[Dave]

With both being full frame what is going to be the main difference between D700 vs D3 ? Price of course being the main one, but how are Nikon going to protect sales of the D3.

Interesting times ahead

Nikon D700 vs Canon 5D MKII

Nikon D700 announced

D700 review

Main differences are the D700 has :-

* Lighter & smaller body
* Lower shutter rate 5.0 fps or 8.0 fps with optional MB-D10
* Built-in iTTL flash
* Smaller battery
* Expanded Function button options
* Same shutter life as D300
* Image Sensor cleaning
* Single CF slot
* No information panel on rear
* 95% coverage, 0.72x viewfinder

[VinnyP]

.. and the D700 will have the same focusing systen as the D3 as well. It will only have one Expeed processor so expect it to be limited in frame rate to about the same figures as the D300. I think it will sell like hot cakes.

[JMitchell]

Limited Vinny?

[VinnyP]

Originally Posted by JMitchell

Limited Vinny?

I know when you look at what was state of the art. But I suppose 2.5 FPs at 14 bit can be limiting. It also slows down a bit if you use things like Auto ISO or Active D-Lighting.

[JMitchell]

That's true, although from all I've heard and my own experiences, Act. DL isn't worth using anyway, but I see your point.

[Dave]

Main differences added to post #1 . So what do you think ?

[VinnyP]

I think it's the bargain of the century. All that extra money for the D3 buys you 1fps, marginally quicker responses and build quality. 100% viewfinder and 2 CF card slots (Incidentally those last 2 are worth quite a lot to me).

But the D700 has built in flash which is nice to have especially as a CLS controller and grid on demand is missing from the D3. Other stuff the D300 so I suspect the D700 has that I miss on the D3 are manual flash with the SB400, number of AF sensors in use on the top panel, ability to assign the number of sensors using a function button or the preview button.

It's great to be able to take the grip off to make it more portable and with the grip you get better vertical handling than the D3 (Joystick) and if you run the EL4a battery flat you have the EL3 in the body as a backup so you can keep shooting. This is a rare event though with the battery life of either camera with the EL4a

[VikingPhotography]

Vinny

A firmware update to the D3 has been released at the Nikon UK site that implements some of the features of the D700.

http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/c...i=&p_topview=1

[VinnyP]

Thanks for the heads up

[VikingPhotography]

I've been thinking about a third body for a long time... chiefly so that my wife has a camera that she can use which would be smaller and lighter than the D3, and also so that I have the option to keep my 14-24 mounted on a body for crowd shots and GV's at the events that I shoot without resorting to swapping lenses. For such uses I don't need the 'extra' features of the D3

With a 50mm prime lens, this would become a very good walkabout camera. I always found the 50mm to restrictive on a D2X, but on an FX camera it's got the right field-of-view to make it an 'everyday' lens again.

The D700 seems to fit the bill nicely; all that has to be revealed now is the asking price which I reckon will be around the £2000 mark, given that the €2599 price point mentioned in various locations translates to just over that.

[Charlotte]

Only just seen this + the advent of the D700 ... geez, am I out of touch

Warehouse Express have them for £2,500 Only £300 less than the D3 At that price, I'd rather get another D3 although, granted, the price will drop over the next few months, but still a lot to pay for what seems to be essentially a D300 with a full-frame sensor.

Do we have a D700 -vs- D300 comparison, Dave?

[VikingPhotography]

I reckon the Warehouse Express price is just a temporary one until they receive actual units from Nikon and can correctly factor for VAT, import duty and their profit margin.

Though, to hedge one's bets - the D3 was £3400 at launch, so this puts the price differential at £900.