Test Drive of a D700

[gaopa2]

I have just returned from the 63rd annual photo conference of the New England Camera Club Council. Both Canon and Nikon had representatives with product displays. One of the things offered was a loaner camera for an hour. I had the good fortune of shooting a D700 with the 14-24/2.8 for an hour out on the campus of the Univ of Mass at Amherst. Wow! What a camera! We were told that the camera should be available by the end of August. For those wanting a full frame Nikon, the D700 should fill the bill.

The D3 was also available, but I did not shoot it. The rest of the time I used my own D300/18-200 VR.

Here is a shot of the Nikon table taken at ISO 3200 and not touched in PS except for size. The shot of the chapel had some light added using levels in PS.

Cheers, Bill P.

[Latinbob]

Lucky dog! It must have been difficult to hand it back. Exciting times ahead for Nikon shooters.

Bob

[Gary Mayo]

I am told the card door is a bit odd in some way. Did you notice anything odd about the card door?

I have seen no photographs of the door on the net.

[gaopa2]

Gary, yes, the card door release is not like that of the D200/D300. However, it is fine and will present no problems. The camera feels heavier than the D300, but that may also be the result of a heavy lens.
I think those who buy the camera will like it. Cheers, Bill

[Mr. Pickles]

They should like it. It ought to be 3.5 times better than a D-200, right?

Latinbob will get one. He wants one. He needs one. He has to have one.........

[gaopa2]

Mr. Pickles, not sure how many times better than the D200 the D700 really is. The D700 is a fine camera, I 'm sure. However, the D200 is a good one as well. For me, my D300 is meeting my needs. How about you, are you going to spring for one? Cheers, Bill P.

[Gary Mayo]

Thanks for your response!

You are correct on the weight. The frame of the D700 is a little thicker than the D300. It is more on the lines of a D3 frame, only without the integrated battery grip.

You picking up on that means you were really looking this body over as the difference is only slight I am told. Very Good!

So a D700 with a battery grip will be the largest overall frame of the new Nikons!

Bigger is better! (sometimes) lol

Originally Posted by gaopa2

Gary, yes, the card door release is not like that of the D200/D300. However, it is fine and will present no problems. The camera feels heavier than the D300, but that may also be the result of a heavy lens.
I think those who buy the camera will like it. Cheers, Bill

[Mr. Pickles]

Originally Posted by gaopa2

How about you, are you going to spring for one?

Heck no. I like higher letters and lower numbers....like E-3

[Gary Mayo]

I see the D700 as a D3 with a built in flash and an optional battey grip. As I am at D3 & D300 now, I really do not need another body, so I will prolly sit this offering out.

[DavidRM]

I had been planning to buy a D300 this year to replace my D70s. Then the D700 was announced. I agonized over the decision for a few weeks (because the cost difference is signficant). I ordered my D700 yesterday (from Ritz; I have no idea when it will show up).

My reasons were pretty simple:
* Full frame sensor.
* Larger viewfinder.
* I don't already own a D200 or a D300.

I like shooting handheld. The D70s does OK at high ISOs, but it was surpassed years ago.

Also, 3 of my lenses are underutilized because of the crop factor. My 50/f1.8 is a great lens, but at an effective 75mm it's not that useful for what I bought it for. Same for my 20mm/f2.8. I'm looking forward to being able to *really* shoot wide for the first time since I started learning photography back in 2005.

My one DX lens is the amazing 18-200mm VR. It'll stay on my D70s.

It'll be like learning photography all over again. Sorta.

-David

[gaopa2]

David, I hope your D700 gets in your hands soon and we are all eager to hear what you thing about it. It is a great camera and I am sure you will really enjoy it. Happy shooting! Bill P.

[Jeff Perry]

David, Nikon is pushing the aging 24-120 VR as the "kit lens" for the 700. I have the lens and actually it was the first VR I bought, but was replaced as the weapon of choice, buy the 18-200. The nice thing is the 24-120 is a an FX format lens and has basically the same effective focal lengths as the new 16-85 VR DX.

Fortunately for me I never got rid of the 24-120, and happily it has found a new home, once again as my "urban assault" lens on the D3.

If you are interested in a handy zoom, check it out. Whole it doesn't have the reach of the 18-200, it is still a very nice lens for the FX format sensor.

Jeff

[DavidRM]

Jeff,

I only purchased the D700 body. I have a 28-200mm Nikkor that was relegated to my aging film body when I bought the 18-200 a couple years ago. It will be seeing more use again. It's not as fast as either the 50 or 20 primes, but it'll suffice for the short term.

-David

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by Gary Mayo

I see the D700 as a D3 with a built in flash and an optional battey grip. As I am at D3 & D300 now, I really do not need another body, so I will prolly sit this offering out.

I'm with you. I'm sitting the D700 out. I'll be looking to the high megapixel offering coming down the line as I'm doing some interior photography lately whereby I really will need the resolution and was considering a Mamiya body and digital back. If the Nikon is released at 24 megapixels, I will have something to consider...even if at the $8,000 price point as that is close to what the Mamiya and back would have been.

Julio

[DavidRM]

My D700 arrived today. For me, this is a huge step up. I've had my D70s since 2005, and never used a D200 or any of the other mid- to high-level "prosumer" camera bodies. This is my first step into the "amateur big leagues".

So far, I'm pleased.

I don't know that I took any shots that will shake the world, but I was ecstatic to be able to shoot my 20mm/f2.8 and 50mm/f1.8 as wide angle and normal lenses (instead of short normal and short telephoto, respectively). And I had some fun with shooting handheld in low light and letting the ISO bump to 3200. Here's a couple of shots I posted on my blog for today:





These are cropped some, but otherwise straight from the camera.

-David

[Nikonfreak]

I think the D700 is a good offering. It's nice to see a more compact D3 out there.

David.. if it's like the D3, don't be afraid to jump up to those high ISO values to get the shutter speed up to avoid the blur. Also, the AF system of th