Canon EOS 1D X vs Nikon D600 — Which Is Better?

The Canon EOS 1D X and the Nikon D600 are both full frame DSLRs for very different shooting days. The 1D X arrived in 2011 larger and heavier, and the D600 followed in 2012 smaller and lighter.

For travel and long handheld days, the D600 is the practical pick. It measures 141 x 113 x 82 mm and weighs 850 g, against 158 x 164 x 83 mm and 1530 g for the larger 1D X.

The Nikon D600 is the better choice for cropping room and large prints. Its 24.3 megapixel sensor gives 6.2 more megapixels than the 18.1 megapixel EOS 1D X, roughly a third more pixels for landscape detail and reframing.

The 1D X is the stronger action pick, shooting at up to 14 frames per second against the D600's 5.5. Its 61 autofocus points outnumber the D600's 39, and its 1/8000 second shutter allows wider apertures in bright light against the D600's 1/4000. Lenses stay with each system, Canon EF or Nikon F FX, and both use pentaprism viewfinders without in-body stabilisation.

Both record Full HD video and write MOV files, so neither offers 4K. The Canon EOS 1D X is the better motion camera, recording at up to 60 frames per second, double the D600's 30. That allows smoother action footage and half-speed slow motion in editing.

The D600 answers with a built-in timelapse function, so you can shoot interval sequences without an external intervalometer. If time-lapse work is part of your plan, that convenience matters more than the frame rate gap.

The Nikon D600 has a built-in pop-up flash, useful for fill light on portraits or close subjects when travelling light. The 1D X has no internal flash, though both accept external flash units.

The 1D X's rear screen shows finer detail, with 1,040,000 dots against 921,000 on the D600, though both measure 3.2 inches. Both offer weather sealing, WiFi image transfer, live view and external flash support. Neither camera has GPS, a touchscreen or an articulating screen.

The D600 records to SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, while the 1D X takes CompactFlash. Both have dual card slots for separating file types or keeping overflow space on a long shoot.

The two take different batteries, LP-E4N for the Canon and EN-EL15 for the Nikon, so spares do not interchange. The D600's battery is rated at 900 shots. Neither charges over USB, so carry a mains charger.