More D600 vs. D700 dynamic range in the shadows

Not when you use lo-1, i.e. iso100 on the D700. Like I said, it's similar to using iso200 and lowering 1ev in post. Do you see how that causes you to lose 1-stop in the highlights?

Please say the exact settings you would have preferred him to use (shutter speed/f-stop/iso).  The only way he would get cleaner shadows is by trading off for highlights.