D7000 -> D600 Upgrade Observations w/Samples (Extreme Conditions) Autofocus Improvements

Yesterday, I shot my first wedding using the D600, and I was skeptical about its abilities due to my prior experience with the D7000. The D7000 gave me trouble with autofocus in challenging conditions.

These were the challenges:

*Extremely challenging low light with frequent lighting changes

*Shallow depth of field (mostly wide open with fast primes)

If you are considering upgrading to a D600 but have the same doubts I did, I am happy to report that the autofocus has been greatly improved (fixed).

The first twelve shots are with the D600 and the last shots are with the D700. I prefer to use Auto Area AF at wedding with the D700 because it automatically focuses on the nearest eyeball. I am happy to report that the D600 is capable of the same magic. It is a little more hesitant, but if you pay attention to the viewfinder it will eventually find the eyes.

Other D600 observations:

*Focus is better than the D7000 by miles, but still short of the D700

*Auto White Balance can finally be trusted, it was miles better than the D700. I have to use a preset and a white card with the D700 very often.

*It is built well, but I carry both around my neck, and when they would bump together, the D600j sounded kinda hollow. It was not a reassuring sound.

D600 Lenses Used:

16-28 Tokina

50 1.4D

D700 Lens Used:

85 1.4 Sigma

It was the first wedding I've shot where no flash was used. I brought three speedlights, but I didn't use them.



Great information  and shots. But are you talking about comparing 2 cameras, or 3. You suddenly shifted to comments about the D700. Is that a typo (should be D7000?)

Looks like Galveston?

I was actually comparing all three. I sold my D7000 when it failed me at a wedding and bought a D700. I recently added the D600. I posted here because I think many DX users are interested in the D600, but probably wondering about the focus module.

Yes! Did you recognize the church or the hotel?

Hotel Galvez.  Family goes to Galveston every year.  We are going in March.

Nice pics.  I'm thinking about going from d7000 to d600 but by the time I get to it something else may be around the corner.

There seem to be quite a few threads popping up now that some users have moved to the D600 from the D7000.  The D600 and the D800 are a bit better, but this whole night and day better thing is way exaggerated, imo.

REALLY like that 85mm lens on the D700. Thanks for sharing.

Curious question (NOT an attack): can LR4.3 correct the 18mm group shots so that the folks on the ends do not look "fatter" than they are? If so, how does that work for you?

This "upgrade" theme is getting real old.  It's nice that you're happy with your new camera, but why is it necessary to come into this forum and tell everyone that your camera is so much better than the ones that the folks here own?

I own several very nice cameras, including the d5100 and d7000.  I'm sure that your d600 is nice too, but for the double or triple costs, it dam well should be a nice camera. Even so, it doesn't negate the fact that the d5100 and d7000 are excellent cameras, especially when one considers the cost.

The d600 is not topical to this forum. These posts that try to demonstrate the "my camera is better than yours" are way out of line.

Kerry

--
my gallery of so-so photos
http://www.pbase.com/kerrypierce/root

Excellent shots and indeed, many Nikon DX folks are looking hard at the D600. Thanks for sharing. BTW, how would you rate the metering in matrix with the new RGB sensor?

I'm not sure if this is possible since the Tokina has very little distortion. And the distortion that it has would be straightening lines, not correcting the wide-angle effect. I was aware with the effect and okay with it. I was shooting in an extremely tight space.

If I have room, I shoot group shots at the 28mm end of the zoom.

Dear Kerry,

I appreciate your sentiment, but it is helpful to discuss the costs/benefits associated with camera upgrades.

I had no troubles with my D7000 in really good light, but the product I gave clients suffered when I used it at weddings.

Several posters in this forum shoot weddings with the D7000, and they may or may not have the issues I had. Either way, providing more information and more samples is a good thing. Data is the best resource to use for decision making.

I never said my camera was better than yours. I said it was better than mine. Each of us has different needs, and the gear forums are here for us to learn and sometimes make better decisions.

I'm sorry if I offended you, that wasn't my intent.

John

Dear Mako,

I was very, very impressed with the metering matrix. Almost all of the D600 exposures were spot-on, even backlit situations with sunlight pouring in from a rear window.

One thing interesting to note is that it does NOT handle flash exposures very well. All of my TTL flash exposures with the D600 are way overexposed, no matter the aperture setting. I use third party flashes by Yongnuo, so I'm not sure if they are compatible with the D600 or if my D600 has a metering problem. It works fine with the onboard flash. Just FYI for anyone using Yongnuo flashes.

Other than that, the meter is uncanny. Much better IMO than the D700.

Thanks,

John

matrix metering.

Still relevant to many though. The D600 and D7000 share many of the same features and are much closer to each other than say as D300/D7K comparison in many ways. Sure, some of the comparison is subjective and a bit exaggerated,IMO ("miles better focus" for example might better be stated as "yards better" ). My AF experiences with the D7K differ from the OP's, but both can be respected when presented without undue bias. Anyone with actual experience with both bodies has welcome information to share...when presented in a civil and informative way. Ray Soares's stop by, for example, to relay his take on the D4 was very welcome. I honestly find the information helpful and informative. Makes since, in my mind, for an old friend to stop by for an update us on his move from one to the other....be it D400, D600, or D7100....as long as they promise not to rub it in and let us barrow it from time to time

That's very interesting...wonder if it might be a iTTL-BL incompatibility with 3rd party?  Firmware fix maybe with the flash (doubt Nikon would address)? Have you tried spot metering ?  I'll keep an eye out in the FX forum for an update.  Good to know for those heavily invested in 3rd party flash gear...prior to a move up.

Miles was a huge exaggeration. It is more like millimeters better... But millimeters matter when you are trying to focus on an eyeball in dim light.

What these anecdotes suggest to me is that the D7000 followon - if it retains 39pt AF - will also be improved. Such improvements might even be present to a lesser extent in the D5200. Certainly the AF sensitivity of the D600 is unchanged from the D7000 (-1EV).  But then a dark thought creeps into my brain: what if the AF improvements D600 shooters are seeing in their AF are mostly the lowered precision requirements of the D600's lower-density FF sensor?

I agree, but only when we're talking about cameras listed on the forum header.  We could post "upgrade" information about a few Canon cameras, Panasonic, Sony, etc and so on, but that's not the purpose of the different forums, AFAIK.

If I "upgraded" to a Canon 1d X, do you think it would be appropriate for me to start a post here, exclaiming how much better it was, than my (and your) d7k and d5100?

Folks who desire info on Canons or Pannys or Sony or Nikon FX only need to click on the appropriate forum, the FX forum in this case, and read all the hype and joy contained therein.

You don't need a d600 to get better AF performance. The d300 will do just as well, maybe better, for low light performance. That's the point of the different models in the Nikon line.  Better features, better performance, cost more money.

I'm not offended, John. I'm not trying to offend you either. I just don't think these "FX IS WONDERFUL" type posts are appropriate for the DX forum. You may not intend it, but there are lots of folks here that can't afford to buy a d600. Yet seemingly every week, folks like you think you need to start a thread to state, and then try to demonstrate, that their DX camera is inferior. Seems rather rude and crude to me. But, I'm not a Mod, so it's just my opinion.

Kerry

--
my gallery of so-so photos
http://www.pbase.com/kerrypierce/root

That I can understand. There really is no bad DSLR out there at this time. The money I save on my top of the line consumer DX over FX....gets me a bigger and better flash. Ha take that Pros and Cons to both models...that makes for a great system. I'll even let you barrow mine when you need a little more "reach" with that 300 f2.8 I do honestly really enjoy your examples and see the pluses. I also get a very high keeper rate with my camera as well. That is not something I make up. Even in low light..not as low as can be done with the D600/D300/D700...but dang respectable. Good Luck going forward and Happy New Year all