Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800?

Vincent Oliver · March 9th, 2013, 07:03 AM

The GH3 may rock for video, but note it only has one SD card slot.

I think the new Nikon D7100 may be worth looking at, unless you need full frame capture.

Sam Renkin · March 11th, 2013, 08:35 AM

Yes, the D600 is a great videocamera. I'm reminded of this everytime I pick it up and shoot. I've had the camera for two months now, and the buttons and menus are becoming second nature to me.

I shot interviews on Friday afternoon, and "wild" photos and footage of a historical walking tour in Downtown Atlanta Sunday afternoon, both for a tribute video to honor an award recipient later this month. I used the stock 24-85mm zoom for much of the walking tour, and alternated between 35mm, 50mm and 85mm primes for the interviews.

The images I'm capturing with the D600 (with respect to color, detail, DOF and response to natural light) are amazing. The sensor is light years ahead of my 3-CMOS Sony Z5U. I'm also coming from .m2t (HDV) codec and the .mov files from the Nikon look great in Vegas Pro.

My camera does have some dust or oil specs on the sensor. I've not decided what to do about this yet - they only show up if I take photos of the blue sky at F11 or higher. You can't see them at all in the footage I'm shooting. It has not diminished my respect for this camera.

Duane Adam · March 12th, 2013, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent Oliver

The GH3 may rock for video, but note it only has one SD card slot.

I think the new Nikon D7100 may be worth looking at, unless you need full frame capture.

I was going to pick up a D7100 as a backup camera but had to send my D800 to Nikon for sensor issues this week. Think I'll wait awhile to see if the new sensors have the same problems.

Vincent Oliver · March 13th, 2013, 01:02 AM

That screen doesn't look like good news. Dust has always been the photographers curse.

Sam Renkin · March 14th, 2013, 02:14 PM

That doesn't look like dust - it has a pattern to it. Dust would be truly random specks. That looks like moisture or residue left behind from something wet?

Vincent Oliver · March 15th, 2013, 12:50 AM

I looks like an unpolished sensor problem. If it were my camera then it would be on its way back to Nikon by now.

Tom Abray · March 15th, 2013, 05:50 PM

I'm happy with the D600. The image is very good for a dslr. The crop mode can be handy to extend the reach of your lens. The audio levels and headphone jack are nice improvements over my previous 7d.

Here's one little video I made while sightseeing, hand-held with big mitts on. Some colour correction and sharpening done in Premiere Pro. The lens was a kit lens from a Nikon film camera I bought in the 90s.

And the photos from this camera are great imho.

Vincent Oliver · March 16th, 2013, 02:07 AM

Nice video which has been edited well. It looks like you are using a DX lens on the D600 as the coverage is not even especially in the corners.

Tom Abray · March 16th, 2013, 07:13 AM

Thanks. It's an fx lens (Nikon 28-80mm 3.3-5.6), but I added vignetting.

Vincent Oliver · March 16th, 2013, 07:30 AM

It always amuses me when I read about all the technical innovations that go into designing and making a lens. Then the creative photographer finds a way to put in soft focus, add a vignette or change the colouring in an image. I personally like to add an element of noise into my shots, I guess it makes the photo look more like a traditional photo shot with 400 - 800 ASA film (sorry I meant ISO).

Kyle Root · March 19th, 2013, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Renkin

The images I'm capturing with the D600 (with respect to color, detail, DOF and response to natural light) are amazing. The sensor is light years ahead of my 3-CMOS Sony Z5U. I'm also coming from .m2t (HDV) codec and the .mov files from the Nikon look great in Vegas Pro.

Not exactly realted, but I shot a short promo video for a local photographer on Saturday and brought along our new Nikon 1 V1 to play around with. I know it's no D800 or D600... but, the video I got out of it just looked much better (color, sharpness, and just overall "look") than my trusty Sony NX5U that I've been using for about 2 years now... which I've loved. - Until I put clips side by side.

Vincent Oliver · March 19th, 2013, 11:35 AM

Where is the clip Kyle, proof of the pudding etc.

Kyle Root · March 19th, 2013, 11:55 AM

When I get home from work, I'll try and post some screen grabs etc. Unfortunately I didn't shoot the same thing with both cameras, but there were shot in the same room, at different times.

Craig Chartier · June 1st, 2014, 09:16 PM

about a year since anyone as added to this tread. I was offered a good deal on a newer serial number D600. any recent thoughts on the performance of this camera for motion capture? any new updates would be great.
thanks

Sam Renkin · June 3rd, 2014, 01:53 PM

I'm still very pleased with my D600. I had a brief pang of regret when the D7100 came out for $1,000 less, but I like the flexibility of using the FX sensor in full frame or DX crop mode, and better low light capability. It's just a solid, well-designed camera.

March 9th, 2013, 07:03 AM	#31
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? The GH3 may rock for video, but note it only has one SD card slot. I think the new Nikon D7100 may be worth looking at, unless you need full frame capture. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 11th, 2013, 08:35 AM	#32
Sam Renkin Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 211	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? Yes, the D600 is a great videocamera. I'm reminded of this everytime I pick it up and shoot. I've had the camera for two months now, and the buttons and menus are becoming second nature to me. I shot interviews on Friday afternoon, and "wild" photos and footage of a historical walking tour in Downtown Atlanta Sunday afternoon, both for a tribute video to honor an award recipient later this month. I used the stock 24-85mm zoom for much of the walking tour, and alternated between 35mm, 50mm and 85mm primes for the interviews. The images I'm capturing with the D600 (with respect to color, detail, DOF and response to natural light) are amazing. The sensor is light years ahead of my 3-CMOS Sony Z5U. I'm also coming from .m2t (HDV) codec and the .mov files from the Nikon look great in Vegas Pro. My camera does have some dust or oil specs on the sensor. I've not decided what to do about this yet - they only show up if I take photos of the blue sky at F11 or higher. You can't see them at all in the footage I'm shooting. It has not diminished my respect for this camera.

March 13th, 2013, 01:02 AM	#34
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? That screen doesn't look like good news. Dust has always been the photographers curse. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 14th, 2013, 02:14 PM	#35
Sam Renkin Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 211	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? That doesn't look like dust - it has a pattern to it. Dust would be truly random specks. That looks like moisture or residue left behind from something wet?

March 15th, 2013, 12:50 AM	#36
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? I looks like an unpolished sensor problem. If it were my camera then it would be on its way back to Nikon by now. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 15th, 2013, 05:50 PM	#37
Tom Abray New Boot Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 20	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? I'm happy with the D600. The image is very good for a dslr. The crop mode can be handy to extend the reach of your lens. The audio levels and headphone jack are nice improvements over my previous 7d. Here's one little video I made while sightseeing, hand-held with big mitts on. Some colour correction and sharpening done in Premiere Pro. The lens was a kit lens from a Nikon film camera I bought in the 90s. Montreal Fete des Neiges on Vimeo And the photos from this camera are great imho.

March 16th, 2013, 02:07 AM	#38
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? Nice video which has been edited well. It looks like you are using a DX lens on the D600 as the coverage is not even especially in the corners. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 16th, 2013, 07:13 AM	#39
Tom Abray New Boot Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 20	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? Thanks. It's an fx lens (Nikon 28-80mm 3.3-5.6), but I added vignetting.

March 16th, 2013, 07:30 AM	#40
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? It always amuses me when I read about all the technical innovations that go into designing and making a lens. Then the creative photographer finds a way to put in soft focus, add a vignette or change the colouring in an image. I personally like to add an element of noise into my shots, I guess it makes the photo look more like a traditional photo shot with 400 - 800 ASA film (sorry I meant ISO). __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 19th, 2013, 11:35 AM	#42
Vincent Oliver Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Chislehurst, London Posts: 1,724	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? Where is the clip Kyle, proof of the pudding etc. __________________ Eyes are a deaf man’s ears. Ears are a blind man’s eyes

March 19th, 2013, 11:55 AM	#43
Kyle Root Major Player Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Decatur, AL Posts: 883	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? When I get home from work, I'll try and post some screen grabs etc. Unfortunately I didn't shoot the same thing with both cameras, but there were shot in the same room, at different times. __________________ Kyle KR Productions; www.kyleroot.com

June 1st, 2014, 09:16 PM	#44
Craig Chartier DVi Contributor Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 374	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? about a year since anyone as added to this tread. I was offered a good deal on a newer serial number D600. any recent thoughts on the performance of this camera for motion capture? any new updates would be great. thanks

June 3rd, 2014, 01:53 PM	#45
Sam Renkin Major Player Join Date: May 2008 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 211	Re: Is the D600 a great videocamera or should i go for D800? I'm still very pleased with my D600. I had a brief pang of regret when the D7100 came out for $1,000 less, but I like the flexibility of using the FX sensor in full frame or DX crop mode, and better low light capability. It's just a solid, well-designed camera.