The feeling to have arrived ...

... Came over me after I made the first pictures with Nikon's D700. What I have long way down - between Canon and Nikon, full frame, APS-C and APS-H, but no camera was able to convince me completely, at least not to the same extent as the D700.
This review produced shortly before the delivery of the new D800 36MP with which I have long relation into consideration. Sure, owning the latest model, is always very attractive, the feeling of having bought obsolete technology, unpleasant. Therefore: what are the advantages of the new D800:
-A new 36MP sensor, if desired, even without AA filter (better reproduction of smallest details)
-A little better 100% viewfinder
-A Quiet Mode
-a somewhat larger screen with the same resolution
-Videofunktionalität
-a faster EXPEED 3 processor, which simultaneously provides high-resolution, smooth live view (the D700 can only either-or)
-better closure with targeted 200,000 instead of 150,000 cycles
All this at extra cost to almost 1000, probably in the coming months even less.

Why, then, the D700? Well, for me was the biggest argument against the 36MP sensor. While offering this (assuming Nikon has a good sensor to the amount of time developing) an equivalent noise performance at 3x pixel resolution, but would force me to purchase of a new more powerful Macs (which are not cheap). My 3GHz Dual-Core iMac comes with 12 MP RAW still just fine, at 21MP it will have been difficult 36MP is not simple. And considering the fact that I never shop large, high-resolution sensor for me is my current desktop sigifikanter a disadvantage (who has a faster computer because fewer thoughts need to make).

Who does not want very large print, is excellent served with the D700: 12MP in the finest resolution and with a spectacularly good noise performance (I had this for fun times up against the Canon EOS 40D - the same noise at 4x speed of D700!). Due to the very large image circle lenses uncritical for spherical aberration are less strongly represented - work with open aperture is so much more fun. In addition, the system requires high Freistelltechniken potential of D700 - it is an excellent portrait and low light camera. Furthermore, it is quite fast with 5 frames per second and has the complex autofocus module of D3 - which is apparently so good that it was itself not changed fundamentally in the new D4. Here a big plus compared to the Canon EOS 5D II (with a single cross-type sensor).

The body of the D700 is excellent - not too heavy and not too light (ok, one or the other will be too heavy, it suits me perfectly). The build quality is excellent, the materials of very high quality - here's Canon in my opinion, not quite. The handle is large and comfortable - to reach the controls intuitively. Outstanding! The large full-frame viewfinder does the rest.

We recommend the camera especially with good fixed focal lengths - it also need not be expensive - a 50mm 1.8g suggests some criteria the best zoom lenses that weigh 10 times more. I'll even the 105mm 2.8G Micro buy me an excellent portrait and macro lens.

Which camera so for what users? Those who value the highest possible resolution, a D800E, Canon EOS 5D Mark II should (or III, which was precisely presented) Sony NEX-7 or possibly superior to a Nikon D7000. All of these cameras offer with good lenses stopped down to a two steps higher resolutions. Anyone looking for a less high-resolution camera with excellent image quality, usability and action very sophisticated housing, is happy with the D700.