Re: Nikon D600 vs D800 // Differences in video function & performance?

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ectobuilder

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Re: Nikon D600 vs D800 // Differences in video function & performance?

What are the differences in video function / performance between the D600 and D800?
 
For me, the difference is huge. The D800 has a bit of moire, the D600 has a lot of moire. One feels like a second-generation DSLR, the other is more like a not-particularly-attractive first generation DSLR.
The only good thing the D600 has going for it is the DR (which is the same as that of the D800 as far as I can tell).
 
I had both and like everything better about the D800 except cost.
It is a lot easier to use for Video

I got rid of the D600 and D7100 just to help pay for a D800e.
So, it is well worth the extra money to me.
 
RRRoger said:
I had both and like everything better about the D800 except cost.
It is a lot easier to use for Video

I got rid of the D600 and D7100 just to help pay for a D800e.
So, it is well worth the extra money to me.
Click to expand...

What aspect of the D800 made it easier to use for video?
 
I tried both the D7100 and D600 before going back to the D800 for Video.

When I use the D800 for VideoGraphing Church Services on Sunday morning I set the mode to manual.

I can adjust the focus by hand or by using the AF-On button.
The shutter speed and ISO can be adjusted while filming and so can the f-stop on the camera.
I can record externally clean thru the HDMI port without having to cycle like the D600 to remove the camera video and audio info.
I actually use the LCD to primarily display info while viewing a larger and high definition monitor for focus.
I can listen to the audio thru the external jack to my stereo headset.
 
RRRoger said:
I tried both the D7100 and D600 before going back to the D800 for Video.

When I use the D800 for VideoGraphing Church Services on Sunday morning I set the mode to manual.

I can adjust the focus by hand or by using the AF-On button.
The shutter speed and ISO can be adjusted while filming and so can the f-stop on the camera.
I can record externally clean thru the HDMI port without having to cycle like the D600 to remove the camera video and audio info.
I actually use the LCD to primarily display info while viewing a larger and high definition monitor for focus.
I can listen to the audio thru the external jack to my stereo headset.
Click to expand...

I was trying out the D600 in a local store today and it seemed to be able to adjust shutter and ISO while recording. For adjusting F-Stop which lens did you use? If it was a Nikon lens with electronic contacts how did you adjust the F-Stop while recording video? This one I couldn't figure out in the store!

How often do you have to swap out batteries with the D800?
 
Almost any Nikkor will work with the D800.
The Nikon 1 lens might work with an adapter too, but who would want to use them?
I use an old 28-70 with aperture ring but also the new 28-300 G (without).
In M Mode, I can just rotate the front dial on the D800 while recording.

Using the same battery, I suspect that shooting time is close between the D600 and D800.
It is well over one hour of Video time. (I once made it to 2 hours).
I do not like grips, but I wonder if that time is double with the second battery.
You could also plug in an external power source by replacing the battery with adapter.

I agree that the image quality is better on the D800, but at my level (Home Movies) nobody seems to notice.
In fact, it would not surprise me if my viewers chose my V1 videos as my best.
They seldom choose the BlueRay or enhanced versions of the Church activities.
 
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only with old manual lenses can you adjust the aperature stop while recording. But if you use an external recorder (don't press the internal record button) then with an auto lens you can adjust f stops very smoothly. I have the D800 and have shot promo spots for a broadcast tv station with it as well as a few short films. It is much much easier to use than my previous DSLR (Canon T3i). Checking out the D600 in a store the biggest thing I noticed is placement of buttons is different and you have to go into the menu for some of them, such as the aperature, which is easier to adjust on the D800 by merely pressing a button.
 
I needed to use my new D600 for some table top product shots, outputting to an AJA Ki Pro. The image suffered from severe banding(posterization) on the gradated surface. I expected aliasing and moire issues, but this was unexpected. Has anyone else encountered this?
 
If someone is into Nikon and pure image quality, then the d7100 is the camera to get. Very good resolution, about on par with the gh2, no moire/aliasing and very good DR in the D800/600 range. I tested the low light during the weekend at a wedding and 3200 is very very good and much better than my D800. I am just waiting for my Ninja and will be conducting some test.
 
Dino said:
I needed to use my new D600 for some table top product shots, outputting to an AJA Ki Pro. The image suffered from severe banding(posterization) on the gradated surface. I expected aliasing and moire issues, but this was unexpected. Has anyone else encountered this?
Click to expand...

I have experienced this with both the D600 and the D800 on the lowest ISO-settings. For me it stopped being problematic around ISO 400, which seems to be a sweetspot in terms of noise/posterization/DR/sharpness from my tests. The banding I saw was in how the image rendered the darker areas into black, mostly in clear smooth areas without a lot of detail.
 
Samuel H said:
For me, the difference is huge. The D800 has a bit of moire, the D600 has a lot of moire. One feels like a second-generation DSLR, the other is more like a not-particularly-attractive first generation DSLR.
The only good thing the D600 has going for it is the DR (which is the same as that of the D800 as far as I can tell).
Click to expand...

I haven't seen much moire on my d600. One shoot I used it on a lot of moire was showing up on the camera's LCD, but when I viewed the footage on my computer it was completely gone. The LCD seems to oversharpen and create artifacts.
 
stokstad said:
I have experienced this with both the D600 and the D800 on the lowest ISO-settings. For me it stopped being problematic around ISO 400, which seems to be a sweetspot in terms of noise/posterization/DR/sharpness from my tests. The banding I saw was in how the image rendered the darker areas into black, mostly in clear smooth areas without a lot of detail.
Click to expand...

Yes, you nailed the situation exactly! Low ISO, black shiny surface with gradation to reflected blue light. Was trying to make the cleanest image possible for recording to ProRes. Didn't think to raise the ISO above 100. Thank you for that input, will try in the future.
 
I'm a long time Nikon DSLR user ( my D600 is my 4th Nikon DSLR ), but I have given up on them when it comes to video. I still do all of my still camera photography with my D600, but for video I ended up purchasing a GH2, and then a GH3.

It just does not seem to me that Nikon is making any really serious attempt to be competitive with Canon or Panasonic when it comes to supporting video.

For anyone considering this option that I chose, consider getting the new Metabones Nikon G to m4/3 Speed Booster adapter. It works with both Nikkor and 3rd party FX and DX lenses, increasing the speed of the lens by a full f-stop, and also making the lens .71x wider in focal length. With it, you can put your favorite Nikkor lenses to work on a Panasonic m/43 camera.

For example, it turns a 24-70mm f/2.8 FX G lens into a FX equivalent 34-99mm f/2 lens when mounted on a camera like the GH2 or GH3. Or a Nikkor DX 16-85mm f/3.5-f/5.6 turns into a FX equivalent 22.7mm-120.7mm f/2.4-f4 lens.

Here is a detailed white paper on everything that it has to offer:

http://www.metabones.com/images/metabones/Speed Booster White Paper.pdf
 
LanceOregon said:
It just does not seem to me that Nikon is making any really serious attempt to be competitive with Canon or Panasonic when it comes to supporting video.
Click to expand...
I completely disagree.
The D600 is horrible, but that doesn't extend to all the Nikon lineup.
In fact, if you ask me, the D5200 and D7100 are the best cameras you can buy for video for <$2K.

(yes, the GH2 and GH3 are sharper, but I don't like the image from the GH2 at all, and the GH3 has a bit better DR but I'm still unsure how much; would you want to help me put a number on it? my original measure with Squig said it was really, really low compared with Canon and Nikon DSLRs, but maybe you're using better settings on your GH3)

(oh, and regarding speedbooster: really incredible piece of gear: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...ouldn-t-help-but-put-it-against-the-res-chart )
 
Samuel H said:
I completely disagree.
The D600 is horrible, but that doesn't extend to all the Nikon lineup.
In fact, if you ask me, the D5200 and D7100 are the best cameras you can buy for video for <$2K.

(yes, the GH2 and GH3 are sharper, but I don't like the image from the GH2 at all, and the GH3 has a bit better DR but I'm still unsure how much; would you want to help me put a number on it? my original measure with Squig said it was really, really low compared with Canon and Nikon DSLRs, but maybe you're using better settings on your GH3)

(oh, and regarding speedbooster: really incredible piece of gear: http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthrea...ouldn-t-help-but-put-it-against-the-res-chart )
Click to expand...

+1. I just bought the Nikon D7100 and I am very happy. I wanted to buy the GH3 but I found that it is not suitable for me even if it had better codec and a sharper image. I found the cons were larger. The DR is not good on the GH3. I think it is somewhat near 9-10 stops. The D7100 gets roughly 11 stops. I am in love with my camera and I think it was the best move on my part. The image is sharp and is clean. And I am talking about internal codec. There is gradeabilty to certain point. Atleast almost the same as on the 7D and 5Dmk2.

The GH3 has also the live view issue. The screen info dissapears after a few minutes. And to get it back you have to press a button. So to record if the info has disappeared you have to press it twice. The GH3 is produces nice images but usability is not good. Motion on the GH3 is weird as well.
 
sharry said:
The DR is not good on the GH3. I think it is somewhat near 9-10 stops. The D7100 gets roughly 11 stops. I am in love with my camera and I think it was the best move on my part. The image is sharp and is clean. And I am talking about internal codec. There is gradeabilty to certain point. Atleast almost the same as on the 7D and 5Dmk2.

The GH3 has also the live view issue. The screen info dissapears after a few minutes. And to get it back you have to press a button. So to record if the info has disappeared you have to press it twice. The GH3 is produces nice images but usability is not good. Motion on the GH3 is weird as well.
Click to expand...


Could not disagree with you more strongly. Yes, the GH3 DR is indeed not quite as good as the D7100. But as far as usability goes? You have got to be kidding. The GH3 is far easier to use.

And while having most of the screen info disappear after a while in live view is indeed annoying, it is really no big deal. The histogram stays on, and a simple wave of your hand in front of the viewfinder will bring the display of all the settings back. It is not necessary to touch any button on the camera to bring the info back, as you have so incorrectly claimed.

And the GH3 records motion far better than any of the Nikon DSLR's, since it ( unlike any of the Nikons ), can record in 1080/60p.

.
 
@Lance, when I am talking about motion, I am talking about candence. Its not too nice. But Ive seen beautiful images out of that camera nonetheless. Heck, I wanted it for quite some time. If you think the aperture is a problem, its not. Because I use AI lenses and a friend has Zeiss ZF2 lenses (which I want) so there is no issue for me. What I always say is, these days all the cameras can give you a beautiful image, granted you know what you are doing and these 2 cameras are just too good.
 
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