult to get ones eye to likely keeps prices down, and keeps me from using mine more. :-/
Austintatious
Well-known
The manual for this camera states that as with most auto-focus cameras, half depressing the shutter button, hold & re-frame the shot, is the procedure.
farlymac
PF McFarland
Some great shots, Patrick.
PF
PF
bitfeng
Well-known
this is a amazing gem: with BW400CN
PatrickCheung
Well-known
Great photo, Bitfeng the tones are perfect... and it shows off exactly what this camera is capable of!
Sorry for the lack of replies! I didn't think anyone would've replied to this thread... Yeah it's a great little camera and I'm more than happy with it!
It DOES lock focus and exposure with the half press, I've been having no issue with either exposure or focus with this camera. Not as reliable as my Yashica T4 for sharp, infocus photos, but the AF600 does quite a good job!
The Mju-ii has a much nicer viewfinder and it's spot metering mode is a blessing, but I find that it has a little trouble achieving focus.
I'm starting to like it more than my T4... which is a shame because I paid nearly double for that camera than I did the AF600!
Anyway, a few more photos from my AF600
I have a Contax T2 waiting for me back at home... I'll have it in my hands in two days. I wonder how the AF600 will compare!
the tones are perfect... and it shows off exactly what this camera is capable of! Sorry for the lack of replies! I didn't think anyone would've replied to this thread...
Yeah it's a great little camera and I'm more than happy with it! It DOES lock focus and exposure with the half press, I've been having no issue with either exposure or focus with this camera. Not as reliable as my Yashica T4 for sharp, infocus photos, but the AF600 does quite a good job!
The Mju-ii has a much nicer viewfinder and it's spot metering mode is a blessing, but I find that it has a little trouble achieving focus.
I'm starting to like it more than my T4... which is a shame because I paid nearly double for that camera than I did the AF600!
Anyway, a few more photos from my AF600
I have a Contax T2 waiting for me back at home... I'll have it in my hands in two days. I wonder how the AF600 will compare!
Greyscale
Veteran
Nikon Lite Touch AF - Kodak BW400CN by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Fresh paint Fairlane by Greyscale3, on Flickr
36830008 by Greyscale3, on Flickr
36830007 by Greyscale3, on Flickr
36940021 by Greyscale3, on Flickr
farlymac
PF McFarland
That cam does close-ups very well, Patrick. I won't be passing up the next one I see. And Mike's shots show what type of range it has, exposure wise.
PF
PF
matthewm
Well-known
I've got one of these little guys. I've only used it for a couple rolls of film, but it's a neat little camera. I had it for almost a year before I ever used it. It's a fun little camera, though with good results. I should probably use it more...
NeeZee
Well-known
I own an AF600 too. I find it even more pocketable than the XA as it is thinner and you don't have to carry a separate flash. There is a focus lock at half press but I'm not really sure if it locks the exposure as well (many AF P&S cameras don't). It's really sharp stopped down but the edges are terribly blurry wide open so 400 ISO film is recommended. The two major flaws: 1. Really small and hard to find viewfinder (as already mentioned). 2. If you put the cam back into your pocket, it easily switches to panororama mode (better tape that switch!). It still is my favourite AF compact as I find the 28mm much more useful especially for indoor flash shots at parties etc. It's also way cheaper than overhyped cameras like the mju-II or the t4.
Greyscale
Veteran
003_10A by Greyscale3, on Flickr
006_7A by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Nikon Lite Touch AF - Ilford XP2 Super 400 by Greyscale3, on Flickr
Nikon Lite Touch AF - Ilford XP2 Super 400 by Greyscale3, on Flickr
matthewm
Well-known
Good stuff Grayscale. I especially love the first and last ones.