Nikon Introduces D600, 24.3MP FX, US$2099.95

[ShunCheung]

<p>As I wrote earlier, the 2012 Photokina or perhaps the entire 2012 should be named the year of FX in terms of DSLRs. While I am glad to see that Canon also has a $2100 FX DSLR in the 6D, when I started reading the spacs, I almost stopped as soon as I saw that Canon is once again bringing back the 11-poing AF module with just one cross-type AF point onto the 6D. I am glad that it has the GPS built-in, though. My primary concern for the D600 is that it only has 9 cross-type AF points in the center of the frame.</p>

[alex_zepeda]

<p>Are there any full-frame DSLRs that offer edge to edge AF coverage? The only thing on paper that looks competitive about the 6D is the high native ISO range. If that comes down to Nikon being more conservative in its ratings, the tepid response on the Canon side seems appropriate. Looks like a nice 5DMk2.5.</p>

[Dieter Schaefer]

<blockquote>

<p>Are there any full-frame DSLRs that offer edge to edge AF coverage?</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Not from Nikon for sure - don't know about other manufacturers.</p>

[ilkka_nissila]

<p>There is no full frame DSLR with full AF point coverage (unless the mirror is up, in which case contrast detect AF is used and that does cover the whole frame); the size of the mirror box (AFAIK) limits the coverage of the (phase-detect) AF points. Since DX sensor is smaller and yet has about as big a space under the mirror it can cover a greater proportion of the frame, but the downside is then that since they use the same flange distance and lens mount there can apparently not be fast and compact wide angles. To solve both the AF point coverage and wide angle problems in the same camera, one needs to take out the mirror, but then there is no optical viewfinder, or the optical viewfinder is limited like in a rangefinder or Fuji X-Pro1. The Sony RX-1 may be a 24x36mm camera with a full coverage of the picture area in AF points.</p>

[ellis_vener_photography]

Illka is sort of right about why there are no edge to edge AF section points in "full frame" (24x36mm) format cameras. I

asked Canon's Chuck Westfall about that a few years ago and it is apparently an optical path imposed limitation involving

the angles the off axis angle light is traveling at as you get closer to the edge of the frame.

[ShunCheung]

<p>I have never used Canon's 1DX or 5D Mark III, but at least on paper (or should I say at least on web display), I like the way their cross-type AF points are located, with some farther away from the center. Ellis can probably provide some first-hand comments on that.</p>

<p>Recall that the 1DX was announced last October (2011) althought it wasn't available until many months later. For a while I was hoping that Nikon would do something similar for the D4 generation. Unfortunately, Nikon's D4 continues to use the Multi-CAM 3500 from the D3/D300 era. As soon as I saw that back in January, I knew that Nikon would be staying with the 3500 for a few more years.</p>

[Landrum Kelly]

<p>This shot of Bobby Burns' shoe will blow your socks off:</p>

<p><a href="http://masters.galleries.dpreview.com.s3.amazonaws.com/2210329.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=14Y3MT0G2J4Y72K3ZXR2&Expires=1348027655&Signature=gf9QItfWlIsgncZvOnpTUzbjdqk%3d">[link]</a></p>

<p>--Lannie</p>

[alex_zepeda]

<p>As far as AF point spread goes, I wonder if Sony's on-sensor PDAF would allow for better coverage... wonder if we'll see on-sensor PDAF in non-Sony bodies. Hmm.</p>

[Landrum Kelly]

<p>Here is the shot I tried to link to above:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/galleries/reviewsamples/photos/2210329/dsc_4036?inalbum=nikon-d600-preview-samples">[link]</a></p>

<p>Viewed at the original size (approximately 6,000 x 4,000 pixels), the detail is incredible, especially around the shoe.</p>

<p>--Lannie</p>

[szymon_krzeptowski1]

<p>My d600 just arrived, go to the link to see how ISO 6400 looks on this beauty. Don't comment on the photo as I just snaped it walking by.<br>

<a href="../photo/16472558&size=lg">http://www.photo.net/photo/16472558&size=lg</a></p>

[tholte]

<p>My neighbor just got one after ordering it two days before from Amazon. He let me fool around with it for a little while and it is a winner. </p>

[ShunCheung]

<p>Clearly, Nikon has already manufactured quite a few D600 prior to the announcement. After merely a week, I have already received a test sample yesterday, and as Szymon and Tim mentioned above, people are already receiving it.</p>

<p>Side by side with the D7000, the two camera definitely look similar from the front side. The D600 has a larger viewfinder housing to accommodate the prism for the larger FX focusing screen.</p>

<P>

<CENTER>

<IMG SRC="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/16473701-lg.jpg">

<BR>

<BR>

Left D7000, Right D600

</CENTER>

</P>

[szymon_krzeptowski1]

<p>Mine came on Tuesday Sept. 18, before noon. It was a shocker since I didn't expect it for few more weeks.</p>

[robin_custance1]

<p>Does anyone know whether using Extreme Pro 95MB/s SD cards in the D600 make a difference over using Ultra 30MB/s SD cards when shooting?<br /> <br /> When I use the ultra cards it handles quite a few shots before the buffer fills but then I am left waiting while it finishes writing them to the card/s.<br /> <br /> Not so bad when set to JPEG but I need to shoot raw doing weddings. I have not tried the Extreme Pro cards yet as they are 3x the price and I need at least four x64GB cards to shooting weddings, 1 in slot 1 for RAW and 1 in slot 2 for Fine JPEG as back up and would need to have the second set once they fill up.<br /> <br /> As far as I can tell I will get roughly 1,400 images per card which is just enough to want a second set in case I shoot more than 1,400.<br /> <br /> So to get 4 cards at $180 Australian dollars each (cheapest I can see on the web) that's $720 just for memory cards when the Ultra (if the extreme pro cards don't make any difference) 4x ultra 64GB 30MB/s cards are $60 each which is only $240 I already have 2 so only need to spend another $120. <br /> <br /> So has anyone used both and know if it does make a difference?<br /> <br /> I have looked everywhere but can not see the actual write speed of the D600.<br /> <br /> Hope someone can help as I have a wedding booked for this Saturday the 10th of November 2012</p>