Choice- it must be the D700 mustn't it?

simonfw

simonfw

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Simon
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Im fed up of waiting and want to take the plunge!

Getting mixed reviews from the Canon 7d and the 5d mk2 is a great camera but AF not versatile enough.

Despite being curently in the Canon camp 40d - the D700 is calling. I see no D700 replacement for some time(does anyone know different?)

So tell me- I do a lot of studio work, some sports(football, horse racing) and low light concerts. My research points directly to the D700.

I would buy 50mm and 85 or 100mm+primes and the 70-300. D90 as a backup eventually.

Put me out of my misery am I doing the right thing?
 
I would suggest after the D300 & D3 had their minor facelifts the D700's facelift will not be too far away but to be honest both of those upgrades seem more like an excuse to increase the price than a genuine improvement. If you want to pay another £300-400 and get video and an "s" then you could wait but I wouldn't bother. The D700 is a crackingly good body and even if another is added in 4-5 months that will not change it.

Also the AFS50mm f/1.4 is superb. Cannot really comment about the 85mm but some people feel that they are both due a facelift and possibly AFS too. The AFS105mm f/2.8G is a brilliant prime and macro lens too.
 
Cheers

Sounds like good advice. I am becoming a fan of primes too.
 
I think so. The control of the d700 and its versatility would be a big advantage.
 
Considering the cost of changing, the new Canon 1D4 is surely a contender. From the spec it will do everything you want and might even pip the D700 as a great all-rounder. I'd say the choice hinges around the format - 1.3x crop or full frame.

Even if a D700 replacement is announced tomorrow, it will be months before you get it, at a very high price, and it will not make the D700 any worse!

If you've set your heart of a D700, and who can blame you, go for it. One thing's for sure, it will blitz a 40D for your list of wants and I can't imagine that you would want to replace it on the basis of need for a long time to come.
 
I did it from a 20D.

Do it, you wont regret it!
I dont know how improved the 40D AF is, but the D700 is light years ahead of the AF in my 20D.
I aslo prefer the ergonomics of the Nikon bodies
 
check the ergonomics!

I have no real brand allegiance and when I got a D3 in my grubby mitts a couple of weeks ago I was appalled. I'm female and have quite small hands and although I use a 1Ds just fine I could not handle the D3, the grip is much bigger so I could not get the camera properly stable and I sure as heck could not reach any of the controls even if I could hold it. The external dimensions of both cameras are not a million miles apart but that grip makes the D3 (for me) unusable.

So anytime anyone here buys a camera, please go and spend some time handling it first. :)
 
AliB said:
check the ergonomics!

I have no real brand allegiance and when I got a D3 in my grubby mitts a couple of weeks ago I was appalled. I'm female and have quite small hands and although I use a 1Ds just fine I could not handle the D3, the grip is much bigger so I could not get the camera properly stable and I sure as heck could not reach any of the controls even if I could hold it. The external dimensions of both cameras are not a million miles apart but that grip makes the D3 (for me) unusable.

So anytime anyone here buys a camera, please go and spend some time handling it first. :)
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I agree with this, I would happily move up to a D700, ergonomically its not too different to the D300, but a D3 is beyond me for more reasons than cost alone - shear physical size/weight.

However, as for your question of moving across, once you have handled a D700 and are sure you like it, I see no reason why not. As has already been said, even if an 's' does appear, it won't suddenly make the non s version a bad camera. Its a very very good camera and should fulfil your needs for sometime to come. You could also look at a D300 as a backup in the future as prices start to drop, which would feel the same in your hands and have very similar layout/controls.
 
40d is a better studio camera than the d700.
the d700 is better for weddings etc.

if you think the d700 will beat your 40d in the studio you will be in for a shock.
im a 40d owner and will be getting a d700 for outdoor work but it wont even see the studio.
 
Why on earth wouldn't a D700 not be any use in a studio? :thinking:
 
and me - but also why would you run to systems one for studio and one for other work? - you lose all interchangability and back up options that way
 
Willo said:
There is a new Nikon 85mm coming out but bizzarely it's a DX format.
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There is also a new 85mm and 24mm in the pipeline, patents have been filed, the thoughts/rumours/internet chat is that the 85mm is a new f1.4 with VR.
 
Martyn... said:
There is also a new 85mm and 24mm in the pipeline, patents have been filed, the thoughts/rumours/internet chat is that the 85mm is a new f1.4 with VR.
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not bothered about the VR but an update to the 85 1.4 is very high on my wish list
 
Thje Nikkor 85mm that's due out soon is (according to AP) the snappily named AF-S DX Micro Nikkor f/3.5G VR and will cost £499.99. Apparently it will hit the high street on 4th December.

As for the possibility of an upgrade to the D700, well, if you're not in any hurry to do the change, wait as long as you want to or dare to see if it's announced then read up on the specifications - specifically where it's upgraded from the D700. IF you thing the upgrades are worth the extra cost over the older D700 then get the upgraded version, if not then wait for the possible price drop of the "standard" D700.
 
Depending on what glass you have a second hand 1ds MKIII might be the running. A used 1d MKIII falls well within your budget and has been used in the studio for the past few years without issue...
 
Nod said:
Thje Nikkor 85mm that's due out soon is (according to AP) the snappily named AF-S DX Micro Nikkor f/3.5G VR and will cost £499.99. Apparently it will hit the high street on 4th December.
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According to Thom Hogan, a respected commentator on all things Nikon

The 85mm DX has one of the most impressive MTF curves for any Nikkor lens. If you get a copy of this lens that isn't edge-to-edge sharp wide open, then QC is the problem, not the lens design.


The missing lenses. Let me state this up front: we pretty much know there's new 24mm and 85mm primes in the pipeline. Heck, so far into the pipeline that the specs are well known. But for some reason we're suddenly getting US patents filed for lenses prior to announcement. I think that indicates that Nikon has slowed putting lenses into production (more on that in a bit). I know of at least three other lenses that should be in production, as well, but that we've had no announcement for. The funny thing is, the great companies keep product cycles cranking through recessions. Indeed, they often introduce entirely new product lines (consider Apple introducing the iPod during the previous recession). So a message to Nikon: if you've got the goods, deliver them. The users are waiting. A new 85mm AF-S VR would sell out the first production run, so what's with the caution? So far this year, Nikon has announced fewer lenses than expected (5 announced, 7+ expected). This leads us to believe one of three scenarios is active: (a) there's another announcement coming late this year; (b) Nikon has slowed launches, probably due to economy-based cautiousness; or (c) Nikon's glass production is once again constrained, and putting sold-out lenses back into production has pushed back the introduction of new lenses. I personally think it's mostly C with a bit of B thrown in, which means we may actually see A late in the year.
 
awp said:
Why on earth wouldn't a D700 not be any use in a studio? :thinking:
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its of use the 40d is just better in the studio.
the d700 images dont lend themselves to skin in the way the 40d;s do.

its as simple as that, youd have to photoshop a d700 image to get the same skin tones.
same goes for the D3

Try it and see.
 
mart77 said:
its of use the 40d is just better in the studio.
the d700 images dont lend themselves to skin in the way the 40d;s do.

its as simple as that, youd have to photoshop a d700 image to get the same skin tones.
same goes for the D3

Try it and see.
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Which in camera "picture control settings" are you using on the D700 / D3 for portrait / people shots?
 
mart77 said:
its of use the 40d is just better in the studio.
the d700 images dont lend themselves to skin in the way the 40d;s do.

its as simple as that, youd have to photoshop a d700 image to get the same skin tones.
same goes for the D3

Try it and see.
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Surely thats a matter of taste/preference, not any fault with the camera. Certainly never heard of any Nikon's having 'skin tone' problems, and certainly not from my D300 which is pretty accurate in terms of studio reproduction :shrug:
 
AliB said:
The external dimensions of both cameras are not a million miles apart but that grip makes the D3 (for me) unusable.

So anytime anyone here buys a camera, please go and spend some time handling it first. :)
Click to expand...

Yv said:
I agree with this, I would happily move up to a D700, ergonomically its not too different to the D300, but a D3 is beyond me for more reasons than cost alone - shear physical size/weight.
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That is why we plumped for the D700 over the D3,Mrs Frac uses it a lot and prefers the smaller size of the D700.

She has got used to small sized things over the years.........:D,
 
mart77 said:
its of use the 40d is just better in the studio.
the d700 images dont lend themselves to skin in the way the 40d;s do.

its as simple as that, youd have to photoshop a d700 image to get the same skin tones.
same goes for the D3

Try it and see.
Click to expand...

Our university has a D700 which is exclusively for use in the studio and it performs brilliantly. Admitedly I'm not familiar with all things Nikon myself but it performs very well and is often used by photographers in the area using the university studio and equipment, as far as I know there have been no problems with them, even when the images they take are for commercial purpopses and when students print very large banner prints for projects.

Tom N.
 
Flash In The Pan said:
:thinking:

D700 £1700
1DMKIV £4500

:shrug:

:naughty:
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The total cost of change, including the extra lenses and extra body the OP mentioned...

mart77 said:
40d is a better studio camera than the d700.
the d700 is better for weddings etc.
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Interesting comment. Borderly on the ludicrous.

Merovingian said:
Not withstanding Flash's point, why would you even advise moving from a 40D to a 1dmk4 !?:shrug:
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Because the 1D4 is a better camera in every aspect :shrug:
 
HoppyUK said:
The total cost of change, including the extra lenses and extra body the OP mentioned...
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Yeah but....

D700 + D90 +50mm+85mm f/1.8+70-300VR would be around £3300-3500 less whatever the 40D and Canon glass the op already has are worth.

That would surely be cheaper than buying the 1DMkIV, even if he got nothing for his Canon gear I reckon he'd still be around £1000 better off,in fact even buying f/1.4 versions of the 50 and 85 he'd still be quids in.

Add the 40D etc back in and I reckon you could swap the 70-300 for a 70-200 f/2.8 and still have change...:D
 
Flash In The Pan said:
Yeah but....

D700 + D90 +50mm+85mm f/1.8+70-300VR would be around £3300-3500 less whatever the 40D and Canon glass the op already has are worth.

That would surely be cheaper than buying the 1DMkIV, even if he got nothing for his Canon gear I reckon he'd still be around £1000 better off,in fact even buying f/1.4 versions of the 50 and 85 he'd still be quids in.

Add the 40D etc back in and I reckon you could swap the 70-300 for a 70-200 f/2.8 and still have change...:D
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£3k, £4k, what's a grand? :)

Especially when the OP never mentioned budget.
 
Interesting thread I have a 40D and considering the D700 as 1D mkIV was going to be out of budget and the 5D II does not have fast enough fps. Canon then brought out the 7D great I thought but it has some ghosting issues so I am going to wait and see what happens there before making a decision. Especially as you would be out of pocket changing all the glass and I think generally Nikon lenses cost more
 
If you need the sport photography more, I would support the DX/ APS-C more than the FF. Nikon D300s, Canon 5D MII should be more suitable than the FF. I believe that they all work well in studio. Is there anyone argue the Fuji Sx pro on Studio photography? They are APS-c.

The question is, when and why should we use FF? apart from it is easier to find good old lens.
 
longlyogre said:
If you need the sport photography more, I would support the DX/ APS-C more than the FF. Nikon D300s, Canon 5D MII should be more suitable than the FF. I believe that they all work well in studio. Is there anyone argue the Fuji Sx pro on Studio photography? They are APS-c.

The question is, when and why should we use FF? apart from it is easier to find good old lens.
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The 5DMkII is full frame?.

Lens built for FF or 35mm film will all work on DX format cameras although you may loose AF, but thats not a format (FX/DX)issue
 
The D700 is a fantastic camera. It's still the best body to be had new for under £3K.

No good for studio use? Rubbish - according to Nikon's own design team, the D700 was developed specifically with studio photography in mind. D3 is for sports and news shooters who need high FPS.

Need video in your SLR? Wait a few years until they get autofocus and picture stability properly sorted. For now you're better with a specialist unit. If you want to do the odd 'talking head' interview then a DSLR will give you attractive shallow DoF. Are you really going to use it, or will it be a trendy 'white elephant' feature?

If you want a quality DSLR now to take photos with, which will shoot in low light at usable shutter speeds and has access to the most extensive range of lenses in the World, the D700 is the body for you.

You will love it.
 
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