Nikon D700 presentation video revealed early, it's very nice

We've been teased with the inevitable launch of the Nikon D700 DSLR, but it looks like our introduction is pretty much here with the nascent of a product presentation video that's supposed to hit the internets tomorrow. Observe as the nice man rubs the camera and says naughty things in French (hopefully we'll have a translation soon). He goes on to show off the new interface, quick menus, battery port, pop-up flash, and even gets a nice shot through the new viewfinder. In all seriousness, this is looking like a slick new camera. You're still looking at around €2,600 ($4,000), a July release, a 12-megapixel sensor, and sensor cleaning system. More information is sure to surface tomorrow when our friends across the pond wake up. Hit the continue link to be taunted a second time.

[Thanks, Pete]

[Joe @ Jun 30th 2008 10:04PM]

Wasn't it only about a week ago where you declared the D700 to be fake?

[Josh Warner @ Jul 1st 2008 1:04AM]

They declared a clearly 'shopped image to be a fake, after the source D300 image popped up, which was the right call. While that image was bogus, the camera itself was never declared fake by Engadget.

On an unrelated note, does anybody else think Nikon is out of their minds with a 4k asking price? I've seen the example pics, and the Canon 5D still wipes the floor with the D300 DX sensor and the D3 fullframe in terms of sharpness. I'm a Nikon guy (have a D200) and wish it were otherwise, but facts are facts and the pics don't lie.

This camera will be BEHIND the 5D in sharpness, have approx. the same pixel count, and will try to command twice the price of the 5D after rebates? Nikon is out of their collective minds!

Pull it together guys, this should go for - at MAX - the low- to mid-2k range, and it should match the 5D's price after rebates. Any higher than that, and you're going to start losing customers to Canon. Nevermind the likely circumstance that Canon has been sitting on a refresh to the 5D for a year or two now, not bothering to release it since the 5D ruled the market for 'affordable' fullframe.

Nikon's dug themselves a hole in this market; this is not the way out and might in fact make the hole deeper.

[I.E @ Jul 1st 2008 8:16PM]

@Josh Warner

You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I don't know where to start educating you so I'm not even gonna try.

[Jon @ Jun 30th 2008 10:07PM]

meh, Canon FTW.

[Wodheila @ Jun 30th 2008 10:07PM]

What's the 700 stand for? Pounds? Maybe it's just the angle but it looks huge!

[Squishy @ Jun 30th 2008 10:22PM]

Wow, you're right.
Maybe it doubles as a solar telescope.
And for 4k, it better.

[Echo1 @ Jul 1st 2008 9:59AM]

If you were to ask that question about a MINOLTA, the answer would be a nicely built SLR camera. Pity they don't make them anymore

[olddude @ Jun 30th 2008 10:16PM]

looks friggin huge!

[psilver @ Jun 30th 2008 10:19PM]

It's inevitable... I have to carry 2 bodies pretty soon! My D300 for telephoto and a D700 for ultrawide angle low noise shots! Time to get a second mortgage! lol!

http://www.silverph.com

[Nate @ Jun 30th 2008 10:19PM]

I have a D100 and a D300, and I adore them both, accept for the small sensor. Hopefully this one will be full sized.

[psilver @ Jun 30th 2008 10:23PM]

It does have a full size sensor like a D3 but with a smaller D300-sized body with an optional grip. The $4000 asking price will probably go down to about $3000+. Good enough. But this is one baby I'll have to wait for the price to go down a bit.

http://www.silverph.com

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ Jun 30th 2008 10:35PM]

The Euro/Dollar transfer doesn't really apply in this circumstance.
It's been stated by a number of folks who simply point out the Euro/Dollar transfer for previous cameras, and one can conclude that the € to $ are almost identical.
Besides, with the Nikon D3 costing around $4,500, it would make no sense for them to introduce the D700 with only a $500 difference.
Not to mention the fact this is intended to appear as the competitor to the successor of the Canon 5D, that won't be feasible with a cost that's more than double the current 5D.
I expect the cost will be below $3,000.

[JD @ Jun 30th 2008 10:37PM]

Why was the D700 never shown in the video, they showed just about ever angle but a close up the model number. The D700 my be coming from Nikon, but all the crap posted here is fake.

[billy bob thorton @ Jul 1st 2008 12:15AM]

you're an idiot. It's clearly visible in the video and a few testers have had their hands on this camera for several days now. Need more proof? http://www.dpreview.com/news/0807/08070103nikond700previewed.asp

[Hoyun @ Jul 1st 2008 12:20AM]

How do you explain all the differences from the D300, like the different card door, viewfinder shutter, button where the card open switch used to be, blah blah.

[Peter Lombardi @ Jun 30th 2008 10:43PM]

Considering the D3's are going for 4800 bucks on Amazon right now, they had better go down in price, I was a little shocked when I saw that price to be honest.

This is a good sized camera, but it weighing just over a kilo, about 2.2 pounds, it's no contender for a heavy weight title. Plus a little weight in a working camera is a good thing, it sucks up vibrations made from the shutter and our wobbly hands.

But it sure is nice to see Nikon actually starting to build up they digital reputation, now we just have to wait and see what they come out with as far as the D3x, ;)

Either way, it's an exciting day for Nikon, as they also released a new SB900 Flash and two new PC lenses, a 45 and 85 micro. Weee!!
-peter

http://www.peterlombardi.com

[Peter Lombardi @ Jun 30th 2008 10:50PM]

Ooops, you beat me to it cupcake.

Here's the original link for all this info, I got it from Nikon Rumors, http://www.nikonrumors.com -

http://www.focus-numerique.com/news_id-851.html

It looks legit to me, and I saw the D700 logo in the beginning of the clip myself, take a look at 33 seconds into the clip...
-peter

[Kris S. @ Jun 30th 2008 10:59PM]

That's way too much camera for me! I'll stick with my lowly but great Pentax K200D.

[csnoke @ Jun 30th 2008 11:18PM]

The D700 went legit on the france site:

http://www.europe-nikon.com/product/fr_FR/products/broad/1627/overview.html

[Ian @ Jun 30th 2008 11:47PM]

This camera will go for around $3000 USD. By the time you add the vertical grip to it, it'll be over $1000 less than the D3. However, this is probably a better camera than the D3 for most people because at least you have the option of taking off the vertical grip to save weight.


It's funny, because now that Canon knows the specs of this thing, they would probably be happy to announce the 5D MkII next week if they could. However, if the specs on the new 5D MkII are worse, they're just going to delay its release and bring it up to spec.

[Glenys Gray @ Jul 1st 2008 12:58AM]

$4000 for a dumbed down D3? Why not just pay an extra $1000 and get more FPS and a better body? I mean, with the battery grip you're looking at $4250 or so anyways? That's stupid. I mean, it's nice and all. But I'll stick with my D300 and 200-400mm, better distance. The new Nikon SB-900 does look sick though.

[zwillhill @ Jul 1st 2008 1:36AM]

ok
look nice

[Brian @ Jul 1st 2008 9:21AM]

I dont speak french but I could get an idea of what some of the interface features were by how he pointed to them. Also this is the real deal not a fake. I have a good feeling.

[fonso @ Jul 1st 2008 10:07AM]

Now Canon DEFINITELY has to do something.

Add a D3X with a 24MP sensor, and the Nikon onslaught will have been complete.

[RC @ Jul 1st 2008 1:39PM]

This will definitely put some pressure on them!
I wonder if Canon is thinking about a 5D replacement that will allow you to use both EF and EF-S lenses like Nikon is doing with their full frame cameras. That would be Sweet!!!

[Macindows @ Jul 1st 2008 1:55PM]

Okay, I'm torn between keeping my D300 or buying the D700.

I have a D300 with a Sigma 10-20mm, a Sigma 10mm fisheye, a Sigma 30mm f/1.4, a Nikon 50mm f/1.8, a Sigma 70mm Macro and a Nikon 18-200mm VR.

I always wanted to have a fullframe camera, since portrait shots just look so much better with a fullframe and my beloved landscape shooting would also get improved by not having any distortion. In addition I would get an ISO up to 25600!

So now I'm asking myself and you: What would you recommend?

- Keep my D300 and be happy?

- Sell my D300 (& all lenses) and buy the D700 plus new lenses?

[NYCorey @ Jul 5th 2008 10:15PM]

Just an FYI, "nascent" != "preview", or "introduction", or whatever you intended. It means "coming or having recently come into existence".

[Alan Martin @ Jul 12th 2008 9:20PM]

why dont u go to the nikon website and find out if its real or not lol, its on the site