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View Full Version : Nikon D700 or stick with the D90?



Gremlich
04-23-2011, 10:56 AM
I have the opportunity to acquire a new D700 ( it is in stock at a place I know). I emailed Ken Rockwell and asked if he still thought the D700 FX camera was an advisable purchase. He recommended the D7000 instead. Soooo, I have a D90 and don't feel like moving to the D7000 when I don't really need the extra MP, improved video or another DX camera.

Soooo, keep the D90 and buy new glass instead? (looking at the Nikkor 10-24mm f3.5-4.5 G)

Matt K.
04-23-2011, 12:11 PM
I have a D5000 ... and wished I had bought the D90 when I first got into photography. So, with your choice: the biggest difference is the change from cropped frame to full frame. I think that going to full frame will be a better choice than upgrading to more pixels. The sensors on the full frame cameras are by nature better, that is why you do not need to get crazy with hyper-pixels on those cams. Pixels are only important if you want to print very large format. One thing the D7000 has over the D700 is the ISO range. I have not read any comparison as far as quality is concerned, but that would be something to consider. The D700 has better functions when it comes to flash photography ... I dunno, I was tempted to go for a used D2X ... for the full frame alone. :shrug:

Gremlich
04-23-2011, 01:10 PM
Indeed, you understand my quandary....

Matt K.
04-23-2011, 02:56 PM
Indeed, you understand my quandary....

Yes, only too well ... have my eye on a D200 ... or D300, or better yet, when money allows, a D700. Thought about the D 7000, but would opt for the D 700 anytime ...

Bambi
04-23-2011, 03:43 PM
Yes, only too well ... have my eye on a D200 ... or D300, or better yet, when money allows, a D700. Thought about the D 7000, but would opt for the D 700 anytime ...

me too. I am happy with my D5000 but would love a full frame.

F8&Bthere
04-29-2011, 04:28 PM
I went from the D70 to the D300 to the D700, so fwiw here's my thoughts...
D700 ups = no 1.5X crop factor, so no having to convert focal lengths if you come from a 35mm film background and you can get wide angle shots without too much distortion (depending on lens choice), a bit easier to throw background out of focus with any given lens compared to crop body (thinner DOF), it also has great image quality and noise performance but most other current models are fine in that regard too.
D700 downs = bigger, heavier, lose the crop factor advantage at the longer end of your focal length.
Honestly, I was a bit of a wide angle nut for a while and had a hard time finding a really wide lens that I liked for DX, but my infatuation with wide has since subsided a bit. I'd say if wide angle and/or portrait shooting is your thing and you don't mind the added heft to schlep around, go for it. Nice camera. But if you're more of a long shooter, have any amount of DX glass that you're attached to, prefer to have a camera the shoots video, or prefer to travel lighter, keep what you have and invest in glass. The D90 is a fine camera. I actually kinda miss my D300. I do believe sometimes there's a sort of romantic notion urging us to go full frame, but with the great features and specs on today's DX bodies, and a decent selection of ultra wide glass, I personally wouldn't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

Gremlich
05-04-2011, 06:15 AM
Yea, I chickened out and got the Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5 instead. And an SB-700 to go with my two SB-600 speedlites.

Bambi
05-04-2011, 07:03 AM
Yea, I chickened out and got the Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5 instead. And an SB-700 to go with my two SB-600 speedlites.

let me know how you like the 10-24!

Marko
05-04-2011, 08:54 AM
I can tell you that I've been loving the D700 for a while and the low light capability is fanfriggentastic. I can easily shoot at 3200 or 6400 and it looks fab. Now do i use those ISOs often...not really. If I were still shooting weddings those speeds would be far more useful and I would use them more regularly. Super high ISO (anything above 6400 imo) seems to be the flavour of the day but it's also a lot of marketing and a feature that very few photogs will use regularly.

That said, the D700 is still expensive and heavy. It's probably overkill for many photogs - but it's seriously solid, and my gear definitely takes a beating so I did not want a flimsier camera. FX (full frame) bodies also have larger sensors and 'tend' to show sharper results when results are enlarged and put head to head with DX bodies with similar pixel amounts.

I should say that I have not tested the D7000 but i have played with one in the store - also it seems solid though NOT as solid as the D700.

For the majority of photographers out there (especially those that don't have old glass) I'd say the D7000 is a better choice based on the 1500.00 or so price difference. You could buy an additional killer lens for the price difference!

in00bz
05-17-2011, 05:17 AM
the d700 is
a beauty
extremely high iso performances
its like having a d3 but lighter . enough said
[ but weatherproof fx etc]

Gremlich
05-20-2011, 08:16 PM
Not to say I do not regret not getting the D700, a friend of mine in Norfolk VA, got that camera and has relegated his D90 to be his back-up.

Still have the itch.........

yarmy
05-26-2011, 02:51 AM
Nikon D90 is a fantastic camera it has better technical image quality compare to other cameras actually im very addicted to capture best snaps at right time.

in00bz
05-26-2011, 07:44 AM
D90 is great
D700 I more that awesome

if you have enough pennies
go for sure with the d700 you wont regret it

its basically a D3s with no bottom grip

Gremlich
06-02-2011, 08:44 PM
I've been talking to a few photogs with the D700. It is really hard to keep saying "Maybe later".

Michaelaw
06-09-2011, 02:23 AM
I relied to this thread earlier but closed before posting as it was eight pages long and reading like a D-700 commercial :laughing:I agree with Marko's comment and would only add that IMHO, your vision, where perhaps you want this camera to take you or you it. Know exactly what you intend the device to do. If your conclusion to this query is "Damned near anything" then the D700 is a wonderful choice sure it's heavy but that's just security in rough neighborhoods and a month of heavy wrist pain:laughing: I think the choice between sticking with a D90 or going the distance hangs in the balance of vision if that makes sense:)

thoughton
06-09-2011, 08:00 AM
I'm very happy in Pentax land, but if I was to switch brands it would be for a D700. Great low light, full frame DOF, and a sensible number of pixels. The only problem is the size of the beast!

Since I got the K5 (same sensor as the D7000) my hankering for the D700 has subsided somewhat, but even though it's a couple of years old it's still got at least a one stop advantage over the very new K5/D7000. Will be interesting to see what the D800 brings.

Andrew
06-09-2011, 02:00 PM
I'll give you a concept I always use when making expensive hardware purchases whether it be camera, lenses, computers, tools, etc. They are all tools for one reason or another. Ask yourself two questions with the first one being the heavy weighting.

1. Are my skills better than the capabilities of the tool I already have and it's holding me back?
2. Does the new tool do something that I NEED to do often and have no other way of doing it?

When I do buy a new item I always make it the best I can afford at the time. Quality will make it last longer in most cases and also continue to answer NO to questions 1 and 2 for a longer period of time. Emotion and envy still come into the picture but play a much lesser part than the logical questions. There will always be the jus-cuz-i-want-one crowd who have the free cash to move around as they wish but don't mistake the quality of their gear with the quality of their knowledge or capabilities.

Listen to yourself honestly and YOU WILL make the right decision.

Marko
06-10-2011, 08:03 AM
I'll give you a concept I always use when making expensive hardware purchases whether it be camera, lenses, computers, tools, etc. They are all tools for one reason or another. Ask yourself two questions with the first one being the heavy weighting.

1. Are my skills better than the capabilities of the tool I already have and it's holding me back?
2. Does the new tool do something that I NEED to do often and have no other way of doing it?

When I do buy a new item I always make it the best I can afford at the time. Quality will make it last longer in most cases and also continue to answer NO to questions 1 and 2 for a longer period of time. Emotion and envy still come into the picture but play a much lesser part than the logical questions. There will always be the jus-cuz-i-want-one crowd who have the free cash to move around as they wish but don't mistake the quality of their gear with the quality of their knowledge or capabilities.

Listen to yourself honestly and YOU WILL make the right decision.

Nicely written for sure!
+1

Gremlich
06-11-2011, 11:50 AM
This advice does still make it hard to choose. If you look on my deviantart galleries, you'll see that I am all over the place with what I shoot. (everything but landscapes and self portraits) Most of my photog friends recommend the D700, but then they start looking at my images. All of them are more technically skilled than I am, but they consistently say my compositions are better than theirs despite the knowledge difference AND shooting a D90. Dunno, maybe it's because I am not thinking about the exposure details so much. I like to think that serendipity has been my friend and I don't think my results would be that much better at this point with the expenditure of between $8k-$10 worth of equipment (surplus income? Not!) and I think (and they tend to agree) that more glass for the D90 is where I should go. For now. Still awaiting the 10-24mm (the Sendai plant got whacked)

Of course, if someone were to gift me the funding........

Maybe I should start a "Help Mike get a D700" fund with $1 contributions made through paypal. Hmmmm.......

can I +1 everybody here?

canonjen
06-22-2011, 10:27 AM
i have both the d90 and the d700

i use the d700 most of the time because the d90 cant compare to the quality and high iso performance of the d700 with the same glass used

Gremlich
06-22-2011, 05:57 PM
i have both the d90 and the d700

i use the d700 most of the time because the d90 cant compare to the quality and high iso performance of the d700 with the same glass used

Argggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!