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Is is still worth invensting in a used D700?
- Thread starter Rellsunn
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- nikon d700
HobbiesAreFun
Senior Member
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It all depends on what you want, what you need, and what you shoot. It CAN be, but it isn't necessarily.
gipper51
Veteran Member
I don't know the going rate for a used D700 these days, but wanted to add that I doubt you would feel limited compared to a newer model. Sometimes it's easy to get caught in the hype of the newest whiz-bang camera models, espcially on camera geek forums. But when you step back and disconnect you see the followng:
12mp is still enough even for quality poster sized prints.
The high ISO ability is still top notch.
8fps and 51 focus points is blistering fast
It's a damn fine camera.
In the real world, people never notice the difference between a D800 and a D700 except in a few scenarios at the razors edge. I've never once had a paying customer tell me I should have used a better camera.
12mp is still enough even for quality poster sized prints.
The high ISO ability is still top notch.
8fps and 51 focus points is blistering fast
It's a damn fine camera.
In the real world, people never notice the difference between a D800 and a D700 except in a few scenarios at the razors edge. I've never once had a paying customer tell me I should have used a better camera.
lazy lightning
Well-known member
I have both the D800 and D700 and use them both. The D700 remains a fabulous camera. I shoot events with both cameras. When I am reviewing images I cannot tell which camera produced which image unless I zoom to 100%. For sporting events I prefer the D700 for the faster frame rate.
I'd avoid the incredibly dated D700 for the following reasons...
1) It's very fast, 8 FPS with the grip. Such fast frame rates are only good for action, sports and wildlife.
2) ISO range is top notch. But are you shooting in a cave? You may get bitten by a bat, get rabbis and die. Is that what you want?
3) 12 MP is good for pretty much anything, but massive crops. Why learn to compose? Buy a 200 MP camera so you can crop fisheye angle shots down to what's needed.
4) AF is blazing, yes it still seems on par or better than the D800 to me. But why sidegrade?
5) You're hurting the economy by not BUYING the newest thing. Do you want to help the terrorists?
Robert
1) It's very fast, 8 FPS with the grip. Such fast frame rates are only good for action, sports and wildlife.
2) ISO range is top notch. But are you shooting in a cave? You may get bitten by a bat, get rabbis and die. Is that what you want?
3) 12 MP is good for pretty much anything, but massive crops. Why learn to compose? Buy a 200 MP camera so you can crop fisheye angle shots down to what's needed.
4) AF is blazing, yes it still seems on par or better than the D800 to me. But why sidegrade?
5) You're hurting the economy by not BUYING the newest thing. Do you want to help the terrorists?
Robert
Thanks everyone. So many valid points made.
My use for it would be portrait, landscape, wedding, newborns/kids. Not so much sports but kids do move pretty fast so it would come in handy. I agree that new doesn't always mean better and the positive reviews on the D700 outweigh the negative. I'm trying to get into being a 2nd shooter with a local Photographer and she also suggested "D600 of even better D700". However, I've been trying to find one with anything under 12K actuations and it's been tought at $1400 or under.
With that said, I may have to start looking at new options. D800 is out of my budget and until they fix the D600 issues I think I'm just out of luck.
My use for it would be portrait, landscape, wedding, newborns/kids. Not so much sports but kids do move pretty fast so it would come in handy. I agree that new doesn't always mean better and the positive reviews on the D700 outweigh the negative. I'm trying to get into being a 2nd shooter with a local Photographer and she also suggested "D600 of even better D700". However, I've been trying to find one with anything under 12K actuations and it's been tought at $1400 or under.
With that said, I may have to start looking at new options. D800 is out of my budget and until they fix the D600 issues I think I'm just out of luck.
Do what I did - I bought a refurbished D700 from Nikon service direct. Took a while until they had one for sale (they get snapped up real quick), but mine came with a full one year warranty.
Did that almost a year ago, maybe just a month after the D600 first came out. To this day, no regrets whatsoever on my choice.
I think the D700 will go down as one of those timeless classics in terms of any type or brand of camera. IMO, what will eventually doom it is the same thing that dooms all digital devices - planned obsolence.
good luck
Thanks Joneil! Never thought of that. I'll contact them today and check it out. May I ask what you paid and what was the shutter count?
DOH! You know something, I never asked about the shutter count. Never looked either. I was just so happy to get it I jumped at it no questions asked. Took about three months of phone calls hit and miss until I called one day they had them in. I was told - at least in Canada - they never advertise them because the refurbished ones last maybe 72 hours before they get snapped up. I do know it was incredibly clean and looked brand new - one minor exterior scratch n the battery cover. I have since put in many more scratches on my own.
The price was around $2,000 or $2,100 Cdn, which today would be around $2,000 to $1,900 US. I bought it directly from Nikon Service in Canada, but my understanding is you can do much the same thing in other countries where Nikon has a service centre.
One other thing - just to stir up the pot.
They do have refurbished D600s and D800s that come in time to time as well. It seems to me that it is easier to pick up a refurbished D600 or D800 than a D700. I could be wrong, but just saying from my limited experience. What does that tell you?DigitalJay
Senior Member
FWIW, I have a D300, D700 and D800. The D300 will need a home as it never comes out to play anymore and I will not sell my D700 as it is a very nice combination of manageable, high quality files, usable high-speed frame rate (with grip) and all-around great camera.
You won't get hurt with a D700
Jay
The only real benefit of D700 is the 8fps shooting with optional grip. It shares the image engine with D300, which I really didn't like (Underexposed pics gets VERY desaturated if you shoot in jpg). Noise capability is in fact much better with D600/D800. D600 can shoot 5.5fps, which is acceptable for light sports shooting (D1h did only 5fps)
That said, if nikon ever release D700s with 12MP / 8fps wo grip / new imaging engine it will be my dream camera. I really don't need more than 12MP.
That said, if nikon ever release D700s with 12MP / 8fps wo grip / new imaging engine it will be my dream camera. I really don't need more than 12MP.
So I have come across a D700 with 8K actuation. Bought brand new in 2011 and still has an extended warranty until march 2014. It was also cleaned this past Spring at Nikon.
She's asking for $1600...is that reasonable. I was going to offer $1525 with the extra battery she has.
Thx
Gone for Good
Senior Member
And go straight to the Gold Standard, the D4. Take out a loan if you have to. You know you deserve the top of the line. All the other photographers will envy you and know you're a successful pro ( maybe ). Even the ladies ( who really are in the know ) will want to get to meet, " The Man with the D4". It's like driving a Ferrari 599!
kormendi_adam
Leading Member
Absolutely, unless you need video, which the D700 does not offer. Other than that, it is one of the best buys out there. Pro body, pro autofocus system, great high ISO, built to last forever. It is no toy.
And at this price, it is a real bargain.
And at this price, it is a real bargain.
Thx Weegee but SHE cannot justify the D4 at this time.
pjman792
Well-known member
I believe you are mistaken - the D700 shares the same sensor (if that's what you mean by 'image engine') as the D3/D3s. The D700 is basically a stripped-down D3 - same sensor, metering system, and terrific low-light capability, but without a fast FPS motor or video . It's so similiar it hurt D3 sales when it was released.
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