Need Nikon DSLR help....

I own a D700, D300 and D200. I would recommend the D700 if you like to use lenses with a wide angle-of-view. The D7000 will be significantly lighter and somewhat smaller. Both have moisture/dust sealing. The D7000 has more megapixels. The D7000 uses a different AF system. Reviews claim the D7000 AF is performs as well as the D3/D700/system. I do know the D700/300 AF is superb. Nikon's RGB matrix metering is also useful for both metering accuracy and AF lock on with subjects in motion. The D7000 has a 100% finder while the D700 has a 95% finder. The D700 finder is bright and may be better than the D7000's as it is larger (but I don't know if this is so). Both bodies are compatible with ~98% of Nikons' AI, AIS, AF, AF-S lenses.

I think the choice is really about lens selection and subject matter. What lenses do you own and what lenses would you plan to buy? If my D300 was stolen, I would replace it with a D700 because of the type of photography I do. If my D700 was stolen I would just get another D700 immediately. The D700 will be replaced. But I would not wait. Even if the D700 replacement was announced next week, it would take months before you could get one... and it may cost more.

If you are leaning towards DX, and if low-light performance is not critical, I would think hard about a used D300 or D300S. If you can find a reliable source, the D300 is an excellent camera. It is about 1 to 1.5 stops noisier than the D700/7000. The D300 does not take movies.
 
GSNfan said:
The D7000 sensor despite being APS-C scored the same as D700 on DXO rating, its high ISO performance is on par with D700. Its also top of its class right now, so it has a few years to go before its replacement is released.

Go for the D7000.
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I'm sorry but this is wrong. The d7000 did indeed get the same OVERALL score as the D700 HOWEVER the high iso performance is NOT on par with the D700. Look at some of the images posted in reviews, notably DP reviews. Even in DXO's review the D700 scores near double.
DXO gives you an idea of a sensors performance but the pictures tell the real story. At 1600 the 7000 is losing ground already and at 3200 it's no contest as the 7000's fine detail is completely lost. 6400 forget it.
The D3s/D3/D700 sensors are still the best available for this kind of work.
The D7000 looks great but it's not in D700 land for high iso.
 
Thanks to all for the replies, so much great info I really appreciate it. The D70 has been so good for me the last 5 years and I've been wanting a full frame offering from Nikon so at this point the D700 is very appealing. The D7000 is no slouch and if I decide to go with it I'm sure I'd be very satisfied. Just to elaborate a little on my glass I have:
Nikkor AF 18-35, 35-105, 70-210, 24/2.8, 35/2.0, 50/1.8, 60/2, 85/1.8 and 200/f4 so I do have exceptional Nikon glass. The 2 Dx lenses are the 18-70 G and the Sigma 10-20. The AIS I have are AIS 35-70, 28/2.850/1.4, and 105/2.5. Thanks again to everyone, keep them coming!
 
Nothing beats full frame. I'd rather the most basic, old, creaky, slow, plasticky full frame body than even the newest, highest tech, best IQ crop body.

D700 is an amazing camera.
 
Whoa... lots of good lenses.

Are you planning to keep the FA and F100? Makes the choice easier to go full frame, I would think.

Your fixed lenses are particularly good and the 18-35 and 70-210 (AF-D?) are no slouches. The AI-S lenses are still probably as good the current stuff and made better - that 28mm is still their best (and still made).

On the other hand, if you sold all the full frame stuff, kept the Sigma 10-20 and the 35/2 and got a 55-200mm or 55-300mm you'd be made in D7000 ville. Your accountant would love you.

But, I'd love to hang the stuff you already have on a full frame, instead.

Have fun with it.

-Charlie
 
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looking the glass list, D700 would be perfect pair to your F100.

its heavy, which is only reason I havent got one (yet).
 
bigeye said:
Whoa... lots of good lenses.

Are you planning to keep the FA and F100? Makes the choice easier to go full frame, I would think.

Your fixed lenses are particularly good and the 18-35 and 70-210 (AF-D?) are no slouches. The AI-S lenses are still probably as good the current stuff and made better - that 28mm is still their best (and still made).

On the other hand, if you sold all the full frame stuff, kept the Sigma 10-20 and the 35/2 and got a 55-200mm or 55-300mm you'd be made in D7000 ville. Your accountant would love you.

But, I'd love to hang the stuff you already have on a full frame, instead.

Have fun with it.

-Charlie
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Thanks for your response bigeye, the 70-210 is not a D but is outstanding. I feel that this glass is pretty good and would fit very nicely with FF. I will have fun with this and make my decision soon, if I decide to go with the 700 it might take another month to accumulate the difference between FF and Dx. I will keep the F100 and the FA ( and FM3A) couldn't possibly get rid of them.
:)
 
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"I use both AF Nikkors and AI & AIS Nikkors, but not at the same time. I do AF via the back button which is enough different from manually focussing that I prefer to keep them separate".


JSU, I agree with your comments but I don't know exactly what this quote means, can you explain? Thanks. Tony
 
As mentioned the D700 is a little heavy but the ergonomics make up for it.

With that lens selection you already have the D700 is a no brainer IMO ... just buy one and be amazed as most people are when they get this camera. I couldn't believe how clean the files were at 6400 when I first got mine!
 
I had no DX lens but lots of the other variety so went with the D700. You seem to be in a similar position.

Bob
 
With all that glass for FX and only two DX lenses, it's the D700 hands down. If the replacement comes, don't bother. This camera has been out in the market for over two years and there are no known bugs (like the Green Light of Death for the D70). The D7000 may be less expensive, but you don't get to use your 24mm f2.8 at full.

I too have been a happy user of a D700 since November 08, when I got it together with the AF-S 24-70 f2.8. To this date, my only quibble with the camera is that the rubber cover is beginning to come off both, the body and the zoom ring in the lens. Other than that, it's a joy to use. Check out my D700 blog and find out!

Believe me, if you're an F100 user, the D700 will feel quite familiar in your hands.

Take care!
 
I have to agree, the D700 is a no brainer! Especially with all the FX glass I have. I want to thank everyone's input here to help reinforce my decision. To everyone a tip of the old pork pie hat and a very large thank you, you guys here are the BEST!
Tony
 
I took the plunge and have a D700 on the way should arrive this Wednesday! Will immediately read the instruction book and start to play with this one.
 
Don't forget to load it with the d2x profile! very similar to portrait but even nicer for skin tones in colour. Available on the Nikon website for download. Congratulations, you wont regret it.
 
That instruction book is a long and lonely read. The only down side of any modern camera. Hope you enjoy the D700 as much as I have.

Bob
 
I'am sure you will enjoy the d700. Eventhough I really do not like mine. To me, it's a big, heavy, ugly beast. The d700 is pretty much everything a nice camera should not be.
But then again the IQ is just amazing. If you're into low/-availablelight-photography, this thing is what you want to use.


Don't get me wrong, eventhough I do not like the d700, I used mine extensively, took it everywhere i went & shot many many frames with it. I just happen to like my Leica much better. :)
 
The instruction book is best left in the drawer IMO and use the PDF version via a computer where it's far easier to navigate through sections that are relevant to what you actually want to do.

The damned paper version is like 'War and Peace!' :eek:

While the usual menus within menus can seem intimidating initially it eventually starts to make sense and is really fairly logical.
 
I must admit to not reading the manual. Had it nearly 2 years and I only look something up if it's needed. I just set mine to A, auto iso at 200 with 6400 max and min speed 1/100. RAW. I did load the D2X profile for nicer skin colour. Sharpening 5 and nearly everything else as standard.
 
I think the best way to "learn" a camera is to just take and fiddle with it, anyways. Digital cameras make this even easier & cheaper.

Just go ahead and take out the manual only if you want to look up something really specific. :)
 
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