Nikon D600 vs Canon 5D Mark-ii – Which one to buy?

I personally dont see the big deal on the D600.

if I wanted a budget FF, the 5Dc is right there for 1/3 the price of the II or D600 and IMO performs perfectly, hell I've been tempted to downgrade from the II several times now.

I tried my friends D7000 and D700 and not digging the body and UI so I'm totally staying with Canon.

AlanU wrote in post #14986941
I'd go for a D600 and shoot portraits with an 85mm f/1.2....oh ...............nikon fails since they dont have one :P

Seriously I'd go for a d800 if I was jumping in the nikon camp.

I pulled out my 85 1.2 in class today and a couple of my fellow classmates who are nikon shooters were shocked, saying "I've never seen that before!"

Anyway OP - I'd wait a bit. The D600 was JUST announced, give it time to breath and prove itself (or not) while reviewers get their hands on them. The 5D2 is still a great camera. If you have invested a lot in canon glass, then I wouldn't jump ship myself. I'd wait to see what Canon might come up with to counter this body.

Just because Nikon has been "first" lately in being the one to announce new bodies and Canon following a month or two later, doesn't mean Canon is slow or not paying attention to the missing niche's in their equipment. I think its smart what Canon is doing, actually. They wait to see what Nikon will be producing, and then they come up with something better, or cheaper than the D600 pricetag.

Christina.DazzleByDesi​gn wrote in post #14987058
I pulled out my 85 1.2 in class today and a couple of my fellow classmates who are nikon shooters were shocked, saying "I've never seen that before!"

Anyway OP - I'd wait a bit. The D600 was JUST announced, give it time to breath and prove itself (or not) while reviewers get their hands on them. The 5D2 is still a great camera. If you have invested a lot in canon glass, then I wouldn't jump ship myself. I'd wait to see what Canon might come up with to counter this body.

Just because Nikon has been "first" lately in being the one to announce new bodies and Canon following a month or two later, doesn't mean Canon is slow or not paying attention to the missing niche's in their equipment. I think its smart what Canon is doing, actually. They wait to see what Nikon will be producing, and then they come up with something better, or cheaper than the D600 pricetag.

This is called following, not innovating. The problem with waiting is that these projects are in the pipe for a lot longer than a couple of months. They aren't really responding, they have an idea what Nikon will do and they plan around that but if what Nikon releases is somehow different than what they though it would be, it's not like Canon can put on a full stop and start designing a response that gets released in a few months.

AlanU wrote in post #14986941
I'd go for a D600 and shoot portraits with an 85mm f/1.2....oh ...............nikon fails since they dont have one :P

Seriously I'd go for a d800 if I was jumping in the nikon camp.

This.

Comparing it to a Canon camera that is now a generation old doesn't make it sound that great does it?

Edit, bodies come and go. The investment is in the lenses. I'd consider switching to a D800 or something for certain applications but then with the investment I'd need to make in lenses I might as well just get a used MF setup.

Got a kick out of that article:

"though the real competitor of the D600 would be the awaited Canon6D(replacement for 5DMark-ii), which comes out later this year, so watch out this space for more."

I thought the 5D Mark iii was the replacement for the 5D Mark ii.

Copidosoma wrote in post #14987168
Got a kick out of that article:

"though the real competitor of the D600 would be the awaited Canon6D(replacement for 5DMark-ii), which comes out later this year, so watch out this space for more."

I thought the 5D Mark iii was the replacement for the 5D Mark ii.

The 5D2 has not been replaced...it is still selling.

aximrocks wrote in post #14986838
well, D600 is a even better camera at almost the same price of 5D2. I can't see why buying 5D2 unless you already have invested in Canon glass.

Yup. I second this. There is no point buying a 5D2 if u don't have any canon stuff already. That said, if u already had canon lenses, little bit more would get you a 5D3

I'd have to say Canon all the way, because none of my lenses would fit the Nikon haha

aximrocks wrote in post #14986743
why would one want a 4 year old 5D2?!

This ^

Unless you already invested into a ton of Canon gear, I'd get that D600. I like the fact that it has a 24mp sensor. Not too much (D800) and not too little (D700)

iLvision wrote in post #14987255
This ^

Unless you already invested into a ton of Canon gear, I'd get that D600. I like the fact that it has a 24mp sensor. Not too much (D800) and not too little (D700)

I would agree. I think it will sell very well for them.

if you have a lot invested in canon glass i would hold out to see what canon would do.

if youre new to buying one or just got junk cheap lenses and not too invested and want FF now i would say D600 all the way. i have no idea why you would even compare the 5d2 to the D600. given they are close in price the 5d2 clearly loses in every way.

as far as UI and buttons and controls you really just have to use it to get used to it. everyone here is a canon shooter and likes canon layout bc theyre used to it. i shoot both and can use both pretty easily and both make sense to me. i shot canon first and was the same way thinking nikon cameras are just crazy and confusing. not so much anymore

lately ive been shooting nikon more and when i pick up my 5d3 i get confused for a moment. i always try to hit erase twice to delete a picture... clearly that doesnt work with canon.

aximrocks wrote in post #14986838
well, D600 is a even better camera at almost the same price of 5D2. I can't see why buying 5D2 unless you already have invested in Canon glass.

Yup. I second this. There is no point buying a 5D2 if u don't have any canon stuff already. That said, if u already had canon lenses, little bit more would get you a 5D3

aximrocks wrote in post #14986743
why would one want a 4 year old 5D2?!

If "age" of the body were benchmark, this thread woudn't be in top page everyday..
https://photography-on-the.net …ad.php?t=115999​0&page=192

A person who eyeing for FF camera, would end up 30-40% money on body and 60-70% money on glass . Nikon is luring with cheaper body price to sell expensive glass where markups are high .

No doubt the D600 will be great but I wouldnt rush in until the first batch rolls out. From my understanding, unlike the d800 and d7000, the sensor for the d600 is made in house and not by Sony. Also... The first batches of the 7000 and the 800 had the boards lit up with sensor stains (d7000) and focus issues (left focus issue of the d800).

Again, I'm sure the new Nikon will be great, but I would hold off just a little until some of bugs have been worked out.

Don't base your decision on spec-sheets or forum measurebating. Base it on your use and situation. I think the D600 is a good camera for the enthusiast who are looking to get into FF. It is more modern. Has some good features.

Having said that, it is based off on the ergonomically challenged D7000. Modern Nikons seem to lost its touch when it comes to ease of use.
Missing fast shutter speed will deter those with fast lenses wanting to shoot in bright daylight. It can go only as low as ISO100. 5d2 does it at ISO 50 with 1/8000th speed. It may or may not be important. It is for me as I have some fast lenses that I want to shoot wide open during the day.
Don't let the d7k 39-pt AF marketing speak makes you think it has more AF therefore it is better. Based on a cropped body, the AF points will cluster around the centre. Rendering it as mostly a center-focus recompose camera.... like the 5d2.
Seeing the amount of issues with the D800, even Nikon fans easing the "Buy" button.
Lastly as most has wisely commented, dslr is not a smartphone. If you are invested in gear it is a pain to switch back and forth. I rather spend the effort in taking pictures.