Updated (May, 2012): Compare the Nikon D600 vs Nikon D800

Nikon D600
Winner
Nikon D600

100

vs
Nikon D700

85

Nikon D700
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

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
Color depth
 Great color depth
25.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
14.2 EV
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Focus points
 Many focus points
51
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D600
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 94.0 vs 80.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Movie format Shoots movies 1080p @ 30fps vs None
Help
 Shoots Full HD (1080p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 2,980 ISO vs 2,303 ISO
Help
 The D600 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.2 MP vs 12.1 MP
Help
 Capture more than 2x more detail in your photos
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.2" vs 3.0"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 14.2 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 2 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 25.1 bits vs 23.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Viewfinder coverage Much better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 95%
Help
 Around 10% better viewfinder coverage
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5.5 fps vs 5 fps
Help
 10% faster continuous shooting
Weight Lighter 850 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Size Slightly smaller 141x113x82 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Lowest price Cheaper $1,996.95 vs $3,399.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,403 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Nikon D600 Learn more about
the Nikon D600

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 197 ms vs 260 ms
Help
 More than 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
Viewfinder size Slightly larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.70x
Help
 Around 10% larger viewfinder
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1000 shots vs 900 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.2"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D600 Nikon D600
100 vs 85
Explain scores
Nikon D700 Nikon D700
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D600.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Low light performance Relatively low noise at high ISO Help
D600:2,980 ISO
D700:2,303 ISO
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
D600:Full frame 35.9x24.0mm
D700:Full frame 36.0x24.0mm
Viewfinder size Above average viewfinder size Help
D600:0.70x
D700:0.72x
Weather sealed Weather sealed Help
Shoot in extreme weather
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Focus points Many focus points Help
D600:39
D700:51
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D600:300 ms
D700:400 ms
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Weight Heavy Help
D600:850 g
D700:1,074 g
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D600:Contrast detection
D700:None
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
6,400 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

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
D700:5 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 significantly higher resolution screen
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Sensor size Has a significantly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7100 vs the D600
Compare the D7100 vs the D700
Nikon D800

Nikon D800

Pro DSLR

$2,797 body only

$3,187 with 70-300mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D800 vs the D600
Compare the D800 vs the D700
Canon EOS 6D

Canon EOS 6D

Pro DSLR

$1,899 - $1,917 body only

$2,399 with 24-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum 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 D700
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
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D600
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,299 body only

$3,800 - $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Dynamic range Has slightly narrower dynamic range
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D600
Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D700
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,405 body only

$2,699 - $3,000 with 24-105mm lens
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Focus points Has significantly fewer focus points
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D600
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5200 vs the D600
Compare the D5200 vs the D700

Nikon D600 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D700.

appearance

Nikon D600 Nikon D700
Nikon D600 Nikon D700
Nikon D600 Nikon D700

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Monty (10:38 PM, April 19, 2013)
Lets look further into this as I own both:

1. The D700 has a fully weather sealed magnesium body - D600 half plastic.

2. D600 has built in HDR - D700 can do 9 points of exposure bracketing, so much, much better when using Photoshop HDR.

3. D700 will do 8fps with a battery grip - D600 5.5 fps still.

4. The larger pixel sensor of the D700 records much better and natural colors.

5. Buffer - D700 will slow after 17 Raw images, the D600 in Raw after 8 images. D700 wins by a mile for sports.

6. The 51 point Af of the D700 annihilates the D600. My D600 cannot focus on what my older D700 can focus on in low light. And for those shooting sports the D600 missed about 25% more shots due to slower and less accurate focus.

7. D600 dynamic range 14.2 ev - D700 12.2, but in reality using Lightroom or PS, you can pull another 5 stops of detail out of a D700 raw image.


so you have to look a little further into the scoring to see if the new D600 is worth it.
 
Phil (5:10 PM, February 25, 2013)
You can get a new D700 for $2300 amazon is ripping you off at there price which is $3200