I have a question for you D700 owners.
How limiting is it to have the 15 cross type AF points all clustered in the middle 3 columns?
I was pondering about a switch as well having been treated by Canon is a less than desireable fashion. Been doing a lot of research but would like some real world answers.
My 1DMKIII have cross type AF points well dispersed and is pretty impressive in low light AF. I have read that the D700 can be tempermental when it comes to that. Anybody care to elaborate?
Also, I have read that although the D700 does have impressive ISO range, the in-camera NR affects the details? Can NR be COMPLETELY turned off? If so, how is the resulting image compared to Canon counterparts?
Those are 2 big factors for me. (Well that and the lack of "L" prime equivalents like the 35L, 85L, and 300L F4 IS)
Nick,
FYI, I use both Canon and Nikon systems and I am not a pro, just a photography enthusiast. I started out with Canon and a few Nikkor lenses intrigued me and rather than using adapters, which I did in the beginning, I bought a D700 in June. In the meantime my Nikkor lenses have grown by quite a bit. I have been happy with my Canon setup, including the 1D MkIII, which I sold already since I am more a FF person. I just wanted my feet in both camps .
I didn't quite understand your first question about the AF points being clustered in the middle 3 columns. In my limited experience (shot only over 1,100 shots sofar since June with my D700), the AF is not noticeably tempermental. I have to admit that in low light 1Ds MarkIII I am using now is really fast to achieve the AF, maybe a tad faster than the D700 but I didn't do any real comparison, just my impression. The in-camera NR can be turned off and sofar I set on normal for high ISO settings and the files look just fine. I would say, the files of the same ISO on the D700 look a tad cleaner, with less noise, with other words than those generated by the 1Ds MarkIII. But the 1Ds MkIII being a 21MP is inheritently noisier anyway.
Like you already mentioned, fast primes with AF-S Silent Wave (Ultrasonic in Canon) are not Nikon's forte right now. Plus lenses with VR are not as many on the Canon lineup. The new zooms are excellent, however. In the meantime, I started discovering older AI-S manual focus lenses. They can be had for a fairly decent price (except for a few, such as the Noct-Nikkor) and with the electronic range finder of the D700 I started enjoying manual focus again.
I was talking about how the more sensitive cross type AF points that are all clustered in the middle as opposed to being spread out more like in the 1D MKIII/1Ds MKIII.
Actually if the 1Ds MKIII compete well with the D700 in terms of noise, that's a good sign for the 1D MKIII, which actually has better ISO noise performance than the 1Ds MKIII. I was just wondering what the characteristics of the D700 were with the NR turned completely off...
Regarding the primes, that's the one area that stops me crossing over everytime the thought enters my mind and I don't intend on using MF lenses in the future.
Though I read great things about the 85 1.4 and it's not like the 85L is an AF demon...far from it...it's dog slow. I'd also be interested in the new AF-S 50 1.4.
Still not sure what I am going to do!
AGeoJO wrote:
Nick,
FYI, I use both Canon and Nikon systems and I am not a pro, just a photography enthusiast. I started out with Canon and a few Nikkor lenses intrigued me and rather than using adapters, which I did in the beginning, I bought a D700 in June. In the meantime my Nikkor lenses have grown by quite a bit. I have been happy with my Canon setup, including the 1D MkIII, which I sold already since I am more a FF person. I just wanted my feet in both camps .
I didn't quite understand your first question about the AF points being clustered in the middle 3 columns. In my limited experience (shot only over 1,100 shots sofar since June with my D700), the AF is not noticeably tempermental. I have to admit that in low light 1Ds MarkIII I am using now is really fast to achieve the AF, maybe a tad faster than the D700 but I didn't do any real comparison, just my impression. The in-camera NR can be turned off and sofar I set on normal for high ISO settings and the files look just fine. I would say, the files of the same ISO on the D700 look a tad cleaner, with less noise, with other words than those generated by the 1Ds MarkIII. But the 1Ds MkIII being a 21MP is inheritently noisier anyway.
Like you already mentioned, fast primes with AF-S Silent Wave (Ultrasonic in Canon) are not Nikon's forte right now. Plus lenses with VR are not as many on the Canon lineup. The new zooms are excellent, however. In the meantime, I started discovering older AI-S manual focus lenses. They can be had for a fairly decent price (except for a few, such as the Noct-Nikkor) and with the electronic range finder of the D700 I started enjoying manual focus again.
Whatever you end up doing, good luck!
Joshua...Show more →
EOS20 wrote:
Thinking of A D700 + 24-70 or 28-70 And A 70-300 VR as my start off kit (Might get a 70-200 VR Or A 80-400 later, But it's not within my budget yet).
Just made a similar move moving from Canon to a D700 with 14-24, 24-70 and 70-300mm. Very impressed with the results. Took the 70-300mm as a walk around lens at the zoo the other day and was really impressed. The build quality is decent for the 70-300mm price as well.
The 24-70mm has been producing great results, and it is about the same to get sharp images without VR/IS as it was with the 24-105 L IS and 17-55 IS thus far.
You might also consider checking out Thom Hogan's ebook. He has many good tips in the guide.
Both camera brands deliver great results. The build quality of the Nikon seems to have a better chance for abuse, but that is simply my subjective opinion. No regrets with the D700 transition thus far.
I borrowed a D700 for a shoot last week, and have my own as of this morning. I can't get over the low light and AF performance. I'm coming from the 40D and 20Ds, so its obviously a bit of a change. Luckily I haven't got another wedding to shoot until the end of December, so plenty of time to practise.
With the lenses I bought a Tamron 28-75 which is a direct replacement for my Canon mount one. I've found I rarely got wider than 28mm when shooting, but picked up a cheap Tamron 19-35mm to cover this. I've owned one before and found it was a peach (for the money!).
Still on the shopping list:
85mm f1.8 - is this as good as the Canon version?
Sigma 70-200mm HSM (also owned in a canon mount and loved it)
50mm f1.8 (why not for the price?)
300mm f4.5 manual (for those back of the church jobs) - any good?
My problem at the moment is that I have no Nikon mount backup/2nd camera. I can borrow another D700 if something comes up, but I can't afford another of my own. The Canon kit needs to go ASAP (before my credit card bill comes!). I was thinking about getting a second hand D200 or a new Fuji S5 - opinions? The D90 is really outside my price range at the moment, and doesn't meter with manual focus lenses (am I right here?)
Thanks for any advice - sorry for all the questions!
Nick
You're right about the D90 not metering MF lenses. It also cannot control the aperture. I'd just borrow the other D700 as a back up than get a crop D200 or D300. The Nikon 85 to have is the 85/1.4. There is both a AF and MF version of it. Some reviews say the AF is better and some say the MF is better. From what I read they are in a whole different league from the Nikon 85/1.8.
I am selling all of my Canon gear and going D700 now...
Hi guys. I've been up in the hills without internet access for nearly two weeks (originally intended for it to be 4 days) but now I'm back for a while. My 24-70 has not turned up yet because Nikon Australia is out of stock. Someone in this thread saw a 200-400VR in my future and was correct - I ordered one but it too is out of stock. I should have both lenses by the end of November and I'm really disappointed at the number of special photo opportunities I've already missed. The 50mm f/1.8 is quite good but it's no 200-400
Eos20, be aware that Nikon Australia will soon increase lens prices (and probably cameras too) by 10 to 15%. Canon will do the same. January at the latest. But soon or pay more. Our Aussie dollar just doesn't buy what it did a few months ago and so even direct imports are quite expensive. We've lost over a third compared to the US dollar and other currencies. On the plus side I might get my money back if I sell some of my bigger Canon lenses Ben V suggested that deep pockets were needed for long Nikon lenses but in Australia we need suitcases full of cash nowadays. That applies equally to Canon and Nikon - the price discrepancy between brands is not so great here.
I'm still waiting to see whether or not Canon will pay for my 1Ds2 shutter. In the meantime the D700 is far and away my best camera at any ISO from 200 up.
Thanks again for the contributions to this thread. It's been especially helpful for those of us who know pretty much nothing about the Nikon lens line-up.
One of the "gimmicks" of the D700 that I have found surprisingly useful is the virtual horizon, which I have implemented in the viewfinder display at the press of the Fn button, which I can reach quite easily. When the landscape is tilted (e.g. hilly terrain) it gives me a better chance of levelling the camera correctly. Maybe the next version will include a digital spirit level to indicate front/back tilt as well as sideways tilt.
I also like the fact that even when I'm wearing eyeglasses I can see the full viewfinder image and information quite easily without pressing my glasses hard up to the eyepiece.
So far I love using my D700 and just wish I had more lenses to use it with
No regret by changing all your gear to Nikon.......................
No turning point.
After 1 month later, Nikon launch their D700.................
I sell my EOS 40D + 4 L-Lenses to get the D700 + 24-70mm, 14-24mm, 70-200mm + 105mm Micro.............
Now I fell like a dark lord......................
Alan321 wrote:
Hi guys. I've been up in the hills without internet access for nearly two weeks (originally intended for it to be 4 days) but now I'm back for a while. My 24-70 has not turned up yet because Nikon Australia is out of stock. Someone in this thread saw a 200-400VR in my future and was correct - I ordered one but it too is out of stock. I should have both lenses by the end of November and I'm really disappointed at the number of special photo opportunities I've already missed. The 50mm f/1.8 is quite good but it's no 200-400
Eos20, be aware that Nikon Australia will soon increase lens prices (and probably cameras too) by 10 to 15%. Canon will do the same. January at the latest. But soon or pay more. Our Aussie dollar just doesn't buy what it did a few months ago and so even direct imports are quite expensive. We've lost over a third compared to the US dollar and other currencies. On the plus side I might get my money back if I sell some of my bigger Canon lenses Ben V suggested that deep pockets were needed for long Nikon lenses but in Australia we need suitcases full of cash nowadays. That applies equally to Canon and Nikon - the price discrepancy between brands is not so great here.
I'm still waiting to see whether or not Canon will pay for my 1Ds2 shutter. In the meantime the D700 is far and away my best camera at any ISO from 200 up.
Thanks again for the contributions to this thread. It's been especially helpful for those of us who know pretty much nothing about the Nikon lens line-up.
One of the "gimmicks" of the D700 that I have found surprisingly useful is the virtual horizon, which I have implemented in the viewfinder display at the press of the Fn button, which I can reach quite easily. When the landscape is tilted (e.g. hilly terrain) it gives me a better chance of levelling the camera correctly. Maybe the next version will include a digital spirit level to indicate front/back tilt as well as sideways tilt.
I also like the fact that even when I'm wearing eyeglasses I can see the full viewfinder image and information quite easily without pressing my glasses hard up to the eyepiece.
So far I love using my D700 and just wish I had more lenses to use it with
.