Canon 1D X Mark II vs Nikon B600

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and the Nikon Coolpix B600 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2016 and January 2019. The 1DX Mark II is a DSLR, while the B600 is a fixed lens compact. The cameras are based on a full frame (1DX Mark II) and a 1/2.3-inch (B600) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 20 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 15.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

	VS
Canon 1D X Mark II		Nikon B600
Digital single lens reflex		Fixed lens compact camera
Canon EF mount lenses		24-1440mm f/3.3-6.5
20 MP, Full Frame Sensor		15.9 MP, 1/2.3" Sensor
4K/60p Video		1080/30p Video
ISO 100-51200 (50-409600)		ISO 125-6400
Optical viewfinder		No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.2" LCD, 1620k dots		3.0" LCD, 921k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
16 shutter flaps per second		7.4 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Not weather sealed
1210 shots per battery charge		280 shots per battery charge
158 x 168 x 83 mm, 1530 g		122 x 82 x 99 mm, 500 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and the Nikon Coolpix B600? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 1D X Mark II and the Nikon B600 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The B600 can be obtained in two different colors (black, red), while the 1DX Mark II is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon B600 is considerably smaller (62 percent) than the Canon 1D X Mark II. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 1DX Mark II is splash and dust resistant, while the B600 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the B600 has a lens built in, whereas the 1DX Mark II is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the 1DX Mark II and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 1DX Mark II gets 1210 shots out of its LP-E19 battery, while the B600 can take 280 images on a single charge of its EN-EL12 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, the 1DX Mark II has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Camera Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life (CIPA)	Weather Sealing (yes/no)	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1D X Mark II»	6.2 in	6.6 in	3.3 in	54.0 oz	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999		Canon 1D X Mark II
	Nikon B600«	4.8 in	3.2 in	3.9 in	17.6 oz	280	n	Jan 2019	349		Nikon B600
	Canon 1D X Mark III« »	6.2 in	6.6 in	3.3 in	50.8 oz	2850	Y	Jan 2020	6,499		Canon 1D X Mark III
	Canon 6D Mark II« »	5.7 in	4.4 in	3.0 in	27.0 oz	1200	Y	Jun 2017	1,999		Canon 6D Mark II
	Canon 5DS« »	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	32.8 oz	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699		Canon 5DS
	Canon 1D C« »	6.2 in	6.5 in	3.3 in	54.5 oz	1120	Y	Apr 2012	14,999		Canon 1D C
	Canon 5D Mark III« »	6.0 in	4.6 in	3.0 in	33.5 oz	950	Y	Mar 2012	3,499		Canon 5D Mark III
	Canon 6D« »	5.7 in	4.4 in	2.8 in	27.2 oz	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099		Canon 6D
	Canon 1D X« »	6.2 in	6.6 in	3.3 in	54.7 oz	1120	Y	Oct 2011	6,799		Canon 1D X
	Canon 5D Mark II« »	6.0 in	4.5 in	3.0 in	30.0 oz	850	Y	Sep 2008	3,499		Canon 5D Mark II
	Canon 1Ds Mark III« »	5.9 in	6.3 in	3.1 in	48.9 oz	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999		Canon 1Ds Mark III
	Nikon A1000« »	4.5 in	2.8 in	1.6 in	11.6 oz	250	n	Jan 2019	429		Nikon A1000
	Nikon P1000« »	5.7 in	4.7 in	7.1 in	49.9 oz	250	n	Jul 2018	999		Nikon P1000
	Nikon D5« »	6.3 in	6.3 in	3.6 in	49.9 oz	3780	Y	Jan 2016	6,499		Nikon D5
	Nikon B500« »	4.5 in	3.1 in	3.7 in	19.1 oz	600	n	Jan 2016	299		Nikon B500
	Nikon L840« »	4.4 in	3.1 in	3.8 in	19.0 oz	590	n	Feb 2015	299		Nikon L840
	Sony WX800« »	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.4 in	8.2 oz	370	n	Oct 2018	399		Sony WX800
Convert to Metric
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The B600 was launched at a lower price than the 1DX Mark II, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1D X Mark II features a full frame sensor and the Nikon B600 a 1/2.3-inch sensor. The sensor area in the B600 is 97 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 5.6. The sensor in the 1DX Mark II has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the B600 offers a 4:3 aspect.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 20MP, the 1DX Mark II offers a higher resolution than the B600 (15.9MP), but the 1DX Mark II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.57μm versus 1.33μm for the B600) due to its larger sensor. However, the B600 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 11 months) than the 1DX Mark II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the B600 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 1D X Mark II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 1DX Mark II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inch or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inch or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inch or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon B600 are 23 x 17.3 inch or 58.5 x 43.9 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 13.8 inch or 46.8 x 35.1 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 11.5 inch or 39 x 29.3 cm for excellent quality prints.

The 1DX Mark II has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-409600. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Coolpix B600 are ISO 125 to ISO 6400 (no boost).

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the 1DX Mark II provides a higher video resolution than the B600. It can shoot video footage at 4K/60p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the 1DX Mark II has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the B600 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 1D X Mark II, the Nikon B600, and comparable cameras.

One feature that is present on the 1DX Mark II, but is missing on the B600 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The 1DX Mark II writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or CFast cards, while the B600 uses SDXC cards. The 1DX Mark II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the B600 only has one slot.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and Nikon Coolpix B600 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

It is notable that the 1DX Mark II has a hotshoe, while the B600 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 1D X Mark II (unlike the B600) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the 1DX Mark II has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The B600 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Nikon. In contrast, the 1DX Mark II has been discontinued (but it can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 1DX Mark II was succeeded by the Canon 1DX Mark III. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Canon 1D X Mark II better than the Nikon B600 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (20 vs 15.9MP) with a 14% higher linear resolution.
• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Better image quality: Features bigger pixels on a larger sensor for higher quality imaging.
• Richer colors: The pixel size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger pixels capture a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger pixels means good image quality even under poor lighting.
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/60p vs 1080/30p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1620k vs 921k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (16 vs 7.4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More flexible: Can take a variety of interchangeable lenses, including specialty optics.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1210 versus 280) on a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is weather sealed to enable shooting in dusty or wet environments.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.0 vs 2.0).
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2016).

Arguments in favor of the Nikon Coolpix B600:

• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with an integrated lens, while the 1DX Mark II requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (122x82mm vs 158x168mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight even though it has a lens built in (unlike the 1DX Mark II).
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier fill-in: Has a small integrated flash to brighten shadows of backlit subjects.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 11 months of technical progress since the 1DX Mark II launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 1DX Mark II is the clear winner of the match-up (27 : 10 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1D X Mark II and the Nikon B600 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Superzoom Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 1DX Mark II or the B600. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	cam era   labs	dp re   view	e photo   zine	ima ging resource	photo graphy   blog	Camera Launch (announced)	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price (USD)	Camera Model
	Canon 1D X Mark II	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999		Canon 1D X Mark II
	Nikon B600	+	..	3.5/5	..	3/5	Jan 2019	349		Nikon B600
	Canon 1D X Mark III	+ +	..	..	..	..	Jan 2020	6,499		Canon 1D X Mark III
	Canon 6D Mark II	+	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	4/5	Jun 2017	1,999		Canon 6D Mark II
	Canon 5DS	+	83/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699		Canon 5DS
	Canon 1D C	..	..	..	..	..	Apr 2012	14,999		Canon 1D C
	Canon 5D Mark III	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2012	3,499		Canon 5D Mark III
	Canon 6D	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099		Canon 6D
	Canon 1D X	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2011	6,799		Canon 1D X
	Canon 5D Mark II	91/100	79/100	4/5	5/5	..	Sep 2008	3,499		Canon 5D Mark II
	Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	..	Aug 2007	7,999		Canon 1Ds Mark III
	Nikon A1000	+ +	..	3.5/5	..	3/5	Jan 2019	429		Nikon A1000
	Nikon P1000	+	73/100	3.5/5	4.5/5	3.5/5	Jul 2018	999		Nikon P1000
	Nikon D5	..	89/100	4.5/5	5/5	5/5	Jan 2016	6,499		Nikon D5
	Nikon B500	+	..	4/5	..	3.5/5	Jan 2016	299		Nikon B500
	Nikon L840	+ +	..	3.5/5	..	4/5	Feb 2015	299		Nikon L840
	Sony WX800	..	..	..	..	..	Oct 2018	399		Sony WX800
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

Specifications: Canon 1D X Mark II vs Nikon B600

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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