Design and layout
With a design lying somewhere between D7000
and D300S, D600 feels professional yet it is still compact and lightweight
enough to be kept in pocket and capture instantly. The Nikon D600's
construction consists of magnesium alloy top and rear panels, like D7000,
instead of a completed coat (like that of D800), but it is on par with the
brother regarding being waterproof and anti-dust. AF-S Nikkon 24-85mm
f/3.5-4.5G ED VR kit lens features a rubber gasket surrounding the metal lens
mount, to help prevent the ingress of dust and moisture into the camera body.
AF-S
Nikkon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR kit lens
While D600’s design and layout is most
similar to D7000, when used, it reminded me of D300S and its predecessors. Lens
cover and big rubber eyepiece are placed in the back, making the camera sturdy,
and although the place where user’s hand holds is not too shallow according to
the camera’s size, I feel confident in capturing photo by one hand.
Mode dial retains D7000’s style instead of
being mode-button type (commonly seen in professional series). However, this
dial owns a lock key in the center to prevent accidental changes to current
mode. With another lock key for the second dial beneath, it’s hard to change
capture mode and burst mode when you want, but it’s better than results in
wrong settings.
Rear function keys accelerate their
operation, between playback button and capture button, yet this is not mainly a
problem. The only time I saw this as a problem was when the camera was
displaying the last image’s preview and buttons zoomed out the image, instead
of changing ISO (like in capture mode).
However, a useful and intelligent supplement
is when ISO changes and you use the rear thumb dial but if you wrench it toward,
it will turn into auto-ISO mode. It works with white balance – adjusting
variants of each setting and configuring quality – adjusting size of JPEG files
into large, medium and small.
Function keys seem include most necessary
controls for fast action, and by pressing Info button twice, you can quickly
access to additional controls such as movie settings, noise reduction,
D-Lighting, memory card selection and customized button arrangement.
Main menu is quite clear for other
features, although capture menu feels a little bulky, stretching over 4
screens. It would be better moving video and AF settings into separate menus.
Ratings:
8/10
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Comparison
|
|
|
D7000
|
D600
|
D800
|
|
Sensor
|
APS-C
|
35mm
|
35mm
|
|
Resolution
|
16.2MP
|
24.3MP
|
36.3MP
|
|
Processor
|
Expeed 2
|
Expeed 3
|
Expeed 3
|
|
ISO
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100-6400
|
100-6400
|
100-6400
|
|
(expansion)
|
100-25,600
|
50-25,600
|
50-25,600
|
|
AF
|
39-point MultiCAM 4800DX
|
39-point MultiCAM 4800
|
51-point MultiCAM 3500FX
|
|
Light meter
|
3D Matrix II
|
3D Matrix II
|
3D Matrix II
|
|
Burst mode
|
6fps
|
6.5fps
|
4fps
|
|
Body
|
Magnesium (top/rear)
|
Magnesium (top/rear)
|
Magnesium (total)
|
|
Weight
|
690g
|
760g
|
900g
|
Noise, resolution and sensitivity
D600’s 24.3MP resolution means that there’s
a decrease in detail, regarding images captured by D800, but it is quite enough
for most users. Models having similar sensors, like Canon EOS 5D Mark III, scored
30 points for its resolution thus we hoped D600 had the same result.
Result from our chart didn’t disappoint us.
At basic ISO 100, D600 got 30 points from JPEG and 32 point from RAW, when
processed by using View available NX2 and traced in Photoshop CS4. Though first
scores were quite good, it was more impressive that they lasted throughout ISO
range. In raw, score fell down to 30 at ISO 800 then 28 at ISO 6400 and Hi2
(25600) setting. Similarly, in JPEG, score fell down to 28 at ISO 800 and 26 at
ISO 3200, then 24 at Hi2.
Noise level was well controlled, lighting
noise only showed faded signs since ISO 1600 and they weren’t much at ISO 6400.
Hi2 (ISO 25,600) setting showed considerable lighting noise and some color
noises in the dark.
Ratings:
28/30
Resolution and noise
These images present 72ppi area (100% on
computer’s screen) of photos captured by Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens. We
listed the resolution chart’s area where the camera started being unable to create
separate lines. The higher number shown in these images is, the better the
camera’s resolution is, at suggested sensitivity.
Resolution
and noise
White balance and color
D600 has quite many white balance settings for
who prefer JPEG. Presets include 7 different fluorescent settings, along with a
standard array of options: incandescent, sunlight, flash, cloudy and shade. Two
auto-mode options includes Auto1, which is a standard setting, and Auto2 which
is designed to maintain warm bright colors for image featuring indoor scenes or
street lights. Auto2 will be preferred by those who try to catch the scene’s
atmosphere. White balance presets allow you to save 4 configurations, captured
from sample photos, or you can dial Kelvin value in temperature setting. Auto
settings provide good results for most scenes and only under too bushy shade,
does it make the photo look cold. There’re a lot of presets and available
customization in each preset means that you can have you favored temperature.
D600
has quite many white balance settings for who prefer JPEG.
Colors look strong and contrast, and
histogram displays quite many mid-tones. However, there’re many color settings
from image control menu, including 1 neutral preset; even vivid preset is for
those who desire more liveliness in the image. Color settings can be edited,
with a simple quick-adjust control or a series of 5 slider containing
sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue.
Ratings:
8/10
