(news and commentary)
Nikon today announced a new camera, the D610, which should be on dealer's shelves by the end of the month. The question is "why"?
Let's deal with the specifications first. The D610 has the following differences from the D600 it apparently replaces (Nikon doesn't use the "replaces" word anywhere; they even keep the D600 in the "current" lineup at US$100 more than the new camera that replaced it [though rumors say that Nikon has lifted the minimum advertised price that dealers can post]):
- 6 fps maximum frame rate instead of 5.5, which also reduces the maximum buffer size slightly (51 JPEG Fine down from 57 on the D600)
- a new 3 fps Quiet Continuous shooting mode
- new improved auto white balance algorithm
- new, lower US$2000 suggested retail price
Yeah, that's it. It's a bit like an automaker announcing their new model year vehicle and telling you that the only change this year is a price adjustment and a new badge.
Nikon's press release seemed to not quite know what to say about the new camera, though I have to gasp at audaciousness of the headline in the US press release: "Concentrate on the Clarity." What clarity would that be, Nikon? The clarity of a clean sensor that doesn't get random shutter debris on it?
Given the tiny list of changes, the shutter issue has to be the reason why we get a new camera. Only problem? Nikon didn't actually address the elephant in the room with their introduction of this new camera. They seem to think that the serious photographer who might consider the Nikon D610 doesn't actually read the Internet and isn't aware of the problems D600 users have been having. In case you've been in a coma for over a year: a large number of D600 users report excessive debris and lubricant splatter on the sensor, requiring frequent and repeated cleanings. Quietly, Nikon has been replacing shutters on a lot of the D600's that come back to them with dirty sensors, even refurbished D600's out of warranty. Nikon seems to think that adding 10 to the name automatically makes the new camera problem-free in user's minds. Problem solved.
Not so fast, Nikon. Folk that already have a D600 are now suffering another blow: Nikon has devalued the D600, especially considering the new lower list price of the D610. Folk previously considering the D600 and now the D610 are still wondering whether there's a shutter that still sheds in the camera.
Frankly, this was a sloppy way to deal with a real problem, and all Nikon has done is made a lot of loyal customers start to doubt Nikon's integrity. Nikon's like a magician who forgot to wear a jacket and long-sleeved shirts. Yeah, there's nothing up the sleeve because there's no sleeve, so we can see everything they're doing.
And heaven help Nikon if the D610 turns out to have a QA problem, too.
Bottom line: this is Nikon's most lame new DSLR introduction since the D70s. Heck, we didn't even get an s this time.
Oh, and by the way, Nikon: that "see the…difference of FX format" in the D610 brochure? would that "difference" be overly contrasty images with blown highlights? If not, I don't see it. [Since at least one person got confused by that statement: I'm referring to the images in the Nikon D610 brochure, not the camera. Very poor examples of what a D600-type camera can do.]
Pre-order the D610 from the following advertiser (about pre-orders):
