The introduction of Nikon's new D700 may have been one of the worst kept secrets in an industry with more leaks than the Titanic, but it was still something of a surprise coming so hot on the heels of the D3 and D300. Essentially a D3 shrunk down and squeezed into a body roughly the same size as a D300, the D700 is Nikon's first 'compact' professional SLR, and in its segment of the market will compete with the recently announced Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Sony DSLR-A900.
Nikon D700 Key Features
- 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor (8.45µm pixel pitch)
- Image Sensor Cleaning (vibration) *
- ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600 and down to ISO 100)
- Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens)
- 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout
- Same ultra-fast startup and shutter lag as D3
- Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
- New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 150,000 exposure durability *
- Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
- Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
- 95% coverage, 0.72x magnification viewfinder *
- Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning), fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings
- Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
- Picture Control image parameter presets
- 5 frames per second continuous with auto-focus tracking*
- Optional MB-D10 Battery Pack (same as D300), increases burst rate to 8 fps *
- UDMA compatible single CF card slot *
- 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
- Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
- Virtual horizon indicates if camera is level (like an aircraft cockpit display)
- HDMI HD video output
- 'Active D-Lighting' (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
- Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness
- Magnesium alloy body with connections and buttons sealed against moisture
- Improved Info display on main screen
Nikon D700 Key Differences
- Smaller, lighter body *
- Built-in iTTL flash (G.No 17 / ISO 200)
- No rear information panel (new info display on main LCD)
- D700 doesn't have the D3's 5:4 aspect ratio option
- 95% coverage, 0.72x viewfinder (D3: 100% / 0.7x)
- Focus screen DX mode now indicated with a rectangle rather than shaded area
- Lower burst rate (5.0 fps / 8.0 fps with optional MB-D10)
- 100 frames maximum in continuous shooting mode
- Smaller battery (EN-EL3e)
- Optional battery grip (MB-D10, same as D300)
- Expanded Function button options (can assign any camera menu item)
- Live View can be assigned to FUNC, AE-L or Preview buttons (allowing LV + different drive modes)
- Virtual Horizon can be overlaid on Live View preview image
- Different shutter (150,000 cycle rating - same as D300)
- Image Sensor cleaning ('sensor shake' dust reduction)
- Single CF slot (D3 has two)
- Minor menu and control differences (control layout is almost identical to D300)
The D700 in the Nikon line-up
The table below shows how the D700 squeezes into the Nikon DSLR line-up, between the APS-C D300 and the full-frame D3.
 Nikon D300 | 
Nikon D700
|  Nikon D3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (body only) | $1800 [check] | $2999[check] | $5000 [check] |
| Dust removal | • Self-cleaning filter • Dust-off image | • Self-cleaning filter • Dust-off image | • Dust-off image |
| Sensor size | 23.6 x 15.8 mm | 36 x 23.9 mm | 36 x 23.9 mm |
| Effective pixels | 12.3 million | 12.1 million | 12.1 million |
| FOV crop | 1.5x | 1x | 1x |
| Sensitivity range (boost setting) | (100), 200 - 3200, (6400) | (100), 200 - 6400, (25,600) | (100), 200 - 6400, (25,600) |
| Shutter life | 150,000 exposures | 150,000 exposures | 300,000 exposures |
| Continuous rate (high) | 6.0 fps (8.0 fps with battery grip) | 5.0 fps (8.0 fps with battery grip) | 9.0 fps (11 fps in DX crop mode) |
| Continuous buffer | • 100 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW | • 100 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW | • 130 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW |
| Built-in flash | • Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100) | • Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100) | None |
| Storage | CF (inc. UDMA) | CF (inc. UDMA) | CF (inc. UDMA) x2 slots |
| Viewfinder | • 100% coverage • 0.94x magnification | • 95% coverage • 0.72x magnification | • 100% coverage • 0.7x magnification |
| Top panel LCD | Yes | Yes | Yes (plus rear info panel below screen) |
| Battery | 11.1 Wh | 11.1 Wh | 27.75 Wh |
| Vertical grip | Yes, MB-D10 | Yes, MB-D10 | Built in |
| Dimensions | 147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) | 147 x 123 x 77 mm (5.8 x 4.8 x 3.0 in) | 160 x 157 x 88 mm (6.3 x 6.2 x 3.4 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 825 g | 995 g | 1240 g |
| Weight (inc batt) | 903 g | 1075 g | 1420 g |
No comments:
Post a Comment