Nikon Introduces D700 Full-Frame DSLR

Nikon entered the full-frame digital SLR race a bit late. Canon’s five-year head start, beginning with the EOS-1Ds in 2002, had given them an edge among many professional photographers embracing the advantages of a full-frame sensor. Nikon finally responded last year with the D3, which proved to be a very competitive alternative to Canon’s full-frame line. But there were two issues that prevented many Nikon users from immediately trading in their DX cameras for a D3 FX camera: size and price. With the recently announced D700, Nikon fixes these issues and hopes to make their full-frame line more accessible.

The Nikon D700 is essentially a D3 with the body of a D300. This is a considerable achievement, considering the mammoth proportions of the D3 and the significant size difference of a full-frame sensor. What’s the big deal about a bigger sensor? Because there is a lower pixel density on the larger full-frame sensors, photographers are able to boost the ISO comfortably, which allows them to shoot in low light without flash and get pictures that aren’t diluted with tiny red specks known as noise. The other main advantage of a full-frame sensor is the ability to use ultra-wide lenses that are wider than any lenses available for DX cameras because of the DX crop factor. Additionally, Nikon’s entire catalog of Nikkor 35mm film lenses will work on the D700 without being affected by any crop factor.

Although Nikon will keep their DX line for the foreseeable and distant future, their FX line will soon be in the hands of most professionals and serious hobbyists. The D700 aims to bring full-frame-sensor Nikons to a larger audience. For those looking toward the future of professional photography, the Nikon D700 is a good investment that will certainly continue to gain in popularity as Nikon continues to beef up its FX line of lenses.

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