This is why I did not buy that camera. Too many problems. Thanks for posting.
Posted by Gary Yeoh on February 22, 2014 at 2:55 PM
I bought a D600 last year and had to take it to take if for service 3 times within 6 months. They change the shutter after at the 3rd service but the problem recurred. After the third time, I kick up a big fuss and dealer replaced the D600 with another supposedly more updated D600 model. The new camera had spots after less than 1000 actuations and I had to send that one in for service as well. Nikon really have no idea of how to fix this issue. There is a report in one of the local photog mag that claims that the dust problem is also seen in the D610. Stay away from the 600 series.
Posted by Robert Bunch on February 22, 2014 at 4:17 PM
I have a D300s and a D200. When I get too many dust spots I clean them myself following the steps in the users manual. You just lock the mirror up and blow the mirror clean with an air blower/brush. It's a very simple process and for 3-4 years now it has worked just fine. I assume that the D600 collects more than it's share of dust but aside from that fact is there any reason why you can't do it this way at least saving the hassle of sending it to Nikon for cleaning?
Robert, I think the D600 problems are more than a little occasional dust. You are cleaning the mirror only. Greasy dust spots on the sensor itself often can't simply be blown off.
The camera companies tried to scare the *&+&$%%^* out of us by claiming we could not clean sensors ourselves without a terrible risk of permanent damage, so we had to send the cameras in for cleaning.
Then, a few brave souls like Moose Petersen started using cleaning apparatus like the Arctic Butterfly from VISIBLE DUST http://www.visibledust.com/products.php
, and reporting not the least of problems.
I have been using the Arctic Butterfly for a couple of years - maybe 2x a year whether I saw dust or not - and haven't had a bit of problem.
Sandy
Posted by John Launstein on February 22, 2014 at 9:53 PM
I can certainly add my voice of sheer frustration and disappointment over a VERY real issue. The images Jenaya, Josiah and I have taken that were severely compromised or lost due to a combination of oil and debris spots from my D600 over the past year is insane. My first oil spots surfaced in less than 1,000 actuations and the amount of debris being deposited on the sensor is bizarre. I clean my sensor via blower and of course Nikon's sensor clean feature regularly but in a single shoot last fall went from clean (except for oil spots) to a shocking result: this camera pretty much lived with the 200-400mm f/4 mounted to it but I switched at the end of the day to a wide-angle lens to photograph a stunning landscape that was unfolding in front of me. When I uploaded the images I found 117 debris spots in the sky, which was only in the upper 1/3 of the image!!!
When I sent my camera into Nikon service, I was told I had horrible camera care practice and it was the dirtiest they had seen in a long time and I would be paying for everything (clean, courier and insurance both ways, etc.). I sent loads of proof documenting the problem and despite the fact I had SEVEN perfectly clean Nikon bodies at that time between myself and my kids, apparently I just abuse the heck out of this one (ironically, it was the camera with the very least amount of use and lens changes!). In fact, I baby my equipment to a rather anal degree and in shooting Nikon for over 25 years now have never once had to send a body in for cleaning of this nature! I paid the bill, and within DAYS and less than 100 actuations I had 5 spots showing at 400mm and f/4.
I have to send it back in again, but honestly just don't have the time and energy to deal with their insulting opposition right now. After 25 years of brand loyalty, it's only my daughter's loyalty to them that has kept Nikon gear in the bags after this experience.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on February 22, 2014 at 10:21 PM
It is amazing that Nikon did not catch the problem with the spots before the D600 was released, and it's very unfortunate that they have not handled the issue very well, both from a PR standpoint and in taking care of their customers.
Robert Bunch: the D600 spots are from oil being splattered by the shutter mechanism, not the normal dust spots like you see with your D200/300. The standard blowers don't do anything to get rid of the spots, and I was unable to get rid of them on my D600's sensor even with repeated attempted with a liquid sensor cleaner.
I bought a D600 even after hearing of the problem, thinking it couldn't be all that bad. Within a short time I discovered that it is much worse that I thought. I just sent in my camera to Nikon for cleaning and the repair order says that they actually replaced the shutter mechanism. It was a problem being without the camera for 10 days, but the bill was only $42 (one could argue that it should have been free, even for an out of warranty camera). I did not have any of the problems that John Launstein mentions with poor customer service. Time will tell if my new shutter takes care of the problem (I hope they replaced it with a D610 shutter). There are some reports that Nikon has replaced D600's sent in for this issue with a new D610.
Gary Yeoh mentions seeing a report that the D610 also has the spots problem. That surprises me as I have read a couple of reports that tested the D610 just for that and found that it did not have the problem. Perhaps the jury is still out.
The spots problem is very unfortunate because other than that, the D600 is an outstanding camera. DXO Mark rates it second only to the D800 in image quality and quite a bit better than other brands (that ranking may change with the new Sony). I sure hope that Nikon has fixed the problem with the D610, and that they will make good with those who have the D600.
Doug Koepsel posted a note about a new service bulletin for D600 owners. I have copied the link here in case you didn't see it in the NPN Photo Gear forum...
This is indeed very good news for D600 owners. Nikon will replace the shutter in D600 cameras, even if out of warranty, at no charge. They even cover shipping both ways. Like many, I'm wondering if the new shutter will be the one they put in the D610, or just an updated D600 version. My was just replaced, so I'm hoping my D600 is now a D610. :)
Discussion
8 replieshttp://www.photographybay.com/2014/02/17/possible-class-action-suit-for-frustrated-nikon-d600-customers-churning/?awt_l=IxB86&awt_m=JieEgVcMEf62xu
The camera companies tried to scare the *&+&$%%^* out of us by claiming we could not clean sensors ourselves without a terrible risk of permanent damage, so we had to send the cameras in for cleaning.
Then, a few brave souls like Moose Petersen started using cleaning apparatus like the Arctic Butterfly from VISIBLE DUST http://www.visibledust.com/products.php
, and reporting not the least of problems.
I have been using the Arctic Butterfly for a couple of years - maybe 2x a year whether I saw dust or not - and haven't had a bit of problem.
Sandy
When I sent my camera into Nikon service, I was told I had horrible camera care practice and it was the dirtiest they had seen in a long time and I would be paying for everything (clean, courier and insurance both ways, etc.). I sent loads of proof documenting the problem and despite the fact I had SEVEN perfectly clean Nikon bodies at that time between myself and my kids, apparently I just abuse the heck out of this one (ironically, it was the camera with the very least amount of use and lens changes!). In fact, I baby my equipment to a rather anal degree and in shooting Nikon for over 25 years now have never once had to send a body in for cleaning of this nature! I paid the bill, and within DAYS and less than 100 actuations I had 5 spots showing at 400mm and f/4.
I have to send it back in again, but honestly just don't have the time and energy to deal with their insulting opposition right now. After 25 years of brand loyalty, it's only my daughter's loyalty to them that has kept Nikon gear in the bags after this experience.
Robert Bunch: the D600 spots are from oil being splattered by the shutter mechanism, not the normal dust spots like you see with your D200/300. The standard blowers don't do anything to get rid of the spots, and I was unable to get rid of them on my D600's sensor even with repeated attempted with a liquid sensor cleaner.
I bought a D600 even after hearing of the problem, thinking it couldn't be all that bad. Within a short time I discovered that it is much worse that I thought. I just sent in my camera to Nikon for cleaning and the repair order says that they actually replaced the shutter mechanism. It was a problem being without the camera for 10 days, but the bill was only $42 (one could argue that it should have been free, even for an out of warranty camera). I did not have any of the problems that John Launstein mentions with poor customer service. Time will tell if my new shutter takes care of the problem (I hope they replaced it with a D610 shutter). There are some reports that Nikon has replaced D600's sent in for this issue with a new D610.
Gary Yeoh mentions seeing a report that the D610 also has the spots problem. That surprises me as I have read a couple of reports that tested the D610 just for that and found that it did not have the problem. Perhaps the jury is still out.
The spots problem is very unfortunate because other than that, the D600 is an outstanding camera. DXO Mark rates it second only to the D800 in image quality and quite a bit better than other brands (that ranking may change with the new Sony). I sure hope that Nikon has fixed the problem with the D610, and that they will make good with those who have the D600.
D-600 Service Advisory
Good news for D600 owners.
--P