I have sold my D300 and I am trying to decide between the D700 and getting another D3.

The D300 is a great camera but I struggled with switching between a DX and FX camera as well as the limited burst speed of the D300 shooting RAW. Even with the MB-D10, one can not get more than 2.5 fps.

Can anyone tell me if the D700 shoots the adverstised 8 fps (with the MB-D10) in RAW mode or is it still only in JPG?

Thank you in advance for your response.

James Garner
JWG Foto
jwgfoto.com

James
Assuming you're referring to the reduced frame rate for the D300 when shooting "14 bit" rather than "12 bit" NEF/RAW, the short answer is YES, the D700 will shoot "14 bit" NEF/RAW at the appropriate frame rates of 5fps w/o grip and 8fps with grip. Although most of the D700 reviews to date only state that the maximum frame rate/burst speed is 5 and 8 respectively, it means the same for all file formats, including Tiff, Jpeg and both "12 bit" and "14 bit" NEF/RAW. The published specs for the D300 specifically qualified the "14 bit NEF/RAW" frame rate as 2.5fps, while the D700 does not. Of course, the D300 will shoot at the maximum frame rate of 6fps w/o grip and 8fps with grip for all "12 bit" file formats.

For more specific information on this issue, read the following review posted by Rob Galbraith, where he states:

"Nikon EXPEED technology, including 14 bits per colour analog-to-digital conversions up to the camera's maximum frame rate and 16 bits per colour digital image processing, also carries over from the D3."

He has always been the most accurate source for this and most other professional photographer information. Here's the link to his review:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-9311-9483

Also, here's the link to the DPreview review of the D700, where there is no mention of a reduced frame rate:

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond700/page2.asp

And the link to the D300 Review, where the 2.5fps for 14 bit Raw is specifically listed:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond300/page2.asp

OldPhotos
"If everyone possesses some measure of this intangible quality called creativity, photography is unprecedented as an outlet for its expression." - Ansel Adams

Thank you for the response...I have a couple of concerns however. The Digitutor for the D700:
http://www.nikondigitutor.com/eng/d700/index.shtml

indicates the 5 fps is only good for JPG modes. I reference the "Continuous High Speed Photography" section--14 seconds into the video.

I have uploaded a screen print.

Am I misunderstanding something? (It would not be the first time )

Thanks again for your response!

Can anyone with a D700 try it and respond?

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

To back up James's concern, Nikon's own press release (attached to the Galbraith preview - which is a PREview because nowhere does he state he actually used the camera) states,"The D700 can record full-resolution JPEG images at an astounding 5 fps, or eight fps with the optional MB-D10 battery pack for up to 100 images, or up to 17 lossless 14-bit Nikon NEF (RAW) files." Do the "17 lossless 14-bit NEF's" record at 5 fps or 8 with the MB-D10? Not the way I read the press release - but I'll grant that it's ambiguous enough that I'll wait until a reviewer who is actually TESTING the camera reports some real world results.

I notice Mr. Gailbraith (and the press release) failed to mention that live histogram was missing. More evidence that this was a preview, since a reviewer as thorough as Rob would have made note of that (and I mean that seriously).

We are all excited about this new camera, but let's not get carried away and start ignoring its shortcomings. I jumped on the D300 right away because it was clearly superior to the D200 in ways that were important to me. I'm not yet convinced that the D700 is that much better than the D300 in ways that are important to me. AF low light TRACKING performance is the biggest concern to me, followed by lack of live histogram, followed by RAW burst speed. Others with different needs may prioritize these differently, not care, or have additional concerns. The big known positive for me is full-frame so I can get the most out of some of my lenses, especially the 24PC-E and the 85 f/1.4. One stop or even 2 stops better noise performance would be nice, but not critical.

PEACE,
Steve

Good afternoon;

Not a scientific test, but I did some CH shooting last night with the D700, 14 bit raw, and its speed sounded very close to the D300 in 12 bit raw (no battery pack) on either.

It clearly is shooting pretty fast in RAW. I shoot birds, so this is important to me. I don't think it will be a problem for most users.

Randy

I'm guessing really, since I don't have a D700, but I think that DigiTutor page is saying that the 100 shots continuous only applies in JPEG, and not that the 5FPS only applies in JPEG.

Brian
Welsh Nikonian
Check out the Nikonians Team pages

I'd agree that '5fps' is not the same as '100 frames at 5fps'.

I don't do sport but would anyone really ever need 100 continuous frames in the real world?

John
www.blokewithacamera.co.uk

>I'd agree that '5fps' is not the same as '100 frames at
>5fps'.
>
>I don't do sport but would anyone really ever need 100
>continuous frames in the real world?
>
>John
>www.blokewithacamera.co.uk

If you're shooting 8fps (with the grip) at an Indycar race, it doesn't take much of a crash for you to eat up 40 or 50 frames. Having 100 frames possible should comfortably exceed all but the most outrageous situation.

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Mat / Optimum timed his D700 and its definitely 5fps in 14bit raw witout grip:

http://www.nikonians.org/forums/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=226&topic_id=724&mesg_id=724&page=3