Nikon to replace D600 with D610 – is it still the end for Nikon and DSLRs

Nikon confirmed in a short blog post Friday that it would be replacing its D600 with D610 DSLRs. Since the release of the company’s D600 cameras, numerous customers complained about various granular black spots that were reproduce on the images taken by the camera.

According to Engadget, Nikon tried to offer several remedies, including a solution to its sensor spotting problem by cleaning the sensors or sending them in for repair through its warranty. Sources say that the D600 had a few inherent problems and they were not just confined to the sensor dust. The dust accumulation, experts say, was due to the oil on the sensor, which Nikon confirmed but noted that it was only discovered in rare cases.

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However, after the potential class-action lawsuit, Nikon has decided to simply replace them – it was reported by Nikon Rumors that law firm Zimmerman Reed PLLP had filed a class action lawsuit in a California federal court on Feb. 19, 2014.

“Because Nikon takes this matter very seriously, we will continue to offer users of the D600 a special service with which cameras are inspected, cleaned, and if necessary, shutter and related components are replaced free of charge, even after the product warranty has expired,” Nikon said in its brief statement.

“However, if a number of multiple granular black spots are still noticeable in images captured with a D600 upon which the above service has been performed several times, Nikon will replace it with a new D600 or an equivalent model.”

Many blogs and customers seem satisfied with Nikon’s handling of the issue, though it did take the company a long period of time to fully remedy the matter. If anyone still experiences bugs and defects and the camera has been serviced then here is your opportunity to get a replacement. Once this has been completed, you can go back to your photography hobby.

Although DSLR sales have increased over the past year or two despite the rise of advanced camera phones, it has been projected by some experts that consumer DSLRs will be “dead in five years” because of smartphone cameras as well as a paucity of definitive innovative cameras being made available on the market.

“People value sharing their images more than image quality. Smartphones are the only camera to be constantly online. As phones the user feels compelled to carry them everywhere, all the time. Carrying a second device is inconvenient. It’s impossible for a camera to replace a phone but very practical for a phone to double as a small camera,” wrote Andrew Reid of EOS Hd.

“Image quality is now more than good enough for the vast majority of the general public. As a more demanding user even I’m impressed with what you can shoot with the iPhone 5S, like seamless 10K panoramas.”

The Financial Post published an in-depth piece late last year that argued the case that all camera makers will become “the next BlackBerry” and that companies like Canon and Nikon will perish in a few years.

“You’re talking about a 10-15% decline [in DSLR shipments] all over the world. Which is kind of shocking because that market’s been growing double digits for almost ten years,” said Christopher Chute, market intelligence firm IDC’s research director of worldwide digital imaging.

“They’re not going to be around in five years.”

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Nikon to replace D600 with D610 – is it still the end for Nikon and DSLRs