Bobster Loc: Thousand Oaks, CA

I have been using a D300s since 2009 and am now considering changing to the similarly old D700 for three reasons:
1. Better IQ
2. Improved dynamic range
3. Lower noise at ISOs 800-3200

I enjoy shooting moving targets and I think the D700 might improve the images substantially.

I really like the D300s body and button layout. The D700 is virtually the same.

I would appreciate you reaction and comments.

Thank you.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Do it if you have lenses that are full-frame.

If you do want a used D700, Fred Miranda's Buying & Selling area is pretty good.
Link (here).
Seems like they come up there fairly often.
KEH Camera is another good source for used equipment and they tend to underrate their condition.

Deecee

I checked with B&H Photo, they said that the D700 has been discontinued.

I just recently upgraded from the D300 to a D610 and so far it has been a great camera. The controls were very similar to the D300 so I had no problem getting used to it. With 24 megs, it allows me to enlarge pictures up to 24x30 with no problem. The D610 is currently on sale at B&H for $1895 ($100 off) but I think the sale ends today.

Good luck

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Yes, great point! For a little more than the price of a used D700, the much newer 610 gets you more features, but the layout was not as good for me. Too many of the needed items were not as easy for me to access.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Bob, I think 5 years ago that would be a sound decision. Plus you want to shoot a moving target.
Bob, at twelve mp, the 700 has few advantages in today's modern shooing environments.
The tech is just too old.
You would be MUCH better served by a 7100. I'm not a Nikon guy, but I'm willing to bet that the 7100 will do EVERYTHING better than the 700, at every level. I could be wrong, and if so, I'm sure I'll be corrected.
You've had your camera since 09, so you're going to replace it with one from 08?
Me, as a Canon Guy, thinks you should take a better look at the bigger picture(pun intended). Good luck. ;-)
SS

Acountry330 Loc: Dothan,Ala USA

Listen to SS. Get the more up to date 7100. I use a D-700 and a D-800. They both have their advantages. If I had not purchased the D-800 I would have updated to the D-7100.

Bobster Loc: Thousand Oaks, CA

I understand that the D7100 is better than the D700 in some respects. But the D700 with grip shoots at 8fps which is great for birds in flight and other moving targets. I also really like the heft and pro feel of the D300s and D700 (pride of ownership). I don't make huge prints (generally 11X14) and 12 megapixels is plenty for that.

Thanks for the response.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

My reaction would be based on whether you want to move from a DX system to an FX one. The D700 is, to my mind, one of the best digital cameras Nikon has produced. The larger sensor at only 12 mp will require some adjustments in your technique, especially for telephoto work. It would also depend on what lenses you have. Many DX lenses do not perform well on FX cameras. Newer bodies may serve you better such as the D610 for FX and the D7100 for DX, as the higher pixel counts allow greater cropping.

amehta Loc: Boston

You have an interesting question. Clearly, there are four cameras under consideration:
1. D300s
2. D7100
3. D700
4. D610

The D300s already shoots 7fps, and 8fps is not significantly different, a difference of about 15ms between shots. And while the 12mp is excellent for your prints, if you are shooting BiF and need to crop, you can start to lose quality.

If you want to feed the G.A.S., certainly get the D700. It might make your pictures slightly better, but I do not think it is transformative compared to the D300s.

Full disclosure: I got the D700 to replace the D200, partly for landscapes and partly for indoor volleyball. The two stops of ISO performance is a significant factor for indoor sports. Combined with the pro zooms, that was transformative, though I had to work hard to improve my technique to justify the hefty price. :-)

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

I have both 700 and 7100, both have their strengths. I use 700 for more demanding lighting conditions, and the 7100 with longer lenses for more reach and non-stills. Still learning with the 7100, the focusing system has been great, but only when I get it right. It's been a long learning curve...

If birds in flight are your primary thing, and you shoot raw in bursts, you may find the buffer limit on the 7100 a bit of an impediment. Personally, I'm mostly shooting slowly moving people, and usually limit bursts to 3 or 4 shots anyway. Otherwise, after 6 shots, you wait. How long depends on your card write speed.

Part of me wishes I had gone for the 610 instead of the 7100. Time will tell.

Bobster Loc: Thousand Oaks, CA

I have 4 FX lenses (24-70 2.8, 150 2.8 macro, original Bogm (50-500) and a 50 f1.4. If I change to an FX camera I would sell the only 2 DX lenses that I have: 18-300 and 10-20.

I think both the D610 and the D7100 are too limiting with their slower FPS and more limited buffer.

I have not yet totally decided to make the change that is why I have posted this issue. I was waiting for Nikon to update the D300s (D400) and I understand that many D700 users have been hoping for an update of that camera as well.

I have given up waiting. The alternatives for me are to stay with what I have or change to the D700 for a bit more picture taking quality.

I also love the heft and feel of the "Full Metal Jackets" of the pro cameras.

You comments and prospectives are exactly what I am after here.

I would like to here from one or more D700 users and get their prospective and to whether they are thinking about changing to a D7100 or D610 and why.

Nikon seems to be most interested in going after the low end market and somewhat into the upper end but doesn't care about the middle ground much.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

I am a D700 owner and I was a heavy user until I got my D800E. I still love my D700 and use it often. It is less demanding of me and my glass than the D800E and I must admit I enjoy it more. But those 36 mp allow a lot of cropping. I have started to use the D800E for more deliberate work where I want the high resolution and the D700 for more casual and "from the hip" shooting. I think I have all the cameras I need for some time. I have no thought of reverting to a DX camera again, nor to upgrading (?) to a D610.

amehta Loc: Boston

I believe the D800 is the "update" to the D700, they are built identically and cost the same when released. Yes, Nikon when hi-res instead of hi-speed with the D800, but the D700 wasn't really that fast either.

I don't think Nikon has abandoned the "middle ground", both the D7100 and D610 fill it very nicely. The shift from APS-C to FF has meant a smaller demand for a "somewhat upper end" DX body (D400) as well as the pro/prosumer DX lenses. That is the market which Nikon (and to a certain extent Canon) has abandoned. Of course, that is exactly the market you and your D300s are in, so your frustration is understandable.