D700: A Review From Somebody Who Can’t Afford a D3

Prologue
This is what I call version 0.1 of the review.  It will probably evolve over time depending on how much procrastination has invaded my schedule.

Full-frame Goodness
I don’t mind Nikon sticking with DX.  I really don’t.  Physics and technology aside, the only thing you lose in DX lenses is the ability to have smaller depth of field.  Alas, had Nikon refused to go back to full-frame, it would have been probably impossible for them to design a sensor with such high ISO capability which almost left Canon crying in a corner.

Body design and Ergonomics
Coming from a D2x, the D700 is expected to be a step down.  The good news is that it retains the relatively-good build that was in the D200.  That said, one of my beef with the D200 is the excessive mirror slap noise and vibration, and unfortunately that loudness is still present…in fact, mirror slap is even louder with the D700.  Interestingly, though, the mirror shake is somewhat reduced with the newer body…but I’m too lazy to confirm with a more controlled test.

Autofocus
The engineers at Nikon are probably high-fiving each other to this day since the release of the first 51-point AF engine of the D3 camera, which is also found in the D700.  And they have reason to do so: it’s a huge improvement from the D2-series AF engine.  This is the ONLY AF where I could finally rely on the “big square AF mode” on the camera.

I have to give a big KUDOS to Nikon for providing the same AF engine for its top and middle-tier cameras (unlike Canon who decided to gimp the 5DII’s AF engine).  I hope this trend continues in the future product line of Nikon.

That being said, the AF engine is FAR from perfect.  I will resign to the fact that NO artificial-intelligence, lightning-fast AF engine is ever going to even come close to perfection…IF the camera does not know what the photographer is trying to focus on!  Now, with the 51-focus point AF engine, the camera can GUESS better and rather quickly, but once it is WRONG, it is very cumbersome to select the focus point.

Remember that eye-focus control that Canon has during the film era?  I’m a bit surprised that Canon did not invest on the resources to improve that feature.  I want that feature in the next iteration of Nikon’s AF engine.  I don’t really need to be able to select the exact focus point using my eye; at the very least, I would want to guid e the camera on the “general area” on where the focus should…um, focus on.

Oh, and one more thing:  Can you please bring back the focus points on the CORNERS?  KTHANXBAI.

Colors
The Standard Color profile of the camera is grossly inaccurate; the saturation is bumped up in such a way that one would think that everything is shot in perfect lighting in Neverland.  Colors are almost pastel-like…which, for the most practical purposes, makes photos better…I personally do not like it.

Even the “neutral profile mode” isn’t much neutral.

Nikon probably noticed it and decided to publish the D2X color mode…which, IMO, is as true to color as it can get.  It’s great that Nikon made it easy for users to upload color profiles.

Non-CPU Lens Support
I still have the 105/2.5 and 75-150/3.5 lenses that I will take to my grave.  And I applaud Nikon for it continued support for its manual focus lenses.  They even improved the way D700 supports old non-CPU lenses: you now have multiple save slots for several lenses.  As always, the focal length and aperture is also saved on your EXIF.

Live View
I don’t really care much about this.  I didn’t really care for this feature until got really interested in macro photography.  That said, IMO, the “tripod mode” produces too much vibration, since it flips the mirror not once, BUT TWICE.  There is not much getting around it though, since the Live View feature needs to have the mirror up to do its magic.
LCD screen
What’s not to like about the new screen?  Bigger, higher resolution, wider angle of view.  I want future Nikon DSLRs to implement resistive touch screen, less buttons.  Note that i asked for a resistive- and not a capacitive- touch screen (a la iPhone).  I resistive touch screen is needed, because we would need to be able to make touch screen responsive even with your gloves on.   However, I know for a reason why the iPhone went with a capacitive touch screen: more accurate clarity.  However, recent advancements in resistive touch screen has made it possible to get close to its capacitive brethren when it comes to clarity.
High ISO
I have a confession to make: I haven’t really felt hungry since I opened a D700 RAW file shot in ISO 3200 on my computer.  I totally ATE my words saying that I would never need anything beyond ISO 800.

I believe we now have the technology in digital photography whereby you use a flash for lighting effects, and not because you need it.

Consider this photo, which was shot using ISO 2500.  One can only hope that D2x at ISO 400 can shoot THIS good.


That CF camera door
I have complained about this with my D200 review, citing that the camera door design is–in a sense–retarded.  Thank goodness, Nikon caved in and copied Canon’s more sensible CF door design.

Is the 70-200VR a DX Lens?
I am probably treading dangerous waters inhabited by rabid Nikon fanboys.  I thoroughly dismissed the notion that a Nikon lens (an expensive lens at that!) could significantly perform worse from DX to FX.

I was wrong.

One of my beloved lenses is the 70-200VR lens.  AWESOME on DX (although it overexposes on my D200 on the telephoto end) especially on the D2x.

Two things that bothers me a bit: the severe vignetting on the telephoto end wide-open, and the the underwhelming sharpness when focussing towards infinity.   Consider the photo below:

Ugh!  that vignetting in the corners?  I did not add that.  As for the sharpness, close focus is fine, as long as you don’t compare with the ridiculously awesome 85/1.4, but going infinity is just stroke-inducing unless stopped down significantly.  I will conduct a test against my 85/1.4 and 105/2.5 as soon as possible to prove this point.
No Video Please
I am probably the only one who screamed “NOOOOOOoooooo!!!” when D90 came out with a capability to shoot HD video, which was then followed by Canon’s 5DII (upping up the ante) capability to shoot 1080p.

Look, guys, I know casual consumers are going to want more video capability…maybe even the ability to record in Dolby 5.1.  PLEASE invest more time in increasing the dynamic range of your sensors, and further refining your auto-focus engine.  If I wanted to record video, I would buy a video cam.  The SLR ergonomics was not intended for video recording…I wouldn’t be surprised  if Canon started using their DSLR chips on their high-end camcorders.  OH WAIT.

Conclusion
What can I say?  This camera is almost perfect.  Outside of the nit-picks about its ergonomics, the only thing one would think about upon acquiring one is “Why didn’t I get one sooner?”

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 at 1:46 am and is filed under Photography, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.