27.01.09
Nikon D700 Review
Not to be content with merely filling a gap in the market, Nikon has only gone and forged an entirely new one.
The D700 is the latest pro-spec DSLR to feature Nikon’s full-frame FX sensor, as found in the top-end D3. The D700 is very much a wolf in sheep’s clothing – while it looks much like the D300, it packs a punch more akin to the power housed in the top-end pro D3.
In fact, anyone that’s sold a kidney to save up for a D300 since the beginning of the year may wish to go out on a limb and sell the other one to afford the D700; it may just be worth it.
At the forefront of the D700’s impressive spec sheet is the full-frame FX sensor. Essentially every DSLR has a sensor of a particular size that tends to be smaller than traditional 35mm film, hence the term crop factor/magnification being commonplace to signify by how much. This isn’t the case with the D700; at its heart there’s a 12.1-megapixel 23.9x36mm sensor (the same size as a 35mm film frame, give or take 0.1mm), meaning plenty of light can hit each photodiode and produce images with greater dynamic range, better clarity and less image noise. Which can never be a bad thing.
Whereas most DSLR cameras are content with just a few autofocus points, the D700 employs the clever Multi-CAM3500FX system, boasting no less than 51 autofocus points. It’s possible to assign the use of single points or in batches of 9, 21 or all of the 51 to make best use of the auto 3D tracking system. Capable of locking on to moving subjects and following them around the frame, this system adjusts for correct focus accordingly, taking into account the surrounding AF points – ideal for shooting action and sports.
Having a pop-up flash is a rarity for any pro-grade DSLR of late, so there’s a pleasant surprise to be found atop the D700. There’s a number of occasions where daylight fill-in flash will benefit your shooting, without needing to mount a chunky flash. When shooting in awkward lighting conditions without flash, the option of using Active D-Lighting – the in-camera software that auto-adjusts shadows and highlights for a balanced exposure – is another option, as found in all recent up-to-date Nikon cameras. Given the D700’s dynamic range, this can happen with relatively little contrast loss, but can easily be switched on or off, or even applied in-camera after shooting.
The D700 also incorporates a sensor-shift anti-dust system, but perhaps lacks the innovation of more complex dust-reduction systems. For example, the entry-level Nikon D60’s Airflow Control System utilises the flow of air caused by the shutter in the mirror box, which pushes dust into small ducts near the base of the camera.
Dust is most likely to enter the camera during a lens change, given the D700’s environmentally-sealed magnesium alloy body. Editor Cheung did have one dust-related incident with the D700, meaning an old-fashioned manual sensor clean still tends to be the best way to ensure speck-free shots.
Also worthy of note is that the addition of the anti-dust system does reduce the viewfinder to 95 per cent coverage, as compared to the 100 per cent found on the D3. Quite possibly splitting hairs here, given that the extra coverage on the D3 would set you back a full thousand smackers more, of course.
As for the pictures, quite simply, they’re excellent. Ignoring all the rather astonishing specs, super-fast power-up time, low shutter lag, 3D tracking and AF wizardry, the images are consistently clear, sharp, full of colour and as near to noise-free as you’re likely to see.
Nikon is so confident with low-noise images that the standard ISO range runs from ISO 200 to ISO 6400. In the film days, that would mean pushing development to even consider that sort of top-end sensitivity. But it doesn’t stop there. The D700’s extended ISO range runs from a super-fine ISO 100 to an eye-popping ultra-high ISO 25,600. It’s not one that you’ll look to use too often, but there may be times when you have to. Quite astonishing that such a high ISO sensitivity could be deemed ‘useable’, but considering it’s as good as the high-ISO setting on some compacts, it really is.
It’s not just the ISO range that’s astounding either, the sort of clarity retained in the blacks and low shadow noise is up there with the best of the best, especially with 14-bit Raw (Nikon NEF type) shots. Nikon’s EXPEED system – as seen in all recent Nikon releases – represents the sort of optimized innards, custom-algorithms and other clever sounding boffin-approved technology that essentially is Nikon’s pledge to excellence.
It’s not a specific technology that’s the same cross-product, more so a guarantee of products operating with optimum performance and producing images of the best quality. I wouldn’t contest that for a moment, either. The D700’s images are slick; gradations are smooth and clear, with no sign of softness or ‘smeary’ picture quality.
Part of this could also be attributed to the fantastic array of lenses – for this test the ultra-wide-angle AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8 was a firm favourite. Though at a further £1100, at this rate you’ll be flogging off not just both kidneys, but your liver too.
If a pricey lens with full-frame coverage is outside your price range for now then it’s worth noting that existing DX lenses will fit the D700, but not provide full sensor coverage. This is because these lenses project circles of light that are only bright and sharp to a certain diameter to cope with APS-C size sensors. However, the clever bods at Nikon have added an auto DX crop mode, which recognises the DX lens type and utilises a smaller portion of the sensor to produce five-megapixel images. It’s ideal if you have a batch of existing DX lenses, even with the lower image resolution.
For owners of manual focus Nikon optics, these too will fit and can be successfully used. Obviously, not all exposure modes function but aperture-priority and manual work fine. The D700 is quite the speed snapper, too. Continuous shooting provides up to five frames-per-second (fps), which is probably the biggest difference compared to the D3 which can snap away at up to 9fps. That’s not the only snappy part of the feature-set either; the start-up time of 0.12 seconds is near immediate, and shutter lag time is a teeny-weeny 40ms – so fast you won’t even notice it.
The large three-inch LCD screen has a staggering 920,000 dot resolution, providing superb detail – the 170° angle of view is ideal when using Live View in unusual positions, or for reviewing your images on screen. Not to be confused with pixels, multiple dots make up a single pixel on the screen in this instance, so the equivalent pixel resolution is actually lower.
This construction leads to a mighty fine, punchy and bright screen. Alternatively the HDMI socket allows for output on high definition systems, such as your HDTV.
So, for all this abundance of technology, does the D700 falter? Well, in a word, no; or at least not really. There’s very little negative to say about it. Slight issues include auto white-balance being occasionally temperamental from frame to frame, and the anti-dust system perhaps not being as reliable as it could be. Oh, and £2000 isn’t exactly pocket money for the best of us, but it’s hard to question a price that, despite being high, is actually bloomin’ cheap when considering the competition.
IS BIG BROTHER BETTER?
There’s a fair batch of similarities between the D700 and the D3. Whilst the D3’s shutter is guaranteed to 300,000 shots, the D700 is said to provide up to 150,000. The D3’s viewfinder offers 100 per cent coverage, which edges in front of the D700’s 95 per cent.
Among the most notable difference is the D3’s nine frames-per-second (fps) continuous shooting mode - the D700 is a whisker behind at 5fps. Still, that’s as fast as most people will ever need.
Image-wise, it’s reasonably on par between the two. In my tests the D3 exposures were ever so slightly more accurate, and image noise negligibly different, even at the upper echelons of the ISO range. There’s also a 5:4 aspect ratio mode and twin CF card slots that the D700 lacks.
But for these extras you’ll need to stump up nearly an extra grand to cover the full £2900 for a D3 body!
SPECIFICATION
Price: £2000 body only
Distributor: nikon.co.uk
Resolution: 12.1-million effective pixels
Image Size: 4256x2832 (maximum)
Lens mount: Nikon F
Magnification: 1.5x crop with DX lenses
Sensor: Nikon FX (36x23.9mm) CMOS sensor
Autofocus: 51-point Multi-CAM 3500FX system
Exposure: Program, aperture-priority, System shutter-priority, manual
ISO Range: 200-6400 (100-25,600 available)
Shutter Speed: 30-1/8000sec, 1/250sec
Range: flash X-sync
White-balance: Auto, 7 presets, 5 manual
Settings presets: colour temperature 2500-10000K, bracketing mode
Monitor: 3in 920,000 pixel TFT LCD screen (with 170° angle of view)
Integral Flash: 17 (ISO 100)
File Formats: NEF (12 or 14-bit), TIFF, JPEG, NEF + JPEG simultaneous
Drive Modes: Single, continuous low 1-5 fps, continuous high 5fps, Live View, self-timer, mirror-up
Storage: CompactFlash Media
Interface: USB 2.0, HDMI
Battery: Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e
Dimensions: 147x123x77mm
Weight: 995g (body only without battery)
PROS AND CONS
High ISO image quality and full-frame Nikon FX sensor render superb image clarity
Hard to fault, although auto white-balance performance can be inconsistent
THE VERDICT
The D700 is a powerful piece of kit. Frankly, any photographer – whether enthusiast or pro – can’t go wrong if they choose to invest in this brilliant DSLR.
With two grand to spend, you could treat yourself to a fortnight in the sun – or buy the Nikon D700. Sure it won’t get you a nice suntan, but that’ll only fade anyway.
At £2000 for the body only, the D700 isn’t cheap. However, it shaves a cool grand from its bigger brother, the D3, and offers excellent build quality and takes exceptional images even at ultra high ISO settings.
Also, the abundance of Nikon fit lenses – old manual focus lenses work too – make the D700 a powerful piece of kit with potentially superb longevity.
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