Changing to a Nikon D600 from a D3?

propaintballa

propaintballa

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Hey guys,

I have been contemplating this for a while, either that or a 5DII/6D...

I know all of the above are good cameras, arguably better than the old D3 now but my main concern is the size, so I'm looking for someone who has maybe been in the same position as me who has done the same or similar and would like to share their opinions?!

I actually have really small hands but I still find small cameras really uncomfortable... I used to own a 450d (Tiny) then I had a 50D which was actually a pretty nice size and weight, then I had a D7000 for a brief period which I found really too small and currently have the D3 which the grip is a good size but as a whole package, the size is slightly overkill, although I do love it.

I would pop into a shop but there aren't really any decent places near me so thought I'd ask on here!

What do you guys think?!
 
I don't think I really want to stretch to a D800 to be honest, would rather keep the extra money and put it towards a lens, although it being larger is tempting.

And to answer that, I'd like video capability, and obviously, better DR amongst other improvements are never a bad thing :)

Like I said, I love the D3, it's great when I do shoot anything sporty etc, but when I don't (Which is a majority of the time) it's a little intense!
 
You will be seriously disappointed with how the D600 feels in your hands, compared to the D3 it feels like a little plastic toy, been there, done that and got rid of it.
 
ST4 said:
D800 off panaomoz is under £1500
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Was actually just looking at that, was fairly surprised!

Gary Coyle said:
You will be seriously disappointed with how the D600 feels in your hands, compared to the D3 it feels like a little plastic toy, been there, done that and got rid of it.
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Mmmm, what did you go from before the D600? And what have you gone to now?
 
Started with D700, onto D3, onto 2x D3S then needed a 3rd body so bought a D600, binned the D600 and bought a D800 as my 3rd body
 
Gary Coyle said:
Started with D700, onto D3, onto 2x D3S then needed a 3rd body so bought a D600, binned the D600 and bought a D800 as my 3rd body
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Hmmm, worrying indeed! Maybe I won't be getting a D600 then. Was thinking it might be a little better with a grip but by the time I've done that, may as well just get the D800 :/

Either that, or looking at a 5DII again, although I don't have a huge amount in glass, I don't particularly want to go back to Canon
 
i think d600/d610 uses the same "consumer" form factor as the d7000/d7100 - i like my d610 more than my d700 as less bulky but you may prefer the d800 as it has a similar form factor to the d700
 
Twice I've been in jessops and had a good play with the D610...

To me, it feels more like the D300/800 style than the D7000 - I was quite pleasantly suprised with how my hands felt like I was holding something a lot more chunky than my current camera (D7000).

But AF points man...screwed over the deal for me.

Anyway, by the time you've added a grip, even the d3200 feels good ;)
 
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propaintballa said:
Hmmm, worrying indeed! Maybe I won't be getting a D600 then. Was thinking it might be a little better with a grip but by the time I've done that, may as well just get the D800 :/

Either that, or looking at a 5DII again, although I don't have a huge amount in glass, I don't particularly want to go back to Canon
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Just buy one off the internet and try it, you can always send it back under the DSR for a full refund within 14 days no questions asked.
 
Phil Young said:
Twice I've been in jessops and had a good play with the D610...

To me, it feels more like the D300/800 style than the D7000 - I was quite pleasantly suprised with how my hands felt like I was holding something a lot more chunky than my current camera (D7000).

But AF points man...screwed over the deal for me.

Anyway, by the time you've added a grip, even the d3200 feels good ;)
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Hmmm, I might have to see if anywhere near me has one, it's probably different going from say the D7000 to something bigger rather than for me, from the D3 to something smaller.

What about the AF points? If you mean them all being near the middle, I 95% of the time use the centre only anyway, so that doesn't bother me tooooo much!
 
Phil Young said:
Twice I've been in jessops and had a good play with the D610...

To me, it feels more like the D300/800 style than the D7000 - I was quite pleasantly suprised with how my hands felt like I was holding something a lot more chunky than my current camera (D7000).

But AF points man...screwed over the deal for me.

Anyway, by the time you've added a grip, even the d3200 feels good ;)
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D800....

I have both a 610 and 800. 800 is just nicer to use
 
i don't even really like the "feel" of my D800 after my D3. Pretty sure the D600/610 would feel a tad toy like to you..
plus adding a grip. they still feel kinda "wrong"
if the D800 had more of a thumb ridge it would be greatly improved :)

if you don't need the boost in DR at base ISO or the extra resolution of one of the newer bodies then why change?
the D3 is still a very capabe camera. Maybe put the money into a new lens? :)
 
Happy with the D3 but want something smaller? the D700 was hailed as a smaller D3 was it not?

Still not exactly a small camera but when it comes to using it, the D7000 didn't feel big enough, so perhaps the D300 may suffice but size wise it's very similar to a D700 anyway albeit the latter being a little heavier and taller.
 
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Tirpitz said:
i don't even really like the "feel" of my D800 after my D3. Pretty sure the D600/610 would feel a tad toy like to you..
plus adding a grip. they still feel kinda "wrong"
if the D800 had more of a thumb ridge it would be greatly improved :)

if you don't need the boost in DR at base ISO or the extra resolution of one of the newer bodies then why change?
the D3 is still a very capabe camera. Maybe put the money into a new lens? :)
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As said earlier, I'd like something with video capability and obviously, newer technology with higher MP and better DR is never a bad thing. I definitely don't need to resolving power of the D800 at all.

andy1868 said:
Happy with the D3 but want something smaller? the D700 was hailed as a smaller D3 was it not?

Still not exactly a small camera but when it comes to using it, the D7000 didn't feel big enough, so perhaps the D300 may suffice but size wise it's very similar to a D700 anyway albeit the latter being a little heavier and taller.
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Would be pointless, would rather keep the larger body as there isn't really any benefit in getting either of those bodies, aside from size, but that's not the only reason I'd like to change :)
 
Disregard my post then! I seem to have gotten the wrong end of the stick :)
 
Ah my apologies, i'd missed the bit about video capabilities..
you mentioned you don't need the resolution of the D800 but "apparently" the video on them is pretty good...although thats something i've never tried on mine..

not an easy choice really

something new tech compared to the D3.... mine is still my "go to" camera above my D800
i have to admit it is nice to have the option of both as they are both quite different beasts.
 
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I agree with what has been said about "feeling" of the body. Nothing beats D3/D4 style cameras in this respect. If that's what you value most get a D4 or keep your D3.

However I think it is a bit exaggerating to say that the D600 fells like a plastic toy. It definitely doesn't feel so to me. My D600 has permanently attached arcs-swiss L-bracket plate and that helps it to feel quite robust. Add a MB-D14 and you have a combo well above 1kg. You shouldn't have any problems with balancing or handling (and I am using AF-S 200 f/2.0 which is quite a monster lens). Yes, the bottom and front parts are plastic, but the camera still feels solid enough. Important parts are still made from metal alloy covered by rubber grips so your hands are in contact with similar materials like on D700/D800. If there is any difference in handling it is due to the difference in size and weight rather than materials. If you want to experience plastic-toy feeling, try something like D3XXX series.

But anyway. There is a difference and you should be prepared that you go down two tiers when going from D3 to D600. There are also other aspects (AF, shutter lag, battery life, card slots). Depending on what you shoot you'll either hate it or love it. However, it could be also refreshing to have a smaller and lighter FX camera with superior IQ and new features that doesn't hurt your neck and arms when carrying. The only chance is to try it and see what suits you best.
 
andy1868 said:
Disregard my post then! I seem to have gotten the wrong end of the stick :)
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No worries :)

Tirpitz said:
Ah my apologies, i'd missed the bit about video capabilities..
you mentioned you don't need the resolution of the D800 but "apparently" the video on them is pretty good...although thats something i've never tried on mine..

not an easy choice really

something new tech compared to the D3.... mine is still my "go to" camera above my D800
i have to admit it is nice to have the option of both as they are both quite different beasts.
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Yeh, unfortunately, keeping the D3 and buying another body isn't an option as a poor student! Very tough choice to decide whether I want video enough to sell it at the expense of having a tough, ergonomic body.

mpe said:
I agree with what has been said about "feeling" of the body. Nothing beats D3/D4 style cameras in this respect. If that's what you value most get a D4 or keep your D3.

However I think it is a bit exaggerating to say that the D600 fells like a plastic toy. It definitely doesn't feel so to me. My D600 has permanently attached arcs-swiss L-bracket plate and that helps it to feel quite robust. Add a MB-D14 and you have a combo well above 1kg. You shouldn't have any problems with balancing or handling (and I am using AF-S 200 f/2.0 which is quite a monster lens). Yes, the bottom and front parts are plastic, but the camera still feels solid enough. Important parts are still made from metal alloy covered by rubber grips so your hands are in contact with similar materials like on D700/D800. If there is any difference in handling it is due to the difference in size and weight rather than materials. If you want to experience plastic-toy feeling, try something like D3XXX series.

But anyway. There is a difference and you should be prepared that you go down two tiers when going from D3 to D600. There are also other aspects (AF, shutter lag, battery life, card slots). Depending on what you shoot you'll either hate it or love it. However, it could be also refreshing to have a smaller and lighter FX camera with superior IQ and new features that doesn't hurt your neck and arms when carrying. The only chance is to try it and see what suits you best.
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Yeh, as mentioned earlier, I did think about getting the grip for it, but if I purchase the genuine Nikon one which are around £200? then I may as well spend the extra on the D800...

Saying that, I'm not sure what the third party ones are like or whether they're worth considering?
 
propaintballa said:
Saying that, I'm not sure what the third party ones are like or whether they're worth considering?
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If you prefer a full-size body you'll need a grip for the D800 too.

My opinion is that MB-D14 for £199 or MB-D12 for £296 is a rip off for what you get. I would get one of the better compatibles.
 
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mpe said:
If you prefer a full-size body you'll need a grip for the D800 too.

My opinion is that MB-D14 for £199 or MB-D12 for £296 is a rip off for what you get. I would get one of the better compatibles.
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Well, obviously I prefer a full size body to say a D7000, but if the D800 is a fairly good size then I'm not too fussed about a grip.

I used to own a Canon 50D and that was a pretty good size, that's why I was thinking about a 5DmkII, but then the 6D is pretty much the same price, is new but again... Smaller!

I really do need to get to a shop and try them out, there just aren't any near me!
 
You definitely need to try these cameras out, there are a few people who have a massive downer on the D600/D610 and pan it at every opportunity, without considering the price of the camera in comparison to other FF bodies. I currently use D3s's for work and picked up a D610 for personal/pleasure stuff - but I'm so impressed with the camera I'm using it professionally now too. I'm not sure I'd want to use it for fast moving sports/birds/planes due to the clustered AF points, but for everything else it really is great value for money. FWIW I had a D800 and hated the thing, for general photography the D610 is a much more suitable.

If you are ever in the Guildford area you are welcome to pop in and have a play...
 
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psenior1 said:
You definitely need to try these cameras out, there are a few people who have a massive downer on the D600/D610 and pan it at every opportunity, without considering the price of the camera in comparison to other FF bodies. I currently use D3s's for work and picked up a D610 for personal/pleasure stuff - but I'm so impressed with the camera I'm using it professionally now too. I'm not sure I'd want to use it for fast moving sports/birds/planes due to the clustered AF points, but for everything else it really is great value for money. FWIW I had a D800 and hated the thing, for general photography the D610 is a much more suitable.

If you are ever in the Guildford area you are welcome to pop in and have a play...
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Yeh, I think that's what it comes down to. I can see that having something smaller if you use a D3(etc) for work would be a bit of a relief after having to lug it around all day, but for how often I use the camera these days, that's a very big part.

Arguably though, the most important thing is what I've heard most people say about what matters most, IQ, DR, general usability etc.

Really seems to be a very personal thing, some people hate the D600/610 and prefer the D800 and others, like yourself are the opposite haha!

And that's very kind of you to offer a play with it! I shall bear that in mind if I'm ever in the area :)
 
Small & light is just a distant memory by the time you fit your 14-24 or 24-70.... then you have something that also feels decidedly nose heavy & unbalanced..
 
Tirpitz said:
Small & light is just a distant memory by the time you fit your 14-24 or 24-70.... then you have something that also feels decidedly nose heavy & unbalanced..
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d610 plus my 28mm AI is my ideal travel combo, but if I was going to use a pro 2.8 zoom then the d610 would not be the body I would choose! I would without doubt go with d3/d3s/d4/d4s series depending on avaliable cash.
 
Personally I do not like the feel or layout / button placement of the D600 / D610. The dial on the top really annoys me for some reason (I am used to the D200/300 etc type layout) and the handgrip grip feels a bit too shallow. I looked at one for ages, and every now and then still considering getting one as the specs are excellent and probably just what I would want, but then every time I pick one up I change my mind. The D800 is nice and chunky though overall I definitely prefer the ergonomics of the D3 if that feels a bit too big I would probably go for the D800.
 
boliston said:
I think the d800 is a "no brainer" for someone who thinks the d610 is too small but does not want the "heft" of the d3/d4 series
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it really depends on what you are shooting, I found the camera itself to be a pleasure to use, it was post processing the massive files afterwards and the unforgiving nature of the mega high resolution that I didn't like. For what I shoot 12mp is perfect, 24mp is overkill (but nice to have), 36mp and I'm drowning in data.

To be fair though I was an early adopter of the D800, and the RAW converter I use really didn't cope with the files well at all, which I'm sure will have changed by now.
 
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boliston said:
They are pretty evenly matched sensor performance wise according to snapsort http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D610-vs-Nikon-D800 - the D800 does have more pixels than the d610 but pretty well matched otherwise - cannot see any advantages of the d610 sensor over d800
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I would say the D800 has the better sensor, in terms of DR more than anything. The advantage is you don't have to manage 50% larger files and in reality very few people actually need that many pixels...
 
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psenior1 said:
it really depends on what you are shooting, I found the camera itself to be a pleasure to use, it was post processing the massive files afterwards and the unforgiving nature of the mega high resolution that I didn't like. For what I shoot 12mp is perfect, 24mp is overkill (but nice to have), 36mp and I'm drowning in data.

To be fair though I was an early adopter of the D800, and the RAW converter I use really didn't cope with the files well at all, which I'm sure will have changed by now.
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I'd imagine a fairly up to date pc would be required for processing, but this hardware (eg haswell based i5/i7 box with 16gb or more ram) is relatively cheap compared with the cost of a pro series full frame body like the d800. I've only used CNX2 for processing NEFs which seems OK - not sure if LR is more demanding in terms of hardware.
 
boliston said:
I'd imagine a fairly up to date pc would be required for processing, but this hardware (eg haswell based i5/i7 box with 16gb or more ram) is relatively cheap compared with the cost of a pro series full frame body like the d800. I've only used CNX2 for processing NEFs which seems OK - not sure if LR is more demanding in terms of hardware.
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depends on what you are shooting, for me its lots of weddings, with a good number of studio and portrait sessions - so a small increase in processing time per photo very quickly adds up. If you are only shooting a small number of frames now and then you'd probably manage with a very average PC.

If the benefits of the larger files justified upgrading hardware then I'd do it, but for me they simply don't. If you use CNX2 then take a look at the new NX-D beta, seems much more user friendly.
 
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psenior1 said:
depends on what you are shooting, for me its lots of weddings, with a good number of studio and portrait sessions - so a small increase in processing time per photo very quickly adds up. If you are only shooting a small number of frames now and then you'd probably manage with a very average PC.

If the benefits of the larger files justified upgrading hardware then I'd do it, but for me they simply don't. If you use CNX2 then take a look at the new NX-D beta, seems much more user friendly.
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At first I thought NX-D looked quite promising but soon realised it's basically VNX2 with an updated interface and using sidecars instead of saving edits to the nef itself.
 
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