My take on the D600 lubricant/dust issue

Right up front I'll say this is not definitive and certainly open to revision when more evidence comes in. However, based on my own experience and the evidence many others have posted around the Internet, I can now say this:

1. Yes, there's a problem, and a significant one. The evidence the folks at LensRentals present, with a statistically significant sample size (20 cameras studied, 60 in use, IIRC) is overwhelming. The D600 is producing spots on its sensor at rates way higher than we're used to.
2. We cannot safely conclude what these spots are, or where they come from. We can conjecture and guess, but I don't see enough evidence to point to any one thing. Some say it's oil, but in some cases, the spots move or come off with a blower. "Oil"/lubricant doesn't behave that way. Other theories about grinding parts and flexing plastic are just that, theories, unproven and lacking in evidence.
3. We can see a pattern in most units with the heaviest deposit of debree toward the left top corner of the photo frame. Again, we can guess at what that means, but Nikon should look there for root cause.
4. The most critical point is whether folks should buy the D600 or wait until this issue is resolved. That's a personal call. In my case, I went in eyes wide open after reading all the reports, figuring I could handle the cleanings myself as I have done with many of my cameras. So far I've had to blow more than I'm used to, and I'm getting great practice at it, but I haven't been sorry I bought the D600.
5. All trends and information we see, including my own experience with 2 bodies and LensRentals' reports indicate the problem diminishes with time. That may also help you decide whether you should buy or wait, or go with another camera altogether.
6. Nikon service needs to be more pro-active about this. Without getting into details of communications (because apparently, Nikon has the authority -- or is it audacity -- to prohibit me from discussing this online!?), Nikon now is asking me for sample photos, which I'll kindly submit, as if they have no ability to locate thousands of these photos online already. I'm sure when they see my photos, they'll forward me informative links on how to blow on my sensor, how to be careful swapping lenses... none of which deal with the root cause of this issue. In the end, if I'm persistent enough, they'll tell me to send the camera in for a cleaning. What they should do is come clean, even if it is with a preliminary wishy-washy statement saying they are studying the problem and looking for quick, effective ways to address the issue with customers, etc.
7. We should stop panicking and over-blowing this issue. Fact of the matter is most of our photos won't be affected by this. We have a way to address this, and wait it out, going about the business of taking nice photos rather than losing all this sleep and burning all these calories typing long diatribes about this issue. Yeah, we have a legitimate concern, but let's put it in context: our cameras are otherwise operating fine (no power-up/down issues, no lines across the image, no major system failures), and with a bit of inconvenience we can still use the D600 to produce some amazing shots. Let's focus on the positive, and we'll be way better off.

I'm sure this won't be the last thread/discussion on this issue, but hey, a boy can hope.

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http://imagesbyeduardo.com/main/

Seeking the heart and spirit in each image

....they never have. They are like politicians.....deny, deny, deny....and then hope it goes away! We need to stop buying Nikon products until they get a grip on their QC problem.

A well written post, BTW.

As you know I was going to be the first one to respond maybe. Lets see how fast I can type. For me at this point in time I agree with all the things you wrote but will include that it CAN mess up photos depending on a lot of factors but yes it is not a end all be all (like a power issue). I think I am of the opinion that I will be phasing my business away from nikon when the next round of upgrades come for me. This will be 2-3 years away because my d7000 is still new and just got my internal debris maker (d600). Hey maybe the D stands for debris. Who knew! I am actually more hurt with how quality control at nikon is sooo poor and as a long time buyer, it kills me to see this beloved brand get this far from the F100 days. I loved that camera and it was replaced by the d70 for me at that time. I have $8,000 worth of nikon gear and it gives me an uneasy feeling to think that the trend is this. It is true that QC is down hill for most electronics these days but that is because most of it has become soooo disposable. People want the latest and greatest (me included) and that has something to do with why companies build things the way they do. I guess we are all partly to blame but it is not a green light for nikon to screw the end user.

In theory cleaning does work for a short period of time. Trouble is that when traveling one can not always be eyeballing the images or using a sensor loupe.

On my recent 2 week trip I shot mostly in A mode at either F--8 or F5.6 and the blobs are quite noticeable on my images... I started with a fairly clean sensor and after only 450 shots there was crap all over the place... (though concentrated in the upper left....) and the lens had NEVER been removed. I hear all this BS about having to stop down to F-16 to F-22 to see it... Not true.

If all DSLRs performed like this we would all still be using film.....

I must have missed something. When/how did Nikon prohibit discussion?  Thanks.  Good post.

As an engineer who's worked for many large companies, I can say, with some assuredness that Nikon has long since found the root cause.  The issue is coming up with an economically viable solution.  For example, let's say it is lubricant being splattered.  You can't just remove necessary lubricant.  So, do you use a different lubricant?  A dry bearing...ie teflon?  A shield?  A completely different design?  Right now there are engineers looking at all these solutions and managers trying to figure out the best course (ie...best bang for the buck.)  One solution always is to ignore it (if too expensive to fix) and just avoid makiing the same mistake on the next design.  If they do fix it in production they need to decide whether they can provide that same fix to service, or a cheaper kludge, or to ignore service all together.  The more noise customers make, the better chance they will create a service solution.

Oh, they tell you in the email they send you...

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http://imagesbyeduardo.com/main/wedding-photography-los-angeles-story-telling/
Seeking the heart and spirit in each image

True enough. The most pragmatic solution may be to clean the few sensors that users send in, and wait for the problem to die down. There really isn't a need to waste money if that's not the optimum solution. We just wish they told us so.

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http://imagesbyeduardo.com/main/wedding-photography-los-angeles-story-telling/
Seeking the heart and spirit in each image

The front page of DPReview has lots of advertising (a good thing). You will see Nikon, Canon, Sony, Amazon, and others well represented.

If you notice when a thread starts getting a lot of negative comments toward ANY product(not just Nikonj) a MODERAROR will step in and close the thread. They say it is all because of..."THE RULES". I'm guessing it is something else and it has to do with...$.

I don't know if MODERATERS get a salary for waht they do...but they should. I would hate to read all this crap for nothing.

However, let me say that DPReview is at least a place we can air it out (to a degree)....you can't do that on some of the true Nikon Fanboy Forums. I won't mention any names....I am a member there also.

Nikon D2X, D200, D300, D700 (waiting on the 16MP, D400)...and a ton of Nikon ED glass. Not a Troll!

Good luck with your photography.

Censorship issues is very true. One of the few places I have found less of this is amazon. I have written good and negative reviews and no matter how bad I think the product is, my review gets posted. I Have yet to have one denied by amazon. When the d600 issue started, some people came on here saying maybe they should order from b&h because they have very few negative reviews. People thought b&h had some magical series of d600's to sell. The truth I later learned is that after submitting to adorma and b&h some negative reviews about the d600, they never got posted. I was very professional and wrote out what exactly I saw. Well it never got posted. This is the reason that a site like this has to exist. The truth is that most people will submit a review when something is wrong and you cant tell me that in the case of the d600, you only have "x" number of negative reviews and the fun thing is when they edit out a review and say it was too long. Nikon is already doing a good job silencing the dealers and customers by having confidentiality agreements posted in emails and all communications. Thank god for dpreview and amazon at least.

Former posts of yours gave me the impression that you belong to the group of :

"Stop whining and keep on shooting. Who cares about some dust."

All of a sudden you are starting a thread contemplating about this issue. Hmm ... leaves me uncertain about what you really think.

I personally do think that it's another fail of Nikon and even worse Nikon behaves in the same stupid and arrogant way as it did on the D800 AF issue. Silence.

The awful fact is that it may be in Nikon's best interest to do exactly this:  just ignore it and fix it in the next body.

We tend to get all incredulous about that course of action here, "how dare they," but if they're selling tens of thousands of units per month it might be a bad decision to admit to anything publicly.  "Bad" as in it would cost them more revenue doing so than it costs them to make a percentage of existing customers angry at them.

At some point those numbers flip, critical mass is reached and they see a cost-benefit advantage in admitting something.  We're just probably not there yet.

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Here are a few of my favorite things...
---> http://www.flickr.com/photos/95095968@N00/sets/72157626171532197/

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What email?

And are you sure it's not empty-threat boilerplate?  Have you had a lawyer look at it?

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Here are a few of my favorite things...
---> http://www.flickr.com/photos/95095968@N00/sets/72157626171532197/

I have a photographer/lawyer friend who is one of the best class action guys in the USA and he is considering filing a CA suit against Nikon for this issue.  He is trying to find out if there are enough angry customers to make it viable.  I think there are.

THAT would solve the problem.

Rarely have class action lawsuits benefited customers. Usually only the lawyers make out and the customer gets something like a $10 certificate off a new $2000 camera.  In fact, I would go as far to say they are a disincentive, since lawyers get a percentage of the money that goes back to customers the company is benefited by minimizing that money back to customers.

Amen. That is the truth. The best thing is customers not buying this product! Allow your wallet to speak. History has shown that these actions rarely end with the end user getting a full resolution or anything that would make up for the issues they have dealt with.

is to do as I have before, wait about a year after launch before getting a camera. I can do it, I'm not the type that needs the latest (I used a Leica M3 that I bought used 20 years after it was made and used it for another 30 years before I moved to digital).

I'm happy with the V1 and the D7000, both flawless, and was before with D80. I'm inclined to get the D600, and likely will, later this year. Or maybe wait for the next iteration. Meanwhile, my photography keeps going, as always, happy 2013 to all!

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Renato. http://www.flickr.com/photos/rhlpedrosa/ OnExposure member http://www.onexposure.net/ Good shooting and good luck (after Ed Murrow)

dpreview reported an initial problem when they tested the camera a few months back which required a wet clean.

The review implies further comment will follow if the problem persists with the dprview body. Up to now there has been no update http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikon-d600/12

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Leonard Shepherd
Many problems turn out to be a lack of intimate knowledge of complex modern camera equipment.

You must be joking right?

Yeah...all this talk of lawsuits against a company for releasing a moderately defective consumer grade camera is ridiculous.

Just don't buy it...speak with your wallet.