Before New Year’s, I had a chance to try out the Nikon D600 and 24-85G VR lens in Big Bear, California to capture winter outdoor photographs. I was very pleased with the capabilities of camera and lens. In particular, the D600′s dynamic range and color vibrancy along with the 24-85G’s sharpness, especially at smaller apertures, where I photographed most of these at f/16, made for a very nice light combo while hiking out in the snow.

Eduardo Suastegui is a fine-art, outdoors photographer who also serves the Los Angeles, California area with his wedding photography.

A photographer sometimes has to work fast, as in this portrait session in the midst of short-lived snow fall. We didn’t have much time to catch the fleeting snow flakes, but we managed to catch some fun shots while it lasted.

Eduardo Suastegui is a portrait and wedding photographer serving the Los Angeles, CA with his own brand of story-telling.

I’ll say this up front: if you picked up a Nikkor 24-85 f3.5-4.5G VR lens with one of the D600 deals, do yourself a favor and try it in everyday shooting before you sell it. There seems to be a widely spread belief, which I briefly bought into, that this lens is not worth the bother. I was all set to sell it, when, on a whim, I decided to take it for a spin on my D600. All I have to say is, wow, nice little lens. Not perfect, but it has a lot going for it, mostly tack sharp output, even wide open.

After using it for one day, I’m scratching my head as to why people seem so lukewarm to down on this lens. Is it the strong chromatic aberration or distortion, both easily corrected in-camera or in post processing (with a click in Lightroom)? Is it that it’s not f2.8, in a kit lens? Is it that it’s not as long as the 24-120?

Well, yes, it’s a kit lens, not built like a tank, which makes it light and compact, ideal as a walk-about and travel lens. It’s not super fast, but at just 1/3 less stop than the 24-120 on the long end and faster than it on the wide end, I’m just saying “bump the ISO if you have to, use VR for hand-held, and you have a virtual f4 lens here.”

It’s a compromise lens, no doubt. But all of them are: the 24-70 is f2.8, but has no VR and a short range, while the 24-120 is plenty long, but not f4, while weighing nearly as much as the 24-70 (okay, it’s lighter, but pretty heavy for walk-about use), and it has its own set of optical faults. As an everyday lens the 24-85 is hard to beat, and just eyeballing it’s output, it’s giving me images sharper than I ever got with my 16-85 on a DX body. I’d say the level of detail and sharpness is on par with the 24-120, which in my experience is very good indeed.

Here are some of the shots I took yesterday with the Nikon D600 and the Nikkor 24-85G. Actually, 2 of the shots were taken with a different lens, and I’ll let you guess which ones they are.

Eduardo Suastegui serves the Los Angeles, California are with story-telling wedding and event photography.

Story-telling photography often conveys key details. This year, as I put my new D600 to good use, I am seeking out those nice Christmas details that help tell the story of how we celebrate this joyful season.

Eduardo Suastegui serves in Los Angeles, CA area with his fine art and wedding photography.

Opinions abound as to what makes a professional camera. Since Nikon doesn’t call the D600 a pro camera, is it up to the job? Can it do weddings?

Some might disdain the D600′s 39-point AF system, or it’s less than full magnesium body, or perhaps it’s less than pro controls. Others might like the light and compact body, and count the dual card slots in backup mode as essential redundancy to safeguard critical once in a lifetime images. However you look at the camera, for me the bottom line comes to image quality, and so far, the D600 is delivering solid results for me.

Ryan Brenizer, one of my favorite wedding photographers, has shared his Nikon D600 Review, giving his hands-on, on-the-job impressions. See what he has to say on this topic.

Eduardo Suastegui is a fine art and wedding photographer serving the Los Angeles, California area.

Over the last 3 weeks I had the chance to join and photograph my church‘s choir as we prepared and performed our annual Christmas concert. Here are some of my favorite moments.

Technical details: these photos were captured with the Nikon D600, using four lenses — Nikkor 24-120 f4, Sigma 50 f1.4, Nikkor 85 f1.4D, and Nikkor 135 f2.0DC.

Eduardo Suastegui serves the Los Angeles area with his event and wedding photography.