Nikon D700 Review

The D700, like the D3 and D300, comes with Nikon's EXPEED image processor chip which supports 14-bit A/D conversion with 12 channel readout. Like its siblings, the D700 supports three file formats: JPEG, NEF.RAW and TIFF. TIFF files are uncompressed, while NEF.RAW files can be compressed (losslessly or with lossy compression) or uncompressed. RAW+JPEG capture is supported.

Three JPEG compression ratios are offered: 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16. As in the D3, two JPEG compression options are provided: size priority and optimal quality. The first compresses images to produce files that are relatively uniform in size, without regard for the effect of compression on image quality. The second prioritises picture quality but delivers files that may be of widely different sizes.

Like its siblings, the D700 has two continuous shooting modes, CH and CL. In CH (continuous high speed) mode, images are recorded at five frames/second, regardless of whether you shoot raw or JPEG files and the frame rate is the same in 12-bit and 14-bit raw modes. In CL (continuous low speed) mode, you can use the Custom Function menu to pre-set the frame rate to between one and seven frames/second. The default setting is three frames/second.

Interestingly, Nikon appears to have improved image processing speeds (or enlarged the buffer memory) since the release of the D3 because the number of images that can fit into the D700's buffer is slightly greater (see below). Image files move through the buffer as they are shot with the only indicators being a change in the exposures remaining data on the viewfinder display to show the number of frames remaining until the buffer fills and a flashing memory card access lamp.

Margaret Brown

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