Nikon D600 previewed: the affordable full frame DSLR arrives
posted Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 11:02 PM EST
Signaling the dawn of the affordable full-frame digital SLR camera, the Nikon D600 features a 24.3-megapixel FX CMOS sensor, an optical viewfinder with 100% coverage, a 3.2-inch 921K-dot LCD, and dual SD card slots for US$2,100, body-only. It's true, $2,100 isn't exactly cheap, but it's more affordable than the $3,000 Nikon D800, and not much more than the long-in-the-tooth D300S, which cost about $300 less at launch. Shoot with a full-frame SLR and you learn: you really want to shoot full-frame. Is the D600 Nikon's answer for D300S shooters? Don't wait for the D400, upgrade to the D600 now?
For those who thought the D800's 36.3-megapixel sensor was overkill, the Nikon D600 hits the sweet spot. Its 24.3-megapixel sensor covers an extended ISO range from 50 to 25,600. With a pixel-pitch that's said to be similar to the Nikon D3X, we expect good quality at high ISO settings, and that's one of the primary reasons to spend a little more on a full-frame camera: greater light gathering ability.
Alongside the D600, Nikon has also received a tiny very affordable WiFi dongle for transferring images to your smartphone or tablet, and a shoe-mounted Ethernet adapter. The latter is also compatible with the D4, D800, D800E, and D7000 DSLRs, and can be used with the WT-5a wireless transmitter if you need to stay mobile.
Want to know more about Nikon's latest full-frame digital SLR, and these new accessories? Read our hands-on Nikon D600 preview now, and get the full story! (And keep checking back this evening, we'll have some night sample photos soon!)
(141 x 113 x 82 mm)
Nikon FX (approx. 1.70 in. diagonal)
24.70 megapixels (total)
24.30 megapixels (effective)
4512 x 3008 (13.6 megapixels)
3008 x 2008 (6.0 megapixels)
3936 x 2624 (10.3 megapixels)
2944 x 1968 (5.8 megapixels)
3008 x 1688 (5.1 megapixels)
Has AF assist lamp
Manual focus possible
Modes: Front-curtain sync, Slow sync, Rear-curtain sync, Red-eye reduction, Red-eye reduction with slow sync; built-in flash supports wireless Commander mode
Range: Lens aperture dependent
Max. clip length: 1,200 seconds (1920x1080) / 1,200 seconds (1280x720)