Nikon D600 via B&H
UPDATE: The debate continues below on Nikon’s newly released D600. Win or fail?
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Big announcement today at Haus of Gaga Nikon. Another news bomb just got dropped – the much-anticipated Nikon D600 is here. Not unlike the D4 and D800 before it, I’ve known about its imminent arrival for some time. But for the first time in quite some time, the specs on this camera have exceeded some expectations for a lower-numbered not “pro” body. On the other hand, it seems to be sort of “on par” with Canon’s similar price pointed stuff (7D) that was released 2 years ago.
Here’s some highlighted specs:
_24.3MP FX-Format (ie FULL frame) CMOS Sensor
_1080/30 or 720/60 HD Video Capture
_10 or 20 Mbps Video Capture modes
_100-6400 ISO – Expandable to 50-25600
_5.5 fps Continuous Shooting
_39 Wide-Area AF Focus Points
_Stereo Mic & Headphone Inputs
_HDMI out signal
_Wi-Fi Connectivity with Optional Adapter
(To see a range of images of the camera, click thru image tabs atop this page)
There are several curve balls for me that may have been rumored on the tech sites, but that Nikon actually delivered on this time around… The FULL FRAME move was a good one. A 600 series camera – smaller than it’s recent brethren – at full frame and with all the alloy frame and weather sealing of a high end pro body make this a tempting backup body for some pros, despite its small size and relatively cheap price tag of $2099.
Now, the megapixels. There’s a lot of em, but it seems like the right amount, not overkill like the D800. The fact that its sensor is large makes these megapixels a little tastier too.
Also, FINALLY this is geared more toward video…1080p, audio jack, HDMI out, we get 60p slow mo, and … it has variable bit rate.
The best news? I heard this thing is supposed to ship in just 6 days on Sept 19th.
Disappointments? No 1080/60 (ie slow mo video at full resolution). Bummer. The ISO sensitivity (and perhaps quality of that senstivity) has also been held back from what’s possible with other Nikon cameras. That has really shaped up lately to be Nikon’s ace in the hole – something that they’re doing better than anyone else. Also, probably should have put this atop the list of disappointments…where is the innovation? This is a great camera for the price, but Canon 7D and other have had similar specs for nearly 2 years. Hmmmmm.
(and my buddy DH is pissed that it only syncs at 1/200…because he’s a flasher…)
But beyond that… Please note I HAVE NOT touched one of these cameras, and like the D4, D800, NO I didn’t shoot the campaign. I haven’t yet spent time with the camera to tell you any gory details, although I’m assuming I’ll be able to chat more soon.
The look and feel of this camera? Click thru a range of images of the camera via the above tabs.
So.. I (we?) knew this was coming, but rather than me spouting off about having played with it (I can’t), or telling you what your feelings about this system should be (I won’t), let’s hear from you…
Love, hate, indifferent? Insights?
[Reminder that Nikon plays close attention to this blog, so your comments on this post – glowing or otherwise – might help inform Nikon about what your thinking.]Link to all the Nikon D600 details and/or purchase here via B&H.
The specs look great to me. The last Nikon I purchased was the D200 about 7 years ago. I think the D600 might get me to upgrade and join the cinema crowd. I wonder how much the WiFi add-on will cost and if it can support HD streaming?
As a current D7000 shooter looking to jump into a full frame, I would have liked to see a better AF system than the 7000, but I think it’s the same, telling me that it may be tough to grab focus in certain (low light) situations. The price point makes me think that I might be looking for a D700 refurb. Need to see some test shots and hands on reviews first I guess.
Great intermediate camera. -Although the predicted price for the UK is £1900 makes it almost $1000 more expensive here, madness.. So I will not be buying it in the UK that’s for sure!
That’s “Ripoff Britain”, to be sure.
At only 5.5 fps I question the speed for sports photography. In these test do they go shoot football or basketball? If not they should. I need a camera that has some speed to it. I use a D700 and love it. In these days of cutting budgets where is a new camera for a decent price, say 3000 or less, that can shoot 9 to 11 frames per sec. Now that would be a great camera! Sorry guys I’m not impressed. I’m also not a fan of still and video together in one box. It gives to much to screw up. If your video screws up will it effect your stills? You asked.
This really is fairly good time as elevated into the journal. Admire referring to close to.
I think it’s a good camera but really Nikon needs to enhance their product or they will loose a part of the market.
If Nikon wants to play in the MF market like they tend to say for the D800, they need to improve the Flash Synch, 1/200 for the D600 and 1/250 for the D800 is way too low.
For the average people, yeah the D600 is going to be a lot better than the D800 because honestly, 36MP is not so easy to handle. I am a professional and I do have lots of blurry picture with the D800 when I shoot under 1/200th of a second. (I am a freak maybe but I see it 🙂 )
Sony is really 2 steps ahead in features compared to Nikon and I think they really have to work harder and better..
I think they may have too many Product manager who don’t talk to each other… Like U1, U2, why not on the D800? I would have love to have a combo of D600 and D800 with U1 & U2 settings.
One good thing is that it uses the same battery…
I shoot Canon but follow what is going on with other brands. You said you’re getting blurry photos under 1/200th of a second preceded by a statement that 36mp is not so easy to handle. Are you saying that the d800 is heavy and therefore shakes causing blurry pics even at 1/200th.
Most professionals can hand hold down to 1/15th at the absolute slowest and finally start to notice some blurring. 1/15 takes some practice and requires human tripod steadiness. Anyway, 1/200th of a second is seriously fast in comparison and you’d really need to be moving the camera fast or shaking it a ton and or your subject is moving really fast under non-tracking photography technique for you to be getting lots of blurry pictures. Hopefully you’re not referring to shallow dof shots with soft focus.
@brian I think he is referring to taking action shots in broad day light. EG tracking a mountain biker flying around a bend.
Also, I think the 36 mp being not easy to handle refers to file size. I currently shoot Canon as well. Primarily 5D Mark III and mostly in RAW. Shooting sports I find that quite often I end up with a large number of shots when it’s a full days shoot. Just importing some 700 RAW images into Lightroom takes time even though I am using a top end macbook pro with 16 GB ram.
What’s interesting is that for most applications going beyond 25 mp seems overkill. I find most of the shoots that require higher resolution are for high end advertising. In those cases the shots are so staged that you only get a handful of images a day anyway plus it’s mainly shot on medium format.
The more MP you have, the faster you gotta shoot. It’s a question of physic, I would know how to explain it but that’s how it is 🙂
I can easily take my old D300 and shoot 1/30 and there isn’t any blur but with a 36MP, you just gotta be careful for everything, sport, studio, fast action etc.
I was “questionning” why most of Pro using Hasselblad used a Tripod or monopod, I always though oh c’mon on man, I shoot with D7000 and D300 with no problem, easy no blur nada, but with the D800, I am always stunned because the amount of details is so high that I see blur where I wouldn’t have seen it before. Using a monopod really helps even if I shoot in my studio at 1/160 for portrait, it really helps. 1/200 is better.
I am not a physician, neither a tester, I am a photograher and that’s pretty much the best I can describ the issue. I think Thom hogan explain it a lot better than me but honestly, the D800 is the hardest camera I ever used in my life but also probably the best I have ever used too 🙂 The quality is TOP when you know how to use it and it’s getting there.
you sound like a fucking idiot
Really Lou? Really?
and you’r a tool.
@Lou Reed – wow man killer comeback, you nailed it dude, that guy will never recover.
Slow clap…..
I think what he’s getting at is that with a higher MP sensor, you can pixel peep far more detail in an image where you used to get major pixelation with lower MP sensors. So, an area that you never used to be able to magnify due to resolution is now visible in detail, and you’re seeing fine motion blur.
If you we’re able to look at older images at the same resolution you’d notice the fine amount of “blur” in those too…
@ Ghislain Leduc,”Flash Sync” speed is 1/200, otherwise it’s 1/4000 sec.
@Ghislain Leduc
Any “professional” that thinks Sony is two steps ahead of Nikon is clearly delusional. It makes me giggle when people call themselves “professionals” just because the have an ad in craigslist and shoot trailer trash weddings. Like somehow you have some knowledge that avid and educated enthusiast can never know just because they never took a dime for a photo. Stop comparing consumer gear with pro gear and go take a photography class.
Tom, why knock sony? They make the sensors for Nikon anyhow… I’m a professional shooter, and I use both Nikon and Sony… Do I shoot trailer trash weddings because I use a good tool for a particular job and it doesn’t happen to always be a Nikon? Get real, quit thinking YOU are a pro JUST because you may or may not shoot with a certain camera… Lets not forget “Pro’s” we’re using far crappier cameras than we have now just a few years back… It’s never about the gear my friend, at least not to real professionals…