Nikon D700 Review
Nikon’s first DSLR camera was the D2X which was released at the beginning of 2005. Towards the end of that year, they also released the D200 which offered a similar performance for a much better price. Nikon have done something similar with the D700 which resembles the D3 in many ways but it is almost half the price.
Overview
The D700 has the same EXPEED processor as the D3 and also has a 12.1 megapixel sensor. In terms of appearance, the D700 is closer to the D300 however as it is strong and compact looking. The D700 offers a continuous shooting rate of 5 frames per second but this is bumped up to 8 when the multi-power battery pack and proper batteries are utilized. The ISO range of this camera extends from 100-25,600 though its best results come in the 200-6,400 range as is standard.
There are four main shooting modes:
1. Manual allows you to select aperture and shutter speed.
2. With the Shutter Priority, you can choose the shutter speed while the camera deals with aperture.
3. As one might expect, Aperture Priority sees the camera take care of the shutter speed while you tackle aperture.
4. The Program Auto option sees the camera take care of both options.
Design
The D700 is slightly more compact than the likes of the D3S as it is smaller and lighter at 2 pounds. Like virtually all Nixon DSLR’s, the D700 is made from a magnesium alloy body and painted black. The areas of the camera to be gripped are covered with comfortable rubberized material. The D700 does not have a separate latch for covering the memory card slot. Instead, this cover is attached to the camera and is easy to slide on and off.
The handgrip’s rubberized material offers welcome comfort. The thumb rest area offers even more comfort with the huge range of controls all within easy reach. Unlike the D3S for example which needs large hands to hold comfortably, the smaller D700 is closer to a one size fits all camera. The index finger of the right hand should easily reach the shutter button for most people. New users will not find it hard to handle the D700 while experienced Nixon clickers will immediately feel the resemblance to the D300. All the external controls are designed in such a way that the shooting functions such as the image quality and ISO are extremely easy to change while on the move.
Menu And Display
The monitor is 3 inches high and has more than 920,000 dots of color. This makes the menu easy to read in poor light. The monitor is made from glass which has been tempered for extra strength. The D700 also has a plastic cover for the monitor which is handy and something the D3 did not have. As for its viewfinder, 95% coverage may seem fantastic but it well short of what experienced photographers would be looking for. There is also a diopter which allows you to tailor the viewfinder to suit your vision.
Performance
With a shutter lag of 0.4 seconds and a start up time of 0.12 seconds reported by Nikon, most people will not be complaining too much about the D700 though the lag time is slightly noticeable. The start up time is the length of time it takes from turning on the power to be ready to shoot. Therefore, the D700 is ideal for taking instant shots when something amazing catches your eye. It is possible to focus and shoot in about a quarter of a second which is fantastic. Though the D3 actually trumps this with a 0.2 time, the 0.05 second difference is irrelevant unless you are working for Reuters.
Quality Of Images
Most users will be pleased with the default color settings but more serious photographers will be delighted to know that Nikon’s Picture Control System is in place which enables you to make alterations to suit their taste. These changes include brightness, tone compensation and overall tone.
Exposure is calculated by spot metering, matrix or center-weighted options. Highlights can be lost in an extreme contrast scenario but the exposure compensation option can deal with that problem. The Active D-Lighting feature allows you to enhance pictures during the process of shooting.
When it comes to ISO performance, the D700 is very close to the D3 in terms of quality despite being considerably less expensive. ISO shots of 1,600 to 6,400 are excellent while ISO pictures of 25,600 are still very presentable. Also, there is little difference between the D700 and D3 in terms of noise level.
Nikon D700 Gallery
Overall
The D700 seems to offer virtually everything that the D3 does and is far more affordable ($3,000 against $5,000 for the D3). The D700 may have a lower shooting rate than the D3 but it also has built-in camera dust reduction and flash which the D3 does not have. The only reason to purchase the D3 over the D700 is because it possesses twice the service life. With high quality pictures and great all-round performance, the D700 is well worth taking a chance on.
