posted by flosse_r on Opinions

4 comments

There have been speculations of the next version of the Nikon D700 around for almost a year now and it is always  ” soon to come”. The rumors also changed the name for the next version regularly: D700s, D700X, D800 you name it.  Personally I am very interested because I like my D700 very much and I think it is the best full-frame camera for that price.But, eys there is always a but, I would like to see the following in the next version:

First off, I am not a fan of too much automatic features but the right ones definitely have to be there. I used to own a Canon 5D mk2 and the camera is spectacular in its own right but it falls short on the D700 in several aspects. Of course it also surpasses the D700 in movie mode and resolution.

Now, the next version of the D700 is either an evolutionary version or Nikon will shift completely to do something new, in which case it would be a revolutionary device.  You have to understand though that the Nikon D700 really has had no need to be upgraded. The 12 mega pixel sensor is magic and the resolution is enough for 95% of the users. Canon’s approach is mega pixels, Nikon’s is image quality and it shows. Next, the Nikon D700 shoots up to 8 frames per second, plenty to capture sports while still being a full-frame camera. Nikon’s AutoFocus system is arguably the best around and 51 point AutoFocus surpasses anything that any other company has to offer. The D700 has more than adecuate weather and dust seals in place to withstand rain and dirt. The Nikon d700 also allows you to use DX lenses, even if only with reduced resolution. So where can they improve?

1. Add another card slot. Like the Nikon D300s it would be great to have SD and CF slots.Yes I know CF is faster and the professional choice but what is the hard of adding the split feature like the D300s. Put RAW on the CF card and JPEGs on the SD card. As Nikon won’t make USB Mass Storage as part of the USB connection in their cameras, the SD card addition would be great as most laptops nowadays feature an SD slot but not a CF slot.
2. increase the resolution to 18 megapixels. Yes I just argued that 12megapixels is enough but technology has evolved enough to add another 6megapixels. Not the 24 that the D3X has, as it would eat into the market share.
3. Add a HD Movie recording feature. I Don’t use it much but I think even the professional photographer loves getting some things on movie at some point and please make the recording time more than 5 minutes.
4. Quite mode, Like the D300s a quiet mode would be great to have for those weddings and other solemn occasions.
5. Expand the focus area!! The focusing system between the D300s and the D700 are identical but the field of view on the D700 is much larger (1.5 times actually) yet the focus points only cover the smaller area. It would be great if Nikon can expand that area to cover the frame much better.
6. Different Viewfinder overlays or focusing screens. For example it would be great to have a “rule of thirds” overlay or a smaller grid  or a f2.8 more precise focusing screen.
7. Increase the ISO to match the D3X. This is a BIG wish and a far out wish but it would be absolutely awesome.

That’s pretty much it. Small changes like these would make the next Nikon D700s, D700X or D800 another king stealer and as the Image quality be default is better on the D700 than on any other entry level professional camera, it would make it a clear winner.

Tags: D700, d700s, d700x, d800, features, nikon, wishlist