Nikon D600 Budget Filmmaker’s Dream DSLR

Nikon D600 side inputs
The Nikon D600 will make its official introduction next month. This entry-level full-frame DSLR from Nikon is set to make an impact with ripple effects from enthusiasts and amateur to professional ranks. While the D600 already has photographers eager with anticipation, videographers and amateur filmmakers are also salivating at the possibilities. Learn why the D600 will deliver true cinematic results at such an afforable price.

Filmmakers prefer the full-frame 35mm format for the same reason portrait photographers do; it allows them to get shallow depth of field to isolate their subject while blurring the background. This separation gives a director the ability to render a scene to tell a story, much like the way a painter puts detail in one area of a painting while leaving other elements less defined. The large sensor also has an advantage in its ability to gather light for shooting video in near dark settings.

Currently, filmmakers are use DSLR cameras because they are a less expensive alternative to professional cinema cameras. But the cost of a professional-level full-frame DSLR is too high for many amaeturs, enthusiasts and students, leading them to more affordable crop sensor DSLR cameras (Nikon D7000, Canon 7D) as a compromise. While these crop sensor cameras deliver more depth of field than a camcorder, they simply can’t produce the shallow depth of field of a full-frame 35mm camera.

When the Nikon D600 DSLR enters the market at near $1500 it will have all the benefits of a full-frame 35mm sensor as well as high-end features previously only found in professional-level cameras, except its price will be not much more than current crop sensor cameras. To say that DSLR video enthusiasts are excited about this possibility is an understatement. The demand for such a camera among filmmakers will be overwhelming. We expect Canon will respond in similar fashion with an entry-level DSLR of their own.

From photos and information leaked over the past few weeks, we have already seen a majority of the features of the Nikon D600. Offering an external stereo mic input allows the use of off-camera sound preferred by videographers and filmmakers. A stereo headphone jack allows live monitoring of sound. An HDMI output allows live signal to be monitored, recorded or broadcast via an external source. And a USB connection allows external control of the camera.

While most amateur DSLR video enthusiasts prefer manual focus, the D600 also offer full time auto focus during video recording. For those who prefer manual control over focus, ISO, and aperture, the D600 will provide full manual control, including the ability to select aperture in the camera when using modern Nikon G lenses (without an external aperture ring), just like the D4 and D800. The D600 also provides two SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots, with the ability to record videos to one and photos to another. Ultra High-Speed Class 1 (UHS-1) SD cards are also supported.

The D600 will deliver HD video at 1920×1080 resolution, offering 24, 25 and 30 fps progressive frame rates, as well as 720p resolution at 25, 30 as well as high speed 50 and 60 fps for action and slow motion effects. Standard video format is MPEG-4 using H.264 codec.

The Nikon D600 will be announced in September before Photokina. It will be manufactured by Nikon in Thailand, alongside the Nikon D3200 and other Nikon consumer-level cameras.

 

5 thoughts on “Nikon D600 Budget Filmmaker’s Dream DSLR

  1. If D600 has much better ISO performance than D800 as well as aperture controls while shooting video then nothing like it.

    • Im definitely goin to buy one. But Im really curious about the price, i read in many articles like in this last one that price will be something about $1500 while in some not very old post here was mentioned price over 1500 EURos (@ $1800).which is a quite a diffrent deal IMO. When we can expect any official price announcement from Nikon???

      • $1800 USD would be using a currency conversion from 1500 Euros based on current exchange rates, however Nikon prices their cameras differently according to local markets and also includes VAT in EU, so a $1500 Euro price for the D600 might end up closer to a $1500-1600 retail price in US market. Of course the 1500 amount ( Euro or dollars ) is still speculation at this point.

  2. Sorry to say that is not a headphone jack next to the mic jack. if you look closely, it’s the remote release jack.

    • The icon to the left of MIC looks like the Nikon headphone icon (see D800). Nikon’s remote release icon is horizontal block with a wire tail underneath (see D3200). The remote release on many Nikon DSLR use the GPS port so a separate remote port is not necessary. See pictures: http://d600.org/?attachment_id=106

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