The Nikon D610 is fast with generally excellent photo quality
Hi.
I'm Lori Grunin, Senior Editor with CNET, and this is the Nikon D610.
Given that the D610 is nearly identical to the D600.
It should be unsurprising that I still really like the models design and operation.
Enjoy shooting with it.
It's a little bit lighter than other than other full framed DSLR bodies but not ILC bodies like the Sony A7R series and is constructed from a magnesium alloy chassis covered in polycarbonate with moderate dust and
weather sealing.
The camera's exposure in release mode dials both have locks, one in the center non-adjacent.
As with Canon's designs, I don't really like the lock button in the center as I find it a little awkward to operate single-handed that way.
There are two user setting slots on the mode dial which is nice but I prefer three.
Also, I'm not a big fan of the tiny top record buttons and I'm a little disappointed that you can't program one of the buttons on the back for this function.
Plus with other modern Nikon models, there are two programmable buttons to the right side
of the lens.
Viewfinder is really nice.
It's big and bright with the useful overlay grid that's in many of Nikon's DSLRs.
You can assign one of the buttons to activate a digital level in the viewfinder that uses the exposure bars, which I like but I wish I didn't have to toggle between that and the typical exposure information.
And that there was a vertical indicator as well for front and back tilt.
Although it's missing desirable features like WiFi and GPS, the D610 does have a full compliment of shooting options unlike the Canon 6D,
it has a built-in flash.
While I don't recommend using on camera flash, it's useful in a pinch and it enables in camera control of wireless flash.
It also gets props for dual SD card slots and a headphone jack.
Other features the 6D disappointingly lacks.
It retains Nikon's staples like time-lapse shooting and an intervalometer, plus it offers clean and uncompressed HDMI output which was first offered by the D800.
For some however, the biggest advantage, the D610 immediately offers over the 6D is the ability to use
all variations of both DX with a PSC cropping of course, as well as FX lenses.
With one exception, the D610 still delivers perfect photo quality.
It produces relatively clean image data at low and midrange ISO sensitivities and it's very smart JPEG and noise reduction algorithms.
JPEG images are generally quite usable through ISO 1600, depending on the scene and lighting.
You can probably push it to size ISO 6400.
Though, I'd recommend working with what ought to be on the safe side.
With the D610, Nikon has changed the shutter mechanism which enables a continues shooting quiet mode, just nice, and Nikon also says that they tweaked the white balance for bluer skies and better skin tones.
Like most full framed cameras, the D610 produces photos with a nice natural sharpness and tonality.
It renders a broad dynamic range, although there's a lot less recoverable detail and clipped highlights than with more expensive models.
The camera does very well with shadow detail though.
The D610 is pretty much
fast enough to handle most things that you throw at it and it's a bit faster than the D600.
Live view autofocus is still cumbersome and slow though and the LCD is really hard to view in direct sunlight.
Relatively inexpensive, smartly designed, fast and with generally excellent photo quality, the Nikon D610 mix compelling case for upgrading to a full frame camera.
I'm Lori Grunin and this is the Nikon D610.
Up Next
Panasonic Introduces New Lumix S5 Mark II and Mark II X Cameras
Up Next
Panasonic Introduces New Lumix S5 Mark II and Mark II X Cameras
GoPro Hero 11 Black Hands-on: Super-sized Sensor for All Your Socials
GoPro Hero 11 Black Hands-on: Super-sized Sensor for All Your Socials
GoPro Hero 10 Black Creator Edition Makes Vlogging So Much Better
GoPro Hero 10 Black Creator Edition Makes Vlogging So Much Better
GoPro Hero 10 Black ramps up resolution, frame rates to 5.3K60, 4K120
GoPro Hero 10 Black ramps up resolution, frame rates to 5.3K60, 4K120
Insta360 Go 2 review: A lot of fun, a lot of confusion
Insta360 Go 2 review: A lot of fun, a lot of confusion
GoPro's Hero 9 Black bulks up on power and performance but not price
GoPro's Hero 9 Black bulks up on power and performance but not price
Digitizing my old Hi8 tape collection
Digitizing my old Hi8 tape collection
iPhone SE or Galaxy A51: Battle of the $400 phone cameras
iPhone SE or Galaxy A51: Battle of the $400 phone cameras
The Mevo Start is a compact cam aimed at HD event streaming
The Mevo Start is a compact cam aimed at HD event streaming
Snap Spectacles 3 bring AR to sunglasses
Snap Spectacles 3 bring AR to sunglasses
Tech Shows
Latest News All latest news
What AirPods Rumors Tell Us About Apple's Health Ambitions
What AirPods Rumors Tell Us About Apple's Health Ambitions
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories One More Season
Apple May Give FineWoven Accessories One More Season
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
US vs. TikTok: What Happens Next
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
What to Expect at Apple's May 7 iPad Event
Most Popular All most popular
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
First Look at TSA's Self-Screening Tech (in VR!)
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Review: More AI at a Higher Cost
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
'Circle to Search' Lets Users Google From Any Screen
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Asus Put Two 14-inch OLEDs in a Laptop, Unleashes First OLED ROG Gaming Laptop
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Samsung Galaxy Ring: First Impressions
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Best of Show: The Coolest Gadgets of CES 2024
Latest Products All latest products
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Robosen's Megatron Transformer Is Too Much Fun for an Evil Robot
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
Battle of the Humanoid Robots: MenteeBot Is Ready
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
2025 Audi Q6, SQ6 E-Tron: Audi's Newest EV Is Its Most Compelling
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Hands-On with Ford's Free Tesla Charging Adapter
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
Nuro R3 is an Adorable Self-Driving Snack Bar
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
First Look: The $349 Nothing Phone 2A Aims to Brighten Your Day
Latest How To All how to videos
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
Tips and Tricks for the AirPods Pro 2
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
How to Watch the Solar Eclipse Safely From Your Phone
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Windows 11 Tips and Hidden Features
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Vision Pro App Walkthrough -- VisionOS 1.0.3
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
Tips and Tricks for the Galaxy S24 Ultra
TikTok Is Now on the Apple Vision Pro