D600...need I say more?

I wished there were more fonts to choose from, it is times like this that an extra special font is called upon.

Even though I cannot afford it, and I was truly saving for the D800E but the daunting task of saving up nearly $ 5,000 for that camera kit [body, extra battery, battery grip and other essential accessories that a growing photog needs] was causing great stress and anxiety.

Then Nikon came to the rescue!

The announcement of a new full frame alternative.  As I felt life would not be completed without a full frame sensor in my hands [knowing the prospects of owning a medium format digital unit was even more unlikely]  I had set my sights on the recently offered Nikon D800E.  

The D600 is a fair compromise, it's specs are well within the area of an upgrade to my aging stable of fine Nikon bodies [the very reliable D300 and the now seldom used D200, one of which will likely find its way to becoming a convert to full time IR....always a plan]

The recently purchase of the D7000 [while still a DX sized sensor its specs actually tested out as well as the D700 a full frame FX model on the DxOmark test site]   was a wise move, a cost effective but excellent performer as it has proven.  Light, very well equipped and handles well.  It's price point was a very good place too.  

The D600 shares many of the same accessories with the D7000, is based on the same frame, so it pushed the decision towards the D600 from the D800E.  The fact a fully equipped and accessorized D600 will come in at $ 2,600 Vs the nearly $ 5,000 I had priced out the D800E, made it even more the SMART decision.  Who needs 36MP anyway, isn't 24 enough?

PRE-ORDER is in, and if rumors are true, there will be a large initial fulfillment from Nikon, unlike the slow and painful issuance of the initial D800 when it came out.   

Why full frame you ask?  Well back when the smaller DSLR sensors first came out, we all marveled at the way we got a bigger reach from our lenses, suddenly our 50mm was more like a 75mm, and our 300mm became a 450mm, great for those long reach out and touch me times at sports, wildlife, the zoo, etc.  But when you really needed that wide angle and your 12 -24mm zoom was attached, it was not a 12-24mm it was really giving you a 18 - 36mm, good but not not good enough.  Well full frame will allow that 12 - 24mm to be just that, and that wonderful 35mm Zeiss lens, it will be 35mm.  And the super sharp 50mm lens you have sitting in your bag more than you like?  Pull that puppy out and have at it, you got the look and feel of human eye perspective back!  

With a DSLR stable of both DX and FX [terms used by Nikon to indicate the sensor size and relative to 35mm film impact with lenses, DX is 1.5X and FX is one to one] I can take advantge of each sensor size.  Need that extra reach use the DX body with a tele, and in those tight quarters, use the Full framed with wide angle lens.  Life will be getting better.  I know you are not defined by the equipment you use, but having the right tool for the right job, does allow for you to exercise the knowledge and skills you do have.  The limitations are then yours more than the equipment's.  You would not use a screw driver to hammer those nails in would you?  I just got me a hammer, and will not have to use my screwdriver to pound in nails any longer.

These are issues and considerations that exist in the digital world, that did not exist in the film world, at least not is such a defined manner.  Back when you could just use a great film, have a stellar piece of glass, it did not really matter what body you used, as long as it was light sealed, and would functionally advance the film, hold it flat and allow the lens to work and the shutter was accurate, you were in business.