D3 v D700

benners

benners

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Ben
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hey everyone

Is there much difference between a D3 and D700, particular in terms of processor/iso capability, etc.?

trying to weigh up either getting a secondhand D3 or new gripped D700... both come in about the same price.

main uses for camera are events (indoor/outdoor), weddings, landscapes... bit of everything really. any thoughts most welcome!
 
Same image quality. The D700 has sensor cleaning built in as well as a pop up flash which can be used to trigger speed lights off camera. Can also take the grip off if you don't always want the size for travelling light etc. Those were the things that swung it for me.
 
Is the grip important to you? Personally have never liked them so would go for the D700 myself. If it is important, then D3 is actually smaller than a gripped 700. Yes there are difference between the 2 like the flash, d3 controls etc... but as a rule are pretty much the same.
 
The d700 only has a 95% view finder. A minor issue but worth knowing about.
 
great replies, thanks guys, just the kind of thing I was after...

so the ISO should be the same on both?
I do like the grip, I do quite a bit of quick portrait shooting (concerts) so it's handy to have the basic controls in that format.

have recently bought a decent compact for travelling... it'll be all or nothing, not taking DSLRs on holidays again, far too much hassle ;)

currently using D90 as a second/backup, but always grimace if I have to use it as I know the results won't be as good - so after equal-ish bodies so i can switch quickly between 24-70 & 70-200 for example without sacrificing quality.
 
benners said:
currently using D90 as a second/backup, but always grimace if I have to use it as I know the results won't be as good - so after equal-ish bodies so i can switch quickly between 24-70 & 70-200 for example without sacrificing quality.
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I used a D90 as backup/2nd body to a D700 for a while and feel your pain, I was going to get another D700 but took a chance on a low-use D3 and am well impressed - fits my hand much better, feels better balanced all round and feels faster and more responsive next to the D700. Might be my imagination but the AF system seems faster and more accurate. Love the 100% VF, dual card slots are great for wedding backup on the fly, and the portrait grip is great to have, although the AF on button is a bit oddly placed that way round. Frame rate is much faster. The battery seems to last forever. Button layout is slightly different and takes a bit of getting used to, but as an overall package it is superb. IQ is the same as the D700 but the build quality, ergonomics and responsiveness are well worth the extra I reckon. Plus you get cool blue LCD backlights too :thumbs:

You know, it used to feel odd going from the hefty D700 to the D90 when switching bodies, the D90 felt small and toy-like next to the D700. The D3 seems to have that effect on the D700 now :lol:
 
everything should be the same except the d3 viewfinder is 100% the d3 also has a shutter rated to 300,000, also the d3 does 9fps, and the d700 does 8fps with the batery grip and aas or the en-el4 battery same as d3 battery. the d700 also has sensor cleaning feature.
other than that image quality is the same high iso is the same.
 
Actually just had a dig around, seems the D3 AF is faster than the D700, lot of users say as much and tests back this up.
 
top info :thumbs:

sounds like it's going to be more of a features/feel decision rather than anything too technical if they are, internally/IQ, very similar machines.

i got my D700 new, when it had 20% off at Currys, so got a cracking deal on that. but don't think that'll happen again, so a used D3 or used D700+grip seems to be the way to go, for almost identical prices.
 
scottthehat said:
everything should be the same except the d3 viewfinder is 100% the d3 also has a shutter rated to 300,000
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Yes it does, but have you not noticed the large number (consider how rare a camera it is) that come up for sale with 50-60k on them advertised as "new shutter fitted"?
 
scottthehat said:
might be right like the d700 is faster then the d300.

i know the d3s is faster than the d700.
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Yes, the D3S was tested as being fastest of all, followed by D3, then D700/D3X, then D300. Test data is on the DPReview forums, not hard to find.
 
jpw said:
Actually just had a dig around, seems the D3 AF is faster than the D700, lot of users say as much and tests back this up.
Click to expand...

I shoot D700. Recently borrowed my mates D3. Autofocus is quicker. I noticed it straightaway.
 
yup, quicker AF for sure as it has a much bigger motor though the processing engine is supposed to be the same.

D3s is lighter than D3 which is lighter than d700 unless you put a grip on the D700 in which case it's larger and heavier than both the D3 and the D3s

Multiple card slots in the D3/D3s compared to one in the D700

ISO wise it's the same as the D3 but quite a few stops behind the D3s. Biggest things I notice when shooting wildlife are: AF speed, FPS and buffer size apart from that for normal holiday use (what mine normally gets used for) then it's great
 
ok... so I know it's a bit of a generalisation, but what would you go for given the choice:

- D700 + grip
- D3

:)
 
benners said:
ok... so I know it's a bit of a generalisation, but what would you go for given the choice:

- D700 + grip
- D3

:)
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If your talking used it'd have to be the D3
 
trevorbray said:
If your talking used it'd have to be the D3
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i think it'll have to be used... a new, gripped D700 is going to be the thick end of 2000k, SH about 1400.
used D3 about 1700.
 
I have heard that the hotshoe on the D3 is better than the D700 hotshoe. I have noticed that there is a small amount of play when the SB-910 is fitted to my D700 but I have not had any of the randomly fired flashes that some people have talked about with the D700.

I've not used a D3 but have heard that the construction quality is better than the D700. I have noticed that the price of a used D3 is not much different from that of a new D700 so I might even sell my D700 if I could get a decent used D3.
 
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boliston said:
I have heard that the hotshoe on the D3 is better than the D700 hotshoe. I have noticed that there is a small amount of play when the SB-910 is fitted to my D700 but I have not had any of the randomly fired flashes that some people have talked about with the D700.

I've not used a D3 but have heard that the construction quality is better than the D700. I have noticed that the price of a used D3 is not much different from that of a new D700 so I might even sell my D700 if I could get a decent used D3.
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Thought about that myself,now with the new D4 coming hoping that i might be able to pick up an D3s,at a good price soon :)
 
hmm this is a tough one! i think it really is splitting hairs for me. i don't think any of the features of one over the other matter a great deal to me:

- 8 or 9 fps doesn't concern me for how I use the camera
- I would always have the D700 gripped, I just prefer it that way
- pop-up flash could be useful as a master, but I have a D700 anyway (this purchase is as a second body)

so on one hand, the D3 could be a sensible choice, as I then have the best of both worlds from a body.

on the other hand, I have a stock of batteries for my current D700/D90, which wouldn't be compatible in a D3

:thinking:
 
Adding a second D700 is a pretty good move. Seamless transition if you shoot with 2 bodies at the same time. However...I shoot equestrian with mine and I have to say I preferred using my mates D3 over my D700. Just wish I could afford to buy it from him. And keep D700 for backup.
 
I don't know/understand much about Nikon cameras, but something to consider is how you will be using it:
Using both cameras I'd go for 2 the same, or at least 2 with the same controls.
Using for different uses, would a cropped sensor be better, that way you get the best of both worlds, extra reach etc.
 
Craikeybaby said:
I don't know/understand much about Nikon cameras, but something to consider is how you will be using it:
Using both cameras I'd go for 2 the same, or at least 2 with the same controls.
Using for different uses, would a cropped sensor be better, that way you get the best of both worlds, extra reach etc.
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yep, gone through all that debate and arrived at the question in the title :thumbs:
 
As the owner and still using the first D3 in private hands in the country (it was launched at Focus on the Satrday - mine was delivered to my house the previous Wednesday, along with the then new version 300 f2.8. I have used that camera solidly since then (4 years is it?) I have no idea how many shutter firings it has had (a lot) I can find out if someone tells me - it is perfect and it has had a hard life.

Things about the D3. I am happy to go with ONE charged battery for a week shooting features. I did 18 bike features and 2 fishing features last year on a week to Ireland. Something like 2000 pictures, on the one battery. That same battery still holds its charge - I don't have spare batteries, but I have got a second D3 which I bought maybe two years ago. When I did the Bering Sea/Bering Strait expedition this year I took both bodies, but there was nowhere to charge them and they came home still with about 1/2 charge left on each, so don't worry about battery life, provided you don't keep looking at the screen every five minutes or focussing the lenses from near to far every shot.

I have no reason to change the D3 for anything more modern. It is more camera than is needed for any editorial usage, and is more than adequate for most advertising these days. Built rugged to take the rough and tumble of a working life - mine spend much of their time afloat on the sea, the saltwater atmosphere hasn't affected them, the old one has been doused many times from sea water spray - a quick wash off with fresh water is all it has had and the flash contacts are still fine.

Get a D3 with confidence. The fact it doesn't have sensor shaking doesn't matter if you use good lens changing technique. ALWAYS turn the camera off before changing lenses. Turn your back to the wind and don't hang about with lens off the front. In a very dusty atmosphere I would stick with the two lenses, one on each and make do. OR have a bag or something to change lenses inside to keep the flying dust out. A blower will do the same job as a shaky sensor anyway - the dust might come off the sensor, but where does it go?

I am sticking with my pair of D3 bodies for the foreseeable future. They will last me another couple of years easily, by which time things will have moved on again!
 
great post lensflare... the balance swings once again!
 
If you definitely want 2 full frame I'd suggest another D700, same controls, same batteries, same charger etc.
 
Craikeybaby said:
If you definitely want 2 full frame I'd suggest another D700, same controls, same batteries, same charger etc.
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now this is the voice of reason!
that would be the most logical choice i think... would be 'nice to say' i have a d3, but if to all intents and purposes the d700 is an equal, then being able to share batteries/identical controls, etc. might be sensible
 
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