Nikon D700

Opinion: How can a camera give you Rock and Roll? Well, when i get a great shot, and I'm in the zone while working in Photoshop....I feel like I'm a rockstar! (I've been called that a few times....no lie!) I have the same feeling you'd get (I imagine.) of being one, anyway.

I used the D50 then the D300 which I loved. The D300 would do just about everything anyone would need (except video). The D300 was only lacking the ability to shoot in low light with out getting grain when you cracked up the ISO. I read all the specs about the D700 so jumped in and got it. I've never regretted it! The shots are sharper (or it could be the 28-300 lens I use, see my review of it also.) and you seem to be forgiven when shooting the wrong exposures (heaven forbid). If you shoot RAW you can get a crazy dark or crazy light (over or under exposure for the educated.) shot and save it later in Photoshop. (Yes, use Photoshop not the other wannabes.)

After a while shooting almost everyday, you get used to just about every setting and most of the juicy ones that you need all the time are right on the outside of the camera....brilliant idea!

OK, the new D800 and the D4 are now out. Why would you want the D700. Well, first of all do you need 36MP.....no! Most of the shots I get with the D700 are around 14 x 17 in size....after I crop them a bit here or there......and you can use Genuine Fractals program to enlarge this. I have 18 x 24 posters on my wall that look amazing. I've not enlarged a shot over that yet, but could. 12MB is plenty. The file sizes are usually around 6MB, but when I get carried away in post they can be 14MB or more. Can you imagine starting out with a 36MP file then enhancing it.....wow.....talk about large file sizes!

The ISO ability of the 800 and the 700 is the same. They both go up to 6400 before things get crazy. That is plenty of ISO power....(D4 goes way higher...and you pay for it.)

Do you have to have video? The D700 does not have video. To shoot video I have the excellent (though dated) Canon HD20. Uses the mini tapes so you always have a backup to keep. (No storing huge files that you'll eventually just delete or lose when the hard drive crashes! Just pop in another tape and keep shooting. The tapes are cheap. (I'll have to write a review of this old timer also!) It shoots 1080 HD.

If I'm out and just want some video to grab for fun, I always carry (on my belt like a geek, I know) the Canon SX230 that shoots excellent HD! And very good photos where you can't take a DSLR.

So, now is the time.....run out and scoop up the D700 while everyone is in a feeding frezy for the latest and greatest. (And they will pay dearly.)

Opinion: I bought this camera to replace my D300 and I have found it a superb camera to use, it has never let me down, always produces excellent pics and is simply a joy to use, far superior to any Canon I've seen and at better prices. I cant fault it and recommend it to anyone wanting a quality camera

Opinion: A great camera. A stills camera. A photographers camera. No video, who cares.

Opinion: No Video, thank God.
Anyone wanting the best full frame without Video this is it. Should I ever want Video I will buy a Video Camera.
This is a serious Photographers Camera.

Opinion: At last, I bought it 4 weeks ago. Owning (and using) many Nikon DSLRs, D700 is by far the best in low light ( I would say by almost 3 stops). The secondbest is in my opinion D300. Not only noise charachteristics but also the image "depth" of colours are remarkable. In terms of operation it has everything a keen amateur or a professional could demand.

Opinion: I own my D700 for about 3 years. When I was about to buy it I had the choice to buy a 5D MKII. I decided to choose the D700 beacuse I wanted the best quality in low light. After 3 years I can tell this is still one of the best cameras fo low light.

I can't say the same about my professional video camera JVC HD Pro 201 which is already surpassed in quality by some entry-level consumer cameras.

I read some people arguing about the D700 having an onboard flash. I can tell you that this "tiny" flash is very usefull even in professional work. It can save you if your main flash crashes and the there is no more light sources around. I garantee you because it saved me already from a disaster when my main flash crashed. Either way, why complain about the existence of the flash? There's no point in aguing because you only use it if you want.

The build quality of the D700 is excelent. The controls are very good. The only thing I can point is the fact that it doesn't shoot video compared to a 5D for example. In my case is not that important because I own a video camera, but it might be important for many users.

Overall I am very satisfied and am looking forward to what's coming next.

Opinion: My first Nikon was an F1, purchased at the PX in South Korea for $168. That camera survived being dragged all over the world.

The D700 makes far better images than the F100 film camera I was using up until making the switch to digital. I've made prints as large as 24" x 36" which look splendid in color and detail.

Opinion: The biggest thing that's impressed me about the camera is it's low light capabilities. Nothing competes at this price, if that's important then this is the right camera for non flashers.
It's part of a huge system, like many other cameras, but it's really handy to be able to use old Nikon lenses, inc pre AF, which you can't so easily do on new Canon or Sony (do they have any old lenses).
It's easy to get brilliant results straight out of the gold box and I can't see how a person could get a really bad shot - technically speaking. The ergonomics and menus are improved from D200 and it's a joy to use. The finder is bright and shows all you need. It's v versatile - if you don't like the buttons modes you can change their use to suit. It's very quick, focusing and exposure are accurate and smart too.
This is better made than comparative Canon models, it feels like it will last. It has well designed surfaces with tactile materials that make it easy to hold and in some ways hark back to older Nikons from way back, their is a continuity with the while Nikon family thing.
I expect their are problems with it if you nit pic, as so many people do these days, especially on forums etc. But for me it's perfect - I wanted full frame, and have a few older Nikon lenses which I just can't afford to replace - it was an easy buy, a real no brainer. I thinks it's reasonably priced, as you'll find it difficult to fault in every day use. I'm sure the next model will feature 1080p video etc, which would be fun. But for now I'm happy taking stills.

Opinion: Having experienced from Canon 300D then to Nikon D80 and now D700, i'm proud to say that this camera has been the most useful especially dealing with my father's 20 year old 35mm film lenses. Nothing beats the color of Nikon and base on canon user i have talked to after seeing the images from a Nikon camera. Especially with this camera on low-light situation...it's the best. =)