Nikon D600 vs Canon 6D

Introduction

Comparing the Nikon D600 and the Canon 6D is fair, right? They came out in the same year, while they also take place at a similar price range, but what about performance, features, and specifics? Well, in this review I’m going to go through every detail, while by the end of the article, hopefully, you’ll come up with a decision, which camera is the best and which one suits your requirements the most. Nonetheless, it all depends on what kind of photography you need the camera for, or you might also be a videographer, so make sure you check all the features you need for your type of work.

There are quite some important things you should consider before buying a camera, for example, for still photography, all you need is a good sensor, but for videography, the design also matters. Such an example for this is having a fully articulating touchscreen LCD, this is one of the most essential things to have if you want to do videography with one of these cameras, since you can tilt the screen to your desired position to shoot from different viewing angles, while the touchscreen can help greatly by making it easier for you to navigate through the menu.

However, the autofocus system is also an important area you should check, especially for those portrait photographers, because you’re going to need some good tracking abilities in order to maintain focus even with fast-moving subjects. However, now, let’s dive in and see why one of these cameras can be the perfect addition for you, and which one meets your requirements the most.

Head To Head Comparison

Nikon D600

The Nikon D600 came out in 2012, while back then it was one of the most acknowledged DSLRs in this price range, however, it hasn’t changed much, since even to this day, it’s one of the most popular options in the mass market, and I’m going to show you why.

First, let’s start by pointing out some interesting facts about the design. For those of you that have used other Nikon cameras before, you might have had the change to see a D7000, well, the D600 is almost identical. It boasts a magnesium alloy construction while its body is weather-sealed to the extent where you can use it even in rainy conditions. On the other hand, it feels solid and it is a robust camera, I give it that. As for the handgrip, I find it sort of deeper than the previous models, whereas it delivers exceptional comfort, and I really like the textures on the side which not only give a smooth feeling when you’re holding the camera, but they also implement a modern look to the overall appearance of the camera.

Also, the button layout is mainly the same, with a few changes, of course, the top-plate is virtually identical, while the only difference is the one-touch-record red movie button which can be found between the Metering mode and EV compensation buttons. Other than that, on the top shoulder, you’ll notice there is a mode dial, and it has a separate lockable dial.

On the back of the camera, you’ll see the 3.2-inch screen which is sharp and it displays plenty of detail along with vibrancy, while the screen is also good for outdoor use, so natural light won’t be a problem, because all the images will be viewable. To get into numbers, the 3.2-inch screen holds 921,000k dots, and for the worst part, it is a fixed LCD screen with no touchscreen capabilities, while this has become a pretty common feature even for lower-priced cameras nowadays. This may come as a disappointment to some people, especially the videographers because a tilting LCD can really be helpful in most situations, but nonetheless, I think it pays the debt fully in performance.

Speaking of performance, this particular camera has a 24.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, which means your photos will have stunning details, sharpness, vibrancy, while everything will be enhanced with the help of the EXPEED 3 image processor, which manages all the data with remarkable speed and accuracy. Thus, if you combine these specs into one piece, the camera delivers a continuous shooting speed of 5.5 frames per second at full resolution.

Regarding the low-light performance, Nikon can shoot crystal clear images from an ISO sensitivity of 100-6400, and with a boosted ISO down to 50 and up to 25600 for extreme situations.

This is the kind of camera which counts as an upgrade to those beginners who’ve been using entry-level DSLRs, mostly due to the full-frame HD-SLR performance and the FX-format which brings up the case that this camera can record Full HD 1080p videos, and even here it has superior low-light performance, blazing fast framing and burst rates with built-in HDR.

But that’s not all, with the help of Nikon’s intelligent Scene Recognition System with 3D Color Matrix Metering II, the 2,016 pixels RGB sensor evaluates every scene, and it always considers the brightness, contrast, subject distance, and the scene colors, and all it takes is one press of the shutter release button.

Furthermore, the autofocus system is incredible, featuring a 39-point Multi-CAM4800 AF module, the Nikon D600 can track and maintain focus quicker than most other cameras at this price range and some of the above.

Before we end, it’s important to mention that this camera doesn’t have a built-in Wi-Fi, although you can connect the optional WU-1b Wireless adapter and wirelessly transfer photos to your smartphone device or tablet that has Wi-Fi capabilities. If you install the Nikon’s mobile utility, you can even remotely control the camera.

Overall, except the lack of a fully-articulating touchscreen LCD and the built-in Wi-Fi, there’s really nothing bad about this camera, it basically checks all the boxes of how a professional DSLR should be like, while it has a plethora of features which can elevate your photography experience to a whole new level.

Nikon D600 Sample Images:

Similar Comparison: Canon 6D vs Canon 6D Mark II

Canon 6D

This may be an older version since it is the original 6D, and there’s a Mark II available, but nonetheless, I find this one to deliver more value than the upgrade. Just like our first camera, this one also is a full-frame DSLR, however, it comes with a relatively higher price than Nikon D600, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s better, we’re about to see now.

In terms of the design, this particular camera boasts a sturdy and durable construction that can withstand years of torture, and I know this for a fact since I’ve had this camera from when it first came out, and it’s still like brand new, interior-wise and exterior. The button layout is well-thought-out which delivers instant access to many of the camera’s most used features, such as the AF, sensitivity and exposure compensation. Near the thumb rest, you’ll find a dedicated button for the quick menu, which allows you to access the features also, but the more sophisticated ones, thus, via this menu, they can be easily adjusted and optimized.

In addition, on the top plate, you’ll find the standard EOS approach which allows access to buttons to drive modes, metering, and LCD light settings.

Speaking of the LCD, the Canon 6D has a 3-inch 1,040,000-dot LCD, however, same as Nikon D600’s it is a fixed LCD, while it doesn’t have touchscreen capabilities as well. Taking this into consideration, for those people who are used to having touch-sensitive screens with tilting abilities, maybe this camera is not the ideal choice for you. However, if that doesn’t really impact you much, then everything else is going to surprise you, starting from performance and specifics.

The Canon 6D has a 20.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor which runs the DIGIC 5 image processor to deliver quick results and allocate data faster than most other DSLRs in this price range. Regarding the ISO sensitivity, this particular model has a native ISO range of 100-25600, while when you combine all of these specs into one piece, you’ll have an impressive continuous shooting speed of 4.5 frames per second, which is not more than Nikon D600’s but it’s great nonetheless.

In terms of the autofocus, the Canon 6D has an 11-point AF system which only the central one cross-type. Now, this is a great disadvantage when you compare it to the Nikon 39-point AF system, but take in mind that this camera is more oriented towards still photographers, landscape shooters, and so on. It’s not the perfect camera for more serious work, such as commercial applications and events, but it’s great for photography enthusiasts, hobbyists, and professionals who just want a second camera to go with.

Same as the Nikon D600, the Canon 6D can successfully shoot 1080 HD recording with manual controls, however, it lacks 4K, so for those seeking for 4K capabilities, you won’t find that here, in fact, you won’t find it in most DSLRs at this price range.

However, the Canon 6D truly has the upper-hand when it comes to features, starting with the Canon EOS Remote APP which is way more functional than Nikon’s mobile utility, while this particular camera also has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, so you won’t have to use additional adapters for wireless connectivity. Thus, you can instantly share or transfer your files to a compatible smartphone device or tablet. Since we mentioned the Canon EOS Remote App, this allows you to choose and select the shooting mode that you want and then adjust the settings on the screen of your phone, which is one way, repays the debt of the lack of a touchscreen LCD.

To sum up, the Canon 6D is good in its own ways, it’s one of my favorite DSLRs, and considering all its features and the performance that it offers, I would surely recommend this camera to everyone looking for an upgrade, or for those that want to change to a DSLR camera with WiFi.

Canon 6D Sample Images:

Similar Comparison: Canon 6D Mark II vs Sony A7 III

Nikon D600 vs Canon 6D Feature Comparison

	Nikon D600	Canon 6D
Camera Type	Full-Frame DSLR	Full-Frame DSLR
Megapixels	24.3	20.2
ISO Range	100-6400(25,600)	100-25600(102,400)
Flip-Out Screen	No	No
AF Points	39 AF Points	11 AF Points
Viewfinder	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	No	No
Video Recording	Yes	Yes
Sensor Size	CMOS	CMOS

Similar Comparison: Nikon D610 vs Canon 6D

Conclusion

Now, as we got the comparison table out of the way, you can surely conclude now which camera is the best, however, I’m still going to say it, it all depends on what kind of photography you need the camera.

So, to make it easier for you guys, the Nikon D600 is more suited towards those who want to take portrait photography, wildlife, action, sports, mostly due to the incredible autofocus system and the fast performance.

On the other hand, the Canon 6D offers superb quality for still photography, and it is one of the best DSLRs for low-light conditions since it can go up to extreme ISOs of up to 102,400. It’s not the best camera you can find for videography, however, it also has the advantage of features if you compare it to Nikon D600, starting with the built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, and the Canon EOS Remote App which allows you to change settings from your smartphone, which basically pays the debt for the lack of a touchscreen.

Similar Comparison: Canon 6D Mark II vs Nikon D750