Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
I'm curious if you think there is anything special about the colours.
Nikon D700 - does anyone shoot one of these?
- Thread starter Gary R. Smith
- Start date
Pete Askew
Admin
I had one for a while for work did not get on with the menus and preferred the D3 series layout. I don’t recall the colours being any different to the standard output of a Nikon dSLR, but then I always shoot raw files and don’t take a lot of notice of the way the previews are rendered.
We switched to D850s for the macroscopes and only shoot tethered. The D700 was given to Blanka who was on the forum for a while.
These were shot with it:
Yes, me too, Pete, but the light was not really very strong andthe fighters were quite moving fast, so am just proud of the catch
There are more, but with a Photobucket ‘watermark’ if you search under Blanka Kolinke.
We switched to D850s for the macroscopes and only shoot tethered. The D700 was given to Blanka who was on the forum for a while.
These were shot with it:
Yes, me too, Pete, but the light was not really very strong andthe fighters were quite moving fast, so am just proud of the catch
There are more, but with a Photobucket ‘watermark’ if you search under Blanka Kolinke.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Thanks Pete!
I just pulled the trigger on a refurbished one in "good" condition.
Hopefully the battery still takes a charge after 17 years.
Should be here in a week or so.
I just pulled the trigger on a refurbished one in "good" condition.
Hopefully the battery still takes a charge after 17 years.
Should be here in a week or so.
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Ivar Dahl-Larsen
Well-Known Member
D700 is my daily tool. Colours are special but not definable at least as I see it. It is a camera that brings certain emotions to me and as the fool I am, got rid of mine some years ago. Regretted it ever since and have a while back acquired an almost new one with only 9 thousand shutter counts, in mint condition. The love of my photographic tools. Named him Nikodemos the Greek name that is very suitable.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Good to see you're still lurking Ivar! I figured I'd use the 35/2 Nikkor that I picked up for the FE, but decided to "splurge" for a 28-200 AF bringing my total for the camera and lens to a whopping $300. It has a Nikon battery and Nikon charger. I hope the battery takes a charge. I also had to get a CF card (luckily my card reader has a CF slot).
I had read or watched YT videos that suggest that this was the last FF Nikon produced prior to them switching to Sony sensors and that the colors on the D700 were cherished by some. I don't know if that means by those who shoot jpg SOOC or if there is somehow more flexibility in their NEF format. In any event, I'll be using my current batch of post s/w which does not include any camera specific s/w tools.
Ought to arrive in a week or so. Looking forward to judging for myself.
I had read or watched YT videos that suggest that this was the last FF Nikon produced prior to them switching to Sony sensors and that the colors on the D700 were cherished by some. I don't know if that means by those who shoot jpg SOOC or if there is somehow more flexibility in their NEF format. In any event, I'll be using my current batch of post s/w which does not include any camera specific s/w tools.
Ought to arrive in a week or so. Looking forward to judging for myself.
Gianluca Drago
Well-Known Member
Ivar Dahl-Larsen
Well-Known Member
Thank you Gianluca, much appreciated.
Paul Taylor
Well-Known Member
I have a D800 that I usually use in conjunction with my Nikon F4s film camera.
I have a few lenses for it (Nikon 20-35mmF2.8 , Nikon 50mmF1.4 , Nikon 35-105F3.5 , Nikon 105mmF2.8 Macro , Nikon 80-200F2.8 , Nikon 80-400F4.5) All old enough to have the manual aperture rings so they work with all the modes on the F4s.
My favorite out of all of them though seems to be the 80-400. Such a versatile lens and I have really liked the images out of it so far, both on film and digital.
I have a few lenses for it (Nikon 20-35mmF2.8 , Nikon 50mmF1.4 , Nikon 35-105F3.5 , Nikon 105mmF2.8 Macro , Nikon 80-200F2.8 , Nikon 80-400F4.5) All old enough to have the manual aperture rings so they work with all the modes on the F4s.
My favorite out of all of them though seems to be the 80-400. Such a versatile lens and I have really liked the images out of it so far, both on film and digital.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Thanks for your lens list Paul! The 28-200 arrived yesterday. It sure feels substantial compared to modern lenses. The D700 arrived after I initially posted this. The D700 is quite hefty as well. Hopefully the battery will take a charge. It was initially totally drained but took a quick charge so the camera turned on. It's still sitting in the charger with the light blinking. The CF card won't arrive for a week, so it'll be a while before I shoot anything with it. I ordered two 3rd party batteries with a 3rd party charger (just in case). I always have multiple batteries for my digitals anyway.
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Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
I cancelled the order for the CF card yesterday and re-ordered one that should arrive today. My first order hadn't even been shipped yet and wasn't going to arrive for 7 to 10 days. My spare batteries arrived and they're charged. I've made some adjustments to the settings and dialed in the diopter. Boy, the OVF is sure bright... 
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
First light!
Just loaded the CF card and shot this through the window. SOOC jpg on the left and my edits to the *.nef on the right. My edited *.nef is smaller than the SOOC jpg.
Then, I had to figure out how to put it into "A" mode (and some other stuff).
The files are small compared to what I'm used to.
There are a ton of things that I'll need to find/figure out!
Just loaded the CF card and shot this through the window. SOOC jpg on the left and my edits to the *.nef on the right. My edited *.nef is smaller than the SOOC jpg.
Then, I had to figure out how to put it into "A" mode (and some other stuff).
The files are small compared to what I'm used to.
There are a ton of things that I'll need to find/figure out!
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
A few "real" shots from today...
Beth Anthony
Well-Known Member
so what's your conclusion on the colors? are they anything special?
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
One conclusion: it focuses really fast. Nothing special in the color as far as I can tell but I don't really have the ability to compare it to memories of 17 years ago. Maybe it was then? Perhaps once I spend some time with it, tweak the jpg parameters, I'd be able to get satisfaction SOOC?
The camera is a hefty beast. You certainly know you've got a camera by the tail.
I will likely try to dig deep into what it can do and then will probably relegate it to the shelf.
Pete Askew
Admin
And all very fine ones too. All rendered very naturally. Are you enjoying the experience, Gary
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Thanks Pete!
Yes, so far. There is quite a lot to dig into that is going to require time. I am a big fan of David Busch's books (I thought that I found a brand-new copy of his D700 book. I'm waiting for it to arrive.) but after I posted this I got an email from eBay telling me that the seller didn't really have that title. Hopefully I've found a "good" used copy at Abe's Books.
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Eagle Omomuro
New Member
Gary!!
Guess I’m one step late to answer your question.
The D700 is essentially a D3 packed into a smaller body. Most aspects, including the color, are pretty much the same. I had a D3 and compared it with the D700 from my news agency back then. I couldn’t see any difference apart from the burst rate.
What made the D700 special at the time was its autofocus and high-ISO performance. For its era, it was unbeatable, especially at that price point. I always thought the reason that Nikon threw all what they had from a flagship line into a premium amerture line was to conquer a market share from Canon, which was dominating the full frame market by its 5D MK1 and Mk2.
But I never really liked the Nikon color. Landscape or street photography was all good. But I don't like it when it comes to portraits.
Paired with lenses like the AF 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.8, 135mm f/2, or 180mm f/2.8, it’s razor sharp. But the color, especially for skin tones, always looked more 'realistic' and less 'polished' to me. I used to call it the perfect camera for photojournalism. For portraits, try a Canon 5D MK1 or a Fujifilm S5Pro which were older and cheaper, you might get a happier result. It’s not about cold or warm tones, or contrast or saturation. It’s about how the camera, and maybe the lens, interprets skin tone. And Nikon from that era never really aimed to beautify that part. I know this might upset some Nikon fans, but I just want to give you a different perspective to help with your decision.
Edited: You got your D700 already? Oh, well, congrats!!
Guess I’m one step late to answer your question.
The D700 is essentially a D3 packed into a smaller body. Most aspects, including the color, are pretty much the same. I had a D3 and compared it with the D700 from my news agency back then. I couldn’t see any difference apart from the burst rate.
What made the D700 special at the time was its autofocus and high-ISO performance. For its era, it was unbeatable, especially at that price point. I always thought the reason that Nikon threw all what they had from a flagship line into a premium amerture line was to conquer a market share from Canon, which was dominating the full frame market by its 5D MK1 and Mk2.
But I never really liked the Nikon color. Landscape or street photography was all good. But I don't like it when it comes to portraits.
Paired with lenses like the AF 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.8, 135mm f/2, or 180mm f/2.8, it’s razor sharp. But the color, especially for skin tones, always looked more 'realistic' and less 'polished' to me. I used to call it the perfect camera for photojournalism. For portraits, try a Canon 5D MK1 or a Fujifilm S5Pro which were older and cheaper, you might get a happier result. It’s not about cold or warm tones, or contrast or saturation. It’s about how the camera, and maybe the lens, interprets skin tone. And Nikon from that era never really aimed to beautify that part. I know this might upset some Nikon fans, but I just want to give you a different perspective to help with your decision.
Edited: You got your D700 already? Oh, well, congrats!!
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Gary Ayala
Well-Known Member
Good to see you back.
Gary R. Smith
Well-Known Member
Yup, got it about a month ago? I like the jpg's SOOC. Now I'm wondering if I should pick-up a D810. I really like how fast it focuses. So far the 28-200 hasn't come off the body.
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