Verdict

Nikon has played a smart card with the D700, where professional credentials meet affordability. For professionals in particular the camera is ideal as a backup body, while the enthusiast will be spoiled by both its performance in a variety of situations and the flexibility of its images under post-processing. The small issues the camera does have – such as occasional banding at high sensitivities – pale in comparison to its plusses. I defy anyone to use the D700 and not be impressed by its ability to pop out perfectly exposed images in poor lighting conditions or by the amount of detail that it’s clearly capable of recording. It’s both an engineering masterpiece and a photographer’s dream. Only the precedent it sets for future DSLRs is more exciting.