Nikon has announced the most affordable full-frame DSLR yet, the D600. Priced at US$2099.95 for the Body only, this camera brings a smaller, lighter, and definitely more affordable full-frame sensor to the masses. Very similar in size to the D7000, the D600 offers many of the same features as its bigger brother the recently launched D800. Although the D800 sports a bigger 36.3MP sensor, the D600 appears to be a very viable alternative for the average photographer. In addition to being smaller (141x113x82mm vs 146x123x82mm) and lighter (760g vs 900g), the D600 also has a slighter faster continuous shooting rate of 5.5fps (vs D800’s 4fps).
I think the newly announced WiFi adapter, which allows you to not only see the images on a smartphone or tablet, but also control the camera and even take shots with it. Interesting!
This really is a dilemma for me as I certainly planned on upgrading my own D7000 to the D800. The question is: Is the D600 good enough at a lower price, that I should just buy it instead of the D800? I don’t know, but I’m definitely interested in finding out. From the sample photos that I’ve seen, it looks very good. I’m officially confused… what do I buy?
theVooner
Specifications
-
TypeSingle-lens reflex digital camera
-
Lens MountNikon F bayonet mount
-
Picture AngleNikon FX format
-
Effective Pixels24.3 million
-
Sensor Size35.9mm x 24.0mm
-
Image Sensor FormatFX
-
Image Sensor TypeCMOS
-
Total Pixels24.7 million
-
Dust-reduction systemImage sensor cleaning
-
Dust-Off Reference PhotoYes
-
Image Area (pixels)FX-format
(L) 6,016 x 4,016
(M) 4,512 x 3,008
(S) 3,008 x 2,008
DX-format
(L) 3,936 x 2,624
(M) 2,944 x 1,968
(S) 1,968 x 1,312 -
File Format Still ImagesJPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality
JPEG: JPEG-Baseline Compliant with fine (approx 1:4), Normal (approx 1:8) or Basic (approx 1:16) Compression
NEF (RAW): Lossless Compressed, Compressed or Uncompressed 12 or 14 bit
TIFF (RGB) -
Picture ControlLandscape
Monochrome
Neutral
Portrait
Standard
User-customizable Settings
Vivid -
Storage MediaSD
SDHC
SDXC -
Card Slot2 Secure Digital (SD)
-
File SystemCompliant with DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0
DPOF (Digital Print Order Format)
EXIF 2.3 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras)
PictBridge -
ViewfinderEye-level Pentaprism Single-Lens Reflex Viewfinder
-
Viewfinder Frame CoverageFX (36×24): 100% Horizontal and 100% Vertical Approx.
DX (24×16): 97% Horizontal and 97% Vertical Approx. -
Viewfinder Magnification0.70x Approx.
-
Viewfinder Eyepoint20.6mm (-1.0m¯¹)
-
Viewfinder Diopter AdjustmentBuilt-in diopter adjustment (-3 to +1 m¯¹)
-
Focusing ScreenType B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VIII with AF Area Brackets (grid lines can be displayed)
-
Reflex MirrorQuick-return type
-
Lens ApertureInstant-return type
-
Depth-of-field ControlYes
-
Lens Compatibility at a Glance***AF-S or AF lenses fully compatible
Metering with AI lenses -
Compatible LensesAF NIKKOR lenses, including type G and D lenses (some restrictions apply to PC lenses) and DX lenses (using DX 24 × 16 1.5x image area), AI-P NIKKOR lenses, and non-CPU AI lenses (A and M modes only).
IX NIKKOR lenses, lenses for the F3AF, and non-AI lenses cannot be used. -
Shutter typeElectronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
-
Shutter Speed1/4000 to 30 sec.
Bulb -
Fastest Shutter Speed1/4000 sec.
-
Slowest Shutter Speed30 sec.
-
Flash Sync SpeedUp to 1/200 sec.
Synchronizes with shutter at 1/250s or slower -
Bulb Shutter SettingYes
-
Shutter Release ModesContinuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-5 frames per second
Continuous high-speed [CH] mode; 5.5 frames per second
Mirror-up [Mup] mode
Quiet Shutter Release
Self-timer mode
Single-frame [S] mode -
Continuous Shooting OptionsFX-format
CH: Up to 5.5 frames per second
CL: Up to 1-5 frames per second -
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution5.5 frames per second
-
Self-timer2, 5, 10, 20 sec. Timer duration electronically controlled
-
Exposure Metering SystemTTL exposure metering using 2,016-pixel RGB sensor
-
Metering MethodCenter-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8mm circle in center of frame
Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses)
Spot: Meters 4mm circle (about 1.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point -
Metering Range0 to 20 EV (3D color matrix or center-weighted metering)
0 to 20 EV (spot metering) -
Exposure Meter CouplingCPU
AI -
Exposure ModesAperture-Priority (A)
Manual (M)
Programmed auto with flexible program (P)
Shutter-Priority (S) -
Exposure Compensation±5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
-
Exposure Bracketing2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
-
Exposure LockYes
-
Mirror Lock UpYes
-
ISO SensitivityISO 100 – 6400
Lo-1 (ISO 50)
Hi-1 (ISO 12,800)
Hi-2 (ISO 25,600) -
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity100
-
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity6400
-
Lowest Expanded ISO SensitivityLo-1 (ISO 50 equivalent)
-
Highest Expanded ISO SensitivityHI-2 (ISO 25,600 equivalent)
-
Expanded ISO Sensitivity OptionsHi-1 (ISO-12,800 equivalent) in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
Hi-2, (ISO-25,600 equivalent) 1 EV -
Long Exposure Noise ReductionYes
-
High ISO Noise ReductionLow
Normal
High
Off -
Active D-LightingAuto
Extra High
High
Normal
Low
Off -
D-Lighting Bracketing2 frames using selected value for one frame
3–5 frames using preset values for all frames -
Single-point AF ModeYes
-
Dynamic AF ModeNumber of AF points: 9, 21, 39 and 39 (3D-tracking)
-
Auto-area AF ModeYes
-
Autofocus SystemNikon Multi-CAM 4800 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection
-
Detection Range-1 to 19 EV (ISO 100, 68°F/20°C)
-
Lens ServoAutofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status
Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used -
AF-area mode9, 21 or 39 point Dynamic-area AF
Auto-area AF
Single-point AF
3D-tracking (39 points) -
Focus LockFocus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) -
Focus ModesAuto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A)
Continuous-servo (AF-C)
Face-Priority AF available in Live View only and D-Movie only
Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder
Normal area
Single-servo AF (AF-S)
Wide area -
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points39
-
Autofocus Sensitivity-1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F)
-
Autofocus Fine TuneYes
-
Built-in FlashYes
-
Flash Bracketing2 to 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
-
Built-in Flash Distance39 ft. (ISO 100)
-
X-Sync Speed1/200
-
Top FP High Speed SyncUp to 1/4000
-
Flash ControlTTL: i-TTL flash control using 2,016-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-700, or SB-400; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighting metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
-
Flash Sync ModesFront-curtain sync (normal)
Rear-curtain sync
Red-Eye reduction
Red-Eye reduction with slow sync
Slow sync -
Flash Compensation-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV
-
Flash-ready indicatorLights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-910, SB-900, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX or SB-50DX is fully charged
-
Accessory ShoeYes
-
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)CLS Supported
-
White BalanceAuto
Choose color temperature (2500K–10000K)
Cloudy
Direct Sunlight
Flash
Fluorescent (7 types)
Incandescent
Preset manual (up to 4 values can be stored)
Shade -
White Balance Bracketing2 or 3 exposures
-
Live View ShootingPhotography Live View Mode
Movie Live View Mode -
Live View Lens servoAutofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F)
Manual focus (MF) -
Live View AF-area modeFace-priority AF
Wide-area AF
Normal-area AF
Subject-tracking AF -
Live View AutofocusContrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
-
Live View Scene Auto SelectorAuto mode
Auto (flash off) mode -
Movie MeteringTTL exposure metering using main image sensor
-
Movie Maximum recording time20 minutes at highest quality
29 minutes 59 seconds at normal quality -
Movie File FormatMOV
-
Movie Video CompressionH.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
-
Movie Audio recording formatLinear PCM
-
MovieHD 1,920×1,080 / 30 fps
HD 1,920×1,080 / 25 fps
HD 1,920×1,080 / 24 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 60 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 50 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 30 fps
HD 1,280×720 / 25 fps -
Movie AudioBuilt-in microphone, monaural
External stereo microphone (optional) -
Monitor Size3.2 in. diagonal
-
Monitor Resolution921,000 Dots
-
Monitor TypeWide Viewing Angle TFT-LCD
-
Monitor Angle of View170-degree wide-viewing angle
-
Monitor AdjustmentsBrightness, 5 levels
Brightness control using ambient brightness sensor -
Virtual Horizon Camera IndicatorYes
-
Playback FunctionsAuto Image Rotation
Full-Frame and Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar)
Highlights
Histogram Display
Image Comment
Movie Playback
Movie Slideshow
Playback with Zoom
Slideshow -
In-Camera Image EditingColor Balance
Color Outline
Color Sketch
D-Lighting
Distortion Control
Edit Movie
Filter Effects
Fisheye
Image Overlay
Miniature Effect
Monochrome
NEF (RAW) Processing
Perspective Control
Quick Retouch
Red-Eye Correction
Resize
Selective Color
Side-by-Side Comparison
Straighten
Trim -
Image CommentYes
-
InterfaceAccessory Terminal: Remote Cord: MC-DC2 (available separately); GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately)
HDMI output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
Headphone Connector
Hi-speed USB
Stereo Microphone Input -
Wi-Fi FunctionalityEye-Fi Compatible
WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter -
GPSGP-1 GPS unit
GP-1A GPS unit -
Save/Load Camera settingsYes
-
Total custom Settings50
-
My MenuYes with customization
-
Recent SettingsYes
-
Supported LanguagesArabic
Brazilian Portuguese
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional)
Czech
Danish
Dutch
English
Finnish
French
German
Greek
Hindi
Hungarian
Indonesian
Italian
Japanese
Korean
Norweigan
Polish
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
Spanish
Swedish
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian -
Date, Time and Daylight Savings Time SettingsYes
-
World Time SettingYes
-
Battery / BatteriesEN-EL15 Lithium-ion Battery
-
Battery Life (shots per charge)900 shots per charge (Battery Life) (CIPA)
-
AC AdapterEH-5b AC Adapter
Requires EP-5B Power Supply Connector -
Battery ChargerMH-25 Quick Charger
-
Tripod Socket1/4 in.
-
Approx. DimensionsWidth: 5.6 in. (141mm)
Height: 4.4 in. (113mm)
Depth: 3.2 in. (82mm) -
Approx. Weight26.8 oz. (760g)camera body only
-
Operating Environment0–40 °C (+32–104 °F)
-
Supplied Accessories
- EN-EL15 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- MH-25 Quick Charger
- EG-D2 Audio Video Cable
- UC-E15 USB Cable
- BM-14 LCD Monitor Cover
- DK-21 Rubber Eyecup
- AN-DC8 Strap
- DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
- BF-1B Body Cap
- BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
- NikonView NX2 CD