Kerry Kennedy , Jul 01, 2008; 11:36 a.m.
I am a retired Boeing engineer. When planning a new passenger jet, Boeing would try fill unoccupied niches based
on such factors as range, speed, carrying capacity, and airport compatibility, etc. Of course, in some cases, a
new plane would replace an earlier model with improvements in fuel efficiency, ease of manufacture and other factors.
I am curious as to what niche of photography that the D700 is designed for as it falls between the D3 and the
D300. I think it great that one can use older lenses without encountering the "crop factor", but I don't think
this is a prime Nikon marketing factor.
Ellis Vener 
, Jul 01, 2008; 11:51 a.m.
"I don't think this is a prime Nikon marketing factor."
Yo uare wrong.
But what are the niche for the D700?
D3 using pros who want a very similar performing and compatible back up body for their D3.
The same niche Canon exploited wit hthe 5D : established and new pros, and well heeled amateurs who don't want to pay more than $3000 for a camera body.
People who want full frame capablilities but don't want a camera the size of the D3
People who do nature photography but don't want a large heavy body.
People who can't afford or justify the cost of a D3.
people who, seeing the quality of D3 results were tired of waiting for this size and quality of camera to either come from Canon and have gotten impatient and may switch from Canon.
People who had years of experience with Nikon and switched to Cano nfor a 24x36mm format camera and who will now think of switching back.
Those are pretty big niches.
Frank , Jul 01, 2008; 11:55 a.m.
It's the same niche the EOS 5D fills since about three years: A compact and (comparable) lightweight DSLR for people who prefer taking high quality photos with ISO 800 and above. Shooting landscape with a D700 / EOS 5D is a second strenght of the FX format. When I compared my D300 pics with D3 pics there was little differnce in resolution at ISO 100-800 but a strong advantage for the D3 as soon as the ISO went to ISO 1600 and 3200 (or 6400). And I guess lots of pros will buy this baby-D3 as a second body.
Robert Hooper 
, Jul 01, 2008; 11:56 a.m.
Price is one factor. The Nikon FX format is going to be financially within the reach of greater number of people. Also wide
angle lenses are very important to many.
Anson Ko , Jul 01, 2008; 12:25 p.m.
Is D3 and D700 using the same sensor? 12.1MP ?
Dave Lee 
, Jul 01, 2008; 12:46 p.m.
I know I'll buy a D700 someday. Maybe in 5 years. I want to shoot with my 28mm f2.8 AIS and get 28mm coverage. Right now it's only 42mm, but the lens is still excellent. I can't afford a $3000 camera body. I could barely afford an $1800 one! But this is the Canon 5D killer. Nikon did good with this one.
Kerry Kennedy , Jul 01, 2008; 12:48 p.m.
Ellis, by older lenses, I was referring to AI lenses, not AF lenses. The D700 is very appealing, as is the D300. I echo that thought that if I had just bought a D300, I would be feeling some anguish. I am an amateur and can't write off my photo gear. Oh, for the days of the F2, when one could count on having a top camera for a decade.
Robert Hooper , Jul 01, 2008; 01:06 p.m.
"Oh, for the days of the F2, when one could count on having a top camera for a decade."
Kerry,
I've been thinking of getting out one of my F2 bodies and shooting a few rolls. Costco will process and copy the film to a
CD pretty cheaply. I'm really curious to see how this process works out.
Andy Aungthwin , Jul 01, 2008; 01:09 p.m.
I think a lot shooters like myself will get the D700. I was about to get the 5D before 30/6 (cut off limit in Europe) because of the rebate, but I'm now glad I didn't.
The three major things I wanted was FF, great IQ at ALL ISOs and a fair price for the common folks.
OK, well, I wish the D700 was 2000 Euros, but two out of three ain't bad.
Oh yes, that virtual horizon leveler is worth more than a few hundred dollars to me in not having to mess around with a bubble level.
Jose Angel , Jul 01, 2008; 01:15 p.m.
