Last In Camera Time Laspe - D600

[dubaiphil]

Here's a last in camera time lapse with the Nikon D600 before the end of my review.

I managed to squeak 1/40th second with a 3 stop ND filter. This really shows the benefits of in camera time lapse rather than taking a series of stills with an intervalometer for a 32 second clip.

Taking stills = 32 seconds, 30 frames per second playback, 1 frame per second shooting = 960 images = around 6Gb storage at a medium file size

Taking in camera time lapse = 1 .mov file = 84Mb

However, the disadvantage is that you are not able to make exposure adjustments in post production, add effects like tilt shift effect or clean dust bunnies. You're stuck with 16:9 as well.

Anyway, here's the file:

http://philpage.zenfolio.com/p1056944733/e49ef879e

[Mark von Kanel]

yup another good play with the toy, now stop messin and do some real work LETS HAVE THE REVIEW!!! its a good job my departure for home has been delayed for 4 days!!! i was supposed to buy buy buy on Monday.

[dubaiphil]

If you don't mind the size, buy it - it's very very good.....

[dubaiphil]

review complete!

[Mark von Kanel]

Doh! and do you give the same review for the d800??

[Manfred M]

Mark - I just did a side-by-side test between my D800 and my Panasonic AF100 video camera. I don't know how similar the D600 and D800 are, but I both liked and disliked the timelapse function.

Advantages - you can set the interval and duration in increments of one second. This is wonderful flexibility versus my AF100, whree I get a few presets; 1 sec, 10 sec, 1 minute, etc. The quality is quite good from the D800..

Downsides - need to do CWB and take off autofocus and shoot 100% manual. You don't want the camera seeking a new white balance, focus point, different aperture between shots. Having the camera constantly adjusting white balance, seeking focus where the subject is moving or changin the DoF; these results look amateurish and not very good. Doing the manual focus is a bit awkward as you have to use the screen on the back of the camera and zoom in to ensure your focus point is correct. I wish Nikon had put a peaking function in like on the Panny to help with the focus. The same shooting parameters apply to the Panny (i.e. shooting all manual), but the controls are much easier to access and use.

The other real negative is that you are really taking a shot, so even if you lock up your mirror, you are cycling your shutter = noisy. The video camera is much better as it just shoots silenty.

Conclusion - interval photography works, but frankly I find my video camera is much better suited for this type of work.



My daughter is trying to breed a couple of Bettas, and these are of the male taking care of a bubble nest full of fertilized eggs. The video is not particularly good, as this is the first time I have ever used this functionality on the D800. The DoF is very narrow using a Micro Nikkor 105 in natural light at ISO 800. I frame was taken every 5 seconds using 1920 x 1080 p

[Mark von Kanel]

Hi Manfred, the interval timer, is not a function i would normally use hence the inference that phil should stop playing and give us the proper review!! i have an interval timer and would use that anyway and again that just happens to be another feature of a piece of equipment i use for some thing else.

i buy my full frame next week, when iget home from work and although im pretty sure its going to be the d800, im keen to read phils review!!

[Manfred M]

Mark - same here. I've had my D800 since early May and this is the first time I've tried it. It, like shooting video on the camera is not something I would normally do. The ergonomics are all wrong for video and the lack of a peaking function and the inability to use phantom powered microphones are show stoppers in my books. That is over and above a whole list of other drawbacks.

[dubaiphil]

I guess you guys have hit the nail on the head here. My comparison test between the D800 and D600 is not technical, but to see which camera is more relevant for a buyer of a new FF Nikon. I've got two great Full Frame cameras in my hand and all I can do is time lapse in camera tests! p.s. for anyone shooting panoramas or nightscapes, manual focus, manual WB etc is no hardship. Buy an antiquated manual focus lens and there's a hard stop at infinity so you don't even need to worry about live view for some shooting. But hey, I digress

So - Which is the D700 replacement?

Answer = neither. The D800 has real advantages and my review is hardly going to break any new ground here - it's been around for a while now! I've read a lot of D800 reviews over the past 6 months, but not seen any D600 reviews.

The D600 has all the IQ you'll ever need.

D600 issues = autofocus system, autofocus point coverage in the viewfinder, ergonomics (I've since read that plum Ken Rockwell - he must have 'ladies hands' with 'ET's fingers' if he thinks the ergonomics of the D600 are the best ever). If you're going to use any of the Nikon Holy Trinity get a battery grip.

D600 advantages = smaller size (if you have 'ladies hands'!), more than ample IQ, quietness (Q mode is reasonably quiet, compared to the delayed 'clack' of the D800), price point.

So Mark, if you've got ladies hands, go for a D600. If you're manly, go for the D800. If you're used to the D700/D300, you'll prefer the ergonomics of the D800. In the real world, the price tag will also make a difference though.

I sold a lens to a lady with a D800 and I met her during a shoot for the review. She was shooting in Program mode with no idea how to change aperture, ISO, anything!

It doesn't sound like reality, but the hard fact in this part of the world where some people are lucky enough to have lots of disposable income is that people will just buy the D800 because its the best (for MP, but not according to KR!). I'm not being pretentious, but many of those people really just won't know or care how good it is and just use if for 6x4 prints and posting on social media!!!

The D800 is a specialist tool - a amazingly good one at that. The D600 is more of the all-rounder replacement to the D700. But it's a physically stunted descendant.

[Mark von Kanel]

Thanks Phil, unfortunately as i dont have a pianists fingers it will be the d8oo and as the fx mode will pretty much mimic my d7000 That will help as well i already find the d7000 better with a grip. so it will be a no brainer. got to wait until Thursday/ Friday now to get my hands on one.

[dubaiphil]

You'll love it, Mark! A massive step up from the D7000. Compared to a D7000 with grip the D800 will feel quite small. I have a gripped D90 and it felt weird moving to an ungripped D700 - that didn't last long and I soon bought one.

The D800 battery grip prices are pretty steep though

[Mark von Kanel]

The D800 battery grip prices are pretty steep though

yeh tell me about it, ill be going non oem for that i think (i fact ive already tried to order one twice) the Pixel one gets great reviews for the money. alternatively i might find one in the us or an airport somewhere.

Have you got you new zeiss yet? how you getting on with it?