Philadelphia, US
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I agree with Richard that understanding the specifications and what they imply is well within the abilities of many in the Nikonian's community.
Of course, whether or not the the replacement for the D700 will be a disappointment technically, has a great deal to do with each photographer's expectation as to what its minimal specs, and feature set should be.
The question you're really asking is whether or not you can rely on the specifications, and the "pre-release" review, or do you need to have a "hands-on" review.
When I'm spending as much money as the D700 replacement will cost, I'm personally not going to rely on a "pre-release" review alone, which really only analyzes the feature set and the specifications of the camera. That isn't to say the feature set and specs aren't important. They are, and they can "make or break" a purchase, to a point. That point, which is particularly interesting under current "in stock" conditions, being if it's not worth the purchase, can I actually get my hands on the D700 itself to purchase.
On the other hand, I would not purchase a new camera on the "pre-release" review alone. If after reviewing the feature set and specs myself, I still think the camera will be a great buy for me, I then want to know how well it actually works, how well it's built, how well any new design features fit within the way I like to handle a camera, etc. I can only get that via a "hands-on" review by someone I trust and understand how they go about making their review and judgment about cameras, or by reviewing it myself, which I feel competent in doing.
I don't think you have to wait a month or two to understand the value of the feature set and specs, and just how good the camera is in the real world. Nikon will have the camera in the hands of enough select people for review, that on the first day of the camera's availability, we will know how good it is.
There is precedent to wait, however. Take for example the D200. It wasn't until many had the camera that problems with it came to be known and corrected. The correction took a while.
A different question is, we know what a wonderful camera the D700 is, and after several years of its existence, the ins and outs of the camera are well known. There will be some unknowns about the replacement for a while. A question therefore comes to mind, does it make sense to purchase the known quantity, which performs well, now, or wait for the new, which once announced, will still have some unknowns about it.
My experience with Nikon SLRs and upper level DSLRs has been that I should wait for the new camera. The new ones have not disappointed me. On the other hand, I have not purchased a new camera merely because it's come out. I have only purchased a new camera because it had features which could substantially help me compared to my current model, or because my current camera was becoming or was already unreliable (as is my case now with my backup camera). To always have the latest and greatest is not important to me.
In the US right now, however, the choice of buying a D700 or waiting for its replacement, is at this time essentially moot. When it comes to cameras themselves, and "bread and butter" lenses, I want them with a USA warranty since I live in the US, and it's almost impossible to purchase a D700 at this time, or a D3S, in the US.
So, for the moment, like many others, I'm in wait and see mode.
Ned
A Nikonians Team Member
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