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We clicked with:
With so much to pick from, here's some highlights:
High ISO performance and image quality
Fast - From start up to continuous shooting 5fps and autofocus
51 point autofocus system with focus tracking
Shots in the dark:
There's not much to dislike, but to be picky:
Anti-dust system could be better
Occasional slight white balance inconsistencies
Occasional over-exposure issues
No in-camera vibration reduction
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The Nikon D700 doesn't so much as fill a gap in the market; it tears itself a whole new gap that it, and it alone, looks to fill. The D700 leans towards the higher end of the market, and - considering the full frame Nikon FX sensor - may well be the most viable pro-spec DSLR at a price point to undercut the bigger contenders. So what's the fuss all about…
Body
Nikon has been kicking up a storm of late with some exceptional DSLR cameras. The top-end pro spec Nikon D3, and mid-to-high-end prosumer Nikon D300 are both renowned for low-noise, high quality images that kick previous quality to the kerb (in DSLR terms at least) and positively shake a leg at it. The Nikon D700 cherry picks the best bits from both and manages to successfully compress them into one power house of a camera. Part D300 in appearance, near-on D3 in terms of power.
Most notably the D700 has Nikon's full frame FX CMOS sensor - the very same 12.1 megapixel as found in the D3. Full-frame essentially means the sensor is the same size as a traditional frame of 35mm film. Why is sensor size so important you may wonder? Well bigger is better, as it means that the photodiodes that capture light are larger and better spaced - this ensures exceptional capture with higher dynamic range, greater clarity and minimum signal distortion, hence less image noise. In fact a full frame sensor is like sitting a quartet of Four Thirds sensors together in a single grid. This means better image quality, but also means that your lenses need to be good enough to cover such a large sensor area. Attach a DX lens and this wont be possible - though, thankfully, the clever bods at Nikon have added an auto-crop mode that outputs 5 megapixel images.
Features & Operation
The Nikon D700 employs the much touted Multi-CAM3500FX system, which boasts 51 autofocus points in all. That may almost sound on the side of excessive, but the intelligent 3D tracking system can utilise these AF points to lock on and track a subject through the frame, ensuring sharp autofocus. Targeting single focus points or using batches of 9 or 21 means there's a multitude of uses, and you'll never miss the shot.
The camera body itself is near identical to little brother Nikon D300, plumping for an 'environmentally sealed' (that's splash and dust proof to you and me) magnesium alloy body. Rear controls allow for easy navigation, and the superb 3” 920,000 dot LCD screen also doubles up as a detailed display and control settings interface. For quick use the trio of buttons atop the camera mean it's a breeze to jump between ISO, white balance and picture quality. If quality's your bag then there's nothing quite like having the option of shooting jpeg, NEF raw (or jpeg & raw simultaneously), or even TIFF straight to your compact flash card. Unlike the D3, the D700 opts for just a single CF card slot.
Opting for a bunch of saleable features, the D700 also dabbles in the world of anti dust - employing a fairly standard sensor-shake system. Interestingly this means sacrificing 100% viewfinder coverage, due to the presence of the dust system around the edge of the sensor. Instead, the D700 provides 95% viewfinder coverage.
A high burst rate means it's possible to shoot continuously at up to 5 frames per second, which is where the most notable division between D700 and D3 comes into play. If you're a serious sports or news photographer then you may be looking for those extra few frames - the D3 offers a staggering 8fps by comparison. But let's not dumb it down, the D700's 5fps is still a mean feat, and with the nippy auto focus the D700 certainly provides the tools to capture the shot every time.
Picture Quality
Image quality, the D700 offers an unrivalled ISO range - when extended it spans from ISO 100 to a jaw dropping ISO 25,600. What's perhaps most phenomenal is that frankly it's useable for the majority of that range, with even ISO 6400 being darn impressive; having a look more akin to film grain than that all too familiar nasty noise. Nikon's EXPEED system - as found in all Nikon releases of late - also promises to optimize image quality, and is Nikon's assurance of optimum quality throughout.
ISO: 100 |
200
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400
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800
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1600
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3200
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6400
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12800
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25600
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Even in low light the ISO range holds up well throughout, only with ISO 12,600 and ISO 25,600 showing notable and interfering noise
The bottom line here means that you can use a Nikon D700 handheld in extremely low light, without the need to use flash. Images are successfully sharp and bright, and shadow noise is nearly non existent. With the D700 black is black, whilst gradations are always smooth, with the 14bit raw files rendering impressive colour and detail.
Should you wish to use flash, the D700 is rather unconventional and embraces a good ole pop-up flash. An excellent opportunity for some fill-flash, it's certainly something not to be overlooked - just be careful not to overexpose, as settings tend to disregard the added light and can lead to overexposure. Use it right though, and it's a quirky addition to the package.
Whether using JPEG or NEF (RAW), you can expect your images to be top notch. In multiple tests it was often tricky to tell the difference between the two, though the raw files do seem a little sharper and have notably better depth in the shadows.
On the subject of comparison, the question on many peoples' lips is whether the D700 undermines the D3. The D700 is a full thousand pounds cheaper (though still a hefty £2000 body only), but comes with a very similar spec sheet.
The image quality from both cameras is nigh on identical. Of course the extra grand needed for a D3 does grab you a few extras - 100% viewfinder coverage, larger battery, dual CF card slots, a shutter guaranteed for twice as many cycles (to 300,000) and of course the higher burst rate. But all that for a grand? It's your money…
Conclusion
There's no point in beating around the bush - the Nikon D700 goes straight for the jugular; it's a beast of a camera. There are very few downsides, except perhaps for that hefty £2000 body only price tag. Sounds expensive, but in perspective it's among the most affordable pro-grade DSLR; not only that, but it's up there with the best of them.
Anticipate saving up a fair bit longer before you can ditch your DX lenses and buy a batch of full-frame covering FX equivalents, but the fact that the camera will work with both is a bonus. Full-frame is the way to go, and it's clear Nikon will be providing strong support in the future.
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Sensor
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12.1 megapixel full-frame Nikon FX format (36.0 x 23.9mm)
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LCD monitor
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920,000 dot 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with wide, 170-degree viewing angle
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Sensitivity
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ISO 200-6400 (extends to ISO 100-25,600)
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Auto Focus Points
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Multi-CAM3500FX 51-point AF system
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White balance
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Auto, 7 modes, manual presets, Kelvin 2500-10000K adjustment, white balance bracketing
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On board flash
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Built in pop up, GN12 (ISO 100)
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Shutter speed and flash sync
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30sec-1/8000th second (plus Bulb)
Flash sync to 1/250th second
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Continuous shooting
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5fps (8fps with additional battery grip (sold separately))
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Storage
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CF (single slot only)
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Battery
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Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery
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Lens type / fitting
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Nikon F-mount. DX lenses auto-crop to 1.5x 5MP (due to inability to cover larger sensor)
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Other / Key features
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EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing
Live View with autofocus
Auto DX-crop mode
Super-fast 40ms shutter lag
Active D-Lighting
HDMI video output
Magnesium alloy body is moisture and dust resistant
Advanced scene recognition system
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