NOTE: See our full, detailed review of the Nikon D600.

Nikon has just released the much anticipated Nikon D600 DSLR, a new breed of “economy” full-frame camera. Priced at $2099, it is currently the cheapest full-frame DSLR on the market. While it does not have the same ultra high-resolution 36.3 MP sensor as its older brother, the Nikon D800, it still sports an impressive 24.3 MP CMOS sensor, most likely a similar one as on the new Sony A99. With a native ISO range of 100-6400, it should provide pretty clean images throughout the ISO range for both daylight and low-light environments. The Nikon D600 is designed for any kind of amateur and professional photography – from landscape and studio, to event and wildlife photography.

Built to be affordable, the Nikon D600 does not have the same robust autofocus system used on the D800 and D4 cameras (same 39 point AF system used on the Nikon D7000). Its shutter speed is limited to 1/4000th of a second and its flash sync is also limited to 1/200th of a second, which might be a disappointment for some photographers out there. However, it has 100% viewfinder coverage, 5.5 fps speed, which is faster than the D800′s 4 fps and has the same 3.2″ LCD monitor with 921,000 pixels used on the latest Nikon DSLR models. And movie fans will be delighted to see impressive 1080p video with uncompressed HDMI output.

Nikon has clearly taken an aggressive pricing strategy with the D600, although some may have been expecting a price of $1,500, which was widely circulated on a number of photography forums. While outgunned by both Nikon D800 and Canon 5D Mark III relative to specifications, at only 60-70% of the price, the D600 represents a significant value. The D600 is sure to attract a large number of customers that have been holding off upgrading their D700s, but also those who have been on the fence between the DX and FX camps, and put off by the higher costs of FX DSLRs. With the recent announcement of the Nikon 24-85mm VR lens, Nikon has signaled that it intends to bring value-priced FX lenses to the market to compliment the D600.

It will be interesting to see how the D600 body is perceived by diehard D700 fans. The D600 has been portrayed by some as being a blend of a D7000 and a D700, since it borrows the D7000’s more compact body styling, its controls and autofocus, while incorporating a 24 MP FX sensor that represents a moderate gain over the D700’s 12MP sensor.

So, what does the Nikon D600 bring to the table? Here is a summary of its features:

1. Sensor: 24.3 MP FX
2. Sensor Size: 35.9 x 24mm
3. Resolution: 6016 x 4016
4. DX Resolution: 3936 x 2624
5. Native ISO Sensitivity: 100-6,400
6. Boost Low ISO Sensitivity: 50
7. Boost High ISO Sensitivity: 12,800-25,600
8. Processor: EXPEED 3
9. Metering System: 3D Color Matrix Meter II with face recognition
10. Dust Reduction: Yes
11. Weather Sealing/Protection: Yes
12. Body Build: Magnesium Alloy
13. White Balance: New White Balance System
14. Shutter: Up to 1/4000 and 30 sec exposure
15. Shutter Durability: 150,000 cycles
16. Storage: 2x SD slots
17. Viewfinder Coverage: 100%
18. Speed: 5.5 FPS
19. Exposure Meter: 2016 pixel RGB sensor
20. Built-in Flash: Yes, with Commander Mode, full CLS compatibility
21. Autofocus System: MultiCAM 4800FX AF with 39 focus points and 9 cross-type sensors
22. LCD Screen: 3.2 inch diagonal with 921,000 dots
23. Movie Modes: Full 1080p HD @ 30 fps max
24. Movie Exposure Control: Full
25. Movie Recording Limit: 30 minutes @ 30p, 20 minutes @ 24p
26. Movie Output: MOV, Compressed and Uncompressed
27. In-Camera HDR Capability: Yes
28. Two Live View Modes: One for photography and one for videography
29. Camera Editing: Lots of in-camera editing options with HDR capabilities
30. GPS: Not built-in, requires GP-1 GPS unit
31. Battery Type: EN-EL15
32. Battery Life: 900 shots
33. USB Standard: 2.0
34. Weight: 760g (body only), 850g (with battery and memory card)
35. Price: $2,099 MSRP

[Read more...]