I am relatively new to Nikon cameras. I have a Canon Mark III and 5D as other bodies. I have seen that other readers giving 4 stars based on small or personal preferences. In my opinion, D700's technological advancement over 5D is light years ahead. I don't think most wedding photographers will argue against the 5D's image quality and reliability. But also remember its cost when it was introduced. Nikon definitely done an excellent job with this one. And the price is very reasonable.

This camera's got soul, and so much personalization options that you could spend all day configuring all the buttons and dials to your exact liking. Nikon really went deep on creating that user friendly "give it me when I need it" feature set on the D700, they really have not left one stone unturned. This really is a camera to satisfy the pickiest of the pros.

The sensor -

It's a FX sensor, which means that it has the same recording area as 35mm film which is great news because now I can get the D.O.F. and Lovely Bokeh that I loved so much back in 35mm Film days. HIgh ISO looks great, ISO 6400 on the D700 looks like ISO 1600 on my Fujifilm S5 which was highly regarded as one of the top high ISO performers back in it's day. Bravo Nikon on this crowning achievement. They've also managed to magically reduce most of the chromatic aberration that occur with some lens in certain lighting conditions. This is voodoo, because it means that the D700 makes my 300 dollar lenses look much better than they should. Color response is neutral and I feel like I have great control over the color pallet, shooting in Raw offers you even more control and precision.

The Focus and general speed of operation

Wow!!! everything is fast and instant, it's almost telepathic, always a step ahead of you, seems to read my mind, there is no back focus issues, no front focus issues, nothing between me and perfect focus every time I take a photo.

the Image feedback is instant, image review is snappy and well though out, miles and miles ahead of my fuji S5 which I still own and love. You can zoom in with a no fuss button push and zoom out and access thumbnail previews with the same amount of simplicity.

little things and big things I like and use all the time-

Giant info display on the back LCD. This feature is great for tripod shooters and isolates features and settings as you're setting them on the spot.

Commander mode - Wirelessly control all my flash units from my pop up flash!!!

Focus check - a little green dot and two little triangles to tell you if you're in focus, back focused or front focused, Nice feature!!!

Custom Function buttons - I can assign almost any feature in the camera to the two little buttons to the right of the lens mount for instant access.

Auto ISO - I use this all the time in conjunction with Manual mode, I now have no excuses to miss a shot... ever!!!!


Why did I give it 4 stars instead of 5 you say? Well, I think Nikon could have done a better job with auto White Balancing, and it's sharpness and per-pixel is just a hair behind the Canon 5D ( a 3 year old camera with a 3 year old sensor) But I'm nitpicking here on an otherwise perfect camera, the D700 is light years ahead of the 5d and almost every other DSLR on the market in terms of operation speed, High ISO performance and ergonomics. Plus, it's eliminated every excuse that I have for not producing world class photos, so I can no longer use that as a crutch. I think I'll be keeping mine close to me at all times. Overall, I think it's worth every single penny and then some.

The Nikon D700 is exactly the digital SLR that I envisioned when I first heard that such an animal existed. After over a quarter-century of shooting film and gradually realizing the advantages digital holds for me through using a high-end point-and-shoot as an adjunct to my faithful old Nikon SLR film camera, I eagerly bought a D70s ... and was exceedingly frustrated and disappointed. My familiar old lenses responded differently (the 1.5 "multiplier effect") ... when they responded at all (a "non-CPU" lens could be mounted, but all camera exposure and metering functions were disabled, making the result disadvantageous even compared to a pre-AF film body and lens).

Not any more! Even though the D700 was primarily intended to be used with auto-focusing (AF) lenses, it also functions superbly with my non-CPU (manual focus) lenses, only losing the "shutter priority" and "program" modes (because, of course, the camera can't alter the aperture ... that's my job on any non-CPU lens) ... the D700 can even give me focusing feedback after I enter a manual lens's information into the D700's menu. I once more feel like I have good, quick control over the aspects of photography that create the character of my photographs. No more fumbling with lots of fingers over several sets of buttons to tell the camera the simplest things ... it's back to rotating the focus and aperture rings (or not, if I choose the AF lenses).

And the annoying "multiplier effect" is gone with the D700's full-frame ("FX") sensor. My 50mm lens -- my mainstay -- is now a true 50mm lens again (if you have to ask why that matters, the D700 isn't for you). I personally don't pursue wide-angle photography, but I definitely can see how those who do (and who haven't been able to afford a D3) will be doing cartwheels if they can get their hands on a D700.

The D700's viewfinder is also light years above my D70s, making everything from focusing to composition that much easier and more precise. The D700's whopping big LCD screen is also a big advantage. When in review mode, the display is large ... or, at my choice, the increased data option shrinks the thumbnail to a still-valuable size and places the data around the photo instead of over it like the D70s does.

I'm finding the grip very comfortable, and although the weight is hefty compared to any point-and-shoot, it is a well-balanced camera and that weight doesn't bother me. Being able to shoot in RAW mode is resulting in not only better end-result photos for me, but also (once I get the RAW files on my computer) much more accurate feedback on what I can improve about my technical choices ... and one of digital photography's most significant advantages is that faster feedback. Also of note for those who like working in RAW, unlike the D70, I now have the option to shoot ONLY in RAW mode, not just RAW + JPEG, and that saves valuable memory space.

My only negative comment so far is that Nikon's proprietary software (included with the D700) is necessary to download photos to one's computer. I'll adapt, but it just seems an unnecessary restriction.

Even though it's priced well under the other full frame Nikon, the D3, the D700 certainly does not come cheap. For me, it was the only affordable solution, and well worth every penny. If you spent years shooting film and count a bundle of old Nikon lenses among your close friends, the D700 is going to make you wonder if you'll ever stop grinning!

My first DSLR was the Nikon D50, then I upgraded to the Nikon D80. When the D700 was announced, I was patiently waiting for the yet announced Canon 5D replacement and was waiting to join the Canon side. Then when I saw the specs of the D700, I was floored. But what about image quality??

I've had the camera for a week, and took 3,000 pics, and it is amazing. I paired it up with a 50mm f/1.4 and the results are magical. Colors are vibrant, lowlight is ridiculous good. All around an amazing camera. Light years ahead of the D80 and the 5D. I did a shoot where I was able to compare images between the 5D and the D700, and it's just not even close. Don't know what then next 5D will be like, but the D700 is a winner, and worth every single penny.

This is an amazing camera. I am not going to go over the specs because you can read about them on just about any camera web site. What I am going to concentrate on is who should buy one and why.

First off, I've read about many folks lamenting having bought the D300 and now feel like the need to "upgrade" to a D700. These are two different cameras for two different purposes and as such don't compete against each other so much as complement each other. The D300 doesn't have the low noise capability (The D700 can get clean images at ISO1600 vice ISO400 for the D300) nor does it have the wide angle capabilities of the D700. The D700 doesn't have the 1.5x multiplier of the D300 so wide angle lenses are truly wide. Additionally, while you can use DX lenses on the D700, you will only be using 5 mp of your sensor.

Another comparison is between the D3 and D700. They both have the same sensor so the image and ISO abilities are the same. The D700 comes slower out of the box but with the Nikon EN-EL4a Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for MB-D10 Battery Pack and Nikon D2 and D3 Digital SLR Cameras, Nikon MB-D10 Multi Power Battery Pack for Nikon D300 & D700 Digital SLR Cameras, Nikon BL-3 Battery Chamber Cover for Nikon EN-EL4 and EN-EL4a for the MB-D10, and Nikon MH-21 Quick Charger for Nikon EN-EL4 and EN-EL4a Rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries (~$500) you will be rocking with 8 fps and great battery life; just barely slower than the D3. Also, I have not found any technical data on the autofocus and processing chip but in my non-scientific side by side comparison the D700 seemed just as fast as the D3 while the D300 appeared noticeably slower. (This was shot with the 85mm 1.4D. This lens does not have Silent Wave Motor focus and therefore relies on the camera's focusing motor.) As I said this is not scientific but I am also guessing that Nikon saved on engineering costs by just transferring the guts of the D3 to the D700 and slowing it down (this is probably the reason the D700 gets such poor battery life (200-300 shots vice 1000 shots) in comparison to the D300).

So without further ado:

Buy the Nikon D700 12.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) if:

You need to shoot in no flash low light situations. With a 1.4 lens at 1600 ISO you would be amazed at the quality of the photos! If you are not doing close up work of people you can get great shots @ 6400 ISO. If you can stand a grain in B+W(a very cool effect by the way), then you can get good shots @ 25,600!

You want to shoot ultra wide. With no multiplication factor, you can shoot truly wide angle photos. The 14mm is 14mm not 21mm like on a DX camera. Also, although you can get the Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens which will be the equivalent of 18-36mm, it will still have the distortion of a 12-24mm lens. So compared to the FX D700 you would get 14 deg less width with more distortion.

You are willing to spend $4500 more on the lenses. The body is disposable, the lenses are what last. You could get away with a 50mm 1.4 and that would be a fine place to start and a great way to learn how to frame a picture. However, I would recommend the following 3 lenses and I would recommend getting them in the following order. 1) The Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras - $1000 (Super fast, incredibly shallow depth of field, and amazing construction. Get this lens and practice getting good with a fixed length lens! Get this lens over the 85mm 1.8 for the construction and 9 blade design. You will be blown away with how low the light can be and you can still get the shot! (Rumors have it that Nikon is about to replace this lens with a new improved version. I expect the new lens will be better but will likely cost 1.5 to 2x as much.) 2) The Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras - $1700 This is the lens pros use to earn their living. (It has been 5 years since Nikon updated this lens so it is due for a replacement soon but again I am sure it will be more expensive and this lens rocks right now) 3. The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens - ~$1600. Stupid fast, stupid wide, and stupid great. What more can you ask?

Buy the Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens if:

You want an amazing all around lens. The Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens (27-300mm equivalent) You really never need to take this lens off. You can shoot wide (27mm) and telephoto (300mm) Wow this lens does it all.

You want to shoot long. If you take a D300, the 70-200mm 2.8, and a 1.7x teleconverter you get a 178-510mm F4.8 for $3600!! Or add the 300mm 2.8 and you get a 765mm F4.8 for $6500 ($3000 cheaper and 5 lbs lighter than a 600mm F4 lens). Totally astounding.

You shoot in relatively decent light. Until I got the D700, I routinely shot great portrait shots at home, at night, and with poor lighting using the D300 and the 85mm 1.4 at 1/30s and ISO200-400.

You want to buy and take advantage of DX lenses. Really you only need 2 lenses with the D300. You will want the 18-200mm and the 12-24mm. That will cover everything you need for a grand total of $1500. I would still recommend the Nikon 85mm f/1.4D AF Nikkor Lens. A stupid fast 128mm 1.4 on the D300.

Buy the Nikon D3 12.1MP FX Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) if everything about the D700 fits your shooting requirements and:

You shoot more than 3000 photos per month. The D700's shutter is rated to 150,000 cycles while the D3 is 300,000. Nikon's generational replacement cycle for their flagship camera is 4 years. That means if you shoot ~3000 photos per month you will shoot ~150,000 shots in 4 years and it will be time to replace the camera anyway. If you shoot 10,000 shots per month you will have to replace the camera in 15 months. However, with the D3 you would not have to replace the camera until 30 months.

You earn your living shooting photographs. Memory cards rarely fail but do you want to lose thousands of dollars and your reputation by risking it. Get the D3 and set it to write the images to both cards. Yes, there are other techniques to minimize your exposure to this failure but none are as easy and reliable.

You don't want the option to remove the battery and vertical grip. With the D700 you can add the MB-D10 to make it 98% of the D3. However, if you don't want the weight or need the speed you can remove it and save the space and weight. This is useful for long hiking trips (However, I would recommend a D300 for this unless you were hand shooting in low light).

Even though I've only had my D700 a few weeks it is clearly far and above my privous dSLR cameras and I feel the D700 is well worth the extra money over the D300 I just sold. Highlights are: the big bright viewfinder, having my 50mm lens be a 50mm lens (et cetera) again, the shutter feels and sounds great (solid and smooth). The sensor, of course, is the heart of the camera and the reason this camera is worth big bucks. The image quality over my old D300 is very obvious, especially the amazing high ISO quality. It also seems like the focus works better (mostly more precise), even though I've read it's the same as the D300.

This will make my 4th dSLR in 5 years, and I expect this one to be a keeper for many years. Even after owning the: Fuji S2, Nikon D70s (the worse of the lot), Nikon D200, and the Nikon D300, I never could warm up to the APS-sized sensora. The small viewfinders, the 1.5 magnification factor, and the digital noise have always been a problem for me.

Anyone shooting wide angle shots or needing to use high ISO settings needs this camera.

I've owned it for over a month now and this seems to be the digital SLR I've wanted since I stopped using my old Nikon F. I have owned the D200 and D300, but as expected, this surpasses all. You really need to look through the viewfinder to appreciate the beauty of full frame. It is as if someone turned on the light. And with a fast lens, it is so much brighter than a cropped sensor camera. I added Nikon's magnifying eyepiece and rubber cup - as a result I use autofocus a lot less.
The other aspect that sets this camera apart is its ability to render color. It is hard to articulate, but there is a certain "rightness" to the colors.
There are too many features to discuss, but one that I really have come to appreciate is auto ISO. In low light situations, the full frame sensor is simply masterful at letting you shoot at ISO 3200 when needed.
This camera cries out for good glass. Do not put a cheap lens on this camera! Not only will it expose any fault a lens has, but you will cheat yourself out of the superb results this camera will yield. I splurged for the 24-70 f2.8, and it is a marvelous lens, very sharp and contrasty, albeit large, somewhat ostentatious and heavy. I am getting some unwanted "that's a big camera" comments. It is not a kit for times when discretion is needed. If you want the ultimate portrait camera, this paired with the 85mm f1.4 or 1.8 would be it. Great job Nikon!

The title says it all - fantastic camera, awful lens. I give the D700 5 stars with no reservations, but the 24-120 lens is a shame for Nikon and should have never even be allowed into production. The lens is designed to be unsharp and have significant distortions and no amount of stopping down can improve the situation. The only positive thing I can say about it is that the tonal reproduction is great,
I returned this combo and bought D700 body only.

I have taken photographs for more than 30 years and have used a D3 for the past 8 months after using a D2hs for several years.

I had the opportunity to use a D700 today. A friend had purchased this camera and I was helping her get acquainted with its functions.

I must say, I was VERY disappointed. Its playback function is inferior when reviewing shots, and its overall ease of use just doesn't compare to the D3. Now, I agree it shouldn't be as good as the D3, its a 1500 or 1600 $s cheaper than the D3, but for $3000, I expected more of a professional model; It isn't. I could give a couple thousand words and introduce issue after issue that I have with this camera, but what for?

Let me just say, don't buy the D700 thinking you are getting a professional type of camera, you aren't. Don't get the D700 thinking you are getting anything but what you are getting: a VERY cheap, inferior version of the D3.

I'll let others proclaim this cameras greatness, but for me. . .its junk.

Sorry

I purchased the Nikon D700 about three weeks ago now and it is an awesome camera. My previous frame of reference is my four year old Canon 20D and the D700 beats the Canon on every front. The added dynamic range of the Nikon's full-frame sensor means most photos are well exposed - including the sky and shadows. Often only minor adjustments are required post camera (I use Lightroom 2). I've also found that the autofocus on the Nikon D700 is light years ahead of the Canon. Focusing is not a problem. Then there is the low light performance of the Nikon D700. Wow! Indoor photography without flash is now possible. I purchased my D700 in a kit with Nikon's 24-120 mm zoom lense with vibration reduction. The vibration reduction combined with the ability to shoot at higher ISO settings means photos of moving subjects can be shot at higher shutter speeds - resulting in less blur. Overall, I am very satisfied with the D700.

I'm upgrading from a D200. By comparison, the low light capability is outstanding and the image quality is even better. Highly recommended. I didn't sell my first born for the D700 but it would be arguably worth it. :)

Page 59 of my D700 manual asserts that whenever a DX lens is attached, auto crop is turned-on; the FX image area of (36x24mm) drops down to a DX (24x16mm). This is an area ratio of 0.44. So, with a DX lens attached, I now only have a 0.44 x 12.1 megapixels = 5.38 megapixels camera?! Am I better off with a D300 or should I sell all my DX lenses, hmmn? I can't wait until all this transitional technology shakes itself out.

This is a wonderful camera. With quick startup, solid focusing, excellent exposure control. The fast speed allows the "existing light" photography so enjoyed the fast film camera days. While the D700 has controls for everything conceivable it is easier to select these features than it is with lesser Nikons. If you feel your digital photos are important then consider the quality the D700 offers.

I've been a semi-pro digital user for five years. I started wtih a Fuji S2, moved up to the Nikon D2H (horrible reliability, expensive), D2Hs, D200, D300 and finally the D700.

With every camera prior to the D700 there were compromises and Nikon was always two years behind Canon. Finally, when the D3 came out, they were in the lead again, but the price was too much for my semi-pro use to justify. So I struggled along with a pair of D300s for another eight months. The D300 is an excellent camera, however, it has some serious flaws: It overexposes and is particularly hot on the red channel. It's higher ISO performance is mediocre and really kills detail. And it's DX.

I bought a D700 for $2950 and, predictably, the price fell $200 a few days after that. But I needed it for an assignment that would involve shooting in a dimly light garage.

The camera worked perfectly, although once again, I am seeing overexposure in some scenes. The auto WB is much improved over the D300. The dynamic range is much improved, as well. And the AF seems faster.

This camera has me going back to prime lenses. The DOF is much shallower and the bokeh much nicer with my 85mm and 50mm lenses on the D700. Eventually, I want to be all primes on the long end. My 300 f/4 gives wonderful results on this body. The 70-200 is a mixed bag. I'm just not happy with the look of the images. They are not as sharp as they are on the D300 (I kept one). Weird. I'm still testing.

I love everthing about the D700 except it's tendency to overexpose and the fact Canon's competitor has video and more MP. Video really should have been on this camera; after all, the D90 at 1/3 the price has it. Nikon dropped the ball by not including it on the D700. Two months after being introduced, the D700 is already a somewhat obsolete camera, thanks to Canon's offering of more mp and video.

All that said, as a Nikon user I'm glad to finally have 5D image quality in a full-frame Nikon, even though it comes at a premium. I feel the current combo of the D300/D700 will last me for several years, and will eventually result in a transition to almost all prime lenses, if Nikon ever gets its act together and offers some worthy wide angle primes to match with this body. Meantime I find the 35 f/2, 50 f/1.4, 85 f/1.4, 105 micro, 180 f/2.8 and 300 f/4 to be excellent matches for this body. The Beast 28-70 f/2.8 is also a good performer on this body, as is the 14-24 f/2.8. The 70-200 f/2.8 is questionable.

Be sure to get the grip for best balance and extended battery life. I find the D700 has better battery performance than the D300. Also if you do portraits, get a portrait Expo Disc and download the portrait custom setting for your camera. The results are very nice.

numerous reviews have been written already about this classic....if you can't afford a d3, get this one instead. if you can't afford d700 get the d300.

The camera has exceeded my expectations, due to work requirements I have not been able to use it as much as I want to. Also expected to take a trip, but that has been put on hold due to a medical issue. Anticipate being able to use the camera like I expected to shortly after 1 Jan 09. So far I love the camera.

Please allow me to add my voice to the already considerable chorus of praise that this camera has received. I have been using Nikon cameras since the days of film, and have owned the D100, D70, D200 and D300. I jumped at the chance to get the D700 for two main reasons: 1), the FX sensor took away the sometimes annoying multiplication factor for focal length, and 2) the wide acclaim this camera has received for operating with very low noise at high ISOs. The FX sensor has breathed new life into my considerable investment in Nikon glass over the years, and the low noise at high ISOs is nothing short of astonishing. I really don't like to shoot with flash (and I have tried everything from built-in flashes to various SB-800s set up with the Nikon CLS system), but with this camera I have been able to shoot indoors at night with low ambient light up to 6400 ISO and produced results that put my previous Nikon DSLRs to shame, with the exception of the D300 which was reasonably good in low light, but had the DX sensor/multiplication issue. Now a 50mm 1.4 lens really IS a 50mm 1.4 lens! Of course, it's not just the sensor and the FX format, it's also about your investment in glass! Nikon Professional Lenses turn this thing into a truly professional, beautiful tool. I have managed some amazing shots with my 50mm 1.4. Even at ISOs higher than 6400, using custom profiles that I post-processed with Noise Ninja software, I have managed to achieve clean, clear shots with very little chromatic noise in the shadows. It has to be seen to be believed. At one point I considered abandoning the Nikon platform in favor of the Canon 5D after having a chance to play around with one that a friend had, and I was especially intrigued by the 5D Mark II. Of course, that would have meant abandoning my investment in Nikon glass, but I was intrigued by the results my friend was getting, and also the higher pixel count. However, there are numerous discussions on the Web and elsewhere about the value of pixel count, and the 12mpx D700 generates super high quality images that withstand considerable enlargement, perhaps due to the favorable pixel density ratio. The controls are very similar to the D300, though it feels a little heavier and sturdier. It does have a somewhat disappointing CF flash flip-open door - the only 'cheap' detail on an otherwise premium body. The rear LCD is much brighter than the D300, and the new viewfinder is bright, clear and a joy to use. I love the virtual horizon feature which displays on the rear LCD. Just as a side note: I am a creative director, and I shoot semi-professionally for some of the projects I get involved in. I was responsible for the Adobe CS1 and CS2 creative suite and individual product packaging, and some of the flowers that appear in the Adobe Illustrator CS1 packaging were shot by me with my D100, what seems like an eternity ago... So I have had to shoot a lot of different subjects in widely variable conditions, and I have no doubt that my new D700 will handle whatever I throw at it! Now that FX sensor sizes appear to be within the grasp of what I would call 'affordable' DSLRs, there is a distinct possibility that the DX format (and maybe DX lenses) may not have such a long life span. This is worth considering as camera bodies are certainly an investment, but your investment in lenses is where the real money is, and in the long run may favor non-DX formats. Hope this is helpful!

Amazon's customer service is far superior to any of the other camera dealers. I had a problem with the first D700 and they replaced it without question. I would recommend anyone wanting to buy products from Amazon and their deliveries are excellent. Most of the other dealers charge delivery and often you can get free delivery from Amazon. I don't buy anywhere else.
thank you Amazon
Michael

Having done a lot of research on this camera and reading all of the positive reviews I knew I would be getting a quality piece of equipment. This camera has been reviewed to death so there is really nothing new I can add just to say the only thing that gave me pause was the price tag. Let me assure you that this camera exceeded every expectation I had and is worth every cent I paid for it.

There is a reason this camera has single handedly converted more Canon shooters than any other. The D700 will add a whole other level to your digital photography. Just do it, you won't be sorry.

If you already have Nikon lenses and want a full-frame DSLR, but you aren't ready to drop almost $5k on a D3, then this is the camera for you. I have been using a D200, which now becomes my reserve, and the transition to the D700 was seamless. It feels the same except that it has a fuller viewfinder and a much nicer LCD. The results so far are indistinguishable, but only because I have not had access to a printer that can do these images justice. There is no physical reason why I did not give the D700 five stars--only its price. You need to think hard as to whether it is worth the premium over the D300 or even the still-available 200. Since every single lens I own is full-frame, it was to me. Now the images from the 10 MM end of the range on my Sigma short zoom will be REALLY wide-angle. And kudos to Nikon for maintaining their backward compatibility with their really old glass. There is hardly a lens that Nikon has made that can't be at least optically functional on this camera.