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

smadman

@spraynpray: LOL, It's like the end of Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, when everyone is trying against all reason to rescue the Grail when it is slipping away...

My (supposedly) "new batch" D600 arrives today...I'll keep you all posted.

spraynpray

Please let us know the serial number smadman.

mmfish

I have returned the D600 and ordered a D800. I had hoped the D600 would have worked, but the sensor dirt and oil problems are real. Who has time for the required cleaning when most other DSLRs don't have such problems to the degree of the D600?

smadman

Couldn't agree with you more, mmfish...could you keep us apprised on how your D800 works out? I might be finding myself in the same situation before too long.

Msmoto

I think all the Nikon bodies, especially the pro bodies may spill some oil on the sensor when new... But, the difference in the D600 is it seemed to have no end in its struggles...

mmfish

The D600 was my third DSLR by Nikon, and 5th or 6th Nikon camera. In my years of digital photography never did I need to, or see such significant sensor concern. I'll let you kon how the D800 turns out, just got the email it was shipped.

smadman

Camera #3 has arrived. I'm in the US (NYC), serial number is 307XXXX. First thing I did out of the box was slap a lens on it; I won't change it for at least 200 shots. Just took first test shot of a white wall at f/20, and the first frame is clean as a whistle...completely spotless. I'll post a followup in a few days after I've put it through its paces.

bolt

my D600 #2 has arrived a couple of days ago -serial number 3072xxxx - no lens chances for all the actuations, zoom 28-300mm - first camera shot done at f/22 as reference , sensor clean - second shot at f/22 after 100 actuations, sensor with 5 spots - third shot at f/22 after 250 actuations 11 spots - fourth shot at f/22 after 400 actuation, more than 30 spots. My first camera serial number was 305xxxx, so after 250,000 + numbers, it seems that the camera still suffers of the same issue - I'll try to clean the sensor with Peter Gregg sensor-swipe (dry method) to see if they are sticky spots or only dust.
I'll keep you posted.

Msmoto

@bolt

Just a note on the Peter Gregg method of cleaning for those unfamiliar with this and which Golf posted a long time ago....this is not a dry method, but uses the moisture deposited from condensation of one's breath. And, I have cleaned the 70 oil spots from my D4 with this method and found it was very effective.

Possibly the question for the newer D600 bodies is whether they will stop dropping garbage on the sensor after a few thousand clicks....

spraynpray

Sorry to disagree:

I have to say that I find it impossible that condensation of ones breath alone will remove oil spots Tommie The two fluids are simply not miscible. Either they were dust spots, or the spots were smeared, not removed. Water just does not remove oil, period.

I also have to say that I was horrified to see Peter Gregg 'huffing' into his camera body given the lengths we go to in order to avoid condensation in there. It isn't a method I would consider if I had any other option.

Msmoto

@spraynpray

OK, we can disagree, but the dust appeared to be more irregular shapes and the other crud was more doughnut shaped. I am not certain what is on the Peter Gregg swab, but it did an excellent job on my sensor.

And, no amount of air on the sensor removed the spots until I used the breath method. (Which I also found a bit intimidating)

As to the miscibility of the doughnut shaped spots...I fully agree oil and water do not mix. I wonder if there is some type of detergent on the Peter Gregg swabs? It is the result which was outstanding in spite of the rather unusual technique.

spraynpray

If there is a detergent on the swabs, that changes everything (although it would have to work pretty fast to dissolve the oil and pick it up with so little time to do so). I didn't hear that there was anything special on the swabs when I watched his video though.

It seems more likely that the oil (if it was oil) was smeared to a thickness that rendered it less obvious and perhaps each time the sensor is cleaned subsequently, more gets removed and the remainder gets smeared out more too.

Sato

my D600 #2 has arrived a couple of days ago -serial number 3072xxxx - no lens chances for all the actuations, zoom 28-300mm - first camera shot done at f/22 as reference , sensor clean - second shot at f/22 after 100 actuations, sensor with 5 spots - third shot at f/22 after 250 actuations 11 spots - fourth shot at f/22 after 400 actuation, more than 30 spots. My first camera serial number was 305xxxx, so after 250,000 + numbers, it seems that the camera still suffers of the same issue - I'll try to clean the sensor with Peter Gregg sensor-swipe (dry method) to see if they are sticky spots or only dust.
I'll keep you posted.

30 spots at F/22?
I do believe there's a problem with the D600 cause I got one which proves it, But:
Show me any fullframe DSLR that doesn't show spots at f/22 after 400 actuation's.
That ain't testing to see if the camera is faulty or not, That's making the camera seem faulty while it might be fine.
Testing should be done at f/8 to f/16 against a bright background or clear sky and without over/underexposing and/or a bunch of Photoshop/Lightroom tricks.

spraynpray

@Bolt: The number of spots you mentioned do seem quite high, but don't be fooled by the 'no lens changes' thing because you have a super zoom on there which acts like a huge air pump every time you zoom it. If you had those results after using a prime lens for that number of actuations, then I would say it is definitely bad.

BigDog

Long time NRF reader, first ever post. Like others, I regularly followed this thread before and after I purchased a new D600 in November (serial # 303XXXX). Unfortunately, my unit has the 'dust/oil/spots' issue. After repeated wet cleanings, the problem re-appears with regularity - especially when compared to years of experience with the other DLSRs that I own (D7000, D100). So, D600 was shipped to Melville for repair (not clean) last week. Like others, I hope Nikon has found a permanent fix and that such finds its way into my relatively new D600!

spraynpray

Sorry to hear that BigDog. Please let us know what they say or what they write on your bill and whether it works or not.

1022kaplan

My D600, serial # 3002xxx, started showing spots after 28 shots. Upon inspection I saw tiny droplets on the sensor visible without magnification. I performed 4,000 shutter actuations hoping that the "magic 3,000" would solve the problem and cleaned the sensor. Visual inspection with a lighted 7X loupe now showed the sensor to be clean. Spots appeared again after 15 shots (some visible even at f2.8 IS0 1600), Inspection showed tiny droplets again. Another 4,00 actuations, and another cleaning. After 19 shots, spots appeared again. Inspection revealed a few particles of dirt or dust (not droplets) which were easily removed with a Giottos Rocket Blower. As the problem seemed to be resolving, I simply replaced the lens and used the camera to photograph an event. Spots appeared after 12 shots. Inspection revealed many more particles than before on the sensor with a especially large build up in the lower right corner. These could not be removed with the blower. The sensor was cleaned again. Once again, spots appeared after a few shots, and inspection again revealed a large accumulation of particles. I contacted Nikon and sent my camera in for repair. I'll see what happens next.

This pattern of droplets, droplets, a few particles then a lot of particles makes me speculate that something is scraping the shutter. At first, it would scrape away droplets of lubricant. Then, when most of the lubricant was gone, it would start scraping material off of the shutter itself. When the lubricant was all gone, larger amounts of material would be scraped off of the shutter.

1022kaplan

I haven't had any such problem with the D800. I've used three different bodies: one which I rented and shot over 300 frames without spots, one with which I had shot over 1,000 frames without any spots appearing before it was stolen, and the body that replaced the stolen camera which has shot over 1,200 frames without spots.

Before switching to Nikon, I used a Canon 5D mkII for years, and even after more that 6,000 shots, it never showed the kind of dirty sensor problem the D600 has. The D600 is a great camera, but this problem is simply ridiculous.

PB_PM

Indeed. I got the sensor cleaned on my D700 ever 10k or so.

aLQaDHi

can anyone who used d800 let me know if he/she faced the oil/dust issue? also is there any issue with the focus on the left side?

i got my d600 back form the service centre on Sunday after replacing the shutter and aperture control base and today i can see the spots on f9

i am trying to be expert in taking photos before trying to be expert in cleaning the sensor!!!

Msmoto

@aLQaDHi

Look here for D800 oil issues

http://forum.nikonrumors.com/discussion/664/d800e-and-oil-spots/p1

The D800 left focus issue is discussed here and on several other threads

http://www.forum.nikonrumors.com/discussion/1290#Item_10

Parke1953

Had no problems with the D800 for just over a year. Changed lenses many times (try to keep it out of dusty areas when changing lenses as best I can). Most of the time just blow it off with a blower. Will do first sensor cleaning soon,maybe today if I have time. Don't see any oil spots.

From what I have read expert photo taking and expert sensor cleaning go hand in hand on the D600 I am sorry to say.

1022kaplan

I'm not afraid of cleaning my sensor, but when I'm getting visible spots at less than 20 shots with the D600, I would have to have to remove the lens and clean the sensor several times during a portrait shoot. That's unacceptable and impractical.

aLQaDHi

@Msmoto Thanks for sharing the links, i guess i was hoping to hear form the users of D800 directly or being lazy

heartyfisher

I am a pretty easy going guy and can persevere with a spitty D600 if there is an end to it .. but How bad is this issue really? if I do get a d600 and it has this issue .. will it spit oil forever? or will it run out of juice after say 1000 clicks (2000? 3000?)

The reason I am asking is I quite like evening and night street photography and this D600 seems like a nice good value kit to do that. Yes I am waiting for a D400 and when/if that comes out I will probably get it.. my D7000 High iso, although not bad, does limit its use for this kind of shots. So I will be really using the D600 as a High ISO DX camera :-) ( LOL! I know this is going to twist some undies ! Haha ! )

PS I wet clean my sensors regularly myself so there is no real issue with dirty sensors.. I am assuming that I will just need to do it more often if i get a spitty D600 .. or is it just terrible.. Should I just hope that I get a non spitty one.. .. hmm .. or just wait for the D600NS (Non Spitty!)