To the right of the Mode button is one for Exposure Compensation which is offered in a wide range of +/- 5EV.Ī rotary dial around the shutter release itself is used to switch the camera on and off, while a clockwise twist illuminates the upper screen’s backlight. As a high-end model, there’s also no scene presets here, just the traditional Program, Manual, Aperture and Shutter Priority modes. Instead you press and hold the Mode button by the shutter release and turn the thumb dial. Like the D300, there’s no command dial for the shooting modes. Most buttons also only have one function which makes it easy to get to grips with. The D700 features both finger and thumb dials, and most adjustments involve holding down a button as one of the dials is turned. In terms of controls, the D700 is virtually identical to the D300, although there are a couple of differences we’ll mention as we go along. Before you get too carried away though, remember like all DSLRs, to be properly weatherproof you’ll also need a lens with environmental sealing. Nikon describes the D700 as being ‘comprehensively sealed against dust and moisture’ with O-rings and other seals on the various controls, flaps and doors. The presence of a popup flash inevitably makes the head section more vulnerable than models without – like the D3 and EOS 5D – but at no point did we feel the D700 was at any risk. Again nothing we haven’t already seen on previous Nikon DSLRs, but still a leader in ergonomics. It’s the small things which make all the difference like the feel of the rubber coating and the slightly indented area inside of the grip for your right fingertips which acts like a hook, allowing you to hold the camera more comfortably and securely. Physical design is of course a very personal thing, but we’d say the D700’s build and ergonomics are a step-up from rival semi-pro DSLRs, including the Canon EOS 5D. Both bodies feel incredibly solid and exude confidence. In terms of build quality, the D700 is essentially the same as the D300. Of course the D3 also has a built-in portrait grip, but many will prefer the D700’s greater portability and option to fit a battery grip only when they need it. That said, many people will be comparing the D700 against the D3, where there’s a significant size and weight difference: the D3 is 13mm wider, 34mm taller, 11mm thicker and weighs 245g more – and that’s without taking its larger battery into consideration. 170g doesn’t sound like much, but the D300 really does feel noticeably lighter, as does the EOS 5D. Pick up all three bodies and there’s no doubt the D700 is comfortably the heaviest. In terms of bulk, the D700 weighs in at 995g, which makes it 170g heavier than the D300 and 185g heavier than the EOS 5D these weights are without battery, although the two Nikons share the same pack, making their weights directly comparable. Compared to the full-frame Canon EOS 5D, the D700 is 5mm narrower, 10mm thicker and 2mm taller. This additional height is clear from the photo above, although in our view it gives the D700 better-proportions than the D300. Measuring 147x123x77mm, the D700 is the same width as the D300 and only 3mm thicker, but the larger penta-prism required by the full-frame sensor makes the D700 9mm taller. We’ve pictured it below alongside the D300 with both models fitted with the Nikkor 50mm f1.8 lens so not to obstruct the body features. At the time of writing, it’s positioned between the semi-pro D300 and flagship D3, offering the latter’s full-frame sensor in a more portable form factor. The D700 continues Nikon’s tradition of delivering tough and superbly designed high-end DSLRs.
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