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Nikon D700 Comparison Review

The Nikon D700 is a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera that was announced in July 2008 and is equipped with a full frame sensor. It offers a resolution of 12.1 megapixel.

camera

Is the Nikon D700 a good camera? The D700 has a Camera Elo of 1602. This rating puts the D700 below average of all digital single lens reflex cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (full frame cameras), the D700 also ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 2.5-star performance rating. – Well, the Nikon D700 is more than 15 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2008.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D700
Digital single lens reflex
Nikon F mount lenses
12.1 MP, Full Frame Sensor
no Video
ISO 200 - 6 400 (100 - 25 600)
Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 922k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
8 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body
1000 shots per battery charge
147 x 123 x 77 mm, 1 074 g

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

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Body comparison with a credit card

An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Nikon D700 vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Nikon D700 vs credit card front
D700 versus credit card top view
D700 and credit card rear side

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Nikon D700 alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
#   Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D700 147 mm 123 mm 77 mm 1074 g 1000 Y Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 5D 152 mm 113 mm 75 mm 895 g 400 Y Aug 2005 3,299ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D810 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 980 g 1200 Y Jun 2014 3,299ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon Df 144 mm 110 mm 67 mm 760 g 1400 Y Nov 2013 2,749ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D800 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 1000 g 900 Y Feb 2012 2,999ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D800E 146 mm 123 mm 82 mm 1000 g 900 Y Feb 2012 3,299ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D3S 160 mm 157 mm 88 mm 1240 g 4200 Y Oct 2009 5,199ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D3X 160 mm 157 mm 88 mm 1260 g 4400 Y Dec 2008 7,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D3 160 mm 157 mm 88 mm 1300 g 4300 Y Aug 2007 4,999ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D300 147 mm 114 mm 74 mm 925 g 1000 Y Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Nikon D700 was launched in the US market at a price of $2,999. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

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Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Nikon D700 features a full frame sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.0. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Nikon D700 among the large-sensor cameras that aim for top notch image quality.

Nikon D700 sensor measures

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for most cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of alternatives.

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Sensor Characteristics
#   Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D700 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832none23.512.2230380
2.
 
Canon 5D Full Frame 12.7 4368 2912none22.911.1136871
3.
 
Nikon D810 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60p25.714.8285397
4.
 
Nikon Df Full Frame 16.2 4928 3280none24.613.1327989
5.
 
Nikon D800 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.314.4285395
6.
 
Nikon D800E Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/30p25.614.3297996
7.
 
Nikon D3S Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832720/24p23.512.0325382
8.
 
Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.278770
9.
 
Nikon D3X Full Frame 24.4 6048 4032none24.713.7199288
10.
 
Nikon D3 Full Frame 12.1 4256 2832none23.512.2229081
11.
 
Nikon D300 APS-C 12.2 4288 2848none22.112.067967
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It should be noted that unlike many modern cameras, the D700 does not provide the possibility to capture videos.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the D700 has an optical viewfinder that provides a field of view of 95% and a magnification of 0.72x. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D700 and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
#   Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D700optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon 5Doptical Y2.5 / 230 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s n n
3.
 
Nikon D810optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s Y n
4.
 
Nikon Dfoptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s n n
5.
 
Nikon D800optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D800Eoptical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 4.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D3Soptical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
8.
 
Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D3Xoptical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 5.0/s n n
10.
 
Nikon D3optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 11.0/s n n
11.
 
Nikon D300optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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One convenient feature of the D700 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

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Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D700 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
#   Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D700Y- / ---mini2.0---
2.
 
Canon 5DY- / ----2.0---
3.
 
Nikon D810Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0Y--
4.
 
Nikon DfY- / ---mini2.0---
5.
 
Nikon D800Ymono / monoYYmini3.0---
6.
 
Nikon D800EYmono / monoYYmini3.0---
7.
 
Nikon D3SYstereo / ---mini2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
9.
 
Nikon D3XY- / ---mini2.0---
10.
 
Nikon D3Y- / ---mini2.0---
11.
 
Nikon D300Y- / ---mini2.0---
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Further information on the features and operation of the D700 can be found in the free online Nikon D700 Manual or on the Nikon support site.

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Expert reviews

While the specs-based evaluation of cameras is instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D700 handle or perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

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Review Scores
#    Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D700..89/100..+ +4.5/54.5/5 Jul 2008 2,999ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 5D..88/100..+ +o.. Aug 2005 3,299ebay.com
3.
 
Nikon D8105/5..5/586/1005/54.5/5 Jun 2014 3,299ebay.com
4.
 
Nikon Df4/5....81/1004/54/5 Nov 2013 2,749ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D8005/5+ +..82/1005/55/5 Feb 2012 2,999ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D800E......84/1005/55/5 Feb 2012 3,299ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D3S5/5....89/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2009 5,199ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 1,799ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D3X......86/1004/55/5 Dec 2008 7,999ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D3......+ +5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 4,999ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D300..+ +..+ +5/54.5/5 Aug 2007 1,799ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Nikon D700 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D700.

What technology is the imaging sensor in the Nikon D700 based on?

The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D700 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Nikon equipped the D700 with the EXPEED image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D700?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-25600.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D700?

Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 150 000 actuations for the D700. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D700 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 150 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D700?

Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D700 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.

Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Nikon D700?

No, the Nikon D700 has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.

Does the Nikon D700 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D700 for flash photography?

The D700's flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Which battery does the Nikon D700 use?

The camera gets its power from the EN-EL3e (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Nikon D700?

Yes, Nikon offers the MB-D10 as an optional accessory to facilitate shooting in portrait orientation and to provide additional battery power.

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review with another camera, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Nikon D700
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses
    Launch Date July 2008
    Launch Price USD 2 999
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CMOS
    Sensor Format Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 36.0 x 23.9 mm
    Sensor Area 860 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 12.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4 256 x 2 832 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 8.43 μm
    Pixel Density 1.40 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video
    ISO Setting 200 - 6 400 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 25 600 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 80
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 23.5
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.2
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 2303
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.72x
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 8 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy150 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer Built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium CF cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi
    Body Specs
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed body
    Battery Type EN-EL3e power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)1000 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 147 x 123 x 77 mm
    (5.8 x 4.8 x 3.0 in)
    Camera Weight 1 074 g (37.9 oz)

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