Still using the old D700...

S

simonankor

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The D700 has a well-deserved reputation as a classic workhorse. It's pretty much 80% of a D3, but these days that sensor is starting to look a bit dated. Nevertheless, I still use a D700 as my (only) DSLR and even when I'm shooting a show that really pushes the boundaries of that sensor, the results still amaze me.

I'll probably pick up a D3s soon for those times, but the D700 isn't going anywhere any time soon!

For most of this gig, I was stuck at 1/15s, f/2.8, 3200ISO. And that's a stop or two underexposed.

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Here's what I'll never understand

Here's what I'll never understand

Dear Simon,

I won't judge your photo on it's artistic merits. I figure you got what you wanted so it's fine for me.

Here is what I'll never get. It's most likely due to the fact that I am old and I tend to judge photos with my youthful eyes.

If you captured what you set out to capture is there any reason why a newer camera would make your picture better?

I'm not looking to start anything with my post. I'm just personally amazed by our inability as viewers to accept enough as enough?

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA :)
 
Tim Murphy said:
Here is what I'll never get. It's most likely due to the fact that I am old and I tend to judge photos with my youthful eyes.

If you captured what you set out to capture is there any reason why a newer camera would make your picture better?
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Certainly a valid point there, Tim. This show is a good example of the kind of conditions I find myself in with the D700 fairly often, and it's operating right on the edge of its performance envelope. I'm not upgrading in a hurry, but the D3s offers a handy compromise of relatively low price and better capabilities in extremely low light. That'll make the job a bit less stressful. The D700 will likely end up staying with an even faster wide-ish lens on it.

In the meantime the D700 is still an amazing workhorse for just about everything else.

This is more open personal musing than anything else :)
 
I sort of agree with Tim here ... I have a D700 in the cupboard that served me admirably for four years of shooting dimly lit gallery openings and was my regular daily shooter for a while. Nothing I have bought since including my D4 or M240 could have done a better job. All the trickery that the latest and greatest sensors and cameras are capable of is pretty much smoke and mirrors with a good dash of 21st century rampant consumerism for me. Only my opinion of course and no doubt there will plenty willing to disagree.
 
I still regularly use my D700. The only two areas in which it is at a disadvantage are its size (its big - especially when mounting pro lenses) and its smallish sensor count by comparison with the 24 meg and upward modern cameras like Sony's offerings. It still is the best thing I have for shooting low light images as I have not really had the need for a camera that shoots at say 25,000 ISO (1600 or 3200 is quite enough for practical purposes especially with any lens with image stabilization). The only reason I do not always carry it still is that when I travel and space and weight are at a premium, I prefer my Olympus OM D EM 5 and its lenses because of the small size. But I pay a price in terms of its relative inability to shoot in low light without excessive noise.

Here are a quad of night shots I made in 2012 in Hong Kong using the D700. Nothing to complain about there in terms of image noise etc. So I will keep my D700 unless it dies or I am seduced by something especially nice just because I feel frivolous.

The harbour - red sails at night by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Restaurant kitchen Kowloon by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Hong Kong harbour - night by Life in Shadows, on Flickr

Life on a Hong Kong Street 4 by Life in Shadows, on Flickr
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Nice shots Peter. I'm not into GAS myself and would easily consider a nice used D700 when I'm ready to go FX. It isn't like cameras get worse once a new model comes out :)

It's all about needs and the proper tool for the job.
 
Good shots there, all of them!

I'm still clicking away happily with my D700 as my only DSLR. It has never let me down. I was a bit interested in the Df, but not enough to buy one. I don't think I'd like it as much as my D700. I've never even bothered to look into the D750, or any of the others. I think I've got all I need.
 
My local shop has d700 bodies used for less than 400 bucks and I have seriously been considering getting one. I only use a digital for very specific things, and this would work just fine, I think.
 
The D700 is a fine camera. Have had one since new, bought in 2009. It can't compete with my D4 when it comes to extremely taxing performance, like shooting High School football games at night (under usually horrible lighting), where the D4 has better High ISO, faster focus tracking, and a bigger sensor. But if you're not shooting under those kind of conditions, the D700 does a fine job.

I also have found the D700, for whatever reason, is easier for me to accurately focus my old Nikkor MF glass, when compared to the D4. So it will stay in the stable.

Best,
-Tim
 
The D700 rocks. Mine has 275.000 actuations and has never faltered. There may be newer things around but this thing always delivers-
 
Thanks for bringing the subject of the D700 up

Thanks for bringing the subject of the D700 up

Dear Simon,

I just want to add that I appreciate that you mentioned the D700. I'm primarily a digital Canon shooter because I enjoy shooting birds and wildlife and I learned all my bad habits on Canon FD and EOS film gear back in the day.

However, I do own a Nikon D300 which I love for scenic and landscape shots. I did some Google research on the D700 and discovered it uses the same MB-10 grip as the D300.

I am a used buyer and that little tidbit is enough to make me consider buying a D700, as I greatly prefer the handling of a gripped camera.

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA :)
 
I'm still using my D7000, although it isn't full-frame. My point is that I will more than likely continue to use it, maybe buy the 10-20mm DX lens for it, just because, and enjoy myself. I'm not a professional, I do photography as a hobby and for fun, and so long as my gear does what I want, I don't need to have the latest camera on the block. Am I done buying photo gear? Nope. Next projected purchase is the Leica III SomethingOrOther in my local camera store case...

With best regards.

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
It's an indication of the D700's importance that it has generated a lot of threads here over the years ... if you go back there's a heap of them. Just when you think it has died down another one hits the main page and we are off praising it again. I've been here at RFF a long time now and to be honest I don't recall too many other digital cameras that have generated such a dedicated following and constant praise with almost zero criticism aside from possibly the weight and bulk.

Seriously, hats off to Nikon ... when they get it right they get it 'very' right! :)
 
Keith said:
It's an indication of the D700's importance that it has generated a lot of threads here over the years ... if you go back there's a heap of them. Just when you think it has died down another one hits the main page and we are off praising it again. I've been here at RFF a long time now and to be honest I don't recall too many other digital cameras that have generated such a dedicated following and constant praise with almost zero criticism aside from possibly the weight and bulk.

Seriously, hats off to Nikon ... when they get it right they get it 'very' right! :)
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Keith I think the praise and lack of criticism is largely due to the fact that the D700 is a plain, vanilla flavoured DSLR which does what it purports to do and does it well. No super new technology capacities (most of which never get used anyway by serious photographers), no video mode, no gimmicks, no gimcrackery just a plain, good, solid as a brick outhouse camera.
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This thread is making me feel better.

I recently acquired a D700 and it seems to be an adequate tool for my low light needs....so far.

Some of you may know that my only gripe with my particular D700 is the stench (perfume) the previous owner infused upon it. It sill stinks so bad I can only use it outdoors. How people can live in such conditions is beyond me. The guy must have poured a bottle of his perfume/cologne all over his body each day. Its that powerful even after months of treatments attempting to at least reduce the stench.

But, outside on a windy day (actually at night), I get good images of some industrial subjects. I love that part of the camera :)
 
rfaspen said:
This thread is making me feel better.

I recently acquired a D700 and it seems to be an adequate tool for my low light needs....so far.

Some of you may know that my only gripe with my particular D700 is the stench (perfume) the previous owner infused upon it. It sill stinks so bad I can only use it outdoors. How people can live in such conditions is beyond me. The guy must have poured a bottle of his perfume/cologne all over his body each day. Its that powerful even after months of treatments attempting to at least reduce the stench.

But, outside on a windy day (actually at night), I get good images of some industrial subjects. I love that part of the camera :)
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Problem fixed https://img.memesuper.com/7c52b8004...tons-appleorguk-peg-on-nose-meme_518-311.jpeg
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peterm1 said:
Keith I think the praise and lack of criticism is largely due to the fact that the D700 is a plain, vanilla flavoured DSLR which does what it purports to do and does it well. No super new technology capacities (most of which never get used anyway by serious photographers), no video mode, no gimmicks, no gimcrackery just a plain, good, solid as a brick outhouse camera.
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And very, very good with manual focus lenses ... I mainly use Zeiss ZFs on mine, 35mm f2 and 50mm f1.4. Probably just a hair behind my F6 for ease of focusing.

As you say Peter .... nothing it doesn't need, especially by today's standards where almost every DSLR or mirrorless is crammed with features that the majority of buyers will never use, ever! And absolutely zero point in selling at current value ... which is fine by me because I expect mine to soldier on for many years to come. :)
 
Great camera with great set of feature, even 9 years out. For me, there's not another Nikon that I would seriously consider upgrading to at present.
 
Count me as another satisfied Nikon customer. I'm forced to admit tho that my m43 gear meets most of my attention these days. I reach for the D700 only when I intend to use flash.
 
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