Nikon D700 Digital Camera Review

Nikon D700

Digital Camera Review

Sep 10, 2008 - By Steve Morgenstern
4.3 Is it rational to call a $3000 camera a bargain? It is when it delivers nearly all the features of the company’s revered $5000 pro model, which is precisely the case with the Nikon D700. Basically the D700 takes the best parts of two established cameras and blends them seamlessly. The $5000 Nikon D3 contributes a full-frame 12.1-megapixel image sensor with low-noise performance that makes previously impossible photos as simple as pressing the shutter. From the Nikon D300 comes a nearly unchanged body that’s hefty but nicely balanced, tightly sealed against the elements and nearly 20% lighter than the D3. For the full rundown on one of the year’s most important cameras, read on.
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Auto Mode (7.25)
Unlike more consumer-oriented cameras, Nikon hasn’t implemented an idiot-proof Auto mode that locks out manual settings. Instead there is Program mode, which implements automated settings for exposure, white balance and other settings, but allows access to any hands-on settings the user chooses. Program shift is also available this mode: by turning the main control dial with the shutter held halfway down, the shutter speed / aperture value combination shifts in tandem, so you can control the balance between the two to favor action-stopping speed or detail-sharpening depth of field without changing the overall exposure value.

Movie Mode
Nikon recently introduced an SLR with a full-fledged movie mode, but that’s the D90, not this one. Like most SLRs, the D700 takes still photos only.

Drive / Burst Mode (9.00)
The continuous shooting mode capabilities are impressive, though the terminology used to describe the two modes is confusing. By rotating the release mode dial you can set either Continuous Low Speed burst mode or Continuous High Speed burst mode. The “Low Speed” setting can be set to shoot between 1 and 5 fps (frames per second )with the standard battery, or up to 7 frames per second with the optional MB-D10 battery pack attached. Continuous High Speed mode isn't adjustable the way the Low Speed mode is. It will shoot at the maximum available rate, 5 fps with the standard battery or 8 fps with the MB-D10 battery pack.

The self-timer is also adjustable, through the Custom Settings menu, to 2, 5, 10 or 20 seconds.

In addition, for those interested in experimenting with time lapse photography, there’s an Interval timer shooting mode (accessed through the Shooting Menu) that lets you leave the camera unattended and automatically shoot at user-defined intervals for a user-defined period of time.

Playback Mode (8.25)
Image playback toggles between two displays when you press the multi selector up or down. By default, the full-screen version shows image name, compression and image size settings, date and time taken and format (FX or DX). The detailed display adds a thumbnail image, histogram, shooting mode, shutter speed, aperture, ISO setting, lens zoom position, exposure compensation setting, white balance, color space and Picture Control mode.

The zoom in and zoom out controls on the left side of the camera back control image magnification during playback, with eight levels available. While zooming in, a thumbnail image is shown at the bottom right with the magnified section highlighted in yellow. As on other Nikon SLRs, turning the main control dial while zoomed in scrolls through recorded images, maintaining the same magnification setting. This is a wonderful tool for determining which image in a sequence of shots is sharpest.

When viewing a photo at full size, pressing the zoom out button brings up first a four-image, then a nine-image thumbnail display. Nikon hasn’t added a calendar or folder view during image playback, a feature we’ve found useful on other cameras.

There’s a very basic slideshow utility, with only an adjustable interval setting available, and no audio or transition effects between images.


Playback mode toggles between two views.

 

Custom Image Presets (0.00)
You won’t find the kind of “scene mode” preset combinations of exposure and image control settings offered in more consumer-focused cameras. There are four Picture Control settings, Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome, available in the shooting menu. Each of these options can be fine-tuned for sharpness, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue.

Design / Layout Page 8 of 15 Control Options
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