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Nikon D300 or D700?
Techniques
14 May 2009 10:29
When it comes to forking out for a 12Mp Nikon D-SLR you’ve got a big choice to make. Will it be the D300 or the D700?
There’s no getting away from the fact that these are both well made cameras and offer the same 12Mp output, so you’ll get an image around A3 in size at 240 pixels per inch. They both handle very similarly, too, and offer the same Nikon F lens mount. The big difference between the two is that the D700 offers a full-frame sensor and the D300 sports a smaller chip with a 1.5x focal length converter.
In practical terms, this means the focal lengths of all lenses will be 1.5x longer on the D300 than they will be on the D700. Therefore, if you have a 50mm lens it’ll behave normally on the D700, but will turn into a 75mm lens on the D300. Similarly, a 300mm lens will become a 450mm lens on the D300.
There’s no magnifier built in to create this effect – it’s simply a result of the D300’s sensor being physically smaller than the D700’s. Regardless of which camera you use, the same full-format lens will cast the same sized image, but the D700’s sensor is large enough to get the whole picture. With the D300’s smaller sensor, the outer part of the image is missed out, so it’s a bit like looking through a longer lens with a narrower angle-of-view.
Sensor size is the main reason for the price difference, but in performance terms, the D700 sets a new standard in low-light conditions. It shares the same sensor technology found inside the Nikon D3, and currently offers the best low Noise performance on the market. You can shoot at ISO 1600 without worrying too much about Noise affecting your image quality, and if the lighting is exceptionally dark, you can shoot at a remarkable ISO 25600 on the Hi 2 setting! This was unheard of prior to the launch of the D3.
To get the most out of the D700, though, you’ll need full-format lenses – not the DX variety designed for the smaller sensor. DX lenses will work with the D700, but the image will be cropped and the resolution reduced to 6Mp, so you won’t be getting the best from it.
If low light performance isn’t a concern and you prefer longer focal lengths, then the D300 makes more sense. The price difference between them is around £700, and that could get you a nice lens or two, so weigh up your needs and invest in the one that’s the best fit for you.
