Nikon D600 In-Depth Review: Digital Photography Review

Body Elements

	The D600's viewfinder offers 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification, offering the same viewing experience as the considerably more expensive D800 and D4. Viewfinder accessories for those cameras won't fit though - the D600's finder is framed with a rectangular eyecup, like the D7000 and D300S. There's a diopter adjustment wheel at upper-right for wearers of glasses.
	The D600 has a built-in flash which is released using this mechanical button. The flash has a guide number of 12 meters at ISO 100 and it can also act as a wireless 'commander' for up to two groups of Nikon Speedlight flashguns. The 'BKT' button sets exposure bracketing. You can shoot up to 3 frames covering +/-6EV.
	The D600 has a video capture mode, and just like the D800, it offers a direct movie shooting button for quick and easy movie capture once you're in video live view mode.
	The D600's exposure mode dial gives access to the camera's exposure modes, including PSAM, Auto, and two programmable 'User' positions for quick switching between sets of shooting parameters. At the base of this dial is the drive mode dial, where you'll find the continuous and quiet release modes, self-timer and mirror lock-up. Both dials have locks to prevent accidental rotation.
	The D600 inherits Nikon's simpler 'new style' combined AF/MF switch and AF mode control. This switch has two positions - MF and AF, with AF mode and AF Area mode options selected by pressing in the button at its hub and rotating the D600's control dials.
	The two buttons on the front of the camera (The lower one shown here) can be assigned a wide range of different duties, including depth-of-field preview and engaging an on-screen/in-viewfinder electronic horizon. Unlike the D800, these buttons cannot be used to control aperture during video shooting. If you're shooting with the D600, you must set the aperture prior to commencing recording.
	Easy to miss, this tiny screw is the business end of an in-camera AF motor which drives the autofocus in non-AF-S lenses. This makes the D600 significantly more compatible with Nikon and third-party legacy optics than DSLRs further down Nikon's lineup.
	The D600's live view control is exactly the same as it is on the D800, and comprises a live view activation button with a collar-type switch to move between still and movie live view modes. In movie mode the view on the LCD is cropped to preview the field of view captured during video shooting.
	The D600 has two IR windows, one on the front of the camera (shown here) and one on the rear, which allow it to be triggered by Nikon's inexpensive ML-L3 wireless trigger.
	On the side of the camera you'll find its various sockets. A USB 2.0 socket shares space with an HDMI out socket, a microphone socket, and a headphone jack for monitoring audio in movie mode. In a small but welcome change compared to earlier Nikon DSLRs, the rubber door that covers these ports is hinged, and will stay open until closed.
	The D600 has twin memory card bays accommodating two SD cards, with provision for simultaneous recording, as well as options for overflow or separate JPEG/Raw or still/video storage.

GearShop

Nikon D600 DSLR Camera Bundle with 24-85mm and 70-300mm Nikkor VR Lenses●	$2,549.99	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D600 DSLR Camera Kit with AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED Nikkor Lens, 32GB SD Card and Case●	$2,618.98	Buy on GearShop
Nikon D600 DSLR Camera, Body Only●	Out of stock	View on GearShop
Nikon D600 DSLR Camera Kit with AF-S 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR Lens●	$2,208.98	Buy on GearShop

Nikon D600 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)	$1,849.99
Nikon D600 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)	$1,849.99
Nikon D600 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera with 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S Nikkor Lens	Too low to display
Nikon D600 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Kit with 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED Nikkor Lens	Too low to display
Nikon D600 24.3MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Bundle with 24-85mm and 70-300mm Nikkor VR Lens and 3.2-Inch TFT LCD Screen (Black)	Too low to display
Nikon D600 Digital SLR Camera with 24-85mm & 70-300mm VR Lenses, WU-1b, Bag & 32GB Card with 64GB Card + 2 Batteries + Charger + Battery Grip + Flash + Filters + Remote Kit	$2,699.95
Nikon D7100 24.1 MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR (Body Only)	$1,146.95
Nikon D800 36.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)	$2,796.95
Nikon D7100 Digital SLR Camera & 18-105mm VR DX AF-S Zoom Lens (Black) with 32GB Card + Case + Filter + Remote + Tripod + Accessory Kit	$1,449.95
Nikon D70 Digital Camera (Body Only)	$70.00
Nikon COOLPIX L820 16 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 30x Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080p Video (Black)	Too low to display

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Comments

Total comments: 3

D600 nightmare: After three weeks a few spots appeared. After four weeks a MASSIVE number of spots appeared and I sent it in to Nikon's New York repair facility. Two weeks later I received it, they had replaced the shutter mechanism and cleaned the low pass filter. I took some blue sky test shots which revealed spots still on the sensor. Back to Nikon for the second time. I received the D600 back from Nikon and the workorder shows all they did was re-clean the already cleaned sensor. Test shots show the exact same spots present as when they received it.

How ridiculous is it that an untrained consumer can see a serious problem in 5 minutes, and Nikon's service center has now twice sent out a camera with a damaged sensor.

One more thing: HEY NIKON - can we end the fantasy that the problem is dust? From the owner's manual: "Note, however, that the filter is extremely delicate and easily damaged." And apparently it is damaged when lubricant from the shutter mechanism hit it.

3 upvotes

the "trained" technician is stuck in some poorly lit building. Is not like they can go outside and take shots of blue sky.

2 upvotes

Nikon comes clean over the dust and oil problem – meaning they fixed it. Nikon users also mentioned even before the Nikon announcement that these issues disappear after the camera has been run in.
Source: http://bubbajuju.com/get_nikon_d600_on_sale/
where there are two comparison grids of the most popular cameras to date.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 3

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