Digital Cameras Guide

Nikon D600 review

Nikon D600 - Full-frame for Everyone

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Launch SRP S$3249

Overall rating 9.5/10
Performance:
9.5
Design:
8.5
Features:
9
User-Friendliness:
8.5
Value:
9.5
THE GOOD
Most affordable Nikon full-frame camera yet
High resolution, great image quality
Snappy performance
Twin SD card slots
Good battery life
THE BAD
AF points concentrated in center
Combined AE/AF-lock button
No burst shooting speed boost with vertical grip


Introduction

Update (22/11/12): It appears that the D600's image sensor has a dust accumulation problem. Nikon has yet to officially comment on this issue at this time.

Update (25/3/13): Nikon has issued an official advisory about the spots issue.

Introduction

The Nikon D600 is an exciting camera for one big reason: its price. While $3249 isn't something to be sneezed at, it's the most affordable full-frame camera from Nikon yet. The other current generation Nikon full-frame DSLR cameras will run you S$4,488 for the D800 and S$9,799 for the D4. The D600 and D800's predecessor, the D700, launched four years ago at $3888. Here's a quick comparison between the Nikon D600, its Nikon complements and Canon competitors.

Nikon D600 vs. D700, D800 & Canon 5D Mark III, 6D
Specs/Camera Nikon D600 Nikon D700 Nikon D800 Canon EOS 5D Mk III Canon EOS 6D
Megapixels (Effective) 24.3MP 12.1MP 36.3MP 22.3MP 20.2MP
ISO Sensitivity ISO 100-6,400, expandable to 50-25,600 ISO 200-6,400, expandable to 100-25,600 ISO 100-6,400, expandable to 50-25,600 ISO 100-25,600, expandable to 50-102,400 ISO 100-25,600, expandable to 50-102,400
AF Points 39 points (9 cross-type) 51 points (15 cross-type) 51 points (15 cross-type) 61 points (41 cross-type) 11 points (1 cross-type)
Metering Sensor 2,016-pixel RGB sensor 1,005-pixel RGB sensor 91,000-pixel RGB sensor 63-zone dual-layer sensor 63-zone dual-layer sensor
Max. Frame Rate (Full-res) 5.5fps 5fps 4fps 6fps 4.5fps
File Formats 12 or 14-bit lossless compressed or compressed NEF (raw), JPEG 12 or 14-bit lossless compressed, compressed or uncompressed NEF (raw), TIFF, JPEG 12 or 14-bit lossless compressed, compressed or uncompressed NEF (raw), TIFF, JPEG Raw (14-bit Canon original), JPEG Raw (14-bit Canon original), JPEG
Viewfinder Optical, 100% coverage, 0.7x magnification Optical, 95% coverage, 0.72x magnification Optical, 100% coverage, 0.7x magnification Optical, 100% coverage, 0.71x magnification Optical, 97% coverage, 0.71x magnification
LCD Monitor 3.2", 921K-dot 3", 921K-dot 3.2", 921K-dot  3.2", 1,040K-dot 3", 1,040K-dot
Shutter Speed 30-1/4000 sec 30-1/8000 sec 30-1/8000 sec 30-1/8000 sec 30-1/4000 sec
Shutter Release Cycles 150,000 150,000 200,000 150,000 100,000
Built-in Flash Yes Yes Yes No No
Flash X-sync Speed 1/200 sec 1/250 sec 1/250 sec 1/200 sec 1/180 sec
Video Resolutions
  • 1,920 x 1,080 (30, 25, 24fps)
  • 1,280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps)
 N.A.
  • 1,920 x 1,080 (30, 25, 24fps)
  • 1,280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps)
  • 640 x 424 (24fps)
 
  • 1,920 x 1,080 (30, 25, 24fps)
  • 1,280 x 720 (60, 50fps)
  • 640 x 480 (30, 25fps)
  • 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24fps)
  • 1280 x 720 (60, 50fps)
  • 640 x 480 (30, 25fps)
Video Formats MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) N.A. MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)
Memory Card Slots 2 x SD slots 1 x CF slot 1 x SD slot, 1 x CF slot 1 x SD slot, 1 x CF slot 1 x SD slot
Battery Life (CIPA) 900 shots 1,000 shots 900 shots 950 shots 1,090 shots
Dimensions 141 x 113 x 82mm 147 x 123 x 77mm 146 x 123 x 82mm 152 x 116 x 76mm 145 x 111 x 71mm
Weight (Body) 760g 995g 900g 860g 755g
Price (Body) S$3,249 S$3,888 D800: S$4,488
D800E: S$4,988		 S$4,699 US$2,099
Availability Now Discontinued Now Now Estimated end of 2012
Tags: dslr, nikon, d600, nikon d600