Nikon D600; Initial Thoughts

So I decided to upgrade from my Nikon D7000 to a Nikon D600. I blogged previously while I was thinking about getting an Olympus OM-D. As my obsessive personality requires, I did a good amount of research regarding the D600 before making my purchase. I'll go through what I've seen so far and what led to my decision. It should be noted that just because I decided to upgrade from the D7000 to the D600 doesn't mean that it's the correct decision for everybody.

On the surface the camera's look pretty similar. Even when you dig into some of the specs you find a lot of similarities. They both look and feel pretty similar with similar button functions and placement. Although I immediately noticed that the [Zoom - / Qual] button and [Zoom + / ISO] button were inexplicably reversed. So every time I was reviewing an image and wanted to zoom in or out I was always pressing the wrong button. And if I tried to change the ISO, yep, always pressed the wrong button. I'm sure I'll get over it.

On with other specs.. They both have dual card slots and share the 39 pt AF system. But the real reason you buy the D600 is for the sensor. My first trek out with the D600 was our local zoo which was a dark and cloudy day. It was actually a trip with my wife and son, but I just couldn't resist testing out the new camera. I have to say I'm speechless at the high ISO capability. I've gone from the D50 to the D40x then D90, D7000 and now D600 and I've never been so impressed. (The jump from the D40x to the D90 was very impressive). In the past there was a scale on when you'd be willing to use your higher ISO. So like if you were shooting a common species you'd be willing to go to maybe 800 ISO, beyond that, you'd probably just be better off waiting for better light. But if it was it was a rare species then you didn't care, anything to get a shot for the archive... crank that thing up to 6400 ISO... Never post it online and make sure you view it with the door closed so nobody else will ever see it.

But this is different. I shot a few at 3200 ISO and then 6400. I even accidentally shot at Hi + 0.3 which is ISO 8063. I couldn't believe it, color and detail looked very good. The D600 slides up the ISO chart smoothly with very impressive results. Here is the full image and a couple of crops @ 100% (Forgive the shot... it was through a mesh net..)

Nikon D600 w/ 70-300VR @ 180mm, f/5.6, 1/50 sec (handheld) ISO 8063

ISO 8063 @ 100%

ISO 8063 @ 100%

I'll have a chance to give the camera a real workout with a couple of months when I travel to Yosemite National Park in April. So you can be sure that I'll share my experiences here.

I think I'll just leave it at that for now. People might be thinking about switching to FX from the D7000. But now with the announcement of the D7100, there are going to be even more comparisons to come. Hopefully I'll get my hands on a D7100 for a direct comparison.

Stay tuned!

Minnesota Loon

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, f6.3, ISO 400, 1/2000

I took a quick break while fishing in central Minnesota last week. Every time I go fishing loons seemly circle boat. On this fishing trip I had my camera next to me in the boat hoping for a close encounter with a loon. I thought this would be an easy shoot, but once again I was wrong. Every time I pointed my camera at a loon it would dive down and emerge 100 feet away. I managed to snap off a few quick frames before this once dove under the water.

Photo of the Week! Three Sisters pt.II

Nikon D7000, 12-24mm, ISO 100, f16, 1/4

Here is the "other side" of my last post of the Three Sisters. This area of northern Minnesota is simply beautiful anytime of the year. This trip was before all of the snow had fully melted and before there were leaves on the trees. I usually make my trip to the north shore in the fall during peak colors, but I'm glad I was able to make an early trip. 

Photo of the Week! Three Sister's

Nikon D7000, 12-24mm @12mm, ISO 100, f16, 1/8

My buddy James was walking around this area while I was shooting the moving water in the back ground. Once I was finished with what I was doing I saw this clump of trees leaving over the rock. It was much more difficult it find a good angle and get a shot of this scene than I had expected. Stay tuned for next weeks Photo of the Week where I did an 180 degree turn of this same area! 

Photo of the Week! Follow the Rainbow

Nikon D7000, 12-24mm @20mm, f16, ISO 100, 1/15

Here is my second photo from my trip to Minnesota's north shore. This photo is from my favorite State Park, Cascade River. This is the main falls for the park. It's extremely close to the camp ground (300 yards). The park system has built areas for visitors to sit and relax.

Photo of the Week! Gooseberry Falls State Park, MN

Nikon D7000, 12-24mm @14mm, ISO 100, F22, 1/5

I finally was able to get out and shoot last week! If has been an extremely slow 2012 photography wise thus far. So when a co-worker of mine wanted to hit up the north shore of Minnesota I couldn't resist. We packed up there car at O'dark 30 and hit the road. We started at Cascade River State Park before making our last stop here at Gooseberry State Park. Both Cascade and Gooseberry are among my favorite state parks to photograph! 

Photo of the Week! Prepare for Flight

Nikon D90, 150-500mm @500mm, ISO 500, f7.1, 1/1250

Keeping up with my Trumpeter Swan theme this week; I made this image in Monticello, Minnesota where the swans congregation by the hundreds each winter. There is a power plant up river keeping the water mostly free of ice. Early mornings are my favorite time of day to photograph swans because of the added fog/mist from the warm water. This is a double edge sword however, the air temp is often below zero.

Favorite Photo of 2011 by Chad Griggs

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS @ ISO 500, f/7.1, 1/2500

Oh it's that time of year again and this time the choice was fairly easy one. The Common Loon is Minnesota's official state bird and I always wanted to get a good photograph of one. Finding a Loon in Minnesota is not the issue. They can be found on most of Minnesota's 10,000+ lakes. The issue isn't even approaching them (for the most part). Loons in Minnesota are not nearly as skittish as many ducks such as the Ring-necked Duck. The tricky part is getting them in that perfect environment for the photo.

The light has to be at the correct angle to show details in their black feathers, but not too bright to over expose their white feathers. An ideal Loon photo for me also requires calm glassy water and of course a clean background. And if you add in some Loon behavior..? Oh my! This is the photo of the year, and I knew it right away!

More information about this photo

Favorite Photo of 2011 by Derek Griggs

Gooseberry Falls State Park, Minnesota

 Nikon D7000, 24mm, f13, ISO 200, 2 seconds

Choosing just one photo this year proved to be more difficult than I expected. Maybe it was because last year I had a clear favorite? Or I took better photos? I'm not sure. I can say that I had a great year of photography. It started with picking up a new camera (Nikon D7000). No, its not a pro camera body, however, It does produce excellent photos. My very first outing with it was at the Minneapolis Auto Show. Then it's true test came when I was visiting Pensacola, Florida. I was extremely impressed with the cameras speed and auto focus. The rest is history

Back in August, I headed north from my home to Gooseberry State Park in northern Minnesota. Gooseberry was my last stop on a one day adventure. As I arrived the clouds rolled in and harsh light was gone. As I was making my way down to the falls and passed a professional Canon photographer that was talking with several people. As I passed him he gave me a look like that I didn't know what I was doing as to say all the "good light" was gone. Well, it wasn't. I took my time moving around the falls to an area that I was alone. After some minor rock climbing and walking across rocks so my feet wouldn't get wet I arrived at this location. Then made my way to a small sand bar to set up my tripod.

On my trek back home all I could think about was how the images looked on the back on my camera. As soon as I got home I ran upstairs and started downloading the photos. I started processing an image without the log. Once I finished it, there was something missing, so moved onto the photo with the log. As I completed it, I knew that my long day trip was worth it!

I can't wait to see what 2012 brings! I'm hopeful that I can make it out to Yellowstone again this time for a spring trip among others. Have a great 2012!

Photo of the Week! White-tail Deer

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS @ ISO 800 f/5.6, 1/400

I photographed this white-tail deer recently at a local park. Derek and I were in search for some big bucks, but this opportunity presented itself.

Photo of the Week! A Loon with Open Wings!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS @ ISO 500, f/7.1, 1/2500

A symbol of Minnesota and one of the prettiest birds you'll see, graced me with this beautiful photo opportunity this weekend. This photograph was taken in north western Minnesota on a calm summer evening.

The hardest part of photographing loons has been find them when the environment was just right and the environment was just right last weekend. I'm talking about a nice low sun angle, calm water, a clean background not to mention a cooperative loon.

With all of the elements in place I slowly approached this loon from my fishing boat. I used my trolling motor which I operated by remote control. Once the boat was in position with the sun to my bad I fired away with my camera lens resting on the calm edge of the boat.

Now if that was the end I would have been excited with an amazing experience and photographs but that wasn't it. The loon suddenly leaned back and stretched his wings and I let loose another burst of shots. I knew immediately that the focus and exposure were dead on and I was ecstatic!

Photo of the Week! Gull Gone Fishin'

Nikon D90, Sigma 150-500 OS, ISO 320, f/8, 1/1600

With all of the fishing Derek have been doing ourselves lately, this only seemed fitting. This Ring-billed Gull doesn't need a pole, lures or hooks though.

Photo of the Week! Bear Head State Park

Nikon D90, Lensbaby Composer, f/4, ISO 400

While camping in Northern Minnesota at Bear Head State Park I came across this scene near my campsite. I love northern Minnesota for beautiful landscape like this. I hope to make it up there again soon!

Photo of the Day! Grasshopper Sparrow

Nikon D90, Sigma 150-500mm OS, ISO 400, f6.3, 1/2500

Last summer, I was in Chad's neck of the woods looking for Indigo Buntings. Let's just say they weren't as cooperative as I had hoped. However, the I found a Grasshopper Sparrow that was willing to play along . He didn't sit still very long, but it was long enough.

Photo of the Day! Loon!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS, SB-600 fill flash @ ISO 800, f/6 1/640.

This was from yesterday. Derek and I spent the day fishing, but of course, I had to bring my camera. Although I spent very little time photographing we were greeted at our fishing hole by this guy. He was not afraid of the boat at all so I just had to fire a few off.

Photo of the Day! Gooseberry Falls!

Nikon D7000, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 @ 38mm, ISO 100, remote shutter, 3 shot HDR

This is from a couple of weeks ago at Gooseberry Falls State Park in Minnesota.

Photo of the Day! Fishing at Gooseberry Falls..

Nikon D7000, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 @ 27mm, ISO 100, f/16, 0.2 sec

This fisherman braved the rain and cold in pursuit of the elusive trout. Fishing at a scene like this, catching fish probably isn't even that important.

Photo of the Day! Common Loon!

Nikon D90, Nikkor 300mm f/4 AFS + TC 14E II @ f/7.1, ISO 720, 1/1000

Finally, open water, warm weather and to prove it, the common loon has returned to Minnesota! Summer here we come!

Mother's Day Photo of the Day!

Nikon D90, Nikkor 20mm f2.8, ISO 200, f4, 1/1600

This is one of our Mom's favorite photos taken in 2009 when I was doing a 100 Photos in 100 Days project. Part of the project was to make photos near my house. This was taken while I was walking my dog just a couple of blocks from home. Again this week, I have been looking close to home for subjects to photograph. I have had some good luck so far!

Photo of the Day! Tree Swallow!

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS @ ISO 320, f/5.6, 1/800

This was from this week while photographing bluebirds. The tree swallows made it a point to harass the bluebirds and their nest boxes whenever possible. The bluebirds were vigilante though and fearlessly chanced them away each time. This tree swallow was much more relaxed soaking up some sun.