New (old) D700 owner: Tips and tricks, recommended settings, any other useful info?

[Chris_2017]

Hi all,

After much research into new systems I just decided to go back to what I know and was happy with before: A Nikon DSLR. Used both the D600 and D750 before, but wanted to try something different, so picked up a D700.

Second hand lenses: I have the 50mm f1.8 G ordered and am looking to maybe get one of the Sigmas for a wider angle (24 or 35 f1.4, or the 24-35 f2), and then the Nikon 70-200 f2.8 VR II. I also bought the Nikon MB-D10 for a good price, as I like shooting in portrait orientation and having the extra long battery life.

Could users of this camera please give me any tips I might find helpful? I know it has one CF slot, so need to pick up one of those. Will this be compatible? I am guessing I don't need anything larger, as 12mp photos, and no video.

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Then there's an LCD fogging issue I read about, but asked the seller to check the one I bought, which hopefully won't have it. It's got 18k shots and is one of the later serial number (247...). Any other issues with the D700 I need to be aware of?

Any advice for the picture settings, and how to get the best images? I am happy to shoot RAW. What's the focusing system on this like compared with the D600 and D750? I think the area is about the same, and it also has 51 points, but not as good in low light as the D750.

If there's anything I've not mentioned please feel free to add.

Thanks.

 

[jebo1]

I bought the D700 over a year ago. The only fault it has, is that the viewfinder blind has clogged up but since I don't need it I will keep it as it is. Don't buy too much and too soon. Simple 32 GB will do. I use my D700 with manual focus ai prime lenses. 80 procent of the pictures are shot with a 50 mm f2.0 ai. 10 percent with my 28 mm and the remaining 10 percent with a 100 mm e series. In that way you will have a light combination that provides crisp and sharp images. The autofocus of the D700 is definitely not on par with what is normal today. The autofocus of even the canon sl1 is better. But I am not a fan of autofocus anyway.



I don't use the lcd screen except for menu settings or an approximate evaluation of the exposure. It's not suited for anything else. The batterylife is that good that you will not need additional batteries.

So the D700 today an excellent retro full frame camera if you are willing to accept or embrace it's shortcomings. I always shoot raw and most of the times at iso 200. Success with your D700.

 

[Chris_2017]

Thank you for the reply and thoughts.

You're right about not getting too many things or overcomplicating it. The 50mm is great as it's so light and small. Those were the lenses I had before and they worked well, and I like the grip for vertical shots / if I am away from a power source all day or maybe want to go hiking for a weekend. I might end up with a D750 as a second body, and then I don't have to spend time changing lenses and can shoot some video.

Great photo too! There are some swans near to me who are just about to have babies, and I hope my camera arrives in time to capture them.

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

The D700 was my primary camera (except wildlife) for a few years, until I got a D800e. Hardly ever used it after that, even though it had a much faster frame rate. The 36mp resolution was just too addictingly useful.

Tips & tricks? None that I can think of. It's just another capable camera. Most of the time I shot mine in Aperture priority with Auto-ISO. For that time, the dynamic range was pretty good, and I felt like limiting ISO to 3600 let me concentrate on what the image would look like at a certain aperture without having to worry about super low shutter speeds. The D700 was much more flexible that my prior cameras. (D200 and D300)

I would suggest getting a grip and big battery so you can unleash 8 fps.

When I got my D700, I had spent several years shooting DX cameras, and even though I had a lot of full-format lenses from my Nikon film cameras, I had forgotten what they 'felt' like in terms of depth of field. I also didn't really know how good or bad the corners were on FX. Consequently I took an old lens, mounted it and went for a walk around my area making various test shots to get back the feel for DOF, and also to see sharpness at various apertures and vignetting. If coming from and FX camera you probably have no need for this. But if you come from a higher resolution camera, you may want to experiement to find what you can accept or not in the corners. The D700 is pretty forgiving of lens flaws due to the low pixel density.

 

[Nick Zochios]

Join us here if you want and post the same questions in this group. You will get a lot of suggestions:

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Also, have a look at my Flickr.
All of these shots with the D700 and a single lens (Nikon 28-105 AF-D)

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[stratman1976]

Hi Chris,

Congrats on your D700. This was my first "serious" camera and loved it, still do, although I don't use it much since I got a pair of D850's. But it has very nice IQ and I also use it with the 50/1.8. That's an underrated lens if I ever saw one!!

Back in 2014, I picked it up second hand and the first did have the screen fogging issue, so I traded it for another copy with a lower shutter count and never had the issue. It's built like a tank. If it's okay now, I wouldn't worry. I believe it's still a very capable and popular camera.

For the CF cards, you really don't need a fast card, cause the file sizes are small. Faster cards might get you faster transfer speeds to your computer, though. And I don't know what the price difference is, it might be small. I remember that when I bought them it was significant, I got the silver "ultra" ones.

One thing I found remarkable was when using high ISO settings, the D700 gives much nicer grain (almost film like) than most other (comparable) cameras. Just try it out.

Have fun!

 

[Chris_2017]

Camera and lens and 64GB CF card arrived. Need to sit down properly and read a guide, the manual, and watch some YouTube videos, as I am totally rusty with all this, but it seems in excellent condition and the focus is fast, no issues. CF card is obviously a bit of a pain, having to connect to the computer with a USB at the moment and doesn't pop in and out as easily as SD cards, but never mind. These are just JPEGs with the standard in-camera picture profile.

 

[akbc]

I use a CF type I to SD card adapter in my D800e, with that you can use a regular size SD card and not to have buy CF cards. Also, most laptop have a SD card slot.

Here is the one I bought from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/DIGIGEAR-SLI...cf+type+1+to+sd+adapter&qid=1619026259&sr=8-3

 

[mattovy_fotky]

Regarding cards, I started with a 32GB but it stopped working after I dropped it on the floor; I've replaced it with two 16GB. I would keep a second handy.

I've had my D700 for a couple of years now, and like it very much. I started itching for an upgrade a few months ago, but after asking for advice on here, and spending some time learning RAW processing, I decided to stick with it. It does everything I currently need, and I am very happy with photos printed at 30x45cm.

As for lenses, I really like the 24mm f/2.8 AF-D. I also have a 50mm f/1.2 AI-S manual focus lens; wide open, when focus is spot on, it's beautiful, but the green dot confirmation is not accurate enough to ensure this every time (at least on my camera).

 

[Chris_2017]

That's a good point, yes. I was thinking I might just leave the 64GB in there all the time, and then just try to regularly unload the photos onto an iPad or laptop using a USB cable. But yes, I should get a spare CF just in case.

I think this camera will do everything I need. If not, I might look at a D750 for improved low light, video, and higher resolution, but still would like to keep this. I will see how I go with it.

 

[Chris_2017]

Those look like a good option but I would be a bit nervous about using something from a brand I don't have experience of, just in case something goes wrong.

 

[Chris_2017]

Thanks for the comments and tips. I will definitely check out the higher ISOs and see how they look! CF cards are pricey too, you're right.

 

[Chris_2017]

Ah great, thanks. I'll check it out

 

[Chris_2017]

Thanks for the detailed info. I have the grip incoming, yes. Makes a big difference shooting portraits, and I like the extra long battery life (even though this has plenty with a single battery). Interesting again about the ISO - I must experiment. And yep, I was using the D600 and D750 before so I am used to FF, and to be honest my Lightroom processing was basically just scrolling through all the VSCO (RIP) film types and choosing one I liked the look of. I never did any other corrections, except maybe a tiny bit of exposure or shadows etc.

As an aside: Do those old and discontinued VSCO film packs still work with Lightroom?

 

[4x5joe]

I found this tip fantastic. Credit to slrlounge.

 

[Chris_2017]

Thank you. I seem to remember doing this on another camera, maybe the D750. Just noticed this has a dedicated AF-On button too. Really need to learn how all of the settings works to make the most of it. It's definitely a step up from the D750 in some ways.

 

[photoholiko]

I have the Nikon D700, I like everything about it except mine under exposures even at ISO 800. In all fairness I think I'm the cause, having made a setting I don't know how to rectify.

 

[akbc]

Have try doing a factory reset? You will lose all your preset settings.

Find the two green dots on the • QUAL and +/-• buttons on the left and right of the top of the camera. Hold them both down for a few seconds. The top LCD blinks and everything is back to normal.

 

[PHXAZCRAIG]

No idea on film packs and Lightroom.

 

[photoholiko]

Thank you, I will try that.