Nikon D700 Preview – Baby D3?

The D700 is designed to shoot at 5 frames per second at full resolution for 20 14-bit lossless NEF files or 100 JPEGs, or, when used with the MB-D10 battery pack and an EN-EL4a battery, it can shoot at up to 8 frames per second. This is the same battery pack as the D300, which will make upgrading and using the two side by side very easy.

Unlike the D300, it does not have any limitations when using 14-bit NEF in continuous shooting, and can shoot at full speed. Startup speed is virtually instant at 0.13s, and shutter lag is in the same realm as the D3 at 40ms. The shutter is a Kevlar and carbon fiber composite rated to 150,000 exposures.

The D700 is also designed to be as durable and versatile as the photographer might need. The body is a rugged magnesium alloy and seals are strategically placed to protect against environmental conditions. The attached rubber caps for the PC sync and 10-pin remote terminals first seen on the F6 and later the D3/300 are also present. The removable grip means photographers can have a smaller, less obtrusive body when they want, or tack on the grip for vertical controls, more heft, and higher speeds. Several major buttons on the camera are programmable with a variety of functions via the menus.

Users of the D3 and D300 will recognize the 3.0″ 922,000 dot VGA resolution LCD. This LCD is also the primary viewing mechanism for Live View, which is now activated not only through a drive mode, but can be combined with other drive modes with the customizable buttons. Like the previous cameras, both phase detection (‘handheld mode’) autofocus and contrast detection (‘tripod mode’) autofocus are available in Live View mode.

Nikon’s 3D Color Matrix Metering II returns with the D700, again with the 1,005 pixel RGB sensor for metering, white balance, and now subject tracking. Like all of Nikon’s professional bodies in recent years, the D700 will not only meter with CPU lenses, but will also mount and meter with AI-spec manual focus lenses without CPUs. And like the D3 and D300, it can control the electromagnetic diaphragm on the PC-E Nikkors automatically.

Other Nikon mainstays are +/- 5EV exposure compensation, up to 9 frame bracketing, and a white balance system offering auto, 7 presets, 5 user stored presets, and direct kelvin color temperature setting. Following the D3 and D300, the D700 also outputs over HDMI to HD monitors, allowing for slide shows, image review, and live view to be displayed live onto a television.

Those used to the D300 might first notice there is a significant size difference between the two bodies- this is mostly from the large viewfinder with 0.72x magnification and 95% frame coverage. The D700, however, breaks from professional camera tradition, with a built-in speedlight, a manual-pop up i-TTL flash with a guide number of 17m at ISO 200, with a coverage of 24mm on FX. This can be used in TTL mode, manual mode, manual repeating flash, and even as a wireless commander flash for the Nikon Creative Lighting System, a nifty feature that has seen some professionals prefer the D200 and D300 for this feature. Like the D300, it also features a built in AF-assist lamp. The D700 is fully compatible with Nikon’s i-TTL flash system.

D300 users needn’t worry about the body being terribly different, as the smaller form factor means that most of the external controls are more similar to the D300 than the D3. D3 users, however, will find the D700 a capable and easy to use backup, as many of the controls are quite similar and I have no issues swapping between the two control paradigms. D300 users will need to deal with the slightly heavier weight if they move to the D700, though. The biggest change is probably that there is now a distinct Info button and the CF card door is now a slide out type rather than a lever or button operated latch as with the D300 or D3 respectively. One welcome change is that the D300 style multi selector has been replaced with the one from the D3, with an independent center button that is much easier to use.

Menus are very similar to both existing bodies, as is the overall look of the files, since all three bodies share the same “Expeed” image processing engine with Picture Controls, vignetting control, and Active D-Lighting. The D3′s new version 2.0 firmware also released today brings many of the changes from the D700 to the flagship.

In bringing the ‘best of both worlds’ into one body, the D700 shares a great number of common accessories with the D3 and D300. Eyecups and eyepieces are the same round type as the D3, while the AC adapter is the same as the D300′s, the EH-5a. The D300 and D700 share the same battery grip and main battery type, while the D3 and both the D700 and D300 with MB-D10 grip (and appropriate end cap) can all use the EN-EL4a battery. All three bodies use the same remote controls, speedlights, and wireless transmitter. In fact, there is almost nothing that the D700 won’t share with one or both of the existing high end Nikons.

Nikon D700 Key Features

• 12.1-megapixel FX format Full Frame CMOS Sensor
• Compact Professional Magnesium Alloy Body with environmental seals
• ISO 200-6400, Lo (down to 100) Hi up to ISO 25,600
• 5 FPS – up to 8 FPS at full resolution with MB-D10 grip
• Multi-CAM 3500FX 51-point auto focus system
• 3-inch 922,000 pixel LCD, HDMI video output
• EXPEED Image Processing System with Picture Controls and Active D-Lighting
• Live View with AF in all modes
• 14-bit A/D converter
• Built-in speedlight
• AF Fine Tuning
• Compatible with many accessories from the D300 and D3

As previously mentioned, the D700 will be available in late July for an estimated selling price of $2999.95.

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