I recently got my hands on a Nikon D610 for some testing. As a D600 owner, I really wanted to see how the camera compared. I didn’t have the camera for a very long time (about 5 days) but I did put it through its paces and really try it out under tough shooting conditions.
The camera seems to be an improvement of note over the D600. I saw no issues with the sensor oil problem that plagued both the D800 and D600. The camera feels polished and professional offering a full frame sensor at a very low price.
I took the camera to Zion National park to shoot HDR and time-lapse for a new class I’m working on (as well as just to enjoy a few days with nature). The camera had zero issues with the cold. I got very long battery life using the optional grip.
What I Like
This is what stood out to me after shooting.
- Greater dynamic range, full two stops. The camera has a lot of flexibility for shooting in tough lighting. The larger sensor really pulls in the light.
- FX-format CMOS image sensor. The camera uses the EXPEED 3 sensor. This is the same image-processing engine found in the D4 and D800 series for much less cost. If you’re looking for the benefits of a larger sensor without all of the costs, this is a strong contender.
- Full-frame 100% viewfinder. The viewfinder is easy to use with solid feedback when shooting.
- 24 megapixel images. I prefer the much more reasonable sized raw files this camera produces. Plenty of resolution .
- Good frame rate. The camera can capture 6 frames per second, which is a good speed for most users.
- 2 card slots. Easily roll over from one card to another. Useful when shooting timelapse and video. You can also auto-back-up from one card to another.
- Weather sealed. I was in the cold and the snow. No issues to report (even though I ran the camera below the recommended temperature for shooting).
Video Capabilities
If you’re into video, this camera is one of the best Nikon makes. The video signal is very clean using a 422 compression scheme for greater color accuracy.
- 1080p HD video with 30p, 25p or 24p
- 720p HD at 60p, 50p or 30p
- Live View AF with face-priority and subject tracking or manually focus
- Dedicated inputs for an optional stereo mic and headphones
- Shoot using FX or DX movie formats to give you an extended reach on lenses for close-ups.
Recommendation
I’m not sure if I am ready to sell my D600 ( which I’m quite happy with) but this camera is a solid offering that responds to complaints raised by Nikon customers. It is a strong performer at a reasonable price. The autofocus system could be a little more flexible, but it still performs very well under challenging conditions.
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Other than the oily bits is any of the features different than the D600 the Exceed3 perhaps. I’m happy with my D600 so it doesn’t matter much just curious how much of the review could be about the D600
The shutter speed syncs better for flash. Speed faster. Dynamic range better.
Both the D600 and D610 looks tempting
Would have liked it better with 700-like exterior controls vs 7000 controls.
Right now a D7000 shooter. Besides the obvious DX/FX differences, was wondering views on trading up to a D610? All my lens are FX. I travel and to many national parks. My web site will show you some of my work. Only going to carry one DSLR and my Sony Rx100. Thank you for you insight.
I own a 7000 as well. This is a big step up in speed and quality. But I obviously like my 7000 and didn’t sell it either.
Reblogged this on The Pretty Canary.
We used to have the D600 but after going through 3 bodies and 5 times of taking the camera back due to oil spots (and we’re talking oil spots that made the images completely unusable), our retailer swapped the D600 for the D800 and have never looked back. We initially looked at getting the 800 but decided that for the money we weren’t going to get an extra $1,000 and 1 lens value from the 800. Now that we’ve had the 800 for a while we wouldn’t trade back again. In saying that one of our friends has just got… Read more »
Hey Richard,
may I kindly ask you what kind of gear you use to move the camera back and forward to get it to the nodal point in your image please?
Many thanks!
Joerg
That is a small slider rail from Really Right Stuff. Quite useful for my panoramic photography when I am trying to shoot “right.” Although sometimes I am lazy and Photoshop just makes it work too.