If you look at Nikon's current DSLR lineup, there are a couple of bodies that are getting a little long in the tooth and in need of a refresh. The first is the ageing D90 (August 2008); the other is the D700 (announced in July 2008). At the time of writing, the D700 is over two years old and hence pretty much due for an upgrade any day now.
So, what should the D700 replacement look like? This is a list of what we think should be coming.
- Call it the D700s. We think it's too early for a complete replacement. Yes, competitors have more megapixels and more features, but as you'll see we don't think they're completely necessary.
- Use the D3s 12mp sensor. What, only 12mp? Well seriously, hardly anyone needs more - 12mp is more than enough for decent-sized prints, way more than is required for web use, and is a good tradeoff between resolution and file size. What the D3s sensor would bring is stunning low-light performance in a smaller body, something many people could make real use of. Who needs 24mp when those pixels contain more noise, even when downsampled, than a clean 12mp image? If you really want a 24mp sensor in a D700-style body, call it the D700x or D800, but give us what we need, not what the marketing department wants.
- 1080p video. This is one area where Nikon have long been lagging behind their competitor Canon, despite being first to market with a video-capable DSLR with the D90. The D700 was one of the last Nikon DSLRs not to include a movie mode - and all of them up to the time of writing have been limited to 720p at 24fps. Film-makers like 24fps, but home video users want 30fps.
- Fast AF in movie mode. If Nikon are going to implement a better movie mode, why not make it have useable AF too? Current move-mode AF implementations are slow to the point of pointlessness; manual focus for video is the only real option. This needs to be fixed, and hopefully Nikon will step up to the plate. After all, competitor's cameras such as the Panasonic GF1 have serviceable (if not exactly impressive) AF while shooting video.
- Dual card slots. The D3 has them - two CF card slots. The D300s has them - one CF slot, one SD slot. The D700 (and the D300, which is in many ways the DX equivalent of the D700) does not. Pro shooters in the D700 market like dual card slots for backup.
- Better viewfinder coverage. The D700 has a 95% viewfinder, you say? Sure... but what they're not telling you is that it's 95% in linear terms. That is, the coverage is 95% of the horizontal, 95% of the vertical. To us, that's not 95% coverage - that's just over 90% (0.95 x 0.95 = 0.9025). This is one thing that often stops us picking the D700 over the D3 - when you're using a wide-angle lens such as the 14-24/2.8 or 16-35/4VR, that's a big difference. Accurate cropping in-camera is better than having to crop in post, or worse, misjudging the edges of the shot entirely.
- 3:2 aspect LCD. The consumer-level Canon 550D has one; an LCD display that is actually the same dimensions as the image sensor. No more black bars in review mode and live view! Not essential perhaps, but it would be nice to make proper use of that screen real estate - especially when you're shooting video in widescreen.
Not too much to ask, right? Well, here are a few extra things that would be very much appreciated, but unlikely.
- Wider AF area. If you switch between FX and DX cameras with Nikon's 51-point AF system (such as the D700 and D300), you'll note that the layout is very similar. The problem is that they're a bit too similar - they cover exactly the same area. That is, they cover most of the D300's smaller frame, and therefore much less of the D700's FX frame. In other words, with the D300 you can accurately focus over most of the frame, whereas for the D700 you can only focus towards the center. This is something we'd like to see rectified in the next AF iteration.
- Bring back the BKT button. We've been known to moan about this before, but it's no less important now. Nikon's older DSLRs had a dedicated button for turning on exposure bracketing; this has been lost on newer models. Yes, you can change the Func button to do this, but many people like to have that button allocated to another feature such as spot metering. For anyone shooting landscapes or HDR, the return of a dedicated BKT button would save us from much frustrating menu-surfing.
- GPS. Unlikely, but... geotagging without any external attachments or complex syncing procedures? Yes please!
- Bonus: Wi-Fi! And not just limited-to-Nikon-Picturetown WiFi either; give us full-blown wi-fi so that we can shoot tethered without the ridiculous, bulky, cabled add-on Wi-Fi transmitter. Of course, people pay well over $600 for that transmitter, so we're exceedingly unlikely to see it built-in any time soon.
What have we missed? What would you like to see on the D700 successor? Let us know in the comments.
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31 Comments
I agree with paragraphs 1-5 at 100% but the rest are minor issues.
Hi, I am just an amateur photographer, I have the Nikon D80, so I want to upgrade to something more, maybe the D300s or D700, but reading all your expectations of a new renovate nikon DSLR I wonder if you know when Nikon is going to announced a new camera?
I hope you can help me with this
I would very much like to see a much quieter shutter.
The sensor would be the greatest improvement for me and I've been waiting for an upgrade for almost a year from my beloved D80. Greater performance in low-light, higher resolution and greater ability to crop hard without losing detail when printing.
I run a baby and newborn photography business and the sensor is really the only significant addition I need. Although wifi would be very welcome too, I doubt it will come.
Richard Barry
http://www.richardbarryphotography.com
( great site by the way guys!)
Do not agree 100 %.
1)My D700 is only just OK for A3+ print (48,3 cm x 32,9 cm)and when I try to print out in 60,0 x 40,0 for a client, it was not good enough, if you do want to view it some close.
I think it should be about 16-18 MP and the generel development should also give fine ISO-performance.
2) In high contrast shooting I use HDR, but what about a feature IN the camera, which do the start of the HDR process, so you end up with one picture to do tonemapping with later at the PC.
3) If not: At least a possibility to shoot bracketing shots in 3, not just 5, as now. You have the possibility in my D90, but you have to shoot 5 shots to get the minus and plus 2 in D700.
Come on, the new camera absolutely needs to be at least 24 MP. Nikon is far behind Leica and Canon so of course they are saying better resolution is not needed and you can do X by Y size prints and bla bla bla. When was more res not a good thing? Remember how great T grain was? Stop towing the party line here. We need at least 24 MP or I predict a lot of pros will be changing camera brand.
Rob.
There is Nikon D3x for 24Mp if you need it.
It requires more memory, more powerful computer, the larger buffer, the work becomes slower twice!!! more noise at high ISO ... so better quality only in a few percent (and it is only visible on prints over A3-A2).
I can see how some people would love to have a lighter FX body. Maybe something with a D90-like build quality.
Can't see WHY you guys complain about the D700!!
A few replacements it can go through is the exact button layout like the D300s, dedicated for live view and info,
The sensor is ok, just add 24meg pixel,
Video girls and guys: Go buy can a video camera, this is a stills camera, why do people brag about the HD on the D3s, it is only 5minutes anyway.
Fotomanden:
If you know how to use CS5, and a NEF file, you can print a A1 print with the standard settings of the D700, I have a D300s and print QUALITY A1 prints on paper and canvas.
Quick hint for you in CS 4/5:
When you have a photo open in CS4/5, go to image and then image size. Change the normal 4228 to 7500 or even 10 000 and at the bottom change Bicubic Smoother (Best for enlargement) and see what size is the picture on the screen.
File save it and print a A3 and you will see the quality of the print......
Dual cards drain also a battery and just make sure they are formatted before you shoot any photos.
Just make also sure you safe your settings back after the format though.....
The moment you make the body lighter, you have a complaint from the same guys that the lenses are to heavy and not in balance......
Nikon has a design team that works on this and first thing they ask themselves HOW BALANCED is the product?
I never had any problem with my D300s or my friend's D700.
Seems you COMPLAINERS , suffer from ATGBNI......
All The Gear But NO IDEA.........
Opening line is a big load of BS. Is 2 years really that old for a dSLR? Maybe you should be happy with what you have.
1&2) CORRECT!
5, 6, 7) I can see the uses - but manage fine without them.
Ebery other extra gadget or button amounts to more to go wrong, more dust on the sensors, more power drain, etc.
I bought my D700 for it's toughness as a still's camera.
If you're not getting good enough pictures from your D700 it's your fault, not the camera's! A 'better' camera ain't gunna imrpove your photography. It may improve your image at the local camera club, or with your friends - but they're all shallow automatons anyway, so why care?
All The Gear But NO IDEA, for sure Henning ;)
If you own a D700 you're richer than 95% of the worlds population. Be thankful. If you can afford to start thinking of an upgrade then donate to the poor instead
AndyCam, I agree, the opening line is a lot of BS.
In my Canon days I saw people who bought the Canon 10D still take even better photographs than the people who upgrade to the 20d,30d and even the 50D.
It is not what you have in your hands, but HOW you use what is in your hands. I am even willing to challenge many photographers with my RICHO KR10X that is in film, you now why?? It is because I know the camera's ins and outs by the back of my hand. Put the best of all Fuji Reala 200ASA ISN in the camera and I can even uprate the ISO to ISO800,providing the developer use the ISO800 when develop the film. I done the tests and the little black box is what it all goes about.
I even took better photos with the RICHO than the Canon EOS 30d and the EOS 50d ,but doubt it could beat the NIKON D300s......
I will only upgrade when I know I had over-do the capabilities of the D300s.
So far I could NOT achieve it and done a lot of night photography with tripod and off hand.
The reason WHY I bought the D300s is it is my first Nikon DSLR. I got rid of ALL my Canon gear and bought the D300s, 50mm F1.8, 18-70mm F3.4-4.5 and a 80-200mm F2.8 ED(not push pull version)
I might get a SB 900 soon and later two more if the shots go well. At least then I can use the Nikon CLS and do not have to worry about flash on the camera.
I realised I could have bought the D700 and the 50mm and then I have to wait a few months to buy a 80-200mm zoom or even the 70-200F2.8 but need a camera that can perform under severe conditions. The D300s proofed so far NO failure to me and the upgrade to a newer model will wait then........
Currently there are so corrupted organisations that I do not donate because those organisations enrich themselves.
I rather buy food for a person on the street than giving money so they go and buy illegal substances that kill their organs...........
No to gps - if I need it I can add it including SBAS and inverse differential and those would be too expensive built in. How about the the return of the high eyepoint (HP) finder?
Just to let you guys and girls know:
I upgrade to a brand new D700 that was part of a Ebay shop and it was a demo model in a shop. The shutter count when I bought it from this guy was literally 550 and I sent t a friend who is working Nikon UK a RAW file and the serial number to check it out on the system. The camera is "CLEAN" so it means not stolen or reported.
The only mark on it is where the security system was attached to the rubber on the bottom when they removed it. No problem to me and will be replaced when bothered.
I have NO problems at all with this camera, I can just use the factory settings out of the box and set certain features to use and never use the Program mode.I seldom use the Program setting and when it comes down to the shoot, I will look afterwards what I have used.
Don't ask me What settings: What settings have you use? I won't tell you anyway because you will not have the same weather conditions at your destination anyway.
I am not richer now that I owe a Nikon D700, but gain only the full Frame experience and must make use of it in all respects it can do for me....
Keep well to all f you...
Henning
henning.ras@gmail.com
I hear there is a lot of techy talk once again. Lets step back away from all the technology for a moment and ask ourselves are we good photographers? What makes a good image is not always in what we use but how we perceive a scene or an event in time. Look at your work and always ask yourself what can be bettered - don't ever go down the route of thinking "Oh let's upgrade the camera and in that way I'll become a better photographer.
I say it is imperative to know how a camera works but if you're out shooting for a client and you're fiddling away with settings and crap then you still have a long way to go! You'd more than likely have to study the basics of camera technology again. Our market is a challenging one and if you're going to be recognised for your work you truly have to SEE a different perspective through an artists eyes and not CAD eyes. This is not a science it's more an art.
Happy shooting all!
Hurry up already!
I do wish they would include GPS. Outdoor shots are my hobby, so an attached GPS is always in my hotshoe. Otherwise, there gets to be a "Where did I take this picture?" moment. Having one less thing to carry into the woods would the wonderful, not to mention having one less cable to snag and having a ready flash.
ONE BATTERY. Settle on one single battery where the 90, 300, 700 take one battery and the D3 replacement takes two - just as the battery grips you can buy to add on to the other cameras take two. Make the shape of the battery the same for as long as possible, just increase the power over the years. Sell the hell out of them, make two battery charger/conditioners, sell lots of the power grips that hold two batteries.
Also switch all pocket cameras to using the same battery. Keep battery size the same (physically) for as long as possible. Shoot for eight or ten years cycles with only increasing the power in the battery when it's reasonable but always backwards compatible. It's better for the environment, it's easier to manage for you and the consumer, it will build loyalty (even if my entire Nikon camera and lens package were stolen I would not consider Canon at all if I still had, say, 15 batteries that fit Nikon cameras).
ELIMINATE ALL POP-UP FLASHES on dSLRs: just toss in a cheap flash - maybe $25 manufacturing cost with all dSLRs. It will do a batter job and Nikon will save millions on repair costs of those fragile, bothersome and unattractive pop-up flashes. Sell the flash wholesale to dealers for $30.
The pop up flashes do not even work with lenses like the 14-24. Nikon should be ashamed that they sell cameras with pop up flashes that will not work with all lenses. The external flash I propose should work with all lenses that someone might reasonably use a flash with. If it works with the SB900, it should work with the included flash.
TWO SDHC memory card slots on ALL dSLRs. If not two active, then at least a dummy slot by the battery for storage of an extra SDHC chip on the D90 and below.
ANDROID APP for GPS. Make an app that works with both USB cables and Bluetooth that allow the Droid phones tag the phones with the exact time and date and GPS coordinates of the photo using the incomparable GPS power of the Droid to get it as close as possible inside or out (or best guess with it so tagged as ESTIMATE). The Morotola Droid 2 and Droid X are the best smartphones out there and they are on the best network. Work with them specifically when developing the app. This is the cheapest, most efficient, most accurate way to tag photos in the camera. It piggy backs a multi-trillion dollar investment made by Google and Motorola and Verizon to find the phone within inches of its exact spot. Give the app away for free and get Google, Verizon and Motorola to help promote this.
SENSIBLE FILE NAMING: I want to see much more flexible file-naming with the default being year, month, day, time to the second in the file name using a 24 hour clock. So, for a picture taken on Christmas at 1:17 AM and 7 seconds the file name would be 20101225011711 and if there were to be more than one taken in the same second, have them get a .2, .3 or a B, C, D as in 20101225011707 then 20101225011707B then 20101225011707C, then 20101225011707D or then 20101225011707.2, then 20101225011707.3, then 20101225011707.4. This allows easy sorting by date and time you took the picture and is SO much more useful than what is offered now. I would also like to be able to tack on extra info at the start or end - perhaps a half dozen characters at the start, the finish or both. Like "DB D90" at the end (so it still sorts by date but I can see quickly see that I took the picture and which camera I used).
Make a deal with Google to have the phone, over BlueTooth over a Droid and using the Picasa app, or over WiFi to any unprotected port using internal software to the camera that works with http://picasaweb.google.com and a Google username and password, to upload pictures to Google's PicasaWeb area. This is a free 1 GIG space with any Google username and it is easy to add huge amounts of space for just a few bucks a year. $50 gets you 200 gigs or something. It's an incredibly good deal and not one that Nikon could possibly come close to nor do they want to be in the picture storage business for people. It's expensive to maintain the servers - Google does it safer, faster, cheaper and better in every way - and who wants to be sued by your customers for not properly maintaining or protecting their images?
Just make sure all your uploads from the Nikon view WiFi or BlueTooth are set to original file size including RAW and JPEG if that is what was shot, and all pictures are set to as private as can be. Let the user switch than online later.
Also have the Google Android app in a phone over BlueTooth, or the WiFi, download any patches to the firmware for the camera.
Have two easy switches that cannot be switched by mistake (under a water tight cover?) to turn on and off the BlueTooth and the WiFi to save battery power.
Theres a reason they haven't updated it. If they do it will completely outclass all of Nikon's Top of the line professional cameras including the D3s. They want ppl to still buy their 5k bodies, so the sooner they introduce the new d700 the sooner they outdate their "best" cameras. Of course its inevitable. they need to do it because Canon's lineup is already strong. I'm actually waiting for the new D700. Im sure they are just trying to figure out how they will cripple it so its not better than the D3s in every way.
Agree with many of the points, especially 100% viewfinder and D3s-class sensor (low light, better dynamic range). But one thing never seems to be mentioned, but which I have on my current Olympus E1:
PIXEL MAPPING
This function is a lifesaver if your sensor ever develops live or dead (ie, stuck) pixels, like all sensors do eventually. Just run this little function, and 5 seconds later, any stuck pixels have effectively vanished forever. With Nikon gear, you have to send your camera off for an expensive service to achieve the same result ...
Brian
I loved Olympus. I had two of the 520s or whatever it was and was ready to go to 620 when they changed the battery size. Once they did that I went shopping and realized Olympus was probably going out of business so asked the guys at the local shops which was better and they said they wouldn't tell me. So I went to the two best and said, "What do all the salesman carry? What's most reliable?" Mostly Nikon and Nikon were the answers so I switched to the D90 just in time. I don't think they have gotten a new dSLR in anywhere I have seen in a long time. Just those little waterproof things that are rugged as hell but do not take a picture nearly as nice as it could. I think sticking with that weird memory chip essentially killed them. If they went SDXC and included a 64 GB SDXC chip with every dSLR they might be able to get it back. But right now, RIP OLY dSLRs.
live histogram
jack for external stereo mic
gps-not just geotagging but real gps (why not?)
dedicated video button
sensor vr that can work with lense vr
swivel display that turns up down left and right and backwards
wi-fi or bluetooth to see live display on i-pad or android based tablets
remote control that has all the controls the camera has again that can be controlled by tablets or proprietary devices
2-3 dedicated physical user programmable buttons or more if using a touch screen display
You can get larger prints than most people will ever need off 12 mp unless you want to stand inches away from a 10 meter print and examine the detail ...which realistically isn't the average situation of large prints now is it?
Case in point:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbersdog/2752888080/
Regardless, i agree with most of this. Video would be nice...but isn't even on my top list. My list goes is as follows.
100% viewfinder (preferably d3s) & the D3s Sensor...thats pretty much it and nikon has a customer in me.
D3x is a waste of money. It is very slow compared to the D3 in terms of image processing after you take a shot.
Also, someone said to make a lighter FX body? Well the D700 is substantially lighter than the D3 already. You can't make it as light as the D90 because its not made from cheap plastic. Some people are unreasonable and DUMB.
dfsl-
Let us see your improvement and send it to Nikon and let them give you feedback......
The D3X is the prime Nikon Camera and they have the best features what it can do.Maybe you haven't got enough money to spend or still take photos with your D60....or is the iPhone....
The D700 stand in the middle between the D300 and D3, it share both features in a way,I add the MBD 10 grip because I cannot afford the D3 and sometimes don't need the extra bulky size of the D3.
True what you say about " You can't make it as light as the D90 because its not made from cheap plastic. Some people are unreasonable and DUMB."
Maybe you fall in their category too to complain about the D700 improvements.
All I need to improve on it is to have a dedicated LiveView button, nothing else....
Seems most of the complainers here suffer from from ATGANI
ALL
THE
GEAR
AND
NO
IDEA
!!!
@Henning Ras
Im not sure if i fell into that category but im sorry but what you said was extremely short sighted and proves if anything else that you are not a professional photographer....
The D3X is a little pointless for most people (in fact more people/professionals than it is useful for) and for most needs, it compromises low light capabilities, shutter speed re-fire rate(if i'm not mistaken) and dynamic range for resolution. For most people my self included res isn't really important as I can get huge prints from my d300 and soon my d4 (when it is released)
Again...
Case in point:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/robbersdog/2752888080/
Compromising three other areas for a little more clarity in a situation most are rarely going to take full advantage of is not something a professional would do, they would go as I almost did with the d3s. Its priced for studio photographers and was an attempt to compete with the new leica/canon slrs in an attempt to bridge the gap between the medium format end of the market.
I disagree with the statement "all it needs is a dedicated live view button" live view is fine on the d700/d300 where it is as flicking between it is not a problem and i can find it without even looking at the camera 9/10 times. I agree that asking for a lighter camera is a little absurd but then i've not once felt a problem carrying my camera around all day, I am a man and quite a large one so i cant speak for anyone else really.
I would say that my main quarrel with the d700 is the viewfinder crop, they remove that even at the cost of the flash and I will be a happy bunny, I know 100% viewfinders are a recent thing but its one of those luxuries you get used to.
@Brian
I own a D700 and make not many images using the LiveView. I seldom use it for checking what the outcome might be in certain light conditions..
Crop of the viewfinder is no problem for me due I compose in the wide variety and seldom crop in Capture NX2 or Photoshop...
My aim in photography is to compose and take a perfect picture and not spending post processing for hours, I rather taking photos for hours....
@henning Ras Surely that means it should be a problem if you seldom crop? It means you are framing a photo which you cant see? Post processing and processing is part of taking photos...so its hardly separated.. Its not even a new thing, Ansel Adams for example created better images that im sure either of us are capable of and was a huge used of dodging and burning techniques.
You seem to complain about things you don't seem to use nor care about....and conversely the things you would benefit from you discard as pointless or unnecessary. Why would you need a live view button if you rarely use it? I am the same I am not a macro photographer I only use the live view to set my white balance.
Sorry if this is a double post
@henning Ras Surely that means it should be a problem if you seldom crop? It means you are framing a photo which you cant see? Post processing and processing is part of taking photos...so its hardly separated.. Its not even a new thing, Ansel Adams for example created better images that im sure either of us are capable of and was a huge used of dodging and burning techniques.
You seem to complain about things you don't seem to use nor care about....and conversely the things you would benefit from you discard as pointless or unnecessary. Why would you need a live view button if you rarely use it? I am the same I am not a macro photographer I only use the live view to set my white balance.
Look at my design of Nikon D800 body:
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8247/d800dimalozz.jpg
Eeeeeek no thanks http://www.radiantlite.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/nikon-d800-rumor.jpg
thats more like it, the extra sturdiness of the missing flash is the only serious body mod i would want, a rotatable screen on a semi/pro body, thats asking to be broken.
p.s. nice shop though