Nikon D700 vs D600

akshaymak

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Hi people I'm new as you might be able to tell I am a photographerhttp://www.Mak-Media.co.uk, i mainly photograph weddings and events such as party's.
i currently use a Nikon D90 with a Nikon 24-70 2.8
With a Nikon 50 1.4
Nikon 85 1.8
I have come to upgrading to full frame so I thought I'd look at the D700 or D600
 
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D700 for low light ISO and focusing would get my vote. Only positive on the d600 imho would be more pixels but you don't "need" more than what the D700 offers
 
Everyone I've seen online has said that it is a actually enough! But d600 image quality is just outstanding
 
Both have there ups and downs. The D600 is obviously going to give you extra resolution. The D700 is a proper pro body though with a much superior a.f system. The D600's focus point are all cramped together. If you crop a lot get the D600 if not get the D700.
 
:wave: and welcome aboard.

Just a quick pointer to look in your user cp where you can edit your signature to include a link to your photography site - no problem at all if you want to do this, but please don't add links manually to the bottom of your posts.

Thanks.
 
Do you need video? This would sway your decision. I opted for the D600 and never looked back
 
For ISO the D600 is meant to be better than the D700..but If I bought the d700 wouldn't the 12mp be out dated easily ..and the 2nd hand D700 is only little cheaper then a new D600 body ..hard times
 
To be honest, I don't ever use video nor do I plan to use video..is the D600 focus points good for low light?
 
Choose one.

D700 - better af, manual controls, build quality
D600 - better sensor, video
 
Haven't owned a D700 so I can't compare, it is much loved on this forum, and is no doubt a classic Nikon. I've already taken a few thousand pictures and have never had any issues at all with focus points. Just chose the D600 as It felt better in my hands. Low light capability is excellent, not taken any video yet, but images are very detailed, I like the ability to crop an image and retain quality.
 
Sounds like the D600 is keeping up very very well! What sort of photography do you do?
 
Interesting thing about these cameras are d700 owners are going for the d800 and a few of the d700 owners that had switched to the d600 sold them and bought another d700.
 
Is it a 'feel quality' issue?
I've recently got a D7000 but it's waaaay different to my D3S in my hand, this is what keeps me from a D600/800.
 
Having a fully metal body is not always needed well for my sort of photography I wouldn't think so..
 
Hi akshaymak and welcome to TP :wave:

I've been pondering the same question for the past couple of months. Although I think my mind has been made up for at least the last couple of weeks I keep going over the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Considering what I want to use the camera for I am (almost definately, certainly, maybe) in the D700 camp but I can easily see how the D600 could be an attractive alternative. The reasons I am not a big D600 fan are it's lack of build quality, inferior AF system, focus points being all squeezed up, all the airy-fairy scene modes and video. Okay, I know I don't have to use the scene modes or video but the simple truth is I don't want them on my camera at all. On the plus side, I have been using a D600 for the past 10 days and the image quality is superb and the high-ISO noise performance has been a revelation ... and it is this that stops me pulling the trigger on the D700 - can't you tell I'm a Libran?

Just my two-penneth :D
 
If you are already managing wedding photography with a D90 then I would suggest that you get a D600. Image quality and ISO are much better on the D600. The D700 is a great camera but so is the D600.
 
There's no doubt the D600 will have better image quality. The D700 is more rugged with an AF system that covers more of the viewfinder. Personally I think a used D700 is hard to beat, value for money wise. Most of the big wedding togs like Ryan brenizer have said they see the D600 as the replacement of the D700(even Scott Kelby has said this)
 
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D700 for low light ISO and focusing would get my vote. Only positive on the d600 imho would be more pixels but you don't "need" more than what the D700 offers


Low light ISO? The D700 is not as good as the D600 here I'm afraid.


The only things the D700 have going for it, are build quality and better AF points. The actual AF function is no better IMO, but the AF points on the D600 are clustered in the centre section of the frame, which isn't great for those that regularly use the edge focus points.

That's it though. I can think of no reason to get the D700 over the D600 other than AF points and build quality. If those are not very important to you, then you really shouldn't get a D700.

[edit] Oh.. forgot that with a grip, the D700 has faster continuous frames per second shooting.
 
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The only things the D700 have going for it, are build quality and better AF points. The actual AF function is no better IMO

Thats interesting, a lot of people are saying the D700 focuses much more easily and locks faster with less hunting in low light than the D600.
 
I would agree the D600 ISO proformance is outstanding and it would kick the d700 in the teeth
 
I think there's very little between them in terms of ISO performance. Not in 'real world' scenarios as people love to state on here
 
Nope, I'll be watching the post all day! There will be war if it doesn't get here!
 
I would agree the D600 ISO proformance is outstanding and it would kick the d700 in the teeth
Well thats serious rubbish youre spouting there, i have owned both and sent the D600 back and re bought a D700.

The D700 kicks the 600's ass in the speed and accuracy of the AF, the 600's af points are crammed into the middle of the sensor so using centre AF with assist points selected is useless if moving subject veers off to one side of the frame, the 700 will keep up with this as the AF points cover a much larger area

The D700 i regularly used at ISO 6400 under floodlit night matches and it coped extremly wekk and noise wasn't any issue, the 600 couldnt even get a lock onto its subject under the same conditions.

As for the noise, if you sampled the 600 files down to the same as the 700, the 700 was a clear winner at ISO 3200 and 6400

Should add for balance that the 600 does produce much nicer images at lower ISO's and the dynamic range is a very nice improvement over the 700 as well

These findings are just my own personal views on owning both cameras at the same time, im sure you can point me to websites which will contradict my own findings but please dont bother, like i say there are just my own personal findings.
 
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The only thing that would stop me buying a D600 is the focus points being so bunched up.

As a wedding and portrait photographer I don't think the build quality is such an issue. Its not like the D600/D7000 etc... are built like little cheap toys and most people tend to look after their gear too.

If they had the same AF system in the D600 I think I would be swapping my D700 for one. But sadly it doesn't and I just know it would annoy the hell out of me if I was to swap. But this may not be an issue for you coming from a D90.
 
The AF (particularly focus points) on the D700 is fantastic and it's hard to adjust after using one for a while!
 
Surely if the af should be good enough for things like portrait? on my D90 I only use the center focus , never any of the outside one.
 
Surely if the af should be good enough for things like portrait? on my D90 I only use the center focus , never any of the outside one.

I don't think I EVER use the centre focus point for my portraits!!! :lol:
 
Really?! :suspect:



Same here. :thumbs:

What I normally do is , focus , half click and then recompose. Mind you when I mean portrait I mean more of the street / documentary style portrait. no time mess around with choose focus points . ;)
 
The image is so much better on the d600, for weddings would this make so much of a difference?
 
Hang on fella, in your first post youre asking us which is the better camera and now youve told us a few posts back amd i quote
I would agree the D600 ISO proformance is outstanding and it would kick the d700 in the teeth
then youve just told us
The image is so much better on the d600
Are you for real or taking the mick
 
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