D600 Dust/Oil/Lubricant Issue discussion/Discontinuation and price reductions

aLQaDHi

i got the spots again in a week. Does anyone know if the oil/dust issue on nikon d800 is better than d600?

i dont mind cleaning my camera and i might enjoy it. i have one lens mounted to d600 since i brought it from the service centre. my shutter count is still less than 3500 i got good photos but with noticeable spots =(

pippigurl

After three bodies and tired of the constant issue I exchanged for the D800 and have yet to have any issues. Can't believe this continues to plague the D600.

aLQaDHi

thats great news i think i will ask for upgrade this time, may i ask you what is your shutter count?

bolt

I have decided to buy another D600 since B&H representative told me that they have seen a slow down in returns because of the dust. I'll give a try in the 30 days return period and let you know - If it has still the issue, then I'll switch to the D800. Can someone comments on the image quality of the D800 and low light HIGH ISO (his personal experience)? The DXOMark clearly shows that D600 is the best camera overall (look at the screen results and not print results); I was hesitant to buy the D800 because I don't have any lens that can barely match the resolution of that camera.

MikeGunter

Hi all,

The D600 is, at the very best, a product with known defects.

Buying or keeping a any camera that has that nomenclature is a dead end.

My best,

Mike

pippigurl

+1 Mike

Msmoto

We are in a very strange situation with the D600.....I do not think anyone knows is Nikon has come to a conclusion as to what exactly is the problem. If it were just dust, the cleaning would be a simple task of blowing off with a good blower. But, the problem seems to be some liquid material...I would guess a lubricant, possibly some other material along with the liquid. This requires a different approach to the cleaning process, blowing on the surface does not clean it.

From my perspective, Nikon is not dealing with this head on, but simply trying to patch up each case as they think they can. If there is anything good which can come from the D600 issue, it might be we will see a lot of refurbished D600 bodies and the price will be in the $1300-1400 range...with the issue corrected....

Again, IMO, if Nikon does not come through with refurb bodies, reasonably priced, the D600 disaster may have an effect on Nikon beyond anything they can imagine. Although I am waiting for a D400, for sure I will have to see if it has problems before venturing in.

If anyone has any actual numbers on the percentage of D600 bodies which have been returned, it would be interesting.

spraynpray

"If anyone has any actual numbers on the percentage of D600 bodies which have been returned, it would be interesting."

Given the complete lack of facts flowing from Nikon regarding any facet of this problem, such information is NEVER going to make it into the public domain! That information would be more damaging to them than the operational costs of repairs.

jjdarling

I haven't been paying CLOSE attention, but this issue isn't occuring on the D7100, right? That leads me to believe that whatever is causing the problem on the D600, they've isolated it and removed it from the D7100 and it shouldn't be a problem with future models (right? RIGHT?! God I hope not).

Anyway, if the refurb market drops to $1300-1400, I'll definitely buy one by year's end, oil spots or not, so I'm rooting for that.

MikeGunter

Hi all,


@ Msmoto It beats me why Nikon has let this go on and on. the damage swell continues.

@ Snp - No joke. At this point I can't imagine the cost to recall and repair/replace the cameras. Of course, as Msmoto mentions, the cost to reputation is immeasurable, too.

@ jjdarling - I don't know of any particular problem akin to the D600 in the Nikon lineup like the D600, it's in a class unto itself.

It can take good pictures, if it never closes down below f4, but that's asking a lot of any camera.

Which begs a huge question: At some point in time, a light combination will occur that will cause the f-stop to go a point that will show the little buggers. It seems inevitable, not likely, not possible, not probable, but certain.

No matter what wonderful possible pictures it can take, it will definitely take crappy pictures, too. Why would you or anyone be willing to settle for that? And with that certainty completely randomly to boot.

As I mentioned earlier, and often, it is a particular model, a legendary loser, like an Edsel automobiles, New Coke, or the WFL. Buying it may be its own reward - an education in consumer education.

My best.

Mike

heartyfisher

...

If anyone has any actual numbers on the percentage of D600 bodies which have been returned, it would be interesting.

I am sure Adorama and B&H will have the stats.. maybe NR Admin can ask them ? would be a "scoop" for NR?

spraynpray

I doubt B&H or Adorama would give that information away hearty, it would be destructive to their relationship with Nikon USA and Japan IMHO. They have nothing to gain from it.

heartyfisher

I have seen similar stats before.. I think it was Japanese in origin. I remember it showing most of the panasonics having the lowest rate of returns. nikon i think was 3rd or 4 best. I think i remember seeing stats for both the P&S and the DSLR. Nikon being #2 for DSLR. But I dont remember where I saw these info(or the exact details). I believe that there was a break down for each model and summary for the class of equipment.

mihaich

As some of you know, I did have also the dust issue with my D600. I did only few blows to clean it a little and waited. Took it to service after 10k pics and got a new shutter plus clean up. The first image I took after service - huge spec of dust straight in the middle God mad, then tried the "Clean image sensor menu" and it went away. Now I've set "Clean image sensor" at each startup. 1.2k with the new shutter, no issues so far (few "normal" specs of dust but I do change lenses outside as I shoot dogs in parks so no place to change the lens - I am however trying to do it very quickly and cover the camera as much as possible during the change).

jjdarling

I've had my D3000 for almost 4 years now, changing lenses quite frequently (outdoors, indoors, whenever), and I've shot over 60k with it, and I've never cleaned the sensor. Not even with a blower. I'm sure I have dust spots, but they've never bugged me, which is why I'm not SUPER concerned about the D600 problem.

1) Maybe I've just been super lucky? I do try to minimize the time/exposure when changing lenses, and I do the supersonic cleaning thing at power-up.

2) I think, my style of shooting generally uses wide apertures, and lots of shooting at night, where the dust fades into the many blacks and/or noise (of which the D3000 has LOTS), so I just don't notice it. Maybe one day I'll do a point-at-the-sky-at-f16 and see what's on the sensor, but I'm taking more of a "if it ain't broke..." mentality.

[Deleted User]

The official Pentax sensor cleaning kit. Seems a good one to me.

http://www.pentax2u.com/webshaper/store/viewProd.asp?pkProductItem=50

smadman

Ton, what's the word with your D600? Are you still in the clear as far as sensor spots go? (without regard to normal dust, of course)

[Deleted User]

Smadman, just dust as far as I can see, the same as my D300, I change lenses a lot. Every brand has oil spots I found out, D600 too much. The dust I see with a f/22 checkshot I don't see with f/16. I also see incredible detail due to the super sensor in combination with my lenses, so dust will be the downsite more and more I think. No worries for me about dust anymore, still my fact of life (gr!?$#gr).

@ mihaich exactly the same by me, only the shutter is replaced at 3k pic.

amhalpern

I am about ready to send my D600 back for cleaning for the second time in 6 months. They replaced the shutter but the problem is still there. Does anyone know of any class action lawsuits against Nikon for this issue? I don't mind a little dust but these are round lubricant spots that can not be blown off with an air rocket and should not be a constant issue. I should not be forced to never take pictures at more than f16. Enough is enough. Please contact me via Private Message if you know of any action to take or if you are interested in becoming a part of one. I am mad as hell and not going to take it any more.

Ironheart

Nice first post. Welcome to NR. A class action would require some sort damages. Has Nikon said they wouldn't fix/clean your sensor or shutter again?

amhalpern

Thank you Ironheart. You are correct. I really can't bring a class action suit but I am just so frustrated that this is such a huge problem. I get very worked up after reading over 400 posts from people having the same problem that I am. I would love to have some useful advice on how to proceed. It is very frustrating to have to deal with this problem more than once. There are over 450 posts about the D600 dust spot issue just on this forum and only 29 for the d800. That tells me there is a BIG problem with the D600. I will update this post when I find out if they will accept the camera back for repair or replacement. Here is a link to an example of the spots on the sensor. I took this at f22 1/60sec. I adjusted the tone balance to bring out the details. http://andrewhalpern.zenfolio.com/p782472923/h6fc60d65#h6fc60d65

mmfish

Just purchased a refurbished D600 received yesterday from nikon USA. After running thru 1750 shots, an oil smudge appeared on sensor just left of center. They are closed today, but will ask for return authorization tomorrow, who has time to deal with a special needs camera?

Msmoto

@mmfish

One oil smudge is almost normal. I would think if this is the only one the body is performing much better than the original run and the problem may be corrected.

Please let us know what Nikon says...

Looks like the refurb D600 bodies are now at $1440.....I think I will buy mine at about $1300....

MikeGunter

Hi all,

I really don't thing the camera is work it at any price.

My best,

Mike

spraynpray

This gear lust is a funny thing - I noticed the D600 is down to £1249 here and started to think that maybe I would be lucky and maybe they've fixed it and maybe when I go bonkers at them they will cure mine...

mmfish has it right I think - 'special needs' camera!