To reduce the cost of the camera, Nikon opted to manufacture the body primarily out of polycarbonate but with magnesium alloy reinforcements, much like the popular D7000. The result is a lightweight, yet robust structure that is considerably smaller than other full-frame Nikons, such as the D800.
But while the D800 emphasizes high resolution files at the expense of agility, the D600 is designed for speed. Though it can’t rival the speed of the much more expensive D4, it shoots at a respectable 5.5 frames per second with a shutter lag of only .052 seconds. Strangely, Nikon has given the D600 a shutter module with a top speed of only 1/4000th sec. While this is nothing to scoff at, it’s slower than older mid-level cameras such as the D7000. The D600 is fitted with a 39-point AF module (MultiCAM 4800FX AF).
The video functionality of the D600 is virtually identical to the D800, with the expected range of resolutions and frame-rates and a top-duration of 20 minutes per video.
The D600 is expected to start shipping on September 18th on a first-come, first-serve basis.
