Why is D700 $500 More than D800?

ranalli wrote:

fPrime wrote:

You've got such a clearly defined use here the choice is rather easy...

No Prints - Points you toward a camera with reasonable resolution (D700/D3/D3s/D4) and excludes the D600, D610, and D800 which would be resolution and workflow overkill.

Low Light - Points you towards a camera that can focus well with fast lenses (D700/D3/D3s/D4/Df) and specifically excludes the D800. The D700/D3/D3s also retain better color purity at high ISO than either the D800 or D600/D610.

Shooting People - Points you toward a camera with a 51 point AF system for better ability to focus on faces with off center compositions (D700/D3/D3s/D4/D800) and excludes the D600/D610/Df. The D700/D3/D3s also retain better color purity for faces at high ISO versus the D800 and D610.

So in summary, between the remaining candidates (D700/D3/D3s/D4) the D700 is the best value for a camera with the image quality and AF system required. Use the savings to buy faster lenses and a radio triggered CLS flash system with gel filters to give you the mood you want to reflect in nightclub shots and you'll be set.

fPrime

I thought the D800 would have at least as good of an AF as the D700 in both low-light conditions and with fast lenses...no?

We all would have thought so. Unfortunately when it comes to ultra-fast lenses and low light the D800 is actually worse than the D700 it replaced.  Read about it more on this recent thread:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/52855306

The D600 is not on par with the D700 but the D800?

Same result but for a different reason.  In the case of the D600/D610, although it seems to be fine with focus, it uses the second rate, 39-point PDAF module.  That makes its focusing system inferior to the 51-point PDAF module in the D700.

fPrime