The Nikon D610 ($1,999.95 direct, body only)($786.97 at Walmart) is a minor update to the company's first entry-level full-frame D-SLR, last year's D600. The only notable change is a new shutter that supports a slightly faster burst rate. In every other regard it's the same 24-megapixel camera that we reviewed last year. That's not a bad thing, and its asking price is a $100 lower than its predecessor, but that's not enough to make it our Editors' Choice for full-frame D-SLRs. That still belongs to the Canon EOS 6D($1,599.00 at Amazon), another entry-level body, but one with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS that is priced $100 less than the D610. Design and FeaturesAfter extended use many D600 shooters discovered that a higher-than-normal amount of dust spots showed up at the edges of the camera's image sensor, to the point where Nikon felt the need to issue a service advisory for the issue. Dust spots are something that owners of interchangeable lens cameras should be familiar with, but th...

The Nikon D610 is a very minor update to the D600; its burst rate is slightly faster, but otherwise it's the same camera.

Excellent high-ISO quality; Uncompressed 1080p workflow; 6.1fps shooting; 39-point AF system; Compact, full-frame body; Sharp rear display; Dual SD card slots

No GPS, Wi-Fi, or PC sync socket; Compressed control layout; Must initiate autofocus manually during video recording

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

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 Nikon D610 is a 'budget' full-frame DSLR, aimed at enthusiasts upgrading from mid-range models or pros looking for an affordable backup for a higher-end body. Announced in October 2013, it replaces the one-year-old D600 and like that model is positioned roughly between the full-frame D800 and...

24.3 Megapixel FX CMOS sensor; 39-point AF with 9 cross-type sensors; 6fps full-frame continuous shooting; Compatible with DX lenses; 1080p30 and uncompressed HDMI out; Built-in AF motor for non AF-S lenses; Sensor contamination fixed (anecdotal)

Resolution drops to 10.5 MPix with DX lenses; No exposure control during movie recording; Bracketing limited to 3 frames; Wifi and GPS are separate accessories

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...

If you scour the internet you will find a series of complaints about some Nikon D600 owners experiencing issues with oil on the camera's sensor. It's not an issue we had with our camera, but the sudden arrival of the D610, with only a modest bump in features, suggests that it's a solution to brush...

Excellent image quality; small and light for a full-frame camera; weather-sealed; fair price for full-frame DSLR body

AF point coverage is too centralised; little is new compared to D600; default JPEG processing can be a touch harsh

Features Handling Performance Verdict Specification The Nikon D610 is this years update to the Nikon D600 , shooting at 6fps, which is quicker than the 5.5fps of the D600, and features the same 24.3 megapixel full-frame sensor, full HD video recording, ISO50 to ISO25600, a large 3.2 inch screen, and...

Excellent image quality; Excellent noise performance; Auto shutter speed control for auto ISO; Wide-strap; 2 year warranty; Compact full-frame body; Headphone / Microphone socket; Quiet shutter mode / Mup function; Slightly improved continuous shooting speed; Printed manual

Price close to higher spec D800; AWB could be better under tungsten light; Competitors are cheaper

The Nikon D610 follows relatively quickly on from its predecessor, the Nikon D600, with good reason. Despite the Nikon D600 being the most affordable full-frame DSLR of all time on launch, it has its flaws, the most noticeable of which was that after a certain number of shutter actuations – around...

First-class handling; Great performance from the sensor; Impressive AF performance

No native Wi-Fi; Too closely-grouped AF points