Nikon D600

Manufacturer: Nikon
Type: DSLR camera (FX full-frame)
Sensor: 24.3MP full-frame (35.9 x 24.0mm) CMOS
Year introduced: 2012 (announced September 13; shipping September 18)
Year replaced: 2013 (by D610, October)
Price at launch: USD $2,099.95 (body only); $2,699.95 (with 24-85mm kit lens)
Successor: Nikon D610
Processor: EXPEED 3
ISO range: 100-6400 (expandable to 50-25,600)
AF system: 39-point MultiCAM 4800FX (9 cross-type sensors)
Viewfinder: 100% coverage, 0.7x magnification
Continuous shooting: 5.5 fps
Flash sync: 1/200s (X-sync); usable to 1/250s with reduced flash range
Shutter: Tested to 150,000 cycles
Video: 1080p at 24/25/30p; 720p at 60p; uncompressed HDMI output
Body construction: Magnesium alloy top and rear, sealed and gasketed against dust/moisture
Weight: 760g (body only, with battery)
Key significance: Nikon’s smallest, lightest, and most affordable full-frame DSLR; brought FX within reach of enthusiast underwater photographers

Overview

The Nikon D600, officially announced on September 13, 2012, was Nikon’s most affordable full-frame DSLR and represented a milestone for underwater photographers considering the move from DX to FX format. At a US retail price of $2,099.95 body-only, it cost roughly two-thirds the price of the Nikon D800 — or as Alex Mustard put it, “you can buy three D600s for the same price as two D800s” (^[1]).

Nikon’s press release emphasized that the D600 was “designed to deliver the image quality and performance benefits of a full frame FX-format sensor to the enthusiast looking to take their dedication to the next level” (^[2]).

The camera body was notably compact — not much larger than Nikon’s popular D7000 DX camera — with a magnesium alloy top and rear construction that was sealed and gasketed against dust and moisture. This compact form factor was considered a significant advantage for underwater photographers in terms of packability and maneuverability, enabling smaller, lighter housings (^[3]).

Rumors about the D600 had circulated since at least May 2012, when forum user “loftus” reported Nikon Rumors indicating “a very high probability of a D600, low cost 24MP full frame camera, with all the video bells and whistles, and 5fps for approx $1500.” Alex Mustard responded with the prescient question: “But should FX ever be entry level underwater?” He also speculated that Nikon might reuse the D7000 body shell, which would simplify housing development (^[4]). By August 2012, leaked specifications suggested a 24.7MP full-frame sensor, 38 autofocus points, and a 3.2-inch LCD screen, with a Photokina debut expected (^[5]).

The Flash Sync Speed Problem

The D600’s flash sync speed proved to be its most discussed limitation for underwater use. When Adam Hanlon published the announcement on Wetpixel, his initial reaction was blunt: “I was really excited till I noticed the flash sync speed” (^[6]). The D600’s X-sync was 1/200s, though Nikon’s spec sheet indicated synchronization was possible “at 1/250 s or slower” with reduced flash range. Forum member “Aussiebyron” asked whether this meant optical strobes were limited to 1/200s while hardwired strobes could reach 1/250s (^[7]).

In practice, the usable maximum was 1/250s — roughly 1/3 stop slower than the D800’s 1/320s. For underwater photographers, this was a meaningful handicap for controlling ambient light with strobes. Forum member Spencer confirmed that attempting 1/320 on the D600 produced “a 70% black frame” (^[8]).

Underwater Performance

Alex Mustard Comparative Review

Alex Mustard conducted the definitive underwater comparative review of the D600 versus the D800 for Wetpixel, shooting both cameras in Nauticam housings during the 4th Annual Nudibranch Safari at Gulen Dive Resort, north of Bergen, Norway. He swapped between the two cameras on alternating dives, making differences and similarities easy to identify even through 7mm gloves (^[9]).

Mustard found that the D600’s 24MP sensor was “much closer to the resolution/file size sweet spot” that many photographers needed compared to the D800’s demanding 36MP files. He described the D600 as producing “huge, highly detailed twenty four megapixel files, that have low noise and capture a high dynamic range” and asked rhetorically, “Do you really need more?” (^[10]).

However, the review identified several underwater-specific limitations:

• Flash sync speed: The 1/250 max was roughly 1/3 stop slower than the D800’s 1/320, a meaningful handicap for ambient light control.
• Autofocus: The D600’s 39-point AF system was noticeably weaker than the D800’s 51-point system. Mustard later stated in his D7100 review that he could see “a big difference between D800 and D600/D610” in AF performance, and the D7100’s AF “performs the same as that in the D800, but with much wider frame coverage” (^[11]).
• Ergonomics: Comments on the announcement noted that “the control set looks like a consumer camera’s; it looks designed to provide more automation than ease of manual operation” (^[12]).

Nauticam Engineering Testing

Nauticam’s engineering leader Edward Lai tested the D600 in Anilao, Philippines in December 2012 as part of housing development. He shared sample images on the Wetpixel forums, calling the new generation of FX sensors in the D4/D800/D600 “much more film-like in terms of smoothness (low-noise) and dynamic range compared to any digital cameras I used before.” Lai praised the D600 as the best Nikon after the D4 “at very affordable cost” and noted it was “lighter and smaller than D800 which is perfect for underwater.” He used two Inon Z240 strobes in S-TTL mode triggered by the internal pop-up flash. His only complaint: the OK button was not customizable for one-push zoom during playback for checking focus. AF speed was “on par with D800” (^[13], ^[14]).

DivePhotoGuide Review

Wetpixel’s sister site DivePhotoGuide published a review of the D600 in the Nauticam NA-D600 housing, written by Keri Wilk and shot in the Cayman Islands. Wilk found the housing and camera performance to be “very good,” though the article noted that slow initial sales suggested many photographers had opted for the D800 instead (^[15]).

Video Capabilities

For underwater video work, Drew Wong noted on the Wetpixel forums that “the D600 is a fine combo camera” for stills and video, but cautioned that for video noise performance, the Nikon cameras generally had more noise than Canons (with the exception of the D4). He suggested that for dedicated video work, the Canon 6D had lower noise and a larger developmental base for color profiles (^[16]).

Dust and Oil Contamination Issue

Shortly after release, the D600 was found to suffer from a significant internal dust and oil contamination problem. In November 2012, photographer Kyle Clements posted a timelapse video on YouTube showing dust accumulating on a brand-new camera’s sensor from inside the camera body — without the lens ever being removed. When approached, Nikon USA issued a non-committal statement: “Measures to reduce effects of dust or foreign matter are optimized for each model. Therefore, the dust reduction system’s internal mechanism varies with each model” (^[17]).

The issue was widely discussed in the Wetpixel community. Forum member Spencer, who had previously owned the D600, described the problem vividly: “I used to clean the 600 sensor and after around 500 shots, there would be as many as 40+ spots.” He concluded “the D600 was a pain in the arse. Shame as it is such a nice camera” (^[18]). Another user reported having “oil/dust all over the place” with the D600, noting that while the D800 also had some dust issues, “in comparison with the D600 it’s nowhere near” (^[19]). Forum member raarsen, who used the D600 in a Nauticam housing, acknowledged the debris issue but “learned to clean the sensor myself which is not very hard to do” (^[20]).

The problem was traced to the shutter mechanism, and other Nikon cameras were not entirely immune — some D800 users also reported dust issues, though far less severe. Adam Hanlon asked the community about this on the forums, noting he knew about the D600 problem but wanted to know if D800 users experienced similar issues (^[21]).

This contamination issue was widely understood to be the primary driver behind Nikon’s release of the D610 replacement in October 2013, which featured a redesigned shutter mechanism (^[22]).

D7000 Housing Compatibility Investigation

A significant question for existing Nikon DX shooters was whether the D600 could fit into existing D7000 housings. Alex Mustard had been “hinting since I saw the first photos of a real one that it might fit in existing D7000 housings” and planned to test this in person (^[23]). Nauticam’s representative “cp” confirmed they had tried: “answer is not without modification to the tray and several controls. D600 has a lock button on top of the mode dial (ala Canon 60D and 5DIII) that would have to be accounted for” (^[24]).

Adam Hanlon, after examining the D600 at Photokina, concluded: “I very much doubt that a conversion will work or is desirable.” Alex Mustard was more optimistic after his first look: “I think that it will work in a number of housings. The main changes are on the rear of the camera… for those of us who really don’t care about video and for wide angle use auto area — I suspect a workable solution could be found with some housings. Especially Ikelite” (^[25]).

The conversion ultimately proved impractical, and all manufacturers produced dedicated D600 housings.

D600 vs. D610 Transition

In October 2013, Nikon announced the D610 as a near-identical replacement with three changes: a new shutter mechanism enabling 6 fps continuous shooting (up from 5.5 fps), a quiet continuous mode at 3 fps, and an improved auto white balance system. Priced at $1,999.99, it was $100 cheaper than the D600’s launch price. As Adam Hanlon summarized: “Widely rumoured to be a solution for the sensor oil spotting problem that occurred with the D600, there are actually only three new features on it” (^[26]).

Critically for underwater photographers, Nauticam announced that its existing NA-D600 housing had “complete functionality” with the D610, requiring no modifications (^[27]). Forum members also confirmed that “the D610 and D600 seem to be interchangeable in housings” across brands (^[28]). This housing compatibility meant that D600 owners could upgrade to the D610 to resolve the dust issue without replacing their underwater housing investment.

The D610’s release triggered a wave of used D600 bodies on the secondary market, prompting community discussions about whether it made sense to pick up a discounted D600 (^[29]).

D600 vs. D7100: The DX-FX Debate

The D600 was central to one of the most active community debates of 2013: whether to stay with DX or move to FX format. With the D7100 offering a 24MP DX sensor and the D800’s 51-point AF system at just $1,100, the choice was not straightforward.

Alex Mustard noted that the D7100’s autofocus performed equivalently to the D800’s and was significantly better than the D600/D610, which weighed against the D600 for photographers who prioritized AF tracking (^[30]). Community members debated lens economics — moving to FX meant losing the popular Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom and needing FX-format wide-angle lenses like the Sigma 15mm fisheye, Nikon 16mm fisheye, or Nikon 16-35mm zoom, plus potentially switching from the 60mm macro to the 105mm (^[31]).

Several forum members argued the D7100 was the better value for underwater work: “I would go for the D7100 with those lenses. If you get yourself a D600, then you need to buy new lenses as well” (^[32]). Others emphasized that FX was the future: “BYE-BYE DX DSLR. Reading these tea leaves caused me to decide not to put any more dollars into the DX format lenses” (^[33]).

The broader consensus, articulated by forum member Paul C, was: “if you cannot afford to work 2 systems for wide angle and macro, you need to decide on what your mainstream photographic work is and optimise for that” (^[34]).

This debate occurred in the broader context of the “Good-bye DX” phenomenon. Forum member John Bantin had already sold his entire DX outfit and committed to FX with a D800/Hugyfot rig, writing: “It’s all YOUR fault!” to the Wetpixel community. The emerging consensus was that DX DSLRs were “squeezed from both sides” — by lower-cost FX cameras like the D600 from above, and by increasingly capable mirrorless systems from below (^[35]).

Housing Availability

Nauticam NA-D600

Announced December 11, 2012, with an early version shown at DEMA 2012. The NA-D600 was smaller and lighter than existing Nauticam designs, featuring dual paddle levers on both sides (video record and AE-L/AF-L on the right; playback and ISO on the left), a new mode dial control with lock capability, and fiber optic strobe triggering as standard. Rated to 100m depth, weighing 2.7kg. US retail price: $3,300. Available from December 20, 2012. Used by Alex Mustard for his comparative review, by Keri Wilk for the DivePhotoGuide review, and by Edward Lai for Nauticam’s engineering testing. Also confirmed compatible with the D610 in November 2013 (^[36], ^[37]).

Sea & Sea MDX-D600

Announced December 19, 2012, shipping from mid-January 2013. Compact, lightweight design with two fiber optic ports and two additional bulkheads for electronic flash triggering, HDMI, or other accessories. Compatible with Sea & Sea’s NX series lens ports. Equipped with leak detector. Depth-rated to 100m/330ft. US retail price: $3,399 ($3,499 with 2-pin wiring harness). Compatible with VF180 and VF45 prism viewfinders with 1.2x magnification (^[38]).

Some users reported problems with the MDX-D600’s rear main command dial, which used rubber wheels that could lose connection with the camera body over time. A forum thread documented issues where the dial “fails to connect properly with the camera” after approximately six months of use, with the design described as having “very very little tolerance in the camera position inside the housing.” Workarounds included removing the camera’s plastic rear display cover and rubber eyepiece, and ensuring proper camera seating during assembly (^[39]).

Aquatica AD600

Announced June 13, 2013. Featured direct access to the camera’s Fn button via a rear-mounted push button, a thumb-actuated ISO lever, and three accessory ports for monitors, vacuum systems, or remote triggers. Used Aquatica’s 4xxxx generation lens gear system with smaller housing pinion gear and larger lens gear for smoother zoom action during video. Depth-rated to 90m (upgradeable to 130m). Multiple strobe connector options including Nikonos 5-pin, Ikelite, optical, and hybrid configurations. US retail price: $3,199. The Aquatica comment thread highlighted the price premium of aluminum housings, with one user noting the Ikelite alternative was available at $1,600 (^[40]).

Ikelite

Available by late 2012. The Ikelite D600 housing was shown at DEMA 2012 and offered Ikelite’s trademark polycarbonate construction with wired TTL flash control and push-button strobe output controls. US retail price: approximately $1,600, making it the most affordable D600 housing option — less than half the price of the aluminum alternatives (^[41], ^[42]). Alex Mustard specifically identified Ikelite as the most likely manufacturer where a D7000-to-D600 body swap might work (^[43]).

Subal

Subal showed a D600 prototype housing at BOOT 2013 in Dusseldorf, Germany, described as having “a nice white color” (^[44]). By DEMA 2013, Subal was displaying a finalized housing for the D600/D610 (^[45]). Alex Mustard noted that the Subal ND7100 housing was “very similar to the company’s D7000 and D600/D610 housings” (^[46]).

Easydive Leo II

The Italian manufacturer Easydive’s Leo II PRO housing supported the D600 among many other Canon and Nikon bodies through its USB-controlled electronic interface, offering a “one housing for all” approach that eliminated the need for a new housing when upgrading camera bodies (^[47]).

TTL and Accessories

In 2016, UW Technics released their Optical & Wire TTL-Converter, which supported the D600/D610 among other Nikon bodies (D4/s, D5, D500, D750, D7000, D7100, D7200, D800/E, D810). This was the first product to incorporate both optical TTL and wire TTL in one device. Compatible strobes included the Inon Z-330, Z-240, Sea & Sea YS-D1 and YS-D2, Ikelite DS-161 and DS-160, and Subtronic Pro 270 and Pro 160 (^[48]).

Software Support

Multiple software updates added D600 RAW file support in the months following its release:

• Adobe updated Lightroom and Camera RAW with D600 support in October 2012 (^[49])
• Apple updated its RAW compatibility to include the D600 in October 2012 (^[50])

Market Position and Legacy

The D600 occupied a unique position as the most affordable full-frame DSLR from a major manufacturer at a time when the underwater photography community was actively debating the merits of DX versus FX format. Despite its strong sensor performance — DxOMark ranked it in the top three of all camera bodies manufactured at the time — the combination of a weaker AF system, slower flash sync speed, and the dust contamination issue limited its adoption among serious underwater photographers, many of whom opted for the more expensive but more capable D800 (^[51]).

The initial community reaction on announcement day was telling. Dave Hicks, who had been waiting for a Nikon full-frame upgrade from his D300, concluded: “Until someone comes along and provides a compelling case for the D600 I see an upgrade from the D300 -> D800 in my future.” The prevailing logic: once you committed to a $3,000+ housing, the $1,000 difference between D600 and D800 bodies became a relatively small premium for significantly better AF and sync speed (^[52]). Mike Veitch’s reaction was different: “I want a crop sensor one! curses… I was hoping for D300 upgrade” — reflecting that many underwater photographers actually preferred the DX format (^[53]).

The Canon EOS 6D, released one week after the D600, was its direct competitor. The 6D had a lower resolution 20.2MP sensor, only 11 AF points (with one cross-type), but offered integrated Wi-Fi, GPS, and — notably for underwater video shooters — lower noise video output. However, the 6D lacked a built-in flash, which complicated fiber optic strobe triggering popular among underwater photographers (^[54]).

The D600’s greatest contribution may have been demonstrating that full-frame underwater photography could be made accessible to a broader audience. As Nauticam’s press release noted, it offered “a full frame digital imaging system at a ground breaking price point” (^[55]). The rapid transition to the D610 — with full housing compatibility — meant that many D600 users could resolve the dust issue while preserving their investment in underwater housing systems.

Timeline

• 2012-05-24: Forum user “loftus” reports Nikon Rumors indicating high probability of D600; Alex Mustard questions whether “FX should ever be entry level underwater” (^[56])
• 2012-08: Rumors intensify about Nikon and Canon entry-level full-frame SLRs; leaked D600 specifications include 24.7MP sensor and 38 AF points (^[57])
• 2012-09-13: Nikon officially announces the D600 at $2,099.95; Adam Hanlon reacts to 1/200s flash sync: “I was really excited till I noticed the flash sync speed”; Alex Mustard hints it may fit D7000 housings (^[58], ^[59])
• 2012-09-24: Nauticam confirms D600 does not fit in D7000 housing without modifications (^[60])
• 2012-10: Adobe Lightroom and Camera RAW add D600 RAW support (^[61])
• 2012-10: Apple updates RAW compatibility for D600 (^[62])
• 2012-11: Dust/oil contamination issue reported, with timelapse video evidence from Kyle Clements (^[63])
• 2012-11: Nauticam shows early NA-D600 prototype at DEMA 2012; Ikelite D600 housing also displayed (^[64])
• 2012-12: Edward Lai (Nauticam) tests D600 with 200mm and 105mm lenses in Anilao, Philippines; shares sample images on Wetpixel forums (^[65], ^[66])
• 2012-12-11: Nauticam announces finalized NA-D600 housing at $3,300, available December 20 (^[67])
• 2012-12-19: Sea & Sea announces MDX-D600 housing at $3,399 (^[68])
• 2012-12: Ikelite D600 housing available at approximately $1,600 (^[69])
• 2013-01: Subal shows D600 prototype housing at BOOT 2013, Dusseldorf (^[70])
• 2013-02: DivePhotoGuide publishes D600 review by Keri Wilk, shot in Cayman Islands with Nauticam housing (^[71])
• 2013-03: Alex Mustard publishes D600 vs. D800 comparative review from Gulen, Norway (^[72])
• 2013-06-13: Aquatica announces AD600 housing at $3,199 (^[73])
• 2013-10-08: Nikon announces D610 replacement with new shutter mechanism at $1,999.99 (^[74])
• 2013-11: Nauticam confirms NA-D600 housing fully compatible with D610 (^[75])
• 2013-11: Subal displays finalized D600/D610 housing at DEMA 2013 (^[76])
• 2016-02: UW Technics releases TTL converter supporting D600/D610 (^[77])

Community Discussion

• D600 (22 replies) — Pre-announcement speculation thread from May 2012, with Alex Mustard questioning FX as entry level, Udo van Dongen worrying about AF motor inclusion, and lively debate about DX vs FX future (^[78])
• Nikon D600 vs D800 (29 replies) — Announcement-day thread debating whether the D600’s cost savings justified the spec compromises; Adam Hanlon flags sync speed; Alex Mustard hints at D7000 housing compatibility (^[79])
• U/W photos taken with Nikon D600 (7 replies) — Edward Lai shares Nauticam engineering test images from Anilao; praises film-like quality of new FX sensors (^[80])
• Nauticam D7000 to D600 conversion kit (5 replies) — Investigation into housing cross-compatibility; Nauticam confirms modification needed; Alex Mustard suggests Ikelite as best candidate (^[81])
• Good-bye DX (14 replies) — John Bantin sells his DX system for FX; broader community debate about DX being “squeezed from both sides” (^[82])
• D7100 or D600 (21 replies) — Extensive debate on whether the D7100 or a used D600 was the better underwater investment, with discussion of lens economics and the DX-to-FX transition (^[83])
• Torn between DX and Full Frame: D600/D610 vs D7100 (11 replies) — Community advice on choosing between formats, with consensus that photographers should optimize for their primary shooting style (^[84])
• Nikon D610 (17 replies) — Discussion of the D610 announcement, D600 dust issues, and whether to buy a D600 or D800, with several users reporting firsthand experience with the contamination problem (^[85])
• Nikon D600 or D800 for video (8 replies) — Drew Wong’s advice on choosing between Nikon full-frame bodies for underwater video (^[86])
• Sea & Sea MDX-D600 problems (8 replies) — Users reporting and troubleshooting rear command dial connection issues with the Sea & Sea housing (^[87])