Nikon D700 - Master-stroke or Misguided?
Michael Reichmann over at Luminous Landscape has posted a very interesting article exploring Nikon’s strategy concerning the D700, and what it means depending on how Canon’s much-rumoured 5D replacement turns out.
For Nikon to enter this arena so soon (just over a half year) after shipping its first full frame Pro offering, and by doing so with a camera which offers all of the image quality and almost all of the features of the D3, at some two thousand dollars less, is either a master-stroke or misguided. At this time I can’t quite figure out which it is, but for photographers it’s a big win, and ultimately that’s what counts the most.
Well worth a read.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:37 am
I too am excited to learn of this new image-capturing device. Just as I am nearly convinced that I should own a D300, Nikon comes out with another full-frame sensor model that makes me want to stretch for the new one.
Where will it fall in competition to the Canon products will be interesting indeed. In spite of the huge size of the Canon corporation, Nikon is not going to roll over and play dead. What would be excellent is if the price point could be closer to $2500 instead of $3000. That would leave some money for a good lens. And with the full frame sensor, it would be worth investing in some really good glass down the road.
I’ve had a Nikon film SLR for almost 18 years and I believe I’ve enjoyed and valued it more than anything I’ve ever bought. We will see what the future brings!
July 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
To me, Nikon did not make a blunder, but an aggressive strategy. The D3 with it’s 12mp resolution is a proof of concept product. No doubt D700 was under development when the D300 and D3 was released, they needed to fill this segment ASAP. By the end of this year, Nikon will announce the D3x with 24mp sensor and discontinue the D3, re-setting the order of it’s product line.
One other possibility is to resurrect the D2h and D2x strategy with the FX line. One is built for speed (lower resolution) and the other built for IQ. I think this is unlikely because Nikon can achieve this dual nature easily and better with the DX crop.
July 5th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Michael Reichmann’s as usual has his own way of looking at things. I wonder what the ‘Young Turks’ made of the D200 and D2X or indeed continual love affair with the D2H series.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Of course an interesting fight! ultimately customers will be benefitted! Remember what Canon did in case of canon 300D-they gave it in grass root level!Now I suspect Canon will put their Digi-SLRs with full frame! Let us know that soon within maximum 3 yrs of span the APS-c size digi cameras will be out of market—probably large sensors will replace smaller sensors in compact digicams.
Canon will probably put a new series line with 16 Mp full frame sensors-I request canon to put a supportive plastict cover the LCD.This is one of the reason why I discrad canon 450D or 40D!I want Canon 50D or Canon 6D with water resistant features like new olympus digi SLR.E-3.
I would like to name the Canon new series full frame digi SLR is-Canon FM100D-FM stands fr Full Frame.It will be priced under Canon 6D and Canon 6D will have more features than Canon FM100D and now Canon 6D will have 24 megapixels and price will be $2300.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
I don’t think the D700 will be a competitor for the D3, because the D3 is way faster and way more responsive than the D700 will probably be (if it IS a FX D300.) For sports and action, the D3 will remain the body of choice for professionals. The D700 will be very interesting for amateurs like me who want to go out light, but with the wide angle capabilities and noise-free high ISO photo the Nikon FX format offers (and the bigger VF), and who don’t need the responsiveness and the frame rate of the D3.
July 9th, 2008 at 1:25 am
I agree with Oliver; I don’t see the D3 going away that quickly. Sports photographers, photojournalists, and paparazzi won’t want the D3x, because it won’t have the framerate of the D3 (it would require a huge step in processing power to move 24MP images), will be a little more noisy at higher ISO due to the denser sensor (heehee), and the larger file size is not needed in those industries. The D3x will be more for the higher-end portrait, wedding, stock, house magazine photos, etc photographers of the world.
I think the D700 fills a gap for those on the lower end of the pro scale, like me - how many microsite stock photographers invested in Nikon will jump at the chance to have such clean, noise-free images for only $1200 more than the D300?
July 10th, 2008 at 3:00 am
This is the camera I have been waiting for, for years! After using a D70 and buying a couple of DX lenses, I always felt Nikon was missing the boat by not offering a full frame sensor camera. I never wanted to scrap all my FX sized lenses from my days with the N90s and F100 cameras. Finally, Nikon has awakened and full-filled my dream of using a fine digital camera with all my film era lenses. I predict Nikon will sell a ton of these cameras. This camera fills a niche, many photographers like myself, have hoped Nikon would finally produce.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I agree with Joe and Oliver there Nikon has got this right the market as is is ready for the Higher ISO noise free full frame. Good glass is where its at and with this capture device it makes your lenses more attainable. Guys is this rumor or from fact that nikon will be releasing a D3x with 24mp full frame?
July 11th, 2008 at 4:54 am
I have been filling my camera bag with of f/2.8 FX zoom lenses, which outperformed my D200 capabilities. The D700 high ISO capability frees me to shoot successfully in very low light without flash. That is a breakthrough. I ordered my D700 on July 1st.
I wanted a smaller body design with full frame sensor. The D700 price comes just within reach, and the performance clearly exceeds the D200. For my needs, the D300 didn’t quite make enough of a leap beyond the D200, i.e., laking an FX sensor. The D3 was priced out of my budget as a prosumer, without guaranteed payback from photography. Clearly, price is a hurdle, but that will be long forgotten, as I accumulate unforgettable images that would be impossible to take with my trusty D200.
I think this will become a sweet spot in the market, trumping both the D300 and the D3. But what of the missing 400, 500, and 600 models. Obviously, timing is everything. It is now for the D700.
Whoa! Nikonians get bragging rights, while the Cannonites either forsake the Canon body, or take up Nikons. Pray for them… soon they shall see the light.
Lastly, I see new a frontier ahead… Nikon must envision high dynamic range (HDR) in-camera without the multiple exposures, and post processing required today. Imagine taking HDR images with a single click.
Surely, the megapixel wars must be at or near the end. I prefer larger noise free sensor designs, and no post processing work.
Theo