Nikon D600 announced

After months of rumour and speculation, Nikon has announced a new entry-level full-frame DSLR, the Nikon D600, to sit below the Nikon D800 in its lineup.

At the heart of the camera is a newly designed 24.3MP FX format CMOS sensor and the same Expeed 3 processing engine as the one in the top-of the-range Nikon D4.

This combination enables a maximum continuous shooting rate of 5.5fps, 16-bit raw file processing and a native sensitivity range of ISO 100-6400. Sensitivity can also be expanded to the equivalent of ISO 50-52,600.

The Multi-CAM 4800 AF system has a total of 39 AF points, nine of which are cross-type. In addition, the central seven points are sensitive down to f/8, which means they function when a lens and teleconverter combination with an effective maximum aperture of f/8 is mounted on the camera.

A total of 33 of the Nikon D600's points are sensitive between f/5.6-8.0, and all are sensitive and fully functional with lenses that have a a maximum aperture of f/5.6.

As with the Nikon D800, metering on the Nikon D600 is handled by a 2,016-pixel RGB sensor, which enables scene recognition and full-time face detection even when shooting using the viewfinder.

Images may be composed in the glass prism viewfinder, with 100 per cent frame coverage and 0.7x magnification, or on the 3.2-inch 921,000-dot LCD screen with automatic brightness control.

A dual-axis electronic level is also on hand, and displays in either the LCD screen or the viewfinder, to help keep the horizon level.

Video

Nikon has based the D600's video technology on the D800's, and as such it is capable of recording 1080p footage at 24, 25 or 30p, and the maximum clip length is 29 minutes 59 seconds. It's also possible to record 720p videos at 25, 30, 50 and 60p.

Full HD movie recording can be made in both FX- or DX-based formats, so videographers are able to get closer to the action and use a wide range of optics.

As with the Nikon D800, it is also possible to stream uncompressed video footage to an external monitor via the Nikon D600's HDMI port.

A microphone jack is provided to enable an external mic to be connected for clear audio recording. Sound levels can be manually adjusted in the camera. This can be monitored via a set of headphones plugged into the audio-out port.

Thanks to its intervalometer, the Nikon D600 can also shoot time-lapse images that are then combined into a movie in-camera with frame rates that are between 24 and 36000 times faster than normal.

Small is beautiful

Although it has a full-frame sensor, Nikon set out to make the D600 as compact and as lightweight as possible, and it's actually a little smaller than the APS-C format Nikon D300s, which sits below it in the company's DSLR lineup. Nikon claims the D600 is the smallest, lightest full-frame SLR on the market.

To keep the D600's size down, Nikon has opted to give it two SD card ports rather than an SD and a CompactFlash card port.

Because the Nikon D600 is smaller than the Nikon D800 and Nikon D300s, it can't accept the same battery grip, and Nikon has announced the MB-D14 Battery Pack for the D600. This can accept AA or EN-EL15 batteries.

Flash

Like the Nikon D800, the Nikon D600 has a pop-up flash that's compatible with Nikon's Creative Lighting system. There is no PC socket for connecting studio flash, however.

In-camera editing

The in-camera editing menu provides options to correct red-eye, colour balance and D-lighting (dynamic range) and to carry out raw processing and image resizing.

Filter effects include Skylight, Cross Screen, Miniature, Colour Outline, Colour Sketch and Selective Colour. There are also Quick Retouch options for distortion control, perspective control, straightening and fisheye effects.

Videographers will also appreciate the movie editing feature that enables the start and end point of movie clips to be designated to save on storage space.

Wi-Fi connectivity

Nikon has also announced the WU-1b Wi-Fi adaptor for instant sharing of images via Android and iOS devices. The Nikon Android app is already available, and the iOS app will be along later this month.

At present it looks like this app will only enable the smartphone or tablet to be used upload images or as a remote viewfinder and trigger, rather than enabling you to control the camera's settings with it.

Price and availability

The Nikon D600 is set to go on sale on September 18, and has a retail price of £1,955.99 (about $3,150) for the body only.

With the 24-85mm kit lens, the RRP is £2,443.99 (around $3,935), while the MB-D14 battery pack will retail for £249.99 (around $400) and the WU-1b Wi-Fi adaptor will cost £64.99 (around $100).