D600 LV Aperture limitation - is it really a deal killer for a neanderthal?

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Peakbagger66

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I've been considering purchasing the D600 over the D800 mostly because it means I could also get a nice FX lens if I did that. Now, I've seen the reviews and many complain that not being able to change aperture in LV is a deal killer. Is it really that big a deal? Keep in mind I've been shooting with my prehistoric D90 on manual lenses all these years. Would the experience of shooting video with the D600 be akin to nirvana for someone like me, or would it just be more of the same pains I experience when I shoot with the D90? I go through this huge ritual with my smartphone when I try and capture clean low light footage with the D90...would it be that much easier on the D600?
 
Peakbagger66 said:
I've been considering purchasing the D600 over the D800 mostly because it means I could also get a nice FX lens if I did that. Now, I've seen the reviews and many complain that not being able to change aperture in LV is a deal killer. Is it really that big a deal? Keep in mind I've been shooting with my prehistoric D90 on manual lenses all these years. Would the experience of shooting video with the D600 be akin to nirvana for someone like me, or would it just be more of the same pains I experience when I shoot with the D90? I go through this huge ritual with my smartphone when I try and capture clean low light footage with the D90...would it be that much easier on the D600?
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Shooting in manual mode with an ai lens on the D600 is pretty straightforward.
You can change the aperture manually, and adjust shutter speed and iso.
If I use an AF or AF G lens, I've found that I still have to use manual mode, but now
it is a bit of a pain to have to get out of live view, change the aperture, and then go back to liveview.
But once you have the desired aperture, you can control the exposure pretty well via iso and shutter
speed settings, so for the most part it's not a problem. It's just weird that you can adjust the aperture
in photo liveview mode but not in video liveview mode. Some people think it's a hardware limitation
while others think they intentionally crippled the firmware.

BTW, the D600 kit lens is actually quite good....
 
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I think it really depends on what you are shooting and where.

I've used auto ISO as a work around but IMO it really is a pain to go out of live view just to change the aperture.
Then I also have the option to buy D lenses with aperture rings.


For me it's not a deal killer but it is a pain.
 
FYI, in my experience, you would need an ai type lens to be able to manually change aperture.
D lenses have same problem as G lenses.
 
sbrenner said:
FYI, in my experience, you would need an ai type lens to be able to manually change aperture.
D lenses have same problem as G lenses.
Click to expand...

I have a couple of D lenses - a 35mm/f2 and a 50mm/f1.4. You can change aperture with them. Basically you go into live mode and then unlock the aperture ring. Then you can change while filming. Its a massive pain though because once you get out of LV you get the fEE error. I prefer to use my AI lenses for video.
 
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Hidef1080 said:
I think it really depends on what you are shooting and where.

I've used auto ISO as a work around but IMO it really is a pain to go out of live view just to change the aperture.
Then I also have the option to buy D lenses with aperture rings.


For me it's not a deal killer but it is a pain.
Click to expand...

I guess that is better than what I currently do which is point it at some random light source until I get the exposure I want. The other thing is the D600 output is SO MUCH BETTER than my D90. Seriously, I am often embarrassed by what I get.
 
With my 50mm 1.8 and 24-50mm D lenses, I can get into live view when the aperture is fully closed, but once I change
the aperture it sends me to FEE land. It did that for all shooting modes, so I really don't understand how you are able
to do that.
 
I finally found out what the problem was. In Controls F5 Customize command dials, the aperture setting need to be set to aperture ring instead of command dial.
 
sbrenner said:
I finally found out what the problem was. In Controls F5 Customize command dials, the aperture setting need to be set to aperture ring instead of command dial.
Click to expand...

Which camera do you have? I don't remember setting anything, but then I haven't touched my settings for YEARS. I'll have to check...I'm almost senile these days.

Sounds like you've figured it out, but here's a video demonstrating the technique - https://vimeo.com/1715441

To be honest I've only done it a couple times I use my AI lenses almost all the time for video...

I played with the D600 @ costco and decided that manual adjustment with ISO is good enough for me!!
 
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