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Which battery does the Nikon B600 take?

The Nikon Coolpix B600 is a digital compact camera that features a 15.9MP sensor. It is powered by the Nikon EN-EL12, which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery pack. Lithium-Ion batteries offer a high energy density and low self-discharge, and are nowadays found in many portable electronic devices.

Battery Pack

The EN-EL12 operates at a voltage of 3.7V and has a capacity of 1050mAh. It can be charged from a standard electrical outlet via the Nikon MH-65 charger (that can be purchased separately, for example, at amazon). The battery pack measures 44 mm in width, 5 mm in height, and 32 mm in depth. It weighs 20 g. The Nikon EN-EL12 has been on the market since August 2008 and sells at good camera retailers, such as amazon, for about $35. Nikon provides the EN-EL12 in a black outer finish. Generic alternatives (see below) that are compatible with the Nikon Coolpix B600 can be obtained at substantially lower cost.


Find a generic replacement for the Nikon EN-EL12 at:

 
amazon.com
 
 
ebay.com
 


How many shots can I take with a fully charged ?

The number of shots that one can get out of a battery pack depends heavily on the style and imaging practice of the photographer. For example, the extended use of the LCD screen for framing or reviewing will result in reduced battery performance.

Nikon EN-EL12

The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) has established guidelines that manufacturers are supposed to respect when reporting the battery life of their cameras. According to this CIPA-rating, the Nikon B600 can take 280 images on a single charge. Given the relatively demanding energy usage of the CIPA procedures, this rated number should be achievable or be surpassed in most practical situations. However, if the environment is cold, the LCD screen is used heavily, or the camera is turned on and off frequently, battery mileage might drop towards or even below the rating. Also, as the battery pack ages, its performance will tend to deteriorate.

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What about generic battery packs?

Nikon sells the original EN-EL12 battery pack at quite a steep price. This premium pricing strategy has left room in the market for third party suppliers to offer fully compatible battery packs at much lower prices. Savings from buying generic replacement batteries can amount up to 70 percent of the price of the genuine battery pack.

Nikon EN-EL12 Specifications

  • Battery type: Rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack
  • Compatibility: Nikon B600 & other selected Nikon cameras
  • Voltage: 3.7V DC
  • Capacity: 1050mAh
  • Number of shots (CIPA) with the Nikon B600: 280

Indeed, one can often find a variety of competitively-priced EN-EL12 replacements from different vendors at major online platforms (see, for example, here on ebay). All these generic alternatives should work fine with your Nikon B600. So why would anybody then buy the more expensive original battery? Well, below are some arguments in favor of the genuine Nikon EN-EL12, which can perhaps be summarized as "peace of mind":

  • Assurance that the warranty of the camera will not be rendered void if a battery-related failure occurs;
  • Assurance that the battery pack will indeed have the stated capacity;
  • Assurance that the battery will have low self-discharge rates and, thus, will hold its charge even when not in use;
  • Assurance that the power unit will not trigger any warning messages on the camera and can be effectively charged with the standard charger;
  • Assurance that the manufacturing process has respected the safety guidelines for Lithium-Ion batteries;

If you can live without these assurances, then you are in for some nice savings from buying generic replacements for the Nikon EN-EL12. Unfortunately, the market for generic battery packs is rather fluid, with new trade names popping up regularly while others disappear. Hence it is difficult to keep track of all the suppliers and the quality of their products. That said, in North America, battery packs from Wasabi have gained a good reputation, while in Europe, replacement power packs from Patona have received many favorable reviews. In any case, the existing comparisons tend to find that the cheapest of the generic replacement packs score worse in terms of achieving their rated capacity, holding their charge over time, or allowing for a large number of charge-discharge cycles than somewhat pricier battery packs (or the genuine Nikon offer). Thus, the old adage, "If the price sounds too low to be true, it probably is" has some merit with respect to camera batteries also. You can check the current offers and prices for the original Nikon EN-EL12 and its clones by using the buttons below.


Find a generic replacement for the Nikon EN-EL12 at:

 
amazon.com
 
 
ebay.com
 


Which other cameras use the Nikon EN-EL12?

The B600 is not alone in using the Nikon EN-EL12. Several other cameras from Nikon are powered by the same type of lithium-ion pack. The adjacent table lists some of them along with a selection of their headline specifications.

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Cameras using the Nikon EN-EL12
  Camera
Model
Battery
(name)
Battery life
(CIPA)
Sensor Size
(type)
Resolution
(MP)
Weight
(g)
Camera
Launch
Launch Price
(USD)
Street Price
(USD)
1Nikon A900Nikon EN-EL123001/2.320.2289Feb 2016399ebay.com
2Nikon A1000Nikon EN-EL122501/2.315.9330Jan 2019429ebay.com
3Nikon AW100Nikon EN-EL122501/2.315.9178Aug 2011299ebay.com
4Nikon AW110Nikon EN-EL122501/2.315.9193Jan 2013349ebay.com
5Nikon AW120Nikon EN-EL123501/2.315.9213Feb 2014349ebay.com
6Nikon AW130Nikon EN-EL123701/2.315.9221Feb 2015349ebay.com
7Nikon B600Nikon EN-EL122801/2.315.9500Jan 2019349ebay.com
8Nikon P300Nikon EN-EL122401/2.312.0189Feb 2011329ebay.com
9Nikon P310Nikon EN-EL122301/2.315.9194Feb 2012329ebay.com
10Nikon P330Nikon EN-EL122001/1.712.0200Mar 2013379ebay.com
11Nikon P340Nikon EN-EL122201/1.712.0194Feb 2014379ebay.com
12Nikon S70Nikon EN-EL122001/2.312.0160Aug 2009399ebay.com
13Nikon S610Nikon EN-EL122901/2.310.0145Aug 2008279ebay.com
14Nikon S620Nikon EN-EL122501/2.312.0120Feb 2009279ebay.com
15Nikon S630Nikon EN-EL122201/2.312.0140Feb 2009249ebay.com
16Nikon S640Nikon EN-EL122701/2.312.0130Aug 2009249ebay.com
17Nikon S710Nikon EN-EL122501/1.714.2195Aug 2008379ebay.com
18Nikon S800cNikon EN-EL121401/2.315.9184Aug 2012349ebay.com
19Nikon S1000pjNikon EN-EL122201/2.312.0175Aug 2009349ebay.com
20Nikon S1100pjNikon EN-EL122201/2.314.0180Apr 2010299ebay.com
21Nikon S1200pjNikon EN-EL122201/2.314.0186Aug 2011499ebay.com
22Nikon S6000Nikon EN-EL122101/2.314.0156Feb 2010199ebay.com
23Nikon S6100Nikon EN-EL122101/2.315.9175Feb 2011199ebay.com
24Nikon S6150Nikon EN-EL12230APS-C16.1299Mar 20131,099ebay.com
25Nikon S6200Nikon EN-EL122501/2.315.9160Aug 2011229ebay.com
26Nikon S6300Nikon EN-EL122301/2.315.9160Feb 2012199ebay.com
27Nikon S8000Nikon EN-EL122101/2.314.0183Feb 2010299ebay.com
28Nikon S8100Nikon EN-EL122201/2.312.0180Sep 2010299ebay.com
29Nikon S8200Nikon EN-EL122501/2.315.9213Aug 2011329ebay.com
30Nikon S9100Nikon EN-EL122701/2.312.0214Feb 2011329ebay.com
31Nikon S9300Nikon EN-EL122001/2.315.9215Feb 2012249ebay.com
32Nikon S9400Nikon EN-EL12230APS-C16.1299Mar 20131,099ebay.com
33Nikon S9500Nikon EN-EL122301/2.318.0205Jan 2013229ebay.com
34Nikon S9600Nikon EN-EL122901/2.315.9206Feb 2014199ebay.com
35Nikon S9700Nikon EN-EL123001/2.315.9232Feb 2014349ebay.com
36Nikon S9900Nikon EN-EL123001/2.315.9289Feb 2015349ebay.com
37Nikon W300Nikon EN-EL122801/2.315.9231May 2017389ebay.com

Nikon EN-EL12 FAQ

The Nikon EN-EL12 is the standard power source for the B600. As such it is an indispensable camera accessory. Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular aspects of the battery pack and Lithium-Ion power units more generally.

Is there a car charger available for the EN-EL12?

Nikon does not offer a travel charger, but third party suppliers might do (see here on ebay).

Can I use the EN-EL12 in any of my other electronic devices?

No, the battery is specifically designed for use in the Nikon B600 and other selected cameras from Nikon.

How should the EN-EL12 be stored?

Lithium-ion batteries can hold a charge for a long time. However, these battery packs have a safety mechanism built-in that disables any re-charge if the voltage drops below a certain minimum level. To avoid this safety-trigger to be activated, the battery pack should be charged at least once every few months.

How should I discard my old Nikon EN-EL12 battery pack?

The contents of Lithium-Ion batteries is under pressure and the packs can explode if exposed to extreme heat. Lithium-Ion battery units should therefore never be incinerated and should not be thrown into the household trash, but put into the recycling stream. Most places that sell camera batteries will also accept them back for recycling.

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