@thetickler: Actually Nikon made the sensor for the D3 and D700. The D300 does still use a Sony.

matt buchanan

@Windhawk: Client #9!!

thetickler

At $3000 just for the body, that body better be HOT.

Windhawk

That's awesome handling of noise at very high ISO settings. I shoot sports (at night and frequently in poorly lit venues) and my D200 is just barely usable at ISO 1600. I can freeze most action at 1/400th of a second, but it would be great to have a camera with noise-handling like the D700 has that would allow me to shoot faster without worrying about grain.

DX lenses won't work perfectly w/ the full-frame sensor, though. esp. not my favorite travel lens (18-200, VR) Something to consider before laying out the $$$.

dc-united

I still use my 5D, I really love that camera. Good for Nikon, they needed to step up this past year. Competition is good!

BostonPimpDaddy2

@Nickbee: Your 40D is also $2000 less and has a 1.6 crop sensor.

thetickler

I am an avid Canon user mostly because of their lenses are second to none, have produce their own sensors, (Nikon uses Sony sensors) and low noise, but Nikon has far superior flashes and love that the wireless flash transmitter is built right into the camera instead having to use a transmitter that isn't built in. Even Canons wireless transmitter is as reliable as a Ford.

thetickler

Holy shit. That puts my 40D to shame.

Nickbee

I always thought canon had the slight advantage in razor-sharp detail... and that Nikon is quite consistently easier to use... I've always been a fan of Nikon really.
I'd rather not digress into the Nikon v Canon, Mac v PC, Ford v Chevy discussion here

med

That would make life so easy when shooting a wedding. Who needs an expensive f/2.8 zoom lens when you can get decent shutter speeds at f/8, ha!

If you complain about the price, it's really quite good IMO...
Years ago, people would pay hundreds for 1.3mp cameras with horrible noise at iso 200, and it would take a good 10 seconds for the camera to recover... and they were amazed.

med

@Kaos78: um, you mean Canon has always edged Nikon out in ISO noise. Even Nikons newest cams performed below the 3 year old Canon 5D in terms of noise (up to the 5D's 3200 limit). This is known around the photographer circuit. These new cams are a big step up for Nikon though. It is time for Canon to step up though.

thetickler

@Kaos78: which do you prefer low noise or high speed?

id rather have low noise thank you.

alin0steglinski

@pantsonfireliarliar: i cant wait for the video corder... thats when im gonna buy my new camera... not until then!

alin0steglinski

Those shots are sick at such high ISO's. But I'm not surprised it's Nikon. I've shot pro with Canon and Nikon, Nikon always edges out Canon with noise and Canon always edges out Nikon with speed.

Kaos78

@Hectorvex: you can actually read that?

alin0steglinski

Still looks too digital.. whats nice about some Canon's is that they have more a film look.

Either way, I'm still a Nikon D50 user, and would LOVE this D700..

DMF

@future-proof: $4000 after you throw in a 18-200mm VR and some SDHC cards...

SigmundTheSeaMonster

Oh dear lordy... $3000? Anyone has coupons that would bring this to around $645? I could probably stretch it to $750 though...

future-proof

Between the amazing high ISO performance of their new cameras and the rumored video recording on the D90, it took them a while to catch up, but now Nikon is eating Canon's cake with some features that actually make a difference. I may have to switch back soon enough.

I'd love to see a side by side comparison with Canon's latest equivalent models.

pantsonfireliarliar

JESUS... My D50 is feeling pretty upset about now.

ALT

Note to self: Cut up credit cards ASAP.

bobdobbs

@GeekyNerdGuy: Dude! That's what I gots two! Methinks sameness with your genius!

Weeeee!

future-proof

Are they paying you for this? This is more convincing than any ad I've seen. All of a sudden I feel compelled to buy a product I had no need for and relatively little interest in.

Thanks a lot for shattering that ever-so-fragile moment of contentment I was enjoying.

misterwho

Wow...a church full of children could only hope for such little noise.

rcast1986

So we have a new reigning champion "Stalker Cam"?

bpapa9013

My D70s struggles with oppressive grain at ISO1600. Those shots are ridiculous.

rjp

The gas station picture is probably the best example. Not just because the gas is cheaper than here, but because I can actually read that and the sign isn't all glared up.

Hectorvex

Buttah. Just...buttah.

jibbly

Canon needs to step it up.

alexlr

mmm pretty

YamIinLawSchool

I do believe it is time to upgrade the D70s

GeekyNerdGuy

@matt buchanan: Thank god. Those Sony sensors were doo doo.

thetickler

@Scaramanga: I agree, the 5D is slow and dated but still takes excellent photos. One of the reputed digital photography sites did a comparison between 2 Nikons and the 5D. The 5D beat them out up to its limit (yes, a dated 3200ISO) and what they discovered is Nikon cheats a little on this. What the software does is slightly blur the image (when using noise reduction) and you end up with an image that is not as crisp. The 5D won based on a clearer and lower noise image. I'm only relaying the info so don't shoot the messenger. I do agree it's time for Canon to update their prosumer line. I've never shot a Mark before. Anyone care to chime in on the noise levels on Canons flagship?

I have the 5D and yes, very slow. Thank god I don't shoot sports. Je t'aime my L lenses though.

thetickler

didn't wired give the D3 a 9 out of 10?

UTnick

Ug. That's like a kick in the face. I've been waiting and waiting for a new prosumer Canon to come out with a ful-sized sensor (that's not $5,000) and then to see that ISO 3200 shot... I just hung my head and for the very first time thought about switching. C'mon, Canon - I still believe in you(r next round of cameras). ;)

jhcovert

@thetickler:

You gotta be kidding. As a 5D owner also shoot with the D3, there is no comparison. The 5D can match the D3 to around 1600 ISO and at 3200 ISO the 5D is becomes very noisy. The 5D is incredibly slow and dated, a new one should be announced at Photokina very soon. But its no comparison to the D300 or D700, especially on speed and the horrid 9 -point AF.

Scaramanga

@thetickler: hah I had a d50 with a 80-200 f2.8 and every time in waterpolo if something happened quickly and in sequence the other guy with the 5D failed, and I don't solely blame the photographer, I feel that the camera is poorly designed because I expect any serious camera to able to deliver INSTANTLY, if the camera is slower than your fastest then its not my piece of kit. The camera may be fine with some landscape, but some of us who are raising our lenses so fast that the filter mount breaks the sound barrier because we want to capture that JDAM going off, or your neighbors accidental fireworks disaster. But for real photographic opportunists, screw the canon!

CrashingOut

I'm actually convinced that if you looked at that gas station in person it would not look that good. While I may hate that asshole from Richmond who stole my 3k camera, this sensor will allow me to take unbelievable shots of the night sky - I'm extremely fortunate to have a blacked out house and neighborhood in the darkest part of the east bay I believe, so compounding a new f2.8 and iso 12 million, its NEBULA TIME !!!!

CrashingOut

Man that makes me almost wanna go full frame,,. Oooo who am I kidding? If I had 3 grand I would buy today...

churchstreet

I just hope the 5D Mark II kicks some ass (photokina announcement hopefully?). I want to keep my Canon glass.

snubz

I'm a Canon man, and I personally think the 7D is going to give this camera a run for its money. However, my penis envy is at its peak, since I only have a Rebel XTi.

markarian

@CrashingOut: yeah, kicked arse 3 years ago but with the incredible selection of cameras these days, its time 5D got some major Botox. It is no longer the big fish in the little pond. I can't part with my Canon glass either, so I'm crossing my fingers for an affordable update.

thetickler

doh, stop posting good reviews! I need the price of this camera to come down! =)
Come on amazon, discount please!
[www.amazon.com]

zed0

That's incredible... Yet another thing that will NEVER grace the shelves of humble RadioShack.

philbert

@thetickler: who cares if someone manufactures their own sensors or not? I see absolutely no logic to this (do not say they can tailor it to their needs... this is done between companies, same as marketing to engineering in the same company).

brutek

Started off with a F90 (N90 for the American folks... yes the film version...), then D100, and finally D300, I'd say I am a Nikon fanboy but the one big grip I have against Nikon has always been noise. The D300 wasn't too bad, but the D700 blew me away. I got mine about 4 weeks ago (the first batch of shipment from Calumet), and in terms of noise its noticeably better then my D300 - at least 1 to 2 stops better. Furthermore, its every bit as fast as the D300, and the full-frame sensor finally allow me to put my 14mm F2.8 and 85mm F1.4 to work. On the cropped sensor those two lenses' were wasted.

The only 2 complain I have on the D700 is the 95% viewfinder (I miss the 100% viewfinder on the D300), as well as Nikon's decision to drop CF-II support. Due to unique circumstances we always use SD cards on our camera, and I have a SD-to-CF adapter that allows me to use all our SD cards in the D300. But the adapter is CF-II sized (thicker)... and will no longer work in the D700. Probably not an issue with most of the users out there though.

All in all a great camera that I would highly recommend, especially if you are switching from anything older then the D300.

Makkuro

WOW oh hold up brb I gotta change my pants.

lilaliendog

Got back from a ten day travel shoot with both a D300 and D700. The 18-200mm was on the D300 all the way, and for walkin'-'round, shootin'-stuff the D700 wore the 12-24mm f/4.0 DX lens. I used both about equally. On the D700, the 12-24mm gives side to side coverage at 14mm and complete coverage of the large sensor by 17mm. I found 14mm quite useful, with a bottom and top crop to a panoramic format. My old AI-S primes are very easy to manually focus as well and image quality is all that one would hope for.

High ISO is phenomenal. Set the aperture you want, the shutter speed you need, and crank up the ISO to whatever it takes to get it. Some early examples including ISO25,600 at [www.new.facebook.com] which should not require a log-in.

lnbolch

I've had mine for a few weeks now. It is incredible in low light, and also it has great metering.

here are some photos I took with mine

[www.flickr.com]

I've been shooting with a 50mm f/1.4 lens wide open, so I haven't gone up to 6400 too often, but even at 1600 and above, it's great.

These are at ISO 6400

[www.flickr.com]
[www.flickr.com]

At 3600

[www.flickr.com]
[www.flickr.com]

xwzswc