I have owned both the D700 and D7000. The D700 is better in low light. Period. However that hardly tells the whole story. I still own the D7000 and sold the D700. The video function is way too important to me. Under many conditions I prefer the D7000 as a still camera. The D700 is very well made, but it is a bigger heavier camera and does not have video. Comparing the D800 and the D7000 quickly though proves that the D800's only shortcomings are price, size, and big glass needed to work for the camera. If you are really sold on FX I think right now it has to be the D800. If I wanted FX I'd buy one. Personally I lean very heavily towards DX. My years of lugging great big cameras around is over.

Just to help spend your money....I would think any move from an FX to DX would prove disappointing at this time. In two or three years, maybe the DX sensors will do what the D700 will do, but the sheer size of the sensor gives it such an advantage. And, if you sell the D700 and get a D800, you will gain in many other areas. You should be able to get at least $1500 or £1000 for the D700 if in good condition.

And, anyone who has purchased a D700 is one who is looking for the highest quality. Otherwise you would have purchased a D90 or something. So, keep with your taste and go for the D800. And keep coming back to NRF and enjoy the chat.

Thanks guys. looks like the savings are taking a dent.

I have the D7000 and while I think it does pretty well in low light for shots I don't expect it to be as good as the D700. This is not from experience but only from what I have read. I also knew somebody with the D5100 and the 18-105 lens and was struggling in low light with that lens and was talking about getting the 50mm 1.4 so if you wanted the 18-300 then I think you might regret it.

If you want D700 functionally and quality, plus video, the D800 is the only answer

Needs to all be in one body. Otherwise I will just get a DV camcorder.

Buy one of the cheap cannons with a fixed length lens to shoot video ?

At NRF we love spending other peoples money

you have our permission to blow 2 grand

The short of it is, is the D7000 as good as the D700 in low light? The reason I ask is the long of it below. You can just answer the top question if you like.

Now, I have a D700 and I am very happy with it. But I now want a camera with the Video option. D800, nice, but not only is it expensive but for my purposes I will need to spend around £400 on a spare battery, a couple of bigger CF cards and a larger portable drive. Two weeks in India with that baby and 500gb won't cover it. Stepping back to crop sensor, right or wrong, doesn't feel right to me. Also, the D700 performs really, I mean REALLY well in low light and I have read that this is mainly attributable to the sensor size. I do like my low light and will be shooting a lot of it. So, sell my D700 & FX 28-300, buy a D7000, DX 18-300, some big SD cards and a battery? This option will cover itself financially. Or, sell D700, keep FX 28-300 and blow 2 grand on D800 and supplementary accoutrement?