D610 fixes D600........a joke!

[HPS3]

I went through 2 D600s with the terrible oil/dust issue. After cleaning them a few times I decided to return them. Now Nikon delivers a D610 with pretty much a new shutter assembly as the only "upgrade". Is that how Nikon takes care of their customers?

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I saw that. If you haven't already, read the preview at dpreview.com. It strongly hints that this isn't right. Nikon never acknowledged a problem other than explaining how to clean it and if that didn't work, return it for service. They should have recalled those cameras and repaired or replaced the shutter systems. Its very obvious there was a problem. I guess they figured it was easier to introduce a new camera and sell the new to the dissatisfied D600 users. Make more money. It doesn't seem like very good customer service to me. I'll stick with Pentax. At least when they had an issue with the early K-5's, they publicly acknowledged it quickly and fixed the problem on their dime!

 

[Experiment_626]

According to what I've read, Nikon has been replacing the shutters on the D600 when sent for service if they're exhibiting the problem, especially if that is the reason the camera was sent. Maddeningly, they don't always do it on the first attempt. According to Thom Hogan's site, once the shutter has been replaced, the problem should be gone for good (he says he hasn't seen any cameras with a new shutter that have the problem again, anyway).

But yeah -- the powers that be at Nikon need to get with it. Admit a problem when one exists and then fix it. Hogan thinks this is largely a cultural issue among Japanese companies, but he also says it has got to stop. I agree.

I love my Nikons. I love that, among all the big (and biggish) camera companies, they alone are almost exclusively a camera company. But they need to start acting as if their success and continued existence depends on their cameras and lenses and the people who buy them -- because it does.

Scott

 

[Pixel Dust]

I only had dust issues within the first 3,000 frames. After that, it never came back. I could just be one of the lucky ones. Or those with these issues are the more vocal ones. That's not to say there isn't a problem. They should have just done a recall and fix, than milk more money off the consumers. Nikon should be paying for their mistakes, not us.

And yes, the D610 is a joke of an "upgrade".

 

[HPS3]

Didn't Nikon do the same thing with the SB900 flash units. When there were problems they made the SB910.

 

[toomanycars]

Didn't Nikon do the same thing with the SB900 flash units. When there were problems they made the SB910.

You are correct the SB900 had a tendency to over heat and shutdown for up to 20 to 30 minutes.

 

[toomanycars]

I only had dust issues within the first 3,000 frames. After that, it never came back. I could just be one of the lucky ones. Or those with these issues are the more vocal ones. That's not to say there isn't a problem. They should have just done a recall and fix, than milk more money off the consumers. Nikon should be paying for their mistakes, not us.

And yes, the D610 is a joke of an "upgrade".

Hi Pixel Dust,

Out of curiosity have you done the shoot the whitewall thing at F22 or f32 and tested for dust or oil?

It's my understanding the oil spots can be hard to see at fast apertures.

Since your are a D600 owner I would love to have your take if you done this test.

I am thinking about picking up a D600 due to it's small size (Smaller than the D800) and low refurbished price, but now I'm kind of wondering if I shouldn't get the 610 and pay a little more.

Thanks

 

[HPS3]

For people who have had recurring problems after shutter replacement I saw Nikon has refunded the purchase price. Will they now upgrade you to a D610? On DPReview, there are many people who still have problems after having the shutter replaced. I thought the D600 was a great camera, maybe when they try to unload them really cheap I'll have to think about it.

 

[Pixel Dust]

Hi Pixel Dust,

Out of curiosity have you done the shoot the whitewall thing at F22 or f32 and tested for dust or oil?

It's my understanding the oil spots can be hard to see at fast apertures.

Since your are a D600 owner I would love to have your take if you done this test.

I am thinking about picking up a D600 due to it's small size (Smaller than the D800) and low refurbished price, but now I'm kind of wondering if I shouldn't get the 610 and pay a little more.

Thanks

Actually, I shoot high apertures from time to time. Nighttime shots on a tripod at f/11, and fireworks. I bought the D600 for our trip to Disney back in October last year. It had only been available a couple months (so I have one of the first few batches). And, before the "dust storm" issues started circulating. I had been going through photos at home, but it wasn't until I started hearing about it on the internet, that I notice my dust problems.

Again, my issues were minor. 95% of my photos were completely fine. Where the issues came up were when I used high apertures. Even then, you wouldn't notice them unless you were actively looking for them. That's in part because most of my high aperture were nighttime shots. Feel free to browse my October 2012 trip report. Hey, maybe we'll start a game, "find the dust!". http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3010979

Now for the white wall (that mimics no real world shooting scenarios whatsoever):

I have never sent my camera out for professional cleaning. Just a few blasts of air. I never physically touched the sensor.

This is from my D600 today. Exif info is intact, so you know it's from me. This is at f/22.

Straight out of the camera


Lightroom enhanced from RAW. Highlights +100, shadows -100, blacks -90, WB. (Again, settings you would never use in the real world)


And for the nosey pixel peepers. My actual Raw file. Caution, 25MB.
https://copy.com/nLwFERNnalOX

Yes, you will see dust spots if you look hard enough. I haven't cleaned it in a while. However, what you are seeing here is as clean as any sensor in use right now. I challenge anyone to post a cleaner sensor from their camera (any manufacturer). I think I have about 15,000 clicks on my camera. Or was that 25,000. I can't remember how many times the counter rolled over.

If I were looking to get another camera, I would wait a couple weeks to see how far prices will drop on the D600 and pick one up. Some websites have said later D600s had fewer dust/oil issues. No real way to confirm that, though.

 

[toomanycars]

Actually, I shoot high apertures from time to time. Nighttime shots on a tripod at f/11, and fireworks. I bought the D600 for our trip to Disney back in October last year. It had only been available a couple months (so I have one of the first few batches). And, before the "dust storm" issues started circulating. I had been going through photos at home, but it wasn't until I started hearing about it on the internet, that I notice my dust problems.

Again, my issues were minor. 95% of my photos were completely fine. Where the issues came up were when I used high apertures. Even then, you wouldn't notice them unless you were actively looking for them. That's in part because most of my high aperture were nighttime shots. Feel free to browse my October 2012 trip report. Hey, maybe we'll start a game, "find the dust!". http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3010979

Now for the white wall (that mimics no real world shooting scenarios whatsoever):

I have never sent my camera out for professional cleaning. Just a few blasts of air. I never physically touched the sensor.

This is from my D600 today. Exif info is intact, so you know it's from me. This is at f/22.

Straight out of the camera


Lightroom enhanced from RAW. Highlights +100, shadows -100, blacks -90, WB. (Again, settings you would never use in the real world)


And for the nosey pixel peepers. My actual Raw file. Caution, 25MB.
https://copy.com/nLwFERNnalOX

Yes, you will see dust spots if you look hard enough. I haven't cleaned it in a while. However, what you are seeing here is as clean as any sensor in use right now. I challenge anyone to post a cleaner sensor from their camera (any manufacturer). I think I have about 15,000 clicks on my camera. Or was that 25,000. I can't remember how many times the counter rolled over.

If I were looking to get another camera, I would wait a couple weeks to see how far prices will drop on the D600 and pick one up. Some websites have said later D600s had fewer dust/oil issues. No real way to confirm that, though.

Thank you for posting a reply. Your experience definitely encouraging I was about to write off the D600. Now I think I will begin to search for a bargain.

 

[Pixel Dust]

Thank you for posting a reply. Your experience definitely encouraging I was about to write off the D600. Now I think I will begin to search for a bargain.

You're welcome!

P.S. I created my screen name well before the D600 was even announced.

 

[Experiment_626]

Thom Hogan posted a blog entry where he details exactly what the issue is versus what it is not, and a fairly simple method you can use to determine whether your D600 is actually affected. Some people, apparently, are seeing typical dust spots and thinking those are signs of the problem in question when they are not. Also, it doesn't typically start becoming visible until you pass 2000 actuations, and continues to get worse until you hit the 4000-5000 mark. If you have the problem, it should become apparent by then.

Here's the post: http://www.dslrbodies.com/newsviews/what-should-d600-owners-do.html

Scott

 

[handicap18]

I got my D600 back in June and haven't had any issues with dust. I'm up to almost 2000 shutter clicks.

I've also had no issue with SB-900, though I rarely use it at 100% power.

 

[Pixel Dust]

Good news for all D600 owners and potential owners.

Nikon is cleaning sensors and replacing shutter assemblies FREE OF CHARGE. Including those with expired warranties.



Direct link to Nikon's Service and Support: http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/hs309y82/Technical-Service-Advisory-for-Users-of-the-Nikon-D600-Digital-SLR-Camera.html

 

[wiigirl]

Didn't Nikon do the same thing with the SB900 flash units. When there were problems they made the SB910.

 

[DSLRuser]

its widely reported that if you complain loud enough, nikon will swap out your d600 for a d610 free of charge.

 

[WDWAurora]

No problems with our 600, either. I think we are at 2800+.

 

[handicap18]

Got this email from Nikonians yesterday....

Nikon has taken extra steps to help owners of the Nikon D600 with dust problems.

The latest Nikon technical advisory tells us:
"Nikon is making available to all owners of D600 cameras (even if Nikon’s product warranty has expired) this customer-service measure, which includes the inspection, cleaning and replacement of the shutter assembly and related parts of your camera, free of charge, as well as the cost of shipping D600 cameras to Nikon and their return to customers.

Once again, please understand that regardless of this service, your D600 camera as is the case with all D-SLR cameras, will continue to require normal periodic sensor cleanings."


http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Service-...ers-of-the-Nikon-D600-Digital-SLR-Camera.html