Nikon Announces the D700: Second Full-Frame Nikon
by Wesley Fink on July 2, 2008 12:01 PM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
D700 Compared to D3
The D700 is much more compact than the D3. By moving the D3 sensor to a D300 body and removing the integrated battery grip of the D3, Nikon has reduced the height and weight of the D700 substantially compared to the D3. The D700 is also 40% lower in cost - $3000 versus $5000.
The MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Grip that was introduced with the D300 also fits the D700. Adding the MB-D10 brings the shooting speed as high as 8 fps, which is the same as the Nikon D300 with the Battery Grip. This is just a bit lower than the 9fps with the D3.
To be completely fair the D700 plus grip is taller than the D3 with the integrated power grip. However, you do have the option with the D700 of leaving the grip off when 5 frames-per-second is enough speed. That is not an option with the D3 as you always have the added size and weight of the integrated grip.
Other differences are a 95% viewfinder compared to a 100% viewfinder on the D3. There is also a 5:4 ratio shooting option on the D3 which is missing on the D700. The D700 does retain the ability to mount all APS-C Nikon lenses, just like the D3, and shoot in a crop-sensor mode. This is in stark contrast to Canon EF-S lenses for their APS-C models which will not even mount on the Canon 5D or 1Ds models.
Nikon is using the D300 shutter, or one rated at the same life as the D300, in the D700. This means a rated shutter life of 150,000 actuations for the D700, compared to a rated 300,000 actuations for the D3. With most prosumer models with a rated life of 50,000 or 100,000 the rated life for the D700 still puts it in Pro company.
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Wesley Fink - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - link
You are correct in the needed parts, which is why I mentioned "up to" 8 fps with the MB-D10 grip. If you insist on Nikon parts from your local dealer you can easily spend $500 for the 3 needed parts.However, I just did a little shopping on eBay and found you can get a Nikon MH-21 charger from several sources delivered for about $120. A Nikon BL-3 battery cap can be delivered for a total $45, and a compatible generic EN-EL4a battery delivered is about $30. That's a grand total of $195, which is a considerable improvement over the $500. You can probably do even better than the $195 if you shop a bit more.
It is always safest to go with the manufacturer's parts, but 2 of the 3 are genuine Nikon and only the battery pack is generic. A Nikon battery would be around $120 which still keeps an all Nikon solution below $300.
Lord 666 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - link
Or just buy 8 AA batteries for the times you need 8fps over stock 5fps (6fps in D300)Pneumothorax - Thursday, July 3, 2008 - link
I hope you meant nimh batteries. I got stuck one time with a depleted EN-EL3a and ended up using alkalines with my D300. I liked the 6fps speed, but the batteries only lasted about 40 shots or so. I tried it again with nimh and I got about 300 shots instead.chibimike - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - link
You multiple times mention comparisons of the D3 to the 1Ds Mk III, but that is not the appropriate camera to compare it to. The D3 analog in Canon is the 1D Mk III. They are both high speed sports/photojournalism shooters, with similar resolution at ISOs upto 1600. The D3 excels at extremely high ISO shooting, nothing comes close.The 1Ds Mk III is competition to medium format digital backs and has a 21Mp resolution, that captures way more detail than any other 35mm digital SLR.
strikeback03 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - link
For lack of any better comparisons, the D3 compares to both the 1DIII and 1DsIII. In resolution and speed it is closer to the 1DIII, but like the 1DsIII it is full frame and top dog in the lineup. Until Nikon releases a "D3x" and relabels the D3 the "D3h", the D3 will be compared to both Canons.So Nikon uses flashes of light to control their wireless flashes as well? Does Pocket Wizard have a patent on better control methods? Would be nice to have the flexibility to not need the wireless flashes to be able to see the camera.
slashbinslashbash - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - link
Page 1: "The D700 also uses the same MB-D10 Battery Grip used by the current D300..."Page 2: "The MB-D10 Battery Grip, which fits both the D300 and D700..."
Page 3: "The MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Grip that was introduced with the D300 also fits the D700."
You mention 3 times in as many pages that the MB-D10 battery grip fits both the D300 and the D700. I think I got it the first time, thanks.
Also, "This is in stark contrast to Nikon EF-S lenses for their APS-C models which will not even mount on the Canon 5D or 1Ds models." -- should be Canon EF-S lenses, not Nikon.
Wesley Fink - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - link
This is what happens when the Web Editor is sick and you have to self-edit and self-post :)Reference on page 2 was eliminated, so the two remaining are less redundant.
The incorrect Nikon moniker on p.3 has been morphed to Canon. Thanks for bringing these to our attention.
Lord 666 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - link
Since when does 3Com make digital cameras?haplo602 - Thursday, July 3, 2008 - link
Wesley, correct the article header:Date: July 2nd, 2008
Topic: Digital Camera
Manufacturer: 3Com/U.S. Robotics
Author: Wesley Fink
I doubt 3Com is the manufacturer ...
Wesley Fink - Thursday, July 3, 2008 - link
Corrected to Nikon.