D600 I need some info/advice

[ray*j*gun]

I have been using a Nikon D90 for some years now and although it seems to be the Rodney Dangerfield of digital SLR's I quite like it. One reason I bought it was to use my Nikon Glass which is extensive. However the D90 does not meter the old AI and AIs glass. That and for the added full frame IQ I am considering a D600 but I have concerns as follows:

My PC is an older Dell running Windows XP and I am worried that the files might be too large for the old girl to cope with.

I also have 3 really nice DX Nikkor lenses that I would like to use on the D600 but I don't know how that would work out ie using DX lenses on an FX body.

I understand the D600 is not as robust as some of the other full frame Nikons but this is anacdotal and I would welcome some quality data.

Are there any flaws in the D600 that have come to light?

Thank you for your help!!

 

[--]

I also have 3 really nice DX Nikkor lenses that I would like to use on the D600 but I don't know how that would work out ie using DX lenses on an FX body.

I understand the D600 is not as robust as some of the other full frame Nikons but this is anacdotal and I would welcome some quality data.

Are there any flaws in the D600 that have come to light?

Thank you for your help!!

You could always consider a used D700? When I looked at a D600 I found the round viewfinder of the D700 (and the D2Hs) much better than the D600 - may indeed be a personal thing. Another possibility is the D2Hs used.

Back to the questions of which I can comment:
The D600 has a 10.5 mp DX-mode (the D700 a 5.1 mp DX-mode)
There has been dust problems created in the factory - do not know if they have been permanently solved but they were recently (some would say finally) acknowledged by Nikon. They are widely commented on various photo forums.

Hope you find the one that suits you.

 

[willie_901]

I read on another forum that Nikon USA was automstically replacing the shutters on all D600s sent back to Nikon for cleaning oil spots off the sensor. Of course this may not be true and I predict Nikon will never make an official statement. I think there is evidence that some D600s do have a problem with oil splatter. I once owned a D300 that spit oil on the sensor from time to time. Neither the two D200s nor my current two D700s have ever had this issue.

My decision would be to buy a nice used D700 from a reputable source for your legacy Nikkors. A used D300 or D300S might be a good way to use your DX glass.

I sold all my DX glass when I sold my last DX body. I used the money to start a FX lens collection. Some of the older non-G AF-S primes have attractive price😛erformance ratios. I realize this is not necessarily a good solution for you.

 

[ray*j*gun]

Thank you for the info!!! Exactly what I was hoping to find out.

 

[Phantomas]

PC - yes, you need a fast one. If you plan to shoot raw you either get a fairly fast machine or suffer slow everything. No way around it.

Overall - I have used D600, D700 and D800. I would get D600 over D700. Reason - D600 does everything D700 does and then some. If there are some features where D700 excels, I never use them :angel: If I was to carry anything over from D700 it would be: the focus mode switch (which on D700 I could flip with a thumb without looking, to shoot dodgy stuff off the hip and on D6/800 I need to carefully set), the sexy good looks (D700 is aggressive looking, D6/800 round and chubby) and the round viewfinder (although you don't actually loose coverage on D600).
But! D600 has other features, and it goes without saying - video. Which, given possibilities of these machines with good lenses, is area worth exploring.
In November I left D800 behind and took D600 to the dustiest backroads of Nepal, shooting relentlessly. I gave it a sweet kiss when I put it back down once at home month later.
Things I have missed with it compared to D800 (i haven't missed much other than aforementioned vs D700) is D800's extra 1EV lowlight capability (but, D800 is monster, therefore D600 would mostly have issues in the areas where I'd have unrealistic expectations). And the sexy round viewfinder. I like looking at round viewfinder on my Nikon, it makes me feel better.
Things I liked in D600 over D800 - size (well, errr, I change my mind, I prefer D800) and the battery life, which on D600 is better, and having gone once 2 weeks without electricity access and ability to shoot all that time using up 4 or 5 batteries was a blessing!

Dust - it did come back with some dust from Nepal. But environment I took it through over there is a whole different story, and it involves a lot of dust, one body and three lenses. To me personally it wouldn't be a stopper. Shoot. Dust? Nikon Service.


PS: DX lenses - ouch man, sorry, I feel for you. But don't despair! Sell. Buy FX. For example - 28/1.8, 50/1.4 and 85/1.8 - all shiny new and together less than the camera. If your DX lenses are indeed so sweet that you'd even think of keeping them they should cover the cost of around 1.7 of the above lenses. And your DX 35 (I know you have it, otherwise what are you talking about?) give it as a birthday present to your favourite person. Win/win/win.

 

[Glenn2]

If you can spring for the extra $ the D800 is quite a camera. I had been shooting with a D300 for a while and decided to go full frame. My lenses are a mix of DX & FF and both work well on the D800. Am seriously thinking of de-flowering my 10.5mm fisheye. With no hood it makes a sharp circular image on full frame.

I've also been doing some preliminary work using the D800e as a slide scanner. The 60mm Micro lens will focus 1:1 and is incredibly sharp, so I jury rigged a light source and voila, instant digitized slide! It needs some more work, but looks like it could beat results from my CoolScan 5000.

Have fun with whatever you decide on. The improved build quality of the 800 over the 600 is a very big plus, and the high pixel count makes DX quite useable. With a DX lens mounted you get a frame line that you can see outside of, similar to Leica. Only downside is weight on back and wallet.

Glenn

 

[Clint Troy]

I read on another forum that Nikon USA was automstically replacing the shutters on all D600s sent back to Nikon for cleaning oil spots off the sensor. Of course this may not be true and I predict Nikon will never make an official statement. I think there is evidence that some D600s do have a problem with oil splatter. I once owned a D300 that spit oil on the sensor from time to time. Neither the two D200s nor my current two D700s have ever had this issue.

My decision would be to buy a nice used D700 from a reputable source for your legacy Nikkors. A used D300 or D300S might be a good way to use your DX glass.

I sold all my DX glass when I sold my last DX body. I used the money to start a FX lens collection. Some of the older non-G AF-S primes have attractive price😛erformance ratios. I realize this is not necessarily a good solution for you.

Why in the world would one buy a D2Hs today? Just because you own one?

A used D700 might be good for op, given his old computer.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I did some checking and it looks like the D700 is holding its value quite well....hmmm too well when you are looking for one used. I guess my biggest issue will be this damned computer which is an old firend and I would hate to think about transferring data etc into a new one and there is also the cost.

I knew this would not be simple.....thank you for your responses!!

 

[kuzano]

Repairability factor on D600

Repairability factor on D600

I can't seem to locate the site at this time, but about two months ago, I visited a web site that reviewed the D600 with regard to a "repairability review". This was at the height of the "oil on sensor" issue which is "said to be" no longer an issue. I wonder how that is going to be affected by the existence of pre-fix cameras in the distribution pipeline.

Some sort of serial number cutoff, I would suspect. At least it appears that Nikon finally quit "stonewalling" buyers and admitted the problem.

Back to the repairability, I will take another crack at locating the site.

Two things I do recall are a very low repairabilit score related to a huge number of small screws internally, and the fact that none of the internal screws are secured into brass bosses in the body. All assembly screws are screwed directly into the plastic of the body. That's what I recall, and I will post the site if I find it.

Found... scores 2 out of 10 on repairability. See the link;

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/11/08/ifixit-tears-down-nikon-d600-chipworks

There are other simila finds on the internet... search the words:

D600 repairability

 

[bigeye]

I'm afraid that the older lenses will not continue to stand up to the resolution and AF demands of the new bodies. If you're going to buy a new body, you'll likely only use it with the newer lenses. I would not buy a new body and hold it back with old or DX lenses. It's a good time to cut and run.

If you go with that logic, I hate to say it, but you can also check on the Canon gear. I've never liked Canon much - it always felt cheesy/plastic, had odd operating logic and big gaps in the lens range. But, I think they've got something going, now. The latest 24-70 and 70-200 2.8s are better than the Nikon equivalents and the new bodies grip and handle just beautifully.

If you have much doubt, you might rent before buying.

- Charlie

 

[Clint Troy]

I'm afraid that the older lenses will not continue to stand up to the resolution and AF demands of the new bodies. If you're going to buy a new body, you'll likely only use it with the newer lenses. I would not buy a new body and hold it back with old or DX lenses. It's a good time to cut and run.
- Charlie

This is a myth. Any glass, all glass, will follow a sensor's resolution. I don't get where these myths get started and how come people continue to spread them without consideration.

 

[newsgrunt]

Have used the 600,700 and 800 and they're all unique. The main problem with the D600, well not really a problem per se, is that the focus spread is DX sized and doesn't have the coverage of the other FX cameras. Small thing but for someone used to D3 and D4 cameras, very annoying.

Otherwise, I liked it and the price difference between that and the D800 (ginormous file size so beware) is a lens or two. I wouldn't even be looking at a D700 tbh, unless it was around $1200 or less and even then would have to be pretty clean. It's a good camera but it's a few years old.

 

[veraikon]

I read on another forum that Nikon USA was automstically replacing the shutters on all D600s sent back to Nikon for cleaning oil spots off the sensor. Of course this may not be true and I predict Nikon will never make an official statement. .

perhaps an except from a pro forma ("zero" Euro) invoice (Servicecentre Düsseldorf Germany) shows that shutters will be replaced

D600 Kulanz (SR) Servicepauschale Intensive Reinigung des Spiegelkastens, der Schwingspiegelmechanik und des Sensorbereiches. Vorbeugende Massnahmen zur Reduzierung von Staubeintrag und Verwirbelung wurden vorgenommen. Bitte beachten Sie, dass Spiegelreflex-Systeme nicht vollständig geschlossen sind und durch die Nutzung auch künftig Staubeintrag erfolgen kann (z.B. bei Objektivwechsel / Fokussier- oder Zoombetrieb etc.). Bitte folgen Sie den Hinweisen im Benutzerhandbuch - Seiten 301-305.
Als vorbeugende Massnahme erfolgte der Austausch der Verschlusseinheit.
Ersatzteile
1F999-708 - SHUTTER PLATE UNIT
1K935-331 - DOUBLE STICK TAPE B
1K935-332 - DOUBLE STICK TAPE C
1K935-334 - DOUBLE STICK TAPE F
1K935-335 - DOUBLE STICK TAPE G
1K935-336 - DOUBLE STICK TAPE H
1K935-337 - DOUBLE STICK TAPE I

 

[Phantomas]

This is a myth. Any glass, all glass, will follow a sensor's resolution. I don't get where these myths get started and how come people continue to spread them without consideration.

Hehe, that is correct sir! As is the fact DX will focus just as well as FX and G will focus better than D. It's all up to the lens. But shooting DX on FX body is like riding a short bus.

 

[bigeye]

This is a myth. Any glass, all glass, will follow a sensor's resolution. I don't get where these myths get started and how come people continue to spread them without consideration.

It sounds like DX, and your fast AI and AF-D glass is a perfect match for your 800e.

.

 

[Clint Troy]

It sounds like DX, and your fast AI and AF-D glass is a perfect match for your 800e.

.

If you try to insinuate that the, let's say, Noct-Nikkor or even the magical 105 f2.5 lose their edge to any other newer Nikkor just because it's a D800e you are kidding yourself.

 

[Bille]

I have been using a Nikon D90 for some years now and (...) I quite like it. (...) I also have 3 really nice DX Nikkor lenses (...) My PC is an older Dell running Windows XP and I am worried that the files might be too large for the old girl to cope with.

In this case, why change a running system?

 

[agricola]

Raymond

"My PC is an older Dell running Windows XP and I am worried that the files might be too large for the old girl to cope with."

they are large files - either side of 30mb - it can slow things down - I have 4mb of RAM and it is adequate - 8mb would be better

"I also have 3 really nice DX Nikkor lenses that I would like to use on the D600 but I don't know how that would work out ie using DX lenses on an FX body."

I came to the D600 from film Nikons and the D200 - the manual Nikkors worked better on my D200 for some reason - but they do work well on the D600 - it may be a matter of fine focus tuning which I have not attempted yet

"I understand the D600 is not as robust as some of the other full frame Nikons but this is anacdotal and I would welcome some quality data."

I have not dropped it, nor immersed it in mud and taken in out in a downpour to clean it - but it has had intense work, and not a hitch

"Are there any flaws in the D600 that have come to light?"

None apart from the dust spotting - I think I have located some in the top corner and side - but I was not aware of it before testing for it (you will see how on the net) - but I've not had time to fix it - so I just keep shooting and I've not noticed any problem.
The best things about the D600 from my perspective are
a. cropping - I cannot always frame as I would like but I know that I can crop savagely in post if needed - with a 30+mb file it's a snip
b. white balance on auto almost makes my expodisc redundant
c. the shutter is much more quiet and smooth than the D600 and a borrowed D700 I had access to - I am not talking about Quite Mode, which I find a bit useless

Like most cameras, it is just a tool - you have to become very familiar with it to produce the goods

 

[Bille]

This is a myth. Any glass, all glass, will follow a sensor's resolution.

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/Lenses/Camera-Lens-Ratings

http://www.dxomark.com/index.php/en/About/In-depth-measurements/Measurements/Sharpness

 

[bigeye]

If you try to insinuate that the, let's say, Noct-Nikkor or even the magical 105 f2.5 lose their edge to any other newer Nikkor just because it's a D800e you are kidding yourself.

I'm insinuating that the old lenses do not perform to the technical levels of the new. A 105/2.5 on an 800 creates the same image the lens always has, but the 800 can touch medium format performance and my 105 runs out of magic short of that. My 24mm 2.8D was dreadful and serious looks at my 50 1.4D and 200mm Ai-S are disappointing as well.

The progressive performance gap diminishes the appeal of using older model lenses on new bodies.

- Charlie

FWIW: I wouldn't want older Canon model lenses, either: http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/07/autofocus-reality-part-3a-canon-lenses