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.
As a Real Estate Photographer who shoots interiors & exteriors with brackets… a small & simple, yet neglected feature of the D600 (& D7000) is the bracketing restriction of “2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV”.
Nikon, why cant you make this “2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 or 2 EV”?
I assume this is just a firmware change?
Or “2 to 5” or “2 to 7” frames…
I shoot LDR, but with the popularity of HDR, why would I either have to buy a very old D300s or a very expensive D800 to be able to shoot more than 3 brackets automatically? The idea of “upgrading” to an FX camera with this limitation is… crazy!
Also, in your pro-cameras (incl. D4, D800 D300s), why the limitation of shooting at a maximum of 1 EV? For hand-held exteriors where I only need -2, 0, +2, please don’t make me shoot 2 extra frames that take more hand-held time and more memory card space, that I don’t need.
If I were to get exactly what I need from a Nikon DSLR for my Real Estate Photography business, I would have to buy 2 cameras… which is crazy!
1. a D7000 for hand-held exteriors capable of shooting -2, 0, +2
2. a D800 for interiors with 5+ brackets.
I am going to keep going with my D90, as none of the DSLR releases in the past 4 years have been compelling enough to justify the “upgrade”…
I am much more interested in the D300s replacement (perhaps the “D9000”) than an FX body anyway… Nikon, please give me “2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 or 2 EV” in your next high-end DX camera! Or “2 to 5” or “2 to 7” frames…
You lost me at HDR. No camera maker is going to wast time on a passing fad that destroys images with horribly cheesy results.
Go buy a copy of Architectural Digest and learn how to take real photos with light and skill instead of janky wannabe tricks.
Have you ever tried combining only 2 RAW files instead? Exposing one for the highlights and another for the shadows?
I presume you’re doing real HDR- not the kitschy overpowering colour thing.
Best regards
Stan Chung
My god there is a lot of whining going on here. This looks like a badass camera. Full frame for the lowest cost yet. Built on the D7000, which is a great camera in and of itself. Very nicely done, Nikon.
10 or 20 mbps VIdeo Modes?
is that I typo ? (I Hope)
THis is WAY too low for serious video. 25 mbps is considered “prosumer ”
I waited SO long for this camera. This is a major let down.
After using the nice D700, I hoped for a similar camera with a bit more mpix and video. On some areas it seems to deliver the goods. But a d600 for 3000 USD here in Norway!? Are you kidding me?
Ok, so I just bought the d600 because of a good discount, here in Norway, that is a bit more than the us list price, and it fits my needs very well. The files are really crisp and has a lot of data in them for postproduction. The only thing that concerns me a bit is the build quality which is just ok, not anything like d700. But I would recommend this over the D800 for most people. Maybe the 5dmkiii is the real winner now because of af and better videomodes, but i feel for the price, this is the best performer of the bunch. I would not compare it to the 7d image quality wise, this is just so much better, but if you look past the sensor performance, spec wise and build quality, then yes chase, this is no better than the 7d.
*sigh* Once again, Nikon has forgotten about us lowly wedding photographers. Looking back Nikon should have never released the D700 (which I own), because it screwed up the division between their product lines. With the D4, D800 & now D600, they are trying to fix that, I get it. BUT… as an owner of the 700, I don’t have any option to “upgrade” as they say.
The D4 is well out of my price range, the D800 is NOT a wedding/event shooter camera IMO, & the D600 lacks too many features that pros need.
Putting out a full frame camera that’s geared for up and coming photographers is smart business wise (Kudos Nikon), but for me I’m not going to spend $500+ buying flash media for an non CF card camera. At this point, I’ll happily take the money my wife and I would have spent with Nikon, and give it to Paul C Buff instead.