I recommend anyone thinking of going for an upgrade from the D200, forget the D300 and go straight for the D700 the extra cost is worth every penny. Try not to buy kit lenses although as a stop gap they will do a pretty good job. The camera only being as good as its lens, fast Sigma lenses go well with the D700. Buy and enjoy you will not be disappointed.
This is a professional camera: it is heavy, weather-sealed and sturdy. The D3 which costs almost double has a double CF-card slot (the D700 a single CF-card slot), a 300.000 rated shutter (instead of the D700′s 150.000), a 100% viewer (instead of the +/- 95% viewer of the D700), and better batteries. For me these differences weren’t worth the huge price difference. Note that the D700 resembles the D3 much more closely than the D200 resembled the D2x for instance. I didn’t think one second about the D300; I guess only auto-Dlighting would have been an advantage compared to the D200, but that certainly wouldn’t be sufficient to upgrade. Here therefore is a very happy D700 owner.
Manufacturer’s Description
The D700 extends Nikon’s range of FX format SLRs, incorporating groundbreaking technologies and performance into a discreetly-sized body. The highly sensitive 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor provides an (extendable) ISO range of 200 to 6400 and features a self-cleaning dust-reduction unit. Its EXPEED image processing engine enables the capture of images with superb detail and tonal gradation at up to 5 fps (8 fps with the optional MB-D10 battery pack and EN-EL4a battery). The advanced Scene Recognition System delivers superior exposures and is supported by Nikon’s acclaimed 51-point AF system, which offers outstanding tracking accuracy even in low light. The selectable Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing, saving time in post-production, and a high definition 3-inch LCD screen supports two Live View modes plus an HDMI video output. Protected by a tough, environmentally-sealed magnesium alloy body, the D700 is a perfectly-balanced DSLR that can handle the unexpected, wherever your photography takes you.
Product Description:
Nikon has launched a digital SLR camera that’s bound to make waves in the photography world ? the D700. The latest addition to Nikon’s range boasts a full-frame CMOS sensor (24 x 36 cm, equivalent to 135 mm in traditional cameras) for high definition images, even in low lighting conditions. In fact, its sensitivity goes from 200 to 6400 ISO in standard mode and from 100 to an amazing 25,600 ISO in custom mode. Because digital noise won”t interfere with your shots, you”re guaranteed superb pictures in the most difficult lighting conditions ? such as when you’re taking night time landscape shots or you want to capture the action at a concert. The D700′s exposure metering system means you can say goodbye to over- and under-exposured photos, too. Of course, you can monitor all your shots on its large 7.6-cm screen, or enjoy them on a big screen by hooking the camera up to an HD television via an HDMI socket. The D700 is compatible with most Nikon lenses, including AI and DX, so you can enjoy a wide viewing angle, and its sealed buttons and body in magnesium alloy make it particularly resistant to humidity and shocks. The D700′s high performance autofocus and various shooting modes, including a Liveview function, make this user-friendly camera a must-have for even the most demanding users.
The second FX format camera from Nikon, the Nikon D700 delivers the impeccable features of the Nikon D3 in the smaller body of the Nikon D300
