Nikon
D600
 vs
Nikon
D800

Nikon D600

100

  
Nikon D800

97

  
Winner

Nikon D600

Reasons to buy the Nikon D600

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,980 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
94.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.2 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
 
Runner-up

Nikon D800

Reasons to buy the Nikon D800

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,853 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
95.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.4 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.2"
True resolution
 High true resolution
36.2 MP
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D600
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 2,980 ISO vs 2,853 ISO
Help
 The D600 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 Around 40% faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 141x113x82 mm vs 146x123x82 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 850 g vs 1,000 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $1,996.95 vs $2,796.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $800 cheaper (around 30% less)
Nikon D600 Learn more about
the Nikon D600

Advantages of the Nikon D800
True resolution Much higher true resolution 36.2 MP vs 24.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 50% more detail in your photos
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 921k dots
Help
 More than 10% higher resolution screen
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 209 ms vs 260 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Focus points More focus points 51 vs 39
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 9
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 95.0 vs 94.0
Help
 Almost the same
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 200 ms vs 300 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D800 Learn more about
the Nikon D800
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D600 Nikon D600
100 vs 97
Explain scores
Nikon D800 Nikon D800
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D600.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Very low noise at high ISO Help
D600:2,980 ISO
D800:2,853 ISO
Overall image quality Extremely good image quality Help
D600:94.0
D800:95.0
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D600:14.2 EV
D800:14.4 EV
Screen size Larger than average screens Help
3.2"
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D600:0.70x
D800:0.72x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
True resolution Capture very high resolution images Help
D600:24.2 MP
D800:36.2 MP
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D600:300 ms
D800:200 ms
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Focus points Many focus points Help
D600:39
D800:51
Viewfinder coverage Above average viewfinder coverage Help
100%
Storage slots Multiple storage slots Help
2
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Thickness Quite thick Help
3.2"
Weight Heavy Help
D600:850 g
D800:1,000 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Slower contrast detection video autofocus Help
slower focusing
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

Compared to recent pro DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
25,600 ISO
GPS No built-in GPS Help
Missing geo-tagging
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D600:5.5 fps
D800:4 fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D7100 vs the D600
Compare the D7100 vs the D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has slightly less shutter lag
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Dynamic range Has significantly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D600
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D800
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,999 body only

$2,599 with 24-105mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly higher boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D600
Compare the EOS 6D vs the D800
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$3,500 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the D700 vs the D600
Compare the D700 vs the D800
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Size Is slightly smaller
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the D7000 vs the D600
Compare the D7000 vs the D800
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D4 vs the D600
Compare the D4 vs the D800
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,479 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Thickness Is thinner
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D600
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D800

Nikon D600 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D600.

Nikon D800 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D800.

appearance

Nikon D600 Nikon D800
Nikon D600 Nikon D800
Nikon D600 Nikon D800

discussion

Showing 8 comments

D4ve (4:18 PM, May 17, 2013)
Another ridiculous comparison. Giving the nod to the D600 because it's smaller and lighter, which obviously is more important than image quality...
 
Tomas (3:21 PM, March 15, 2013)
As I have seen on another pages the resolution of LCD screen is not higher and viewfinder is not larger than D600. So two advantages are not advantages.
Tomas
 
Avatar for Abhishek Udayashankar Abhishek Udayashankar (0:53 AM, March 10, 2013)
I researched and bought the D600, in spite of the sensor dust discussions. Mine has NO sensor dust/oil issues. Images are sharp and clean. I am very happy with its quality and the excellent image quality in all kinds of light and iso.
 
Stephen (0:22 AM, March 05, 2013)
Thats an issue that affected a small portion of the cameras manufactured, its unfair to judge the performance of this camera off of an issue like this. I agree, its an issue, but this is based on the performance of MOST of the D600's out there, and not the minority of cameras with this defect.
 
Janey Appleseed (7:07 PM, November 24, 2012)
Re: "No image stabilitzation. Risk of blur"
For high end Nikon cameras, image stabilization resides in the lens e.g. VR lenses. Note that you may use most Nikon lenses, starting with those that were made during the 1950s, with today's digital SLRs from Nikon (both DX and FX series), but only VR lenses, a recent development, will nullify a wobbly grip to improve photos.
 
Faizan (1:08 PM, November 08, 2012)
Nikon D600 has huge Dust & oil on sensor problem (Go figure) & You are making it perfect camera with your scores . Come on snapsort.
 
Avatar for Fateh Zahir Fateh Zahir (6:36 PM, October 21, 2012)
give me 1899 EURO i will bay it .... - _ -
 
Avatar for trippleC trippleC (7:43 AM, October 06, 2012)
Hmmmm now I blive nikon is the best