Targeted to enthusiasts and pros, the new Nikon D610 has a 24.3-megapixel full-frame sensor, plenty of response, and almost all the bells-and-whistles Nikon can cram into a DSLR. It's not exactly a bargain – around $2,500 for a solid kit – so let's see if it's worth dipping into your savings account...

Superior full-frame stills; Quality Full HD videos; Good feel and response

Expensive; heavy – but totally expected; Specs not world-class; Onboard mono mic

When we reviewed Nikon's D600 DSLR , we said it was a "powerful and very high quality pro-level DSLR with a smaller body and price tag that may appeal to wider range of photographers. It brings professional quality at a more affordable price." Today Nikon announced the D600's successor, the D610.

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

The D610 has a compact size that belies the full-frame sensor it houses within. It's sturdy and comfortable to hold, and it packs the traditional...

Full-frame sensor; Great low-light performance; Feels comfortable to use

Screen doesn't have a hinge; Some slight chromatic aberration

Can Nikon put a foot wrong in the D-SLR business at the moment? We're not so much talking about a renaissance any more as a belle epoch. The list of recent home runs is truly impressive – D4, D800/800E, D3200 and now the D600 (with, we're reliably informed, more to come).

Though competition's increasing for low-end full-frame cameras, the Nikon D610 holds its own; that said, while slightly faster than its predecessor it's not a whole lot different.

The Nikon D610 continues the D600's tradition of a great set of shooting features; comfortable and intelligent design; and excellent photo quality and performance

Photos still display some unrecoverable clipping in the highlights that you don't expect in a camera of its caliber; and unlike the overhauled D5300; the D610 requires an extra-cost Wi-Fi dongle for connectivity

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...

With the introduction of the D600, Nikon made a full-frame DSLR more accessible than ever before. The D600 was an extremely popular camera, but it had one fatal flaw, a shutter mechanism that became known for shedding particles, dust and oil on the sensor.

This is an excellent camera, arguably offering more bang-for-your-buck than any other full-frame DSLR. It doesn't have the image resolution of the D800, but it has more manageable file sizes, a faster shooting speed and two custom user modes.

The D610 has a compact size that belies the full-frame sensor it houses within. It's sturdy and comfortable to hold, and it packs the traditional controls and functions you're already used to if you're a Nikon user.

Full-frame sensor; Great low-light performance; Feels comfortable to use

Screen doesn't have a hinge; Some slight chromatic aberration