The D610 is the D600 for all photographic purposes. Image-quality is identical with very slightly improved AWB and speed. Truly, these changes are minimal. The D600 being an excellent DSLR, so is the D610 without a doubt. The Nikon D610 essentially replaces the D600 with an identical twin.

Class-leading image noise; Class-leading dynamic-range; Good color-accuracy after tweaking; Speedy autofocus; Generally fast and responsive; Ultra-short black-out; Flexible self-timer and exposure delay; Very sharp LCD; Highly customizable with plenty of controls; Dual memory cards can provide...

Under-exposure more frequent than usual; Light entering OVF skews metering; Increased softness at ISO 3200; Strong anti-alias filter; EC button placement not ideal; Indistinct ISO button; Poor Live-view; not Exposure-Priority; Bizarre Auto ISO; Exposure Delay mode hidden in menu; No 16:9 guidelines...

Specs wise, the D610 isn't as eye-popping as some of its full-frame counterparts, but don't let that deter you from this DSLR that shoots excellent stills and videos.

Superior full-frame stills; Quality Full HD videos; Good feel and response

Expensive; heavy – but totally expected; Specs not world-class; Onboard mono mic

By and large the Nikon D600 was warmly welcomed when it was announced in September 2012. It was designed to be the natural progression for DX format users wanting to dip their toes into FX (full-frame) photography and, as well as having a control layout that sits comfortably within Nikon's...

The Nikon D600 scored highly (84%) when we tested it last year (AP 13 October 2012), and I've been a big fan of it. However, the problem was that after around 3,000 shots some users started to experience dust/oil spots appearing in the upper-left portion of the frame.

The D610 has a compact size that belies the full-frame sensor it houses within. It's sturdy and comfortable to hold, and it packs the traditional controls and functions you're already used to if you're a Nikon user.

Full-frame sensor; Great low-light performance; Feels comfortable to use

Screen doesn't have a hinge; Some slight chromatic aberration

The Nikon D610 offers the same professional image quality that you'd find in a camera many times its price. For that reason alone, it's an excellent choice for those who need professional-quality images, but aren't quite ready to splurge on the more expensive options out there.

A good price puts professional image quality in reach for budget-conscious shooters

Battery life is below average

Reviewing the D610 is a challenge because it's essentially the same as the D600 with only a handful of improvements. Nikon introduced a new shutter mechanism with the D610 and with it came a slight boost in continuous shooting speed - 5.5 fps to 6 fps - and a new Quiet Continuous mode.

Outstanding high ISO performance in both JPEG and Raw files; High quality JPEG images at default settings; Wide dynamic range in Raw files; Consistently pleasing metering and white balance results; Solid build quality and weather-sealing; Responsive camera when adjusting settings and handling; Dual...

Small coverage area of AF array compared to its peers; Slow AF in live view and video modes; Rear LCD prone to glare in bright sunlight; No 'live' aperture control in live view or video mode; No histogram in live view; When shooting in live view; rear screen is blacked out until data is written to...

Nikon's D610 comes only 13 months after the D600 was launched and provides only three updated features: improved auto white balance, an upgraded shutter mechanism that boosts the continuous frame rate to six frames/second (vs 5.5 fps on the D600) and a new Quiet Continuous mode which shoots more...

The Nikon D610 is the camera last year's D600 was supposed to be, with a redesigned shutter mechanism that eliminates the dust-and-oil spot issue that plagued its predecessor. The new D610 keeps the affordable full-frame DSLR price point, as well as the excellent image quality, great ergonomics and...

Eliminated sensor dust-and-oil spot issue from D600; Great controls for amateur or pro; Comfortable ergonomics and weight; Excellent image quality and low-light performance; Very good dynamic range; Excellent battery life; Built-in lens correction, Dust/oil on sensor problem from D600 fixed with...

Not drastically different from D600; Moire with certain subjects; Auto WB still too warm in incandescent light; Slow AF in live view mode; Aliasing in videos, Main point of this upgrade is to fix problem on previous model; few added features are just minor tweaks, Second function button oddly...

As I have pointed out in the beginning of this review, the Nikon D610 is what the D600 should have been when it was initially launched. Without fully acknowledging the dust issue on the D600, Nikon released the D610 as if it was a whole different camera.