I spent a few minutes at the Nikon D700 show in Tokyo. Here are my impressions.
(pics are from my 10D, except the last one from a D700)
http://218.219.209.195/fm/nikon/Nikon-1.jpg Many people were attending. A lot of Nikon staff, very helpful and professional.
Two large stands where Nikon professionals provided D700s for test. So many D700 cameras in this hall, maybe 40... In another room, there was a big presentation where about 50 people were seated, watching a big screen.
Mr Nikon prepares a D700:
http://218.219.209.195/fm/nikon/Nikon-2.jpg
I tried quickly a D700 (was in a hurry actually) with a 24-70 f/2.8 ; set to 1600 ISO (thanks to Nikon staff, as I don't know Nikon [yet]) and shot at f/5.6. Nikon let me use my own CF card...
http://218.219.209.195/fm/nikon/D700-full.jpg Exif:
Exposure Time: 1/160 sec
F-Number: f/5.6
Exposure Program: Aperture Priority
ISO Speed Rating: 1600
Focal Length: 70.00 mm
Rendering: Normal
Exposure Mode: Auto
Gain Control: High Gain Up
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Image Quality: NORMAL
White Balance: AUTO
Flash Bracket Compensation: 0.0 EV
AE Bracket Compensation: 0.0 EV
Lens Type: Nikon D Series
Lens Range: 24.0 - 70.0 mm; f/2.8
Being not a pro, and not used to Nikon DSLR, please don't take this shot as a D700 model!
ISO was set to 1600 in order to shoot handheld confortably. The pic is probably a bit overexposed (black background).
My impressions: the D700 in my hands is exactly what I wanted. Everything is ultra reactive, fast ; the AF also is very fast ; huge viewfinder. The image appears instantly on the large LCD. While I'm not used to Nikon, after a quick "training" from the staff, I found the ergonomy (buttons ...) pleasant (change settings, ISO, aperture...). Also, the D700 buttons, command dials etc... give a strong feeling of the camera.
Didn't try live view, the flash and other interesting stuff - but if I had to buy a new camera now, it'd be definitely the D700 (too bad I'd have to buy lenses as well...).
For tokyoits, the show lasts until today evening in Ebisu / Yebisu garden place / Yebisu hall
I'm not a Nikon shooter either ;-) According to Exif, there is this "Gain Control: High Gain Up" in. Not sure what that means exactly. Besides, the camera was set to defaults.
kind of, too bad I can't afford it. But I love the direction Nikon is heading with this and I'm excited about the camera - shows what can we expect 5-6 years from now in the consumer level bodies.
. Don't get me wrong but this camera looks so good based on the specs that it is almost too good to be true.