• 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 24.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 20.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 16,000

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Differences

Nikon D600 advantages over Sony A58

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Larger sensor
    35mm vs APS-C
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 5.97 vs 4.31 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.30 vs 1.9 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Higher effective ISO
    2,980 vs 753 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.2 vs 12.5 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 900 vs 700 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • More cross-type AF points
    9 vs 3
    Cross-type AF points improve autofocus performance
  • Higher-res screen
    307k vs 154k pixels
    More detail on the screen lets you judge focus and composition
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.70x vs 0.57x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    24.3 vs 20.1 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Dual card slots
    Yes vs No
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • More AF points
    39 vs 15
    More AF points improve autofocus
  • Headphone jack
    Yes vs No
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    5.4 fps vs 4.9 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Bigger JPEG buffer
    28 vs 8 shots
    Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    5.4 fps vs 4.8 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    14 vs 6 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 16000 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Sony A58 advantages over Nikon D600

  • Less expensive
    $600 vs $2700 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • Lighter weight
    731g vs 1350g
    Lighter weight
  • Less shutter lag
    0.13 vs 0.26 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Neither provide
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Slow-motion videos
    Neither provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

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Review Excerpt

  • Great controls for amateur or pro; Good grip and heft; Impressive low-light performance; Very good dynamic range; Excellent battery life; Built-in lens correction.

  • Dust and oil spatter problem; Moire problem with certain subjects; Slower X-sync speed; Slow AF in Live view mode; Aliasing in videos.

  • Improved 20.1-megapixel resolution; Impressive image quality, especially for its price; Fast and decisive autofocus (in most conditions); Very good battery life; Good video quality (Full HD 1080p, though it doesn't support 60p frame rate).

  • Plastic lens mount; Slower burst mode speeds and shallower buffer than A57; LCD no longer fully articulating; Mediocre kit lens; Electronic instead of an optical viewfinder may be a turnoff for some.

The Competition

Compared to Pentax K-5 IIs

Nikon D600
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A58
Pentax K-5 IIs
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Less expensive
  • Focus peaking
  • $497
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Canon 6D

Nikon D600
Canon 6D
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Built-in GPS
Sony A58
Canon 6D
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Canon T5i

Nikon D600
Canon T5i
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • Larger sensor
  • Bigger pixels
  • $539
  • APS-C
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Touchscreen
Sony A58
Canon T5i
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $539
  • APS-C
  • Lens selection
  • Tilt-swivel screen

Compared to Nikon D610

Nikon D600
Nikon D610
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • $1597
  • 35mm
  • Faster RAW shooting
Sony A58
Nikon D610
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1597
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compared to Nikon D750

Nikon D600
Nikon D750
  • $1900
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • $1698
  • 35mm
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Sony A58
Nikon D750
  • $598
  • APS-C
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1698
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor
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