I agree with SquamishPhoto although the difference is slight.

I think you have it backwards, Tord. The D600 should be a lot cleaner with noise than the D700 and the D800 has greater DR than the D600.

I agree with DaveyJ fully, although I own a D600!

Against the D600 comes the dust issue (dust appears very easily on the sensor, probably due to a design fault (according to Lens Rentals) - and that dust is not that easy to clean off), slightly noisier shots than either the D700, or the D800. The AF sensor is far better than the D700, but not quite comparable with the D800's.

The rest is just perfect for me, as it weighs quite a bit less than either the D700, or the D800.

The results, when shooting is superb, far outshining any APS-C/DX I've owned, or have tried (I come from Pentax K-5, which shares a lot of details with D7000, including the sensor, and I have a D3200).

So it doesn't resolve quite as tiny details as the D800, but it has few peers when it comes to dynamic range - some say it is better than the D800 in that respect.

I owned a D700 and sold it because I got a very high offer. It didn't have video and the guys at my business avoided taking it out to photograph with. The D7000 has been AWESOME for RESULTS. I looked very closely at the D600. The turnoffs to me were too numerous. But it does have video. If you are CERTAIN that video is NOT what you want, then the D700 is an excellent choice. I base this comment a lot on price. Lower the D600 price substantially and I would say buy that.

Nobody is mentioning that the D700 is totally sorted whereas there are still some quality question marks over the D600.

I looked at some Hi ISO shots of the D700 and they were so good that for me I would still consider the D700 with its MANY advantages over the D600 Vs perhaps slightly better Hi ISO and higher Mp.

As others have pointed out before the D600 and D700 are playing in different marketing segments (consumer vs. professional). This is not only reflected in the button layout, but also in small things, that might make a difference for you or not. Some that come to my mind are:
- faster shutter speed and x-sync on the D700 (1/8000 and x = 1/250 vs. 1/4000 and x = 1/200 on the D600)
- larger coverage of af points on the D700
- for auto bracketing (e.g. for HDR images etc) you can do up to 9 images on the D700 vs. 2-3 on the D600

The one thing on the D700 that I find annoying is that it does not have 100% view finder coverage. But I am getting used to it.

So before deciding what camera to get think about what is missing for you on your current camera and make sure it is not also missing on the one you are about to get...

Other than that have fun with whatever camera you will get!

generally new tech > old tech

you're right my D4 gives my a "bing and tweet too".

stupid me, but I though You buy the camera to take sames and not to make buzz. I guess world has changed.
anyway, sticking back to the main topic. if I would going to buy new d600 ornew d700 as my first fx, and I would shoot mostly reportage style photos I'll go with d700. for wildlife, landscapes, architecture I'll go with d600 - more pixels.

Andromeda said:

The D600 however does not seem to gain the same notoriety. Don't get me wrong it's a fantastic product and I have considered purchasing one but I just don't get the same "buzz" as when I first purchased the D700.

That would be because it is a lower range camera than the D700 was.

Andromeda said:
I just hope when Nikon finally decided what will officially replace the D700 that it holds the same great linage of such a brilliant camera.

They already did - the D800.

I can see the exact same longing for the good old days happening when they discontinue the D800 for the D900.

I own a D700 "beefed up" with the MB-D10 battery grip, DR-5 viewfinder coupled the 24-70 F2.8 and it's stronger brother lens the 70-200 F2.8 VRII can make for a “topic lead in” while out socially with both female and male admirers of photography.

With such camera’s you're taken seriously and beginners want to know more about DSLR's. It's a fact whether you agree or disagree.

The D600 however does not seem to gain the same notoriety. Don't get me wrong it's a fantastic product and I have considered purchasing one but I just don't get the same "buzz" as when I first purchased the D700.

One small thing I would like to have seen a 8fps as standard rather then the "D700" paced 5 fps. This would have given photographers who don't wish to use 'battery grips' more speed if required without the additional weight.

Also the 39 point focus system seems too tight for the FX focus screen. Either retaining the '51' or upgrading to a '63' would have given more "wow" to the specification when it was released.

Those who choose to buy the D600 won't regret it and nor should they. I just hope when Nikon finally decided what will officially replace the D700 that it holds the same great linage of such a brilliant camera.

Hehe, I didn't see this topic for a long time. :)

I was very sick, so I had to cancel my trade of D700 and 105mm 2,8

Right now I am trying to get better and waiting for the D600 to come out so I can hold it in my hands first.
Best scenario: the D600 will feel great in my hands and the iso will be somewhere near D700 so I will buy a new D600.
Second best scenario: I will get a used D700.

I am pretty sure both cameras will be a huge upgrade for me and I intend to keep them for a long time (that's why I am still leaning towards the D700 since it just has that "professional feel" that I might "enjoy" more).

Thanks for the responses so far and I hope we will learn something on the 22.

I own a D7000 and D700. Depending on and if the D600 comes out I'd venture on replacing my 7000 for the D600 and keeping my D700 as a backup. If not then possibly gating the D800 and selling the 7000 since the crop mode of the 800 is fairly equivalent to my D7000 for the two DX lenses I still own. Kind of waiting to see what happens over the next couple of months.

Getting BOT, since photography is a hobby for OP and not a money making profession, I don't see any reason why he should go for a 4 year-old (although superb) camera just because it would have a more professional... feel.

My advice: at the very least wait until the D600 comes out and you can try it out at a store to decide. Most likely, the D600 will be the camera for you. If you go for a D700, even though you'd be upgrading in terms of product placement, technologically you are downgrading.

Of course, if you can't wait and want FX NOW then this whole discussion become a moot point (favorite word/phrase for today ;-)

As far as lenses go, I can't speak for the 60mm although I've heard nothing but good praise about it. On the other hand I can't recommend 105mm enough. It's probably my favorite lens (tied along with 24-70mm). My avatar picture is a 1:1 photo taken with that lens and a D7000. It's not the best picture I've ever taken with it I know but I did take it handheld indoors with no flash so maybe you can cut me some slack ;-). I'll see if I can find better examples though.

Now, now boys (and girls)... play nice!

sevencrossing said:
I can't see any reason for the price of D700 to drop in next few months

In the Uk at least, new ones are in short supply

and a lot of us who bought 800s are keeping our 700s as a second camera

Given the expected limited functionality of the 600, I can't see any reason why any one who would want to down grade their 700 for a 600

Yes the 600 has video but 700 owners who need video, also have a 7000 or have upgraded
to a 800

the only camera that likely to drop in price is the 7000

The fact that the D700 has already been officially discontinued in Japan since January and in Canada since March pretty much renders the whole which-one's-got-more-buttons argument a moot point, don't you think?

http://nikonrumors.com/2012/01/25/nikon-d700-d300s-are-now-officially-discontinued.aspx/
http://nikonrumors.com/2012/03/07/rumor-nikon-d700-discontinued-in-canada.aspx/

I also wouldn't be surprised if they've already been discontinued in the States and Europe too and are just selling left over stock. The Nikon USA online store does still show the D700 for sale but it is listed as out of stock.

Honestly, I think it is basically inevitable now that its price will take a drop in the next few months. That is if anyone can even find them new at that point. However, I don't think the price will drop too much specially given the fact that Nikon does not seem to have any plans for a direct replacement (deliberately not saying successor <grin>) for the D700.

What I did find curious during my little stroll into Nikon's store (and what probably confirms your D7000 prediction) is that the D7000 is not even listed for sale on their website. You can find it refurbished for about $1080 but not new. So the next question then becomes: will we have a D600 and a D400 (which I have no doubt is coming) as well as a D7200? Or will the D600 simply be the product of a blissful marriage between the D700 and D7000 lines and thus leaving us with only the D600 and D400?

SquamishPhoto said:
Exactly. And I promise you that no one comes here for rumours found on the forum. Those are just wishful thinking and baseless speculations. The actual nikonrumors.com page is the namesake, not the forum, and thus where people go to see the rumours. Evidence for this can be found in the hundreds of comments that surface when a new rumour hits the front page.

+1

R8R said:
That is true. Rumors are fine and all, and it's fun to speculate.

If I want to read bullshit assumptions and half baked reviews, I'll go read Ken Rockwell.

Exactly. And I promise you that no one comes here for rumours found on the forum. Those are just wishful thinking and baseless speculations. The actual nikonrumors.com page is the namesake, not the forum, and thus where people go to see the rumours. Evidence for this can be found in the hundreds of comments that surface when a new rumour hits the front page.

sevencrossing said:
But the whole point of NRF is rumors :)

That is true. Rumors are fine and all, and it's fun to speculate.

If I want to read bullshit assumptions and half baked reviews, I'll go read Ken Rockwell.

My local camera supplier is now stating in their online details that

"the D700 is now discontinued, replaced by Nikon D800"

So chances of getting a D700 is going to get tougher as new anticipated models start to emerge.

TaoTeJared said:
. There is nothing is ridiculous about that suggestion.

Thank you

R8R said:

I'll reserve judgement until it's released. Until then it's all conjecture and assumptions.

jonnyapple said:
I think like some have said, it's hard to make judgments before the camera is announced (and even then, not really until you've held it in your hands and had some time with it).

But the whole point of NRF is rumors :)

I find the mode dial on the D7000 more of a liability than anything else when compared to the D300's. I do like the idea of the U1 and U2 until I'm thinking I've still got my (correct) manual exposure set and I realize I'm at shutter priority 1/500s, auto ISO because I bumped the mode dial into a user mode. Like TTJ, better for me was the D300 where I could set my settings and know I wasn't going to accidentally change them.

As someone who may eventually upgrade to the D600, I hope the mode dials are D300-esque. I think like some have said, it's hard to make judgments before the camera is announced (and even then, not really until you've held it in your hands and had some time with it).

What I am pointing out and believe what sevencrossing was saying is that the additional feature set (including having many more "custom banks" over a D7000 that are not on the exterior) may be preferred by some photographers. I realize the D7000 image sensor was better than my D300, but the features of the D300 created a better camera for me a better opportunity for better images and is a better camera in my hands.

By Images of the body that have leaked out, point to a D7000 with a FX sensor. It is not a stretch to assume it will have the same feature set as the D7000 especially at a lower price point than a D800. There is nothing is ridiculous about that suggestion.

TaoTeJared said:
There is much more difference than just a few buttons - that's not debatable. There are threads and various online comparison that due more justice on what those differences are.

Now do those differences make a difference to a particular shooter? That can only be answered by each shooter and their needs and desires. Personally I feel the same as sevencrossing, I had a very difficult time moving backwards trying a D7000 from a D300 and ultimately decided not to go the D7000 path. In my mind a camera is not just a sensor but a full package of tools.

I know the D700 is a better camera but the perceived "handicapping" of the D600 is ridiculous. The camera isn't even out yet.

And I was just stating the fact that the D700 only has a few additional external controls over the D7000, and the D7000 and D600 have some that are lacking on the D700. (U1 and U2 for instance)

R8R said:
...The only thing the D700 has over something like the D7000 is dedicated metering and AF area switches. The D7000 is a button hold + command dial spin for these functions, probably the same for the D600(which is easily accomplished with the VF still at your eye).

There is much more difference than just a few buttons - that's not debatable. There are threads and various online comparison that due more justice on what those differences are.

Now do those differences make a difference to a particular shooter? That can only be answered by each shooter and their needs and desires. Personally I feel the same as sevencrossing, I had a very difficult time moving backwards trying a D7000 from a D300 and ultimately decided not to go the D7000 path. In my mind a camera is not just a sensor but a full package of tools.

sevencrossing said:
If you are used to a D700, it is unlikely you are going to happy with a D600, unless you intend to continue using the D700 for stills and buying the D600 to do the occasional video and as a spare camera

This is speculation. There is absolutely no way to know if someone will be unhappy with the D600 in actual use. The D700 is four years old - that is a lifetime in digital technology terms.

The D7000 blows away any of the "pro" D2 series bodies both in image quality and ease of use. How are we to know if the D600 doesn't blow away the D700 in use? We haven't seen any high ISO samples and nobody knows what the back looks like. It might have MORE useable functions than the D700.
It definitely has the U1 and U2 on the dial which is a HUGE bonus already, not to mention the integrated AF mode button down by the lens release, a headphone out, etc. The only thing the D700 has over something like the D7000 is dedicated metering and AF area switches. The D7000 is a button hold + command dial spin for these functions, probably the same for the D600(which is easily accomplished with the VF still at your eye).

I'll reserve judgement until it's released. Until then it's all conjecture and assumptions. Technology on cameras is a trickle down affair. Things you would get with "pro" bodies just a few years ago are common on many cameras now.