Nikon D610 [2023 Review]

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The Nikon D610 is a camera model manufactured by Nikon. It is a full-frame DSLR camera, which was released by Nikon on October 8, 2013.

It was an improvement of the Nikon D600, with increased shutter speed and a manual focus setting with better white balance.

The new shutter mode unit supports a quiet mode at three frames per second, with the normal continuous mode at six frames per second. The previous model, the 6300, had problems related to its shutter, so the improved features were good news for all photographers, filmmakers, and video enthusiasts.

Nikon D610 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR...
  • 24.3MP full frame CMOS sensor
  • 39 point AF system (9 cross type)
  • ISO 100 6400 expandable up to 25,600

Nikon D610 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR Camera

Nikon D610 24.3 MP CMOS FX-Format Digital SLR...

PROS

  • Great image quality
  • Precise autofocus system
  • Two video formats
  • Wi-Fi compatibility

CONS

  • Low-quality products
  • Dust-like splotches on the lens

Main Features

The Nikon D610 24.3 MP CMOS FX is characterized by the following features: 

ISO Range

All standard cameras have an ISO range of 200 to 1600, which is considered the normal range. You can say that the D610 has two ISO ranges, a normal one and an extended one. The normal one ranges from 100 to 6400, which is already way better than the standard ISO range, but the extended one ranges from an amazing 50 to 25,600, which is just mind-blowing.

With this range, you can take pictures at night or in extremely low lighting with great ease, even in conditions with low contrasting factors. With this camera, bad lighting conditions can no longer be an excuse for a bad photo.

Auto White-Balance System

Taking pictures or shooting videos in artificial lighting can be a challenge sometimes, especially if the lighting quality is not of high quality. It can make the photos look tacky or just weirdly colored, making the subject look like an alien.

But with the D610’s auto white-balance system, taking photos and videos in artificial lighting is a breeze, as it has been updated to produce more accurate color and realistic skin tones.

24.3 Megapixel FX-Format CMOS Sensor

Photos and videos of good quality need to be razor-sharp, where you can capture every detail at once. That is now possible with the D610’s 24.3-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor, which is the perfect feature for capturing high-quality photos and videos.

Along with that comes its wide dynamic range, high signal-to-noise ratio, and a long-range ISO that contributes to fantastic photos and videos, even in low contrast, low light, and high noise conditions.

Speed

The D610 comes with the EXPEED 3 Processing System, which manages all the data stored in the camera perfectly and saves and transfers it with remarkable speed. Plus, it loads all the menus and settings quickly, which is always good. It also enables up to a maximum of six frames per second for continuous shooting, with the minimum being three at full resolution in both FX and DX video formats.

Pros

Investing in the Nikon D610 will bring along the following benefits:

Great Image Quality

Photographers who require great high-resolution performance should definitely think about Nikon’s HD-SLRs with an FX-format. With improvements in comparison to the D600, the D610 has 24.3 megapixels FX-format CMOS Sensor and a high S/N ratio that captures each and every detail with pure sharpness and minimal noise through all the different ISO settings.

Low-light performance is amazing as well, as the normal ISO range is 100 to 6400, while the expanded range is from a whopping 50 to 25,600, leaving no detail in the dark. With the EXPEED 3 Processor System for maximum speed and accuracy, while taking photos, this is one for the win.

Precise Autofocus System

An important factor in taking and capturing sharp images is a fast and accurate autofocus system, and the model under review has one of the best ones ever created. It has 39 different focus points that offer wide-area AF coverage with virtually limitless compositional possibilities.

Plus, nine cross-hair sensors in the center promise amazing accuracy, even in bad lighting or a weak light source with low contrasting factors. Seven center focus points go up to f/8 for extended autofocus functionality with the use of teleconverters, or long-reach lenses.

You also have compositional freedom because you can choose between 9, 21, and 39 AF points. All of this, plus a scene recognition system with 3D tracking and an Autofocus Area, make it a great camera for sharp imagery.

Two Video Formats

Nikon has always been ahead in the game because of its high-quality products such as the HD-SLRs, and the D610 serve as the proof. With exceptional video quality that will bring all the filmmakers and film enthusiasts to the yard, you can shoot 1080p HD videos at different frame rates and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression.

Also, you can use super-smooth video playback with 720p HD at different frame rates for slowing down fast-moving objects or to capture slow-motion footage at the time of post-processing. Plus, the multi-area, full HD D-movies provide compositional freedom to choose FX and DX formats.

Wi-Fi Compatibility

This camera comes with an optional WU-1b wireless mobile adapter, which makes the transferring of photos from camera to laptop or camera to smartphone a whole lot easier. Plus, with the Wi-Fi compatibility, transferring and sharing photos has become easier.

Just connect the WU-1b wireless adapter and transfer the pictures to your laptop, smartphone, tablet, or any Wi-Fi compatible device to free up camera memory and safekeeping.

Then you can do so much with the photos, such as editing and uploading them to your social media accounts. Plus, with Nikon’s Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility, it is possible to control the D610 remotely. In addition, you can take photos and videos from your device.

Cons

The Nikon D610 also comes with the following drawbacks that you must know before you make a purchase.

Dust-Like Splotches on the Lens

While the D610 is an improvement to the D600, and was said to have left all of its weaknesses behind, that might not totally be the case. A lot of people who have bought this camera complained about consistent dust-like or oil splotch formation on the lenses that just won’t go away, and in some cases, these also affect the photo and video qualities.

Users complain that those splotches have been there since they bought and unboxed the camera, or developed after only a few months of use. Some say they have taken it to customer service to be solved, and had the shutter unit replaced multiple times, but they just keep on coming back, which is a nuisance, as this is supposed to be a very high-quality camera.

Low-Quality Products

Other than the persistent oil or dust splotches, people have also complained about ordering what they thought was a D610, but getting a D600 instead, which is weird considering you know your consumers are usually people who have been buying your products for a long time and will be able to tell the difference between one model from another.

Plus, people have complained about getting a low-quality camera that would not function well in the first place, and then stopped working completely after just a few months. They have complained to customer service about such things and hoped for a positive response, because if someone is out there selling counterfeit or low-quality cameras with the Nikon name on it, they should be stopped.

What is the Nikon D610 Best For?

Despite its cons, no one can deny that the Nikon D610 can come in handy in many situations. These include:

Photography

It is a great camera for taking photos because of its great range of features. With things such as 24.3 megapixels FX-format CMOS sensor, high S/N (signal-to-noise) ratio, wide dynamic range, and high ISO range capture everything you photograph in great detail with lifelike sharpness and low noise.

Plus, the ISO range makes for amazing low-light performance, with a normal range of 100 to 6400 and an extended range of 50 to 25,600. Also, with Nikon’s Intelligent Scene Recognition system and the updated auto white-balance system, you can shoot great photos, even in artificial lighting, with more accurate color reading and better, more realistic skin tones.

Video Recording

Filmmakers and film enthusiasts all over the world rejoice because this camera comes with great video recording and editing features, as well. Record and shoot 1080p HD quality videos with selectable frames of 30p, 25p, and 24p, along with MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression.

You can also playback videos at 720p HD with selectable frames of 60p, 50p, or 30p for super-smooth video playback or to create slow-motion footage. Also, you can view an uncompressed recording via HDMI out to an external recorder or view simultaneously on external monitors. The multi-area mode Full HD D-Movie gives you the freedom to choose FX or DX movie formats. 

What Do I Need To Know Before Buying?

Before you go ahead and purchase the D610, make sure you keep the following in mind:

Image Quality

Everyone wants a camera that will give good results, and no one wants to spend money on something that will become obsolete in a few months. So the Nikon D610 is a great option because it comes with a large range of features that can give excellent image quality. It may look like any other DSLR, but the photography results prove its capabilities.

Larger ISO Range

Standard ISO ranges are from 200 to 1600, which is good, but the greater the ISO range, the more photos you can take in bad or low lighting conditions. Nikon’s D610 boasts two ISO ranges, the normal one and the extended one.

The normal one is from 100 to 6400, which is great in itself, but the extended one is from 50 to 25600, which is just amazing. This is definitely a great factor for newbies and professionals alike.

Different User Modes

Lighting differs indoors and outdoors, with timing and weather conditions, etc. A good, quality camera facilitates this and knows that this occurs a lot, so it comes with different user modes, which can make taking photos or recording videos in different lighting a whole lot easier.

The D610 comes with two different user modes, U1 and U2, which make it easier to switch between indoor and outdoor lighting for great photos and videos.

People Also Ask

Now that we have written about the camera and discussed its amazing features and reasons you should think about buying it, it is time to answer some questions. People who buy a product of any sort have questions about it and generally may also be confused about things they read, so to help, we have answered a few common questions from people about the D610.

Is the Nikon D610 Full-Frame?

Yes. The Nikon D610 DSLR camera consists of a full-frame, FX-format 24.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, along with an EXPEED 3 Image Processor to give high-resolution still images. It also has a full HD 1080p video with detailed images and low-light sensitivity with a normal ISO of 100 to 6400, which is expandable from 50 to 25,600.

How Many Shutter Actuations in the Nikon D610?

Shutter life ratings can be different from camera to camera, with the standard range being 50,000 shots for entry-level models to 500,000 actuation for some professional cameras. For the D610, Nikon claims a shutter life expectancy of 150,000 actuations, which is quite impressive.

What Does “D” Mean in Nikon Cameras?

This is really a naming convention that has been adopted by all companies that manufacture DSLRs. D-SLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras, and as you can see, the “D” stands for Digital. This was first adopted by Canon, who used to make SLRs way before DSLRs came onto the market, so other companies such as Sigma and Nikon adopted this, as well.

Conclusion

The Nikon D610 is a great camera with a host of amazing features. It has the same features as the D600, with some additions for the sake of an improved model.

It has very high-quality features such as a 24.3MP CMOS sensor, a normal and extended ISO range, EXPEED 3 Processing System, HD video recording with two video formats, different user modes, Wi-Fi compatibility, Intelligent Scene Recognition System, and much more.

It is a vast improvement on the D600, with some of the same features but a few new ones, as well. Most customers who had used this camera liked its performance, with only a few problems with the quality of some pieces. Overall, it is a good camera for professionals and beginners alike.