D700 on the Way

[Old Timer]

Well I finally bite the bullet and placed my order for a D700. I have been drooling over this camera since it was announce and the current Nikon rebate pushed me over the edge. I got it and a few accessories for what I was prepared to pay for the body alone on EBay from Cameta. Now I'm just waiting on Mr. Brown to do his thing.

[another view]

Cool! A friend has one and really likes it. Let us know how it goes.

[Old Timer]

Oh I'm sure you'll see some results soon. I have been so frustrated with high ISO noise I hope this will be an answer.

[NoKnees]

Well, if that doesn't help your high ISO troubles, not sure that anything will in today's market... ;)

After having played a but with a D3 early this year, I'm sure you'll be pleased with what the D700 has to offer. The available light candid shooting coupled with great high-speed tracking for sports made it a pleasure to work with... I missed the cropping factor on the telephoto side, but really appreciated the true wide angle that FF gives you. I still miss that today on my current gear...

Looking forward to seeing your results with it. It's definitely a nice piece of gear when used by a good photographer...

[Old Timer]

I'm sure there will be a certain amount of learning curve, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. I've owned three Nikon DSLR's and my main nit with all of them has been the noise factor at higher ISOs. To me the D2h would have been the perfect camera if only I could have used it above ISO 800.

[deckcadet]

Well I'm sure you'll love the D700 then. If you've ever seen the stuff I've shot with the D3 at high ISO you'll know why! The only AF lens plan to own by year's end that's faster than f/2.8 is the new 50mm- I just don't really need much faster than that.

I just hope you don't have DX lenses!

[Old Timer]

Only have one DX lens. But I will keep the D200 for now too, so it will not go to waste.

[another view]

But I will keep the D200 for now too, so it will not go to waste.

My friend still keeps his D300 around but it hasn't exactly seen a lot of use since the D700 showed up...

[deckcadet]

Yeah, my D300 only really comes out for sports with the D3 around.

[Old Timer]

Yeah, my D300 only really comes out for sports with the D3 around.

Do you mean you use the D300 with the D3 or you use the D300 rather than? And why if it is the later.

[jhodges]

I'm jealous of all you Nikon aficionados. The D700 is the camera of my Canon dreams, with a few minor modifications. From what I've read the D700 is like a Digital EOS 3. Stick the EOS 1DmkIII focus system and sensor in the 5DmkII body, give it at least 5 fps and I'll buy it, no hesitation.

[Frog]

Congrats on the purchase OT.

[Old Timer]

Got it this afternoon and the early returns are all very positive. I'll have more on it soon!

[natgaines]

Congrats OT can't wait to see the products of new purchase!

[Old Timer]

It is fantastic!!! I'm as excited as the day I got my first camera. Been raining and dark since I got it and haven't been able to give it a good test. Here is a shot from an art gallery opening last night. I was just playing around and shot this at ISO 1600 under tungsten light at 1/13!! and at f5.3 with the 24-120 f3.5-5.6 VR attached set to 66mm. Did I say I'm loving this camera!

[Frog]

Looks good but with that iso capability, I don't know what rain and dark have to do with anything ;-)

[Liz]

Congratulations OT! Great choice..........

I'm looking forward to seeing more photos.

BTW, you can tell you made the right decision by the fact that you are just as excited as when you got your first camera. I love that feeling! I felt the same way when I got my first dslr and my G9 as a p&s.

Enjoy!

Liz

[deckcadet]

Do you mean you use the D300 with the D3 or you use the D300 rather than? And why if it is the later.

I use it with. The D300 has too much noise between 400 and 800 at times, and I like the D3's color and detail rendition better overall. I also generally have a higher hit rate with the D3's AF system as there's more AF points on the central area of my subject assuming identical framing. It seems to drive the big glass faster and obviously there's the slight advantage in frame rate and much bigger advantage in buffer capacity (my D3 has the buffer upgrade).
I use the D3 as my primary with the 400mm and the D300 with the 70-200.

I will be switching to a D700 as my second body in the near future- hopefully by the SEC Championship football game. I'm getting good enough results with 1.4x and 1.7x teleconverters on my lenses that justify going all full frame and abandoning the crop, and when I'm shooting my 14-24, 24-70, or 70-200, the D300 makes the focal length ranges awkward. I like having similar low light capabilities among both bodies as well. The D300 just can't compete, and sometimes I find myself swapping my D3 onto the 70-200 when the action gets closer.

I do still use the D300 for daylight sports a good deal. But with TCs I can get similar results, so I tend to reach for it when I really want that extra reach plus a TC on the 400.

[Old Timer]

I think the D700 will be a perfect complement for the D3. It will keep you thinking the same regardless of witch camera you grab as far as lens focal length is concerned and not worrying about higher ISO options.

I looked for you at the Gator game Saturday on TV. I kept scanning the sidelines when ever the TV cameras paned that way but didn't pick you out. For the next nationally televised game you will have to let us know what your wearing so we can wave to you.

[Loupey]

Congrats on the acquisition!

Sounds like the D700 will offer you more opportunities and push your already terrific photographic abilities even further.

Looking forward to those beautiful macro shots with this new camera!

[deckcadet]

I think the D700 will be a perfect complement for the D3. It will keep you thinking the same regardless of witch camera you grab as far as lens focal length is concerned and not worrying about higher ISO options.

I looked for you at the Gator game Saturday on TV. I kept scanning the sidelines when ever the TV cameras paned that way but didn't pick you out. For the next nationally televised game you will have to let us know what your wearing so we can wave to you.

I spent a lot of the game in the end zones, so i'm not surprised. The kick return lateral fumble recovery happened directly in front of me, as did the final touchdown pass. I'm barely visible in the ESPN highlight video on the latter

[Old Timer]

Thanks Loupey, I am very anxious to buckle up the 105 and a couple of tubes and see what the D700 will do. With this early sundown now and work till 5:00 it'll prove something of a challenge.

[another view]

It is fantastic!!!

How's that viewfinder? Funny, I've seen a lot about the D700 but nobody talks about the viewfinder. It's like somebody flipped on the lightswitch compared to (even) those of us shooting a D200! And the D200 was a huge improvement over my Fuji S2... I really wish I hadn't played around with the D700...

[Old Timer]

How's that viewfinder? Funny, I've seen a lot about the D700 but nobody talks about the viewfinder. It's like somebody flipped on the lightswitch compared to (even) those of us shooting a D200! And the D200 was a huge improvement over my Fuji S2... I really wish I hadn't played around with the D700...

Your right it is light years ahead of my first DSLR the D70 and much brighter and bigger than the D200. With my limited time with it in my hands and to my eye I have to admit it's the the most sophisticated and smoothest working piece of equipment I've ever used. I just can imagine how the D3 could be that much better.

[Speed]

Well I finally bite the bullet and placed my order for a D700. I have been drooling over this camera since it was announce and the current Nikon rebate pushed me over the edge. I got it and a few accessories for what I was prepared to pay for the body alone on EBay from Cameta. Now I'm just waiting on Mr. Brown to do his thing.

O.T. - you suck!

NO, not really, I'm just jealous.

However, I have it on good authority that I've been a good boy this year and that I'm going to find a D300 under the tree on Christmas morning! :-)