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.
So we can expect a new D7000? D7100.
Nikon, what’s up with you people?
I shoot the d7000 simply because it’s been the best option at the very moment i needed a new camera. I love the d7000. I love its video and i even more love the stills from that camera and that’s exactly what i need. OK, a full frame sensor would be great and that’s where i’ll move next. But then i expect the same usability.
Now it seems like nikon did some market research, that said: there are tons of amateurs, wannabe and becoming pros, who’d love to shoot with full frame cameras. Well nikon build one. But seriously, did they think of their target market and their budgets? Not long enough, i’d say.
Who wants to buy a camera (for that price) that has more limitations than capabilities? I’m sure it produces beautiful photographs, but flash sync at 1/200s makes this camera obsolete for still shooters. In studio it’ll probably perform great, outside not.
DSLR-Video shooters wont need this. They normaly use canon cameras, because that’s where they’re getting what they want.
Who else could REALLY NEED this camera? Photographers, that allready have a full frame camera wont need it and d7000 users wont upgrade to the d600 camera, because of it’s limitations.
My advice: if you need a high end camera go for the d4 or the d800, depending on your needs. If you’re an amateur, and want to upgrade to full frame for a reasonable price, either get the d7000 (if you don’t own it allready) and wait for your first full frame, or by a used d3x or d3s (depending on your needs). The rest of the current frame bodies either suck at ISO, framerate, video or auto focus. The d7000 is great at all four things. Full frame might have a nicer look, but that’s the only downfall when it comes to this camera. It can’t shoot 60fps (who needs that anyway?), but has a solid low noise level when using high ISO, 39 AF-points, 100% viewfinder and shoots 6 frames per second, wich is quite a lot, if you’re shooting people, architecture, or landscape. And besides that it’s highly customisable. And can sync up to 1/320s.
I was very excited to hear that Nikon finally released the D800 yesterday- but I’m not getting one. I believe it’s to expensive, perhaps $1800 would have been a better price point. I was also hoping for better ISO numbers, like that on the Canon 5d mk iii – ISO 25,000 is the new 6,400. And finally The pixel issue., 24MP is a lot of pixels! I was hoping for a smaller RAW file setting, perhaps a 16MP RAW file setting, maybe 12. I’m a wedding shooter and have no need for that many pixels. It looks like I’ll be keeping my D3 and D700. Thanks for the post and much love from Chicago. O was just in Seattle and loved it out there.
Ooops, I meant D600. Sorry, typing on mobile still kind of sucks.
I love the dynAmic range I’m seeing in the video. I would like to see some of the uncompressed out of the box video files. Such as, what did they shoot with recoriding as uncompressed video, compared to similar shots compressed to h.264. Why? If I am going to bring this gear in studio, I want to know what workflow I’m buying for the results being sold.
Timel lapse is also a question mark for me. Can I get the same dynamic range with a 4K file instead of all 28MP? Workflow is already a monster shooting RAW time lapse on 16MP.
I understand that Nikon doesn’t want to scalp the d800 market, but I don’t know if this is really evolutionary enough for me to move from a d7000.
The body size is also concerning. If I’m going to use this for TS lenses I’ll have to see if I will have a full range of motion. Currently the 28TS (I think) has some limited mobility on the d90 and d7000 body size. With 24MP and full frame, this could be a very desirable camera for the architecture market.
I don’t mind lack of innovation but really dig the compact full frame format and audio out.
No 60p at 1080 is a bit of a disappointment and I’d be willing to overlook everything else if it had that.
Any word on if it has a histogram and audio level meters in video mode?
Skunk