D600 or D800

BSM

Hi all,
In my previous post I asked whether I should get a D700 or not, so I've gotten many helpful replies and now I've decided to go with either the D600 or the D800.
Now I would like your opinions on why I should get the D600 over the D800 or should I just get the D800 without question? I would like mention again that I mainly take landscape and street photography. Actually a lot of night photography as well with music gigs and the sorts.

For what I know the D800 has a better build then the half plastic D600. A more "pro" body. I don't think I'll be printing large photos so the 36mp doesn't really catch my interest. I just want a better camera that could stand up to badly lit situations and last long enough so I wouldn't have to keep changing bodies. Oh and the focus points on the D800 does seem like a better deal. Anyway, before I make myself sound anymore foolish, I'd leave up to you guys to advise.

Cheers.

Golf007sd

D800...hands down!

sevencrossing

......I mainly take landscape ..................the 36mp doesn't really catch my interest.

the 36 mp does not just allow you to make bigger prints, it increases colour fidelity and dynamic range, both IMHO are vital for landscapes and night photography

the focusing on the D800 should be much better for music gigs and the sorts

re the D600 I don't see any big disadvantage in a half plastic body, unless you are shooting 1000s of shots , seven days a week

The D800 has only one weakness, fps, you will have to wait for the D810 for that to improve


here at NRF, we love spending other people money, get the D800

Msmoto

I would not purchase a D600...... it is simply a crapshoot and there seems to be no way to tell if you will get a good one or a nightmare.

If the D800 or 800E is financially possible, this may be the best bet at present.

If an immediate purchase is necessary, as a result of a failure, possibly a D7100 could fill the bill temporarily at least.

But, it is a big gamble to use a D600 in today's world unless you have the opportunity to reshoot, or are very good in post processing and have gobs of time on your hands.

roombarobot

I completely agree with @Msmoto, do not get the D600! Get a D800/D800E or get the D7100, but do not get the D600, it is not worth the risk and trouble.

henrik1963

D800 is better than D600 - it should be as it cost a lot more.

Regarding the dust/oil issue - My D800 had dust and oil on the sensor. Just to let you know that that can happen. I would get the camera that fit my needs. The dust/oil issue would not keep me from buying either camera.

Photobug

I also like spending peoples money and recommend two options:

Option #1 If you are in a hurry, buy the D800. You won't look back. Hope you don't have a bunch of DX lens that will force you to sell to buy FX lens. Consider lens and body in your $$$ projection.
Option #2 If your not in a hurry and don't have the cash for option #1, wait for the D610 and go with it if it meets your requirements. Just use the same lens cost for both.

I see that Nikon still has the D800 for $200 off and if you do need a lens or two or a Nikon Flash or tele extender, they have great rebates going that just started today.

The D800 is the way to go unless your budget is tight, then go for the D610 but NOT the D600. I don't like crap shoots.

TaoTeJared

D800

The focus in low light on the D800 (shared with the D4) is really amazing. Where most camera's stop focusing, the D800 will a few more stops down. Now you can't expect really fast focusing in darkness, but with AFS lenses in decent light, it is really fast. Filp-side, you might get a bit better noise performance with the D600. Landscape the D800 blows everything out of the water.

That said, lenses make the shot, bodies just capture it. If buying a D600 enables you to get better glass, then go for the D600. When something isn't perfect, people love to overstate it here. Maybe 1 in 500 D600's had oil issues, and after 1000 shots it seemed to clear up. (I would just charge the battery, set the thing up on time lapse and shoot a blank wall for a day.) Clean it for $50 and then go shoot.

Your choice should be dependent on what you shoot the most of. If you shoot concerts, and make money at it, you should look at the D3s (for about the same cost of a D800). If you just shoot for fun, and mostly landscape/static subjects then either the D600 or D800 is more than enough. For street shooting, DSLRs stink - they are wayyyy toooo big, are distracting and get looks that are not what street shooters want - unless you like the "what type of peeping Tom are you" look from subjects. You are better off with a smaller system like the Fuji, Sony X or Olympus systems for that.

Ade

I can almost see @MikeGunter shaking his head that anyone is still considering/recommending the D600 at this time. And I would agree with him.

Msmoto

If one really considers cost..... Add in the $70 for sending the camera in for cleaning each time, then a few hundred for the rental while Nikon is wondering what to do, and after a few returns......gosh, you have spent in total enough to purchase a new D800........ But you only have a dirty D600...... This is the 'real' cost of a D600. Oh, I forgot to mention the psychiatric care to deal with the frustrations of it all when one finds themselves in this situation..... LOL

SquamishPhoto

Talk about massive over exaggeration. Plenty of happy D600 customers out there dealt with the clean up themselves rather easily and never paid a penny for anything other than the camera. I have a friend who is a professional climbing photographer and he's had a D600 for six months and has had nothing but great things to say. His budget didn't allow for the extra cost of the D800 and its not put a single dent in his style.

aodwoz

Hey BSM,

I own a Nikon D600 camera, to be honest with you, unfortunately, I got oil spots for my camera. Am I happy with it? No. But Can I live with it, yes!!!!

oil spot issue can be ignored for people knows how to remove them in any editing softwares like lightroom, PS, Nikon Capture NX2, and etc. Just in case you don't, well the fastest way to learn is go to youtube.com and click on the tutorials. However, it does have one condition, the oil spots are not all over place to the sensor. lol

FYI: they usually appear when you use low aperture photography, like f16 or less. So you won't be able to noticed if you are suing high aperture like 1.4, 2.8, 4.......

Oh, one more thing is some of fellows here own different camera, and certainly their words might less convincing to you I would say? good reference though.

But I do agree with PitchBlack, D800 got better low light auto focusing with 51 point AF system. Oh man, I want that happens to D610. that's probably what it matters for you the most. sometime I had a problem with AF in low light.

BTW, good research experience on both cameras. :-D

Overall, maybe you should wait for D610.......

aodwoz

I found this on youtube.

check it out.

ZenNonna

Love my d600. No problems. Was going to buy 800 this November but might wait for the one with more fps

BSM

Hey guys, thanks for all of your opinions and advice. I would like to proudly say that I've gotten myself the D800 and I'm loving it. Thanks again people.

Photobug

Fantastic. You are going to love it. Be sure to drop some photos in the PAD.

Golf007sd

@BSM: Congrats.

With every shutter button your love will grow. That said, make sure you have enough storage space for the images. What lens you are using on it or far?

BSM

So far, i've got the Nikkor 24-70 F2.8, Nikkor 50mm 1.8, Sigma 35mm 1.4. I had a few others but i passed them to my sister together with my D7000.

Fester

So far, i've got the Nikkor 24-70 F2.8, Nikkor 50mm 1.8, Sigma 35mm 1.4. I had a few others but i passed them to my sister together with my D7000.

I've got the same combo, 24-70 F2.8 with D800 last Sunday. I'm a beginner and hoping to learn a lot from this monster and of course from a forum like this. Congrats on the great purchase!!

phxflyer

I've had my refurb D600 for 4 months and 5000+ shots, no oil/dust spot issue here..

I keep looking (and taking test shots) can't find anything major. I purchased a sensor cleaning kit, but have not had a justifiable need to open it.