Nikon D600 vs D800: 20 things you need to know

Our friends over at N-Photo have been so intrigued by the new Nikon D600 that they put together this interesting comparison of the Nikon D600 vs D800 to see how the two new Nikon cameras compare. You might be surprised by what they found.

The new Nikon D600 is designed to bring full-frame photography to the masses, combining a full-frame 24-megapixel sensor with a consumer-friendly design at a lower-than-ever price point.http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/wp-admin/post-new.php

So is it just a D800 with a lower-resolution sensor? Absolutely not! The Nikon D600 is a brand new camera with some very significant differences that only become apparent when you study the specifications and handle the camera.

If you’re thinking about investing in your first Nikon FX-format DSLR and you’re faced with a Nikon D600 vs D800 dilemma, then these are the differences you need to know about.

1. Price difference

The Nikon D600 price tag is £1956 in the UK, which is £650 lower than the official price for the D800. Currently, the D800 is available online for as little as £2200-2300, so the differential is much smaller. But that will change once dealers start discounting the D600, and we expect the differential to be restored. One retailer we spoke to anticipated a street price of £1700 for the D600 body once there is a decent supply of the camera in the stores. In the US, street prices are much closer to list prices, so the price gap between the two cameras is larger.

2. Top shutter speed

The D600’s top shutter speed is 1/4000sec, where the D800’s is 1/8000sec. That seems odd, since every other FX camera can shoot at 1/8000sec, as can the DX-format D7000. That, to us, seems like an artificial differentiator to maintain the difference between the Nikon D600 vs D800.

3. Flash sync speed

The D600’s maximum flash sync speed is 1/200sec, while the D800’s is 1/250sec. That might not sound like a big difference, but it is nevertheless a significant drawback for outdoor flash photography, where even a small increment in available shutter speeds is valuable. Strobist guru David Hobby claims this point alone makes it worth avoiding the D600.

4. Weight

The D600 weighs just 760g (body only, without memory card), while the D800 weighs in at 900g, and that’s a big difference. If you’re carrying a camera round with you all day, the D600’s lighter weight is a huge advantage.

via Digital Camera World http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/09/18/nikon-d600-vs-d800-20-things-you-need-to-know/