Nikon D700

Build

The first thing I noticed about the D700 was its bulk. Even though its dimensions aren't that much bigger than my previous 2 D-SLRs (D70 and D80), the D700 feels a lot heftier and solidly built. The button layout is more complex than the lower grade cameras so this isn't a camera that I'd recommend to a beginner unless they're ready to spend some serious time going through the 1-inch thick user manual. Fortunately, coming from the D80, the menu systems and button symbols are easily recognizable. And the fact that all the major functions have their own buttons is a definitely plus compared to the sharing of buttons of my previous cameras.

This may not be a popular opinion, but I love the inclusion of the built-in flash. I own a hotshoe flash that I use for serious shoots, but in a pinch, it's always nice to have a built-in flash for fill flash or wireless commander for all those times that you want to travel light.

ISO performance

Simply stunning. The details and noise at ISO 12800 looks similar to ISO 1600 on my D80 (I've uploaded some comparison shots to my album: www.fotop.net/teruphoto/D700). It's an absolute pleasure to have a camera that gives me the freedom to work with existing light without having to compromise image quality.

FX Format

Having shot on DX format for some time now, I'd forgotten what DOF (depth of field) looks like in Full Frame. The background of my f/1.8 photos are beautifully creamy. I find myself playing with DOF more and more ever since getting this camera.

In terms of the 12MP "limitation" that some people complain about, I consider it a con only if you need the extra pixels. I've seen poster sized prints made from the D700 that were more than detailed enough for my tastes. But if you constantly need to make huge prints with fine detail, than 12MP might be a limitation (and you probably should be looking into medium format cameras). IMHO, I'd rather take the 12MP with amazing ISO performance.

Focus

I'll have to experiment a little more (I've yet to try sports/bird photography), but from what I've experienced so far, the focus is fast and accurate. To be fair, I'm comparing this to the performance of my D80, so it's not exactly an even playing field. I used to prefer using single point focus, but the accuracy of the D700's focusing makes me want to use the Dynamic area mode more often.

Fantastic ISO performance
FX format
Accurate focus tracking and speed
Solidly built

Not really weaknesses, but just a small wish list of features that would suit my needs a little more:

1) A smaller/lighter body. I realize that the D700's bulk is the price to pay for the larger sensor and more resilient body, but I like to travel light and the D700 is noticeably more massive than my previous cameras.

2) Inexpensive wireless remote. I love the tiny ML-L3 wireless remote that I used on my D70 and D80. The wireless solutions that I've seen for the D700 are expensive and bulky and often require the use of the hotshoe.

3) SD cards. I realize that CF cards have better performance, but SD cards are fast catching up, and I've always preferred the smaller, pinless format of SD. I guess I've experienced too many bent pins.

Nikon D70, D80

Not needed so far.

The D700 is my forth Nikon digital camera in the last 4 years and is by far the best of the lot. I started with the D70 add a D2h for sports and replaced the D70 with a D200 in 2006. When the D700 full frame Nikon was announced I knew I would have to give it a try. I had no idea I would do it so soon. I had planned to purchase it in mid 2009 but moved up the date when the price came down faster with the rebate than I had anticipated. i think it was the best decision in camera purchases that I have ever made.

The D700 has everything I could ask for in a digital camera. Fast reliable focus, accurate exposure metering and easy to manipulate controls. Menus are simple to understand and easy to navigate. The addition of the grip gave me the advantage of vertical shutter release and 8fps which is more than adequate under most shooting situations. The incredible low noise at higher ISO settings enables me to shoot available in venues that I have never been able to in the past. I had gotten use to the crop factor of the DX sensors but must say that I quickly readjusted to the full frame formate. It's great having the wides act like wide angles again. Now if I could just afford a 300 f2.8 all would be right with the world.

Full Frame sensor
Large LCD
Excellent low noise at high ISOs
8fps with grip
Easy on off of grip with separate batteries

Rather heavy with grip and batteries
No soft wear included (Shame on you Nikon)
Still pretty pricey for an amateur

D70, D2h, D200

No need for customer service with this camera yet but have with the D70 and the D2h. Nikon service was fast and dependable both times. Quick turn around and problems completely resolved at no cost both times.

Having used a beautiful Canon T90 for many years, with great results, I switched to a Nikon D200 three years ago. I found it to be a very good camera. I got bitten by the digital bug and earlier this year I went for a Nikon D700 and I absolutly love it's 5 star quality.
It is a good, heavy camera that feels great and comfortable in my hands. It is not cheap, but, then for quality you must pay a little extra.
I have used it for landscapes, engineering and portrait work. I use a Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm 1:2.8G ED Lens and a Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm 1:2.8G ED VR Lens. The quality of print - 30cm X 40cm for my landscape work is outstanding.

I use the Nikon D700 for low light engineering type situations and I find the quality of image is very good using a higher ISO number to compenstate for low or close to no available light.
I have used it in situations where flash photography is not allowed. The large sensor is very versatile and captures the image detail perfectly.
My portraits have drawn very favourable comment and copies are keenly requested by the model or their friends.
A very good example of the Nikon D700's quality is in the sports photography area, I'm not an expert in this field, but, I have used it at a car rally event and got some very dramatic freeze-frame shots using panning effectively.
All-in-all an excellent performer for my needs. I love it.

None to date.

Nikon D80 on-loan.
Nikon D200 for three years.

At purchase the dealer's representative was fantastic. Very helpful and was fully immersed in wanting me to really appreciate the D700 strenghts. He explained all controls and operational details fully.
No service requirements to date.

While expensive, this is probably the best purchase I've made in cameras, and which I'll hope to keep for several years to come.

Mainly it's the big sensor and incredible ISO performance. I've been able to shoot at ISO 1600 and get completely clean results, and at ISO 4000 in fair-good light only requiring a little cleanup to use. The burst speed is good as is, and great with the battery grip.

Standard 35mm lenses now have correct zoom ratios, where on older cameras like the D200 they had a 1.5X crop ratio due to the smaller sensor. What this means is a 50MM lens is really 50MM again rather than acting like an 85MM.

Lenses intended for DX cameras (D200, D50, etc.) will work on the D700 but are essentially wasting half the sensor space. Ultra wide angles (like the 12-24mm) will end up vignetting to the point of making a circle at 12mm. On the other hand, a cheap Tokina 19-35mm is now an ultrawide with almost the same coverage and it looks better to boot.

The D700 will work with older AI and AI-s lenses, non-AI lenses have to be modified to use and WILL damage the camera if mounted otherwise. So all those old manual focus gems can also be used. I've tried everything from a 55mm f1.2 to a Russian "Arsat" 80-200mm and they work fine, just remember the warning about non-AI mounts and program the lenses in the menus.

The camera has a hefty body with metal frame, and is built to last. The LCD is 3 inches diagonal and visible from a wide angle. The battery grip is a little different, it only has one extra battery in it and works in conjunction with the one already in the camera. This is actually an improvement as you no longer have to take the battery door off and stow it in the grip, just a rubber plug for the contacts.

It's expensive, but worth it if you need it.

The camera is heavy and best for people with big hands.

It's easy to get spoiled when using it, noise becomes an issue at ISO 5000, but by comparison my D200 had a practical limit of ISO 1000 before images just simply couldn't be cleaned up.

It needs the old style full frame lenses, so if you've bought all DX in the past few years you're not out of luck but not really using to to potential.

The RAW format is new and not all image editors support it...yet. Picasa just started with Beta 3.

It's not very good for infrared (IR) work. With a Hoya R72 filter It will take pictures by brute force (highest ISO settings) but you will finally being seeing lots of noise. This will not affect 99% of the photographers out there.

D50, D200.

Haven't had to use it yet.

This is a great product. I mainly got it to shoot at high iso's in low light situations.

Full review in my photolog with actual pictures taken with the d700 at:

http://portfoliage.com/?page_id=48

I have spent about 1 month with the d700 and got it to replace a d200. They are worlds apart if you need to shoot with small aperture's and higher shutterspeeds when the light is low - for example,. macro or a cloudy day.

High ISO's
Fast

Heavy
No vertical grip without extra purchase
Expensive

d70,d200,d3

Always good.