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Nikon to replace some defective 'dust spot' D600s with brand new cameras
After offering up several solutions to a sensor spotting problem on its full-frame D600 DSLR -- with limited success -- Nikon has now said that it will replace any defective cameras that can't be repaired. When reports of the oil and dust spots first cropped up, Nikon suggested that photographers clean the sensors themselves or send them for cleaning under warranty. However, when some users found that the shutter was ejecting difficult-to-clean oil on the sensor, it began to offer free shutter mechanism replacements. Recently, some owners also reported that they were sent brand new Nikon D600s and even newer D610's instead of a repair. Nikon has now admitted as much in a letter of apology, and said it will continue to repair or replace the model as needed, even out of warranty. It may also explain why it brought the very similar D610 to market so quickly.
Nikon's full-frame D610 DSLR is a minor step up from the D600, we go hands-on
It's been just over a year since Nikon announced the D600. The company's compact full-frame camera delivered a ton of power for $2,100, and it's still a top option for photographers looking for a new DSLR. Still, for one reason or another, Nikon's figured it's time to refresh its high-end body, with the nearly identical D610. There's still a 24.3-megapixel FX sensor, an EXPEED 3 processor, a 25,600 top ISO, dual SD card slot, 39-point autofocus and a 921k-dot 3.2-inch LCD. The improvements, while relatively minor for most users, may be fairly significant for certain professionals. The most appealing addition is a quiet continuous mode. After activating it by selecting Qc on the mode sub dial, you'll be able to shoot at up to 3 fps with limited mechanical noise. Additionally, the traditional continuous mode has been boosted from 5.5 fps to 6. There are minor white balance improvements with the D610, too, enabling improved skin tone reproduction when shooting in artificial light. We spent a few minutes with the D610 body, but Nikon reps didn't permit us to power on the unit. Unfortunately that means we were unable to evaluate the new quiet continuous mode -- pros that plan to shoot with this setting regularly, be it at a wedding or on a movie set, should definitely test Qc out in a store before ordering this slightly tweaked model. The housing and control placement is identical here, with the exception of the Qc offering on the sub mode dial. You also have an identical set of ports available -- there's still no built-in WiFi, so if you have a $60 WU-1b wireless adapter hanging around, you'll be able to use it to get connected here, too. The Nikon D610 will be available later this month for $2,000 (body only), $2,600 with a 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, $3,050 with a 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lens or $3,250 with the 24-85, a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6, WU-1b, a bag and a 32GB SD card.
Velocity Micro unveils tiny Edge Mini desktop, Cruz D610 and Q610 tablets
Velocity Micro was busy this December, and it's not about to let up with CES right around the corner. At the forefront of its Las Vegas launches is the Edge Mini. While we're sure some companies might take issue with the PC builder's claims of having the world's smallest desktop, there's no denying that the extra-small Edge's 4 square inches of surface area and 1.5-inch thickness let it slot easily into a home theater. A Core i3 won't make the Edge Mini the most powerful tiny desktop, either, although its $499 asking price may not be an obstacle for those willing to buy the PC when it ships next week. The tablet crowd also gets its fill with a pair of 10-inch Cruz tablets (pictured after the break). The D610 and Q610 respectively use dual- and quad-core, 1.5GHz Allwinner processors that help keep the starting price down to $199, a company spokesperson tells us. Velocity Micro expects both Cruz models to ship toward the end of March with Android 4.1 inside. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
