A potelyt.com – Photography & Imaging Resources
ad

When you use links on apotelyt.com to buy products,
the site may earn a commission.

PW

Nikon D600 vs D610

The Nikon D600 and the Nikon D610 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in September 2012 and October 2013. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with a full frame sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24.2 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D600
versus
Nikon D610
Nikon D600   Nikon D610
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses Nikon F mount lenses
24.2 MP – Full Frame sensor 24.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (50 - 25,600) ISO 100-6,400 (50 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 921k dots 3.2" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5.5 shutter flaps per second 6 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
900 shots per battery charge900 shots per battery charge
141 x 113 x 82 mm, 850 g 141 x 113 x 82 mm, 850 g
logo
Check D600 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check D610 offers at
ebay.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D600 and the Nikon D610? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

ad

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon D600 and the Nikon D610 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Nikon D600 vs Nikon D610
Compare D600 versus D610 top
Comparison D600 or D610 rear

In this particular case, the Nikon D600 and the Nikon D610 have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. Moreover, the two cameras also share the same weight. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

scroll hint
Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D600 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 Y Sep 2012 US$ 2 099ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon D610 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 Y Oct 2013 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 6D 145 mm 111 mm 71 mm 770 g 1090 Y Sep 2012 US$ 2 099ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D750 141 mm 113 mm 78 mm 750 g 1230 Y Sep 2014 US$ 2 299ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D780 144 mm 116 mm 76 mm 840 g 2260 Y Jan 2020 US$ 2 299 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon D800 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 1000 g 900 Y Feb 2012 US$ 2 999ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D800E 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 1000 g 900 Y Feb 2012 US$ 3 299ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D810 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 980 g 1200 Y Jun 2014 US$ 3 299ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D7100 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 950 Y Feb 2013 US$ 1 199ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D7500 136 mm 104 mm 73 mm 720 g 950 Y Apr 2017 US$ 1 299 amazon.com
12.
 
Nikon Df 144 mm 110 mm 67 mm 760 g 1400 Y Nov 2013 US$ 2 749ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The D610 was somewhat cheaper (by 5 percent) than the D600 at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon D600 and Nikon D610 sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24.2 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the D600 and the D610 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the D610 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year) than the D600, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Nikon D600 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-25600. The Nikon D610 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D600 versus D610 MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

scroll hint
Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D600 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.2298094
2.
 
Nikon D610 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.4292594
3.
 
Canon 6D Full Frame 20.0 5472 36481080/30p23.812.1234082
4.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
5.
 
Nikon D750 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/60p24.814.5295693
6.
 
Nikon D780 Full Frame 24.3 6048 40244K/30p25.314.3287795
7.
 
Nikon D800 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.314.4285395
8.
 
Nikon D800E Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.614.3297996
9.
 
Nikon D810 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.714.8285397
10.
 
Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.7125683
11.
 
Nikon D7500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.314.0148386
12.
 
Nikon Df Full Frame 16.2 4928 3280none24.613.1327989
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).

ad

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The D600 and the D610 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), as well as the same magnification (0.70x). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D600 and Nikon D610 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

scroll hint
Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D600optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
2.
 
Nikon D610optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 6Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 4.5/s n n
4.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
5.
 
Nikon D750optical Y3.2 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D780optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n n
7.
 
Nikon D800optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D800Eoptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D810optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
10.
 
Nikon D7100optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D7500optical Y3.2 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
12.
 
Nikon Dfoptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The Nikon D600 and the Nikon D610 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the D600 and the D610 write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

ad

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D600 and Nikon D610 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

scroll hint
Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D600Ymono / monoYYmini2.0---
2.
 
Nikon D610Ymono / monoYYmini2.0---
3.
 
Canon 6DYmono / monoY-mini2.0Y--
4.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
5.
 
Nikon D750Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y--
6.
 
Nikon D780Ystereo / monoYYmini3.1Y-Y
7.
 
Nikon D800Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
8.
 
Nikon D800EYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
9.
 
Nikon D810Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y--
10.
 
Nikon D7100Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D7500Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y-Y
12.
 
Nikon DfY- / ---mini2.0---

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D610 (unlike the D600) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the D600 and the D610 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D600 was replaced by the Nikon D610, while the D610 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the D600 and D610 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D600 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon D610 Manual.

ad

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon D600 and the Nikon D610? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Advantages of the Nikon D600:

  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in September 2012).


Reasons to prefer the Nikon D610:

  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year) more recently.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the D610 emerges as the winner of the match-up (3 : 1 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D600 01:03 D610

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D600 and the Nikon D610 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D600 or the D610 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

scroll hint
Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D6004/5+ +..87/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 2 099ebay.com
2.
 
Nikon D6104/5+ +..87/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 US$ 1 999ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 6D5/5+ +..83/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 2 099ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 US$ 1 999ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D7505/5+ +4/590/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 US$ 2 299ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D7805/5..5/587/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2020 US$ 2 299 amazon.com
7.
 
Nikon D8005/5+ +..82/1005/55/5 Feb 2012 US$ 2 999ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D800E......84/1005/55/5 Feb 2012 US$ 3 299ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D8105/5..5/586/1005/54.5/5 Jun 2014 US$ 3 299ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 US$ 1 199ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Apr 2017 US$ 1 299 amazon.com
12.
 
Nikon Df4/5....81/1004/54/5 Nov 2013 US$ 2 749ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

logo
Check D600 offers at
ebay.com
logo
Check D610 offers at
ebay.com

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

~
    loader
    ad

    Specifications: Nikon D600 vs Nikon D610

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon D600 Nikon D610
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses Nikon F mount lenses
    Launch Date September 2012 October 2013
    Launch Price USD 2,099 USD 1,999
    Sensor Specs Nikon D600 Nikon D610
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 35.9 x 24.0 mm 35.9 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 861.6 mm2 861.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43.2 mm 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 24.2 Megapixels 24.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 6016 x 4016 pixels 6016 x 4016 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 5.97 μm 5.97 μm
    Pixel Density 2.80 MP/cm2 2.80 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 25,600 ISO 50 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED 3 EXPEED 3
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 94 94
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 25.1 25.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.2 14.4
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 2980 2925
    Screen Specs Nikon D600 Nikon D610
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x 0.70x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 921k dots 921k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D600 Nikon D610
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 5.5 shutter flaps/s 6 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy150 000 actuations150 000 actuations
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Nikon D600 Nikon D610
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Nikon D600 Nikon D610
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL15 Nikon EN-EL15
    Battery Life (CIPA)900 shots per charge900 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 141 x 113 x 82 mm
    (5.6 x 4.4 x 3.2 in)
    141 x 113 x 82 mm
    (5.6 x 4.4 x 3.2 in)
    Camera Weight 850 g (30.0 oz) 850 g (30.0 oz)
    logo
    Check D600 offers at
    ebay.com
    logo
    Check D610 offers at
    ebay.com

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

    You are here Home  »  CAM-parator  »  Nikon D600 vs Nikon D610