Okay all you people who know stuff about cameras....I want to know if any of you have or have tried either of these cameras and what you think of them. wondering if there is a big difference between them. I have read there is more of a learning curve on the D800, but once you master it, it is a magnificent camera. Any thoughts? I was thinking of upgrading to the D600, it is a little more affordable, or should I save my money and go all out?
I went from the D700 to the D600. I don't need the 36mpix and there were too many D800 samples with issues (AF, locking up, viewfinder etc...). The D800 is still the Nikon DSLR with the worst customer ratings on a website like Amazon. I have no doubt it's a great camera if you find a good sample.
I so wanted to consider the D600 but when I lifted it, my hand cramped up. I couldn't hold it. It's really big and bulky for me. Bwah!!!!!! So, now I'm on the lookout for something similar but smaller.
@anzere03 Well that is sort of the thing I have been reading about. People saying it can be a great camera and others complaining a lot about it...how would you even know if you are getting a great camera unless you can test drive it for a while. @dmortega Yes, this would be a test of strength going from the D3100 to the D600...I like the lightness, but am willing to compromise for the better camera :)
I've got the D800 and really like it. Nikon took care of the locking up issue with a firmware update, and mine came with that updated firmware. A few cameras has an issue with the far left focusing point not being accurate. They have a fix for it and are repairing any camera with that issue. I haven't noticed it on mine, but I haven't done a scientific test to verify how accurate that point is. And I hadn't heard any issues about the viewfinder, I've had no issues with mine.
My only complaints are 4fps, is a bit slow, the factory vertical grip is way overpriced (but there are some cheap 3rd party alternatives) and editing 36mp images really taxes my slow computer.
I went from a D3 to a D800, so this things feels super light. I think a D3100 would feel like a toy to me.
I adore my 800. It is a bit heavy for my almost 70 yo body but it's worth every ounce. Yes, learning curve was pretty steep and it hadn't occurred to me that my Lightroom 3 wouldn't upload and I had to upgrade. I save to external hard drives so isn't impacting my computer. I love all the pixels letting me zoom in a lot and still be able to print good sized photos
I went from a D90 to the D600. amazing camera, with only 2 major issues: auto focus points all in the middle (not even CLOSE to the rule of thirds, let alone something more interesting), and the biggie, DUST/OIL.
do yourself a favour and wait for the upgrade, until Nikon admits and deals with the obscene dust and oil issues with the D600. if they roll over on us like they did with the D7000, go Canon. I'm considering it myself.
you can read my initial D600 review here (my part 2 is waitng for me to come to terms with the dust issues): http://365project.org/discuss/general/14394/nikon-d600-fx-upgrade-from-nikon-d90-dx-part-1
the d800 is even heavier, pricier, and except for a few special purpose needs, the 36mp will be a hindrance, not a bonus. if I had the money to burn, I'd buy both a D600 and a D800, and shoot whichever was the better for the scene. that D800 would make an ***amazing*** macro and fine art landscape camera, but for normal every day shooting, the D600 is a better choice. I even use my D90 still on occasion, not just because my zoom lens works on it, but for the smaller raw files and complete lack of dust after 4 years of shooting with it.
Just wanted to say thanks for the posts here. I too have been looking at the two cameras as an eventual replacement for my D700. @newbie you might consider the D700 - you may find a good price for a new one, and honestly the 12 MP is just fine. It's amazing in low light and high ISOs. Make sure you have $ set aside for lenses that will take advantage of the higher resolutions!
I will personally vouch for the exceptionally wonderful photos that @emsabh creates with his camera. I can also vouch for how absolutely heavy it is and I would hate lugging it to some of the places he goes. You may want to consider a place like www.borrowlenses.com to rent the camera for a long weekend. They are currently having a sale now too on rentals made before Thanksgiving. I have rented from them and saved a lot of money on not buying lenses I was on the fence about and after testing them out realized they were not necessary
@brumbe Agreed on most points, quibble on the lens in regards to the higher pixel counts of the 600 and 800. I've seen on here and elsewhere that folks are discovering the limits of their glass with the resolving power of the sensor. If one is going to invest 2K+ on a sensor, the glass will have to keep up. Times are definitely changing.
I recently bought the D800 and am very happy with it! The shots are HUGE but it makes for very effective cropping. They are slow to process on my computer though. Otherwise, no complaints!
@cameronknowlton Been watching your updates Cameron and still went ahead and upgraded from d7000 to d600 yesterday. It's just out of the box and I pray it isn't plagued with oil spots. Now to see what it can do but weight and size are perfect for my uses alongside my fuji x100 (everyone should buy a fuji x!)
@wardie@cameronknowlton I wasn't aware of this oil/dust issue. Cameron have you approached Nikon about it? What do they say? I did read your other review a while back. The focusing points are quite centered in the d3100 too, which I find annoying compared to my dad's D7000, but I have become used to it.
Anyhow, Paul, I will be curious to know how you make out with yours...keep me posted.
@kwind@emsabh Thanks for your replies. I am aware I will need the glass to go with it...looking at a big investment here. Want a 105mm to go with it. I have a 50mm 1.4 brand new and hope to get a wide angle as well, then I should be well prepared for a while. My main subject matter is people, so looking to produce portraits and candids, family shots babies eventually weddings etc.
@brumbe I am not sure if that borrow lenses place ships to Canada and if they did how much it would be...however, we do have a store called Vistek that rents out equipment, I might give that a try before I buy. @jgpittenger Thanks for the input, getting some external hard drives this weekend, so thanks for the info. @sudweeks Thank you for your opinion, I have some work ahead of me to figure this out.
@wardie Congrats Paul. I've got my eye on a D800 and a 24-70 f2.8. I looked at the D600 but think I'll go the extra mile and get the D800. Apart from the specs, I much preferred the feel of the D800. I'll keep you updated.
Focusing points clustered in the center of the frame isn't unique to the D600 / D800. All Nikon FX cameras do this, including the D3s and D4. You'll also see the same thing with the Canon 5D Mark III. So unless you're comparing FX vs DX, there's nothing you can do about this.
The D800 and D600 share very little in common - different sensor, different shutter, different AF motor, different body, so I don't understand Rockwells comments of putting the same camera in different bodies and charging more for it. Although Rockwell is known for saying controversial / incorrect things to try to drive traffic to his site. I avoid his site and stick to sites like dpreview.com for information.
The D3200 has a smaller pixel pitch than the D800, which would make it a much better macro lens, as long as you have a quality macro lens.
@newbie This place is run by the same guy who runs canonrumors.com and always seems to get excellent reviews, although I've not yet used them personally:
Personally, having been looking at full-frame cameras a bit in the last month or so, I'd say that any Nikon shooter who can possibly afford the D800 shouldn't hesitate (with the possible exception of sports shooters who need a high frame rate), the image quality from it is quite remarkable, and at an amazing price. For pure image quality, it's annoying to say that Canon don't have anything that can touch the Sony sensor in the D800, even at twice the price. The D800 has better colour depth, better dynamic range, and better low-light performance than the Canon 1D X, along with double the resolution!
I'd also strongly recommend considering the D800E if you can afford it -- this removes the anti-aliasing filter and results in a much sharper image. Theoretically this could introduce moire in certain situations, but reviews suggest that Nikon have eliminated this to the point where the D800E is sharper in every situation. It costs about $300 more than the standard D800, but seems well worth the money.
I'm really surprised Nikon aren't doing a lens bundle with it, as if they were it would be extremely tempting for Canon users wishing to upgrade to full-frame.
@newbie Just recieved my D800 and the 105 a couple of days ago, as I changed systems entirely it will take a while for me to come to terms with the differences in ergonomics etc but I am finding the IQ fabulous. I will also need a Rapid strap to use it with the 70-200. I was also under the impression Rockwell was being deliberately misleading to bring traffic to his site as many of his claims are factually incorrect.
@abirkill@kellc Well as for being able to afford the extra....I can't afford any of it, but I don't think that is going to stop me in the end. Up to this point I am self taught on everything so far and am willing to put in the time for what I hear is quite the learning curve on the D800. I will be looking for a mentor in business and technique over the next little while. I want to turn photography into a career, even if it is meager pay. It will satisfy my soul. I know the D800 is likely the way to go to be on a more professional level, but just needed to hear the opinions of those that have the camera. Thanks so much for your input.
I have a D600 and yes, I noticed some spots on the sensor not long into my shooting - I didn't know if they were dust or oil. While Nikon offered to clean the sensor for free, I elected to save time and take the camera to my camera shop, one of few authorized Nikon repair facilities in the US. They cleaned the sensor and said it was NOT oil. However the spots got there, they're gone now. I paid $70 for the cleaning and never looked back. I don't know where the spots came from, but they're gone and I am still in love with the camera. Spots now or spots later, you will eventually have spots on the sensor of a camera whose lenses you must remove from time to time. I don't see this as a reason to reject the camera - for the money, it's a fantastic piece of equipment. Its focus speed is remarkable and its low light performance is spectacular.
An interesting selection of opinions here. I have a friend who bought the D800 first, then a D600 when it came out. He ended up selling the D800, he much preferred the lighter weight and the handling was more like the D7000, which he was used to. He thought the image quality between the two cameras was close enough for his purposes and he appreciated the smaller files. He's very happy with his choice.
I handled both cameras briefly as I was curious about them. I found the D800, especially with his big zoom lens, difficult to hand-hold, the D600 would be possible (just). As much as I'd love to get the higher quality that you can get with a full frame camera, the weight and size is still too much for me, I'll stick to something smaller. There's no point in getting a fabulous camera if I don't bother carrying it, is there?
Hey Stacey, i have the D800e version, got mine on Dec 4/2012, and not an issues with any thing 3rd generation. i usually test drive cameras but being busy with work, did not get a chance to to do both D800's. From test shots with the D800-E, & BG things look very good, the settings are straight forward, and my prime lenses on this baby are sweet,
Things to understand its a new camera new Sony sensor the learning curve is huge (if you have not used a DSLR) i find it lighter then my 700, Two things alot of ppl are worried about its weight, to me its a non issue i have the 70-200, 300 f2 but shooting street i go for my 85mm or the 35mm, prefer tight shots. 70-200 only if i really need to use it..Enough of the weight. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU BUY ONE. BTW 36m/pixels thast also is a non issue but great to have if you want to print posters, i dont.. cheers let us know what you get. got mine from donwtown camera in Toronto,
I was considering the D800 but it is just way too big in size, and in file size.
I rented one, and being 36MP, the RAW files took around 30 seconds each to load onto my computer - too long if I've spent a day taking a couple of hundred photos (or thousands if you're into weddings etc.!). And unless you're doing bilboard-sized prints 36MP really isn't needed, in my opinion, even more so if your photos are only going to be viewed on a screen/online/in small prints.
I got the 24-70mm 2.8 lens along with the D800 when I rented it, and it was just too heavy for me to carry around for a long period of time. So I would suggest testing the weight with a lens and battery etc. if you do so in store!
I've bought the D600 for myself for my 21st and I'm excited. I own my own small photography business and this camera suits me perfectly - in terms of size, image quality etc. Especially the $1000 price difference - I put it towards a new lens.
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@dmortega Yes, this would be a test of strength going from the D3100 to the D600...I like the lightness, but am willing to compromise for the better camera :)
My only complaints are 4fps, is a bit slow, the factory vertical grip is way overpriced (but there are some cheap 3rd party alternatives) and editing 36mp images really taxes my slow computer.
I went from a D3 to a D800, so this things feels super light. I think a D3100 would feel like a toy to me.
do yourself a favour and wait for the upgrade, until Nikon admits and deals with the obscene dust and oil issues with the D600. if they roll over on us like they did with the D7000, go Canon. I'm considering it myself.
you can read my initial D600 review here (my part 2 is waitng for me to come to terms with the dust issues):
http://365project.org/discuss/general/14394/nikon-d600-fx-upgrade-from-nikon-d90-dx-part-1
the d800 is even heavier, pricier, and except for a few special purpose needs, the 36mp will be a hindrance, not a bonus. if I had the money to burn, I'd buy both a D600 and a D800, and shoot whichever was the better for the scene. that D800 would make an ***amazing*** macro and fine art landscape camera, but for normal every day shooting, the D600 is a better choice. I even use my D90 still on occasion, not just because my zoom lens works on it, but for the smaller raw files and complete lack of dust after 4 years of shooting with it.
Anyhow, Paul, I will be curious to know how you make out with yours...keep me posted.
@jgpittenger Thanks for the input, getting some external hard drives this weekend, so thanks for the info.
@sudweeks Thank you for your opinion, I have some work ahead of me to figure this out.
Focusing points clustered in the center of the frame isn't unique to the D600 / D800. All Nikon FX cameras do this, including the D3s and D4. You'll also see the same thing with the Canon 5D Mark III. So unless you're comparing FX vs DX, there's nothing you can do about this.
The D800 and D600 share very little in common - different sensor, different shutter, different AF motor, different body, so I don't understand Rockwells comments of putting the same camera in different bodies and charging more for it. Although Rockwell is known for saying controversial / incorrect things to try to drive traffic to his site. I avoid his site and stick to sites like dpreview.com for information.
The D3200 has a smaller pixel pitch than the D800, which would make it a much better macro lens, as long as you have a quality macro lens.
http://www.lensrentalscanada.com/index.php?cPath=28_92
Personally, having been looking at full-frame cameras a bit in the last month or so, I'd say that any Nikon shooter who can possibly afford the D800 shouldn't hesitate (with the possible exception of sports shooters who need a high frame rate), the image quality from it is quite remarkable, and at an amazing price. For pure image quality, it's annoying to say that Canon don't have anything that can touch the Sony sensor in the D800, even at twice the price. The D800 has better colour depth, better dynamic range, and better low-light performance than the Canon 1D X, along with double the resolution!
I'd also strongly recommend considering the D800E if you can afford it -- this removes the anti-aliasing filter and results in a much sharper image. Theoretically this could introduce moire in certain situations, but reviews suggest that Nikon have eliminated this to the point where the D800E is sharper in every situation. It costs about $300 more than the standard D800, but seems well worth the money.
I'm really surprised Nikon aren't doing a lens bundle with it, as if they were it would be extremely tempting for Canon users wishing to upgrade to full-frame.
I handled both cameras briefly as I was curious about them. I found the D800, especially with his big zoom lens, difficult to hand-hold, the D600 would be possible (just). As much as I'd love to get the higher quality that you can get with a full frame camera, the weight and size is still too much for me, I'll stick to something smaller. There's no point in getting a fabulous camera if I don't bother carrying it, is there?
Things to understand its a new camera new Sony sensor the learning curve is huge (if you have not used a DSLR) i find it lighter then my 700, Two things alot of ppl are worried about its weight, to me its a non issue i have the 70-200, 300 f2 but shooting street i go for my 85mm or the 35mm, prefer tight shots. 70-200 only if i really need to use it..Enough of the weight. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU BUY ONE. BTW 36m/pixels thast also is a non issue but great to have if you want to print posters, i dont.. cheers let us know what you get. got mine from donwtown camera in Toronto,
I rented one, and being 36MP, the RAW files took around 30 seconds each to load onto my computer - too long if I've spent a day taking a couple of hundred photos (or thousands if you're into weddings etc.!). And unless you're doing bilboard-sized prints 36MP really isn't needed, in my opinion, even more so if your photos are only going to be viewed on a screen/online/in small prints.
I got the 24-70mm 2.8 lens along with the D800 when I rented it, and it was just too heavy for me to carry around for a long period of time. So I would suggest testing the weight with a lens and battery etc. if you do so in store!
I've bought the D600 for myself for my 21st and I'm excited. I own my own small photography business and this camera suits me perfectly - in terms of size, image quality etc. Especially the $1000 price difference - I put it towards a new lens.
Good luck deciding!