Nikon's D600 is Finally Here: Basically A Full Frame Sensor in a D7000 Body

First off you guys want to know the price. Amazon and B&H have the body only for around the same price (With B&H being a bit more expensive) for around $2,096. Or you can get it with a lens from Amazon or B&H for $2,696 approximately. And can be pre-ordered!

And now the news: holy crap Batman! Nikon did it! They’ve announced the feature packed D600 DSLR: the world’s first entry level full frame DSLR. All the specs that you care about are after the jump.

Tech Specs

Taken from the B&H Photo Video listing of the camera.

Effective Pixels	24.3MP
Image Size (Pixels)	FX (36 x 24) L: 6016 x 4016 M: 4512 x 3008 S: 3008 x 2008 DX (24 x 16) L: 3936 x 2624 M: 2944 x 1968 S: 3008 x 1688
Image Sensor	FX-format 35.9 x 24mm CMOS sensor
Image Processor	EXPEED 3
File Format	NEF (RAW) 12 or 14-bit compressed, JPEG (Fine, Normal, Basic), JPEG + NEF (RAW)
Movie Format	1920 x 1080/30p, 25p, 24p 1280 x 720/60p, 50p, 30p, 25p
Movie File Format	MOV
Video Compression	H.264/MPEG-4 AVC
ISO Sensitivity	ISO 100-6400 in 1/3, 1/2, or 1 steps (expandable to ISO 50-25600)
Exposure Metering System	2016-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Color Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses)
Exposure Metering Types	Center-weighted, Spot
Continuous Shooting Rate	Up to 5.5 fps (full resolution)
Shutter-Release Lag	0.052 sec
Autofocus System	39-point with 9 cross-type points and 7 center points
LCD Monitor	3.2″ / 8.1cm 921K-dot VGA TFT (170° viewing angle, 100% frame coverage, automatic brightness control)
Storage Media Type	2 x SD/SDHC/SDXC
Lens Mount	Nikon F-mount
Dimensions	Not specified by manufacturer
Weight	1.6 lb / 725.75 g

Images

The camera can also deliver photos via Wifi with the WU-1b attachment. Oh, and there’s a new Nikon 1 lens.

Analysis

This camera seems to have the same sensor as the Sony A99 announced yesterday. However, it also seems to give a lot more to the consumer. You get 5.5 fps, the EXPEED 3 processor, high ISO results up to 25,600, lighter weight, video recording at 1080p 30p 24p and 720p 60p, DX mode built into the camera (which means that you can shoot at the 1.5x crop if you’d like), 14 Bit RAW files, a 2016 pixel RGB meter, 39 point autofocus system, and 2 SD card slots.

To be honest, this is what every consumer has wanted. And in a way, that’s what I’m afraid of. While I fully believe that it is the photographer that creates the images and that creative vision in the end will win the day; everyone, their mother, and Uncle Bob all think that they’re already a photographer. This camera can potentially add even more saturation to an already super saturated market.

Granted, those who go for the high end wedding photographers (just as an example) will still go for the high end, but this will make it even tougher for those that still want to get into the market. In a way, I feel that full frame isn’t just for professionals anymore and because of this, I predict that in maybe two to three years we’re going to start to see another shift in the photo industry.

We may indeed start to see things go backwards a bit: meaning that with full frame coming down to the masses, we may start to see medium format do the same. Wedding, portrait, and event photographers used to shoot with Medium Format all the time until digital came around and ate it up. I personally have stopped shooting 35mm film because of just how good my 5D Mk II is. I shoot 120 film and 3 x 4 Instant as well. And while the price may still be high for some, I still believe that we’re going to start to see another shift in the market. We already started to see it with premium mirrorless cameras and large sensor compacts (like wedding photographers and photojournalists picking up the X100 and X Pro 1 as second bodies.)

It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out. But to be honest, it’s starting to feel a little cramped in here with all the people just shooting in Auto mode.

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Tagged as: announcement, d600, dslr, nikon, pre-order, price

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Russel Haynes

I think to call it entry level, it would be about half the price. This is the same price as the 5dmkii, isn’t it?
- ChrisGampat
  
  Not sure, but if I sold mine tomorrow I’d sell it for around $2,000.
  
  *-Chris Gampat*
  Editor in Chief, ThePhoBlographer.com
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- Gevon Servo
  
  Its not an entry level, its an full frame entry level. The D600 is an easier ‘buy’ than the D800 and the D4. It does offer a lot more for those who want to take their photography further.
- Peter Walkowiak
  
  You are right. the 5d2 just had another price drop today too… looking forward to the D600 price when its near end of life
http://twitter.com/richmack06 Richard Reed

My reaction is a bit different. First, I don’t think there should be a distinction between what’s considered a pro camera and amateur camera in terms of sensor size. There are very good semi-pro bodies with cropped sensors that pros use and we’re none-the-wiser. The D600 gives folks a choice much like the D300 and D700 when they were announced, though APS-C sensor tech today has really made strides in closing the gap in terms of low light capability and dynamic range. I’m not saying this isn’t a significant market changer, but I’m not sure if many D300s owners and the like are necessarily going to make the jump.

I bought a used D700 w/ grip (for significantly less than the D600′s MSRP) shortly after people were clamoring to get their hands on the D800 and knowing full well a rumored entry level full fram Nikon DSLR was around the corner. Now, if I still had my D90, I’d consider it, but I love the ergonomics and the solid feel that the D700 body gives, especially with the larger full frame lenses attached.
- Gevon Servo
  
  I did the same thine (D700 & Grip) and I still have my D90. I am going to focus more on glass and lighting for now. I do like the ‘choice’ the D600 gives to the market however.
http://www.facebook.com/agoglanian Abram Goglanian

Well if we want to get nit-picky I would call the old Sony A850 the first “entry-level” FF-DSLR. It came in a good deal cheaper than anything else at the time at $2k (in 2009 when it launched). That being said, I think this is a wise move by Nikon, and it’s funny to see how they’ve gone full-circle now. From preaching how much better the APS-C format was for digital cameras, and now to be offering an entry level full frame DSLR.

At least it’s a move in the right direction (I hope Pentax is next!)
- Gevon Servo
  
  I love Nikon, however, I think they need to work on their naming/number scheme. Their marketing needs to be upgraded. It would nice if the would Start from scratch , Re brand everything
  - Peter Walkowiak
    
    I was just talking to a friend about this… Canon has the best naming scheme but I cant stand that the Nikon D7000 and others have a 5 letter / digit name. blah
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