The Nikon D700 is a professional-grade DSLR camera featuring a 12.1MP full-frame sensor, robust build, and advanced shooting modes. This manual guide helps users master its functionalities, ensuring optimal performance in various photography scenarios. Understanding the camera’s settings and customization options is essential for capturing high-quality images consistently. The D700’s durability and versatility make it a favorite among professionals and enthusiasts alike, but proper setup and knowledge are key to unlocking its full potential.
1;1 Overview of the Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 is a high-performance DSLR camera equipped with a 12.1MP full-frame sensor, delivering exceptional image quality. Released in 2008, it combines durability, intuitive controls, and advanced features like a wide ISO range (100-25600) and 51-point autofocus. Designed for professionals and enthusiasts, the D700 offers burst shooting up to 8 fps and compatibility with Nikon’s extensive lens system. Its robust build and weather-sealing ensure reliability in challenging conditions, making it a versatile tool for diverse photography genres. This overview highlights its core capabilities and appeal to photographers seeking precision and creativity.
1.2 Key Features of the Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 features a 12.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor, offering exceptional image quality with fine detail and rich tonal range. It boasts an ISO range of 100-25600, enabling low-light photography with minimal noise. The camera includes a 51-point autofocus system for precise subject tracking and a burst mode of up to 8 fps in FX format. Its robust, weather-sealed body ensures durability, while compatibility with Nikon’s wide range of lenses and Speedlights enhances versatility. These features make the D700 a powerful tool for professionals and serious enthusiasts alike.
1.3 Importance of the Manual for Nikon D700 Users
The Nikon D700 manual is essential for unlocking the camera’s full potential, providing detailed insights into its advanced features and customization options. It guides users through setting up shooting modes, autofocus, and exposure controls, ensuring optimal results. The manual also covers troubleshooting and maintenance tips, such as sensor cleaning and error resolution. By understanding the manual, users can adapt to various photography scenarios, optimize camera settings, and maintain its performance. It serves as a comprehensive reference for mastering the D700 and achieving professional-grade photography.
Key Features of the Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 boasts a 12.1MP full-frame sensor, delivering exceptional image quality. Its robust build ensures durability, while the wide ISO range and burst mode enhance versatility for diverse shooting needs.
2.1 Full-Frame Sensor and Image Quality
The Nikon D700 features a 12.1-megapixel full-frame sensor, capturing detailed images with excellent dynamic range. Its FX-format CMOS sensor ensures exceptional low-light performance and reduced noise. The sensor’s size allows for shallow depth of field and outstanding tonal accuracy, making it ideal for professional photography. With a resolution of 4256×2832 pixels, the D700 delivers crisp, high-quality images. Its EXPEED image processing engine enhances color reproduction and overall image clarity, ensuring superior results in various lighting conditions.
2.2 Build Quality and Durability
The Nikon D700 boasts a robust, professional-grade build with a magnesium alloy body, ensuring durability and resistance to harsh conditions. Weather-sealed to protect against dust and moisture, it is designed for reliability in demanding environments. The camera’s solid construction and ergonomic design provide a comfortable grip, reducing fatigue during extended shoots. Its ruggedness and long-lasting performance make it a dependable choice for professional photographers and enthusiasts alike.
2.3 ISO Range and Noise Performance
The Nikon D700 offers an ISO range of 200 to 6400, expandable to 25600, delivering excellent low-light performance. Noise levels remain well-controlled at lower ISOs, with minimal grain visible up to ISO 1600. At higher sensitivities, noise becomes more apparent but remains manageable, especially with in-camera noise reduction. The full-frame sensor ensures better signal-to-noise ratio, providing cleaner images in challenging lighting conditions. This makes the D700 suitable for both professional and enthusiast photographers seeking high-quality results in various shooting environments.
2.4 Burst Mode and Continuous Shooting
The Nikon D700 supports continuous shooting at up to 8 frames per second (fps) in burst mode, enabled by the optional MB-D10 battery grip. This feature is ideal for capturing dynamic action, such as sports or wildlife photography. The camera can shoot up to 100 JPEG or 17 RAW images in a single burst, making it versatile for photographers needing rapid firing capabilities. This mode enhances productivity in fast-paced environments, ensuring critical moments are never missed.
Shooting Modes on the Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 offers a variety of shooting modes, including Auto Mode for simplicity, PASM (Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual) for creative control, and Scene Modes for specific photography scenarios. These modes allow photographers to tailor settings to their subject and style, ensuring optimal results in diverse conditions. The camera also supports saving custom settings for quick access, enhancing workflow efficiency and adaptability during shoots. ISO range and burst mode further empower photographers to capture dynamic shots with precision and ease.
3.1 Auto Mode and Scene Modes
The Nikon D700’s Auto Mode simplifies photography by automatically adjusting settings for optimal results in various conditions. Scene Modes, such as Portrait, Landscape, Sports, and Night Portrait, offer tailored settings for specific scenarios, enhancing image quality without manual adjustments. These modes are ideal for beginners or those seeking convenience, allowing them to focus on composition while the camera handles technical details. The D700’s Scene Modes ensure versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of photography styles and situations, from casual snapshots to creative projects.
3.2 PASM Modes (Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual)
PASM modes on the Nikon D700 offer precise control over camera settings. Program mode provides automatic settings with user-adjustable overrides. Aperture Priority (A/Av) allows control over aperture, while Shutter Priority (S/Tv) lets you set shutter speed. Manual (M) mode grants full control, ideal for experienced photographers. These modes enable creative flexibility, catering to different shooting styles and lighting conditions, ensuring the D700 adapts seamlessly to the photographer’s vision and technical requirements.
3.3 Shutter Priority Mode and Its Applications
Shutter Priority mode allows photographers to set a specific shutter speed, ideal for controlling motion effects. Faster speeds freeze action, while slower speeds create blur. This mode is particularly useful for sports, wildlife, and creative photography. The D700 automatically adjusts the aperture to maintain proper exposure, but users may need to adjust ISO or use exposure compensation for optimal results. Mastering Shutter Priority enhances control over dynamic scenes, making it a versatile tool for various photographic applications and creative expression.
Custom Settings on the Nikon D700
Custom settings on the Nikon D700 allow users to personalize camera operations, streamline workflows, and enhance shooting efficiency. The custom menu provides options for saving user settings, assigning functions to buttons like the FUNC button, and tailoring camera behavior to individual preferences. These features ensure quick access to frequently used settings, making the D700 highly adaptable to different photography styles and needs.
4.1 Understanding the Custom Menu
The Nikon D700’s Custom Menu offers a comprehensive way to tailor camera settings to individual preferences. It allows users to adjust autofocus behavior, metering modes, and exposure controls. The menu is divided into sections, making it easy to navigate and customize. Key settings include AF-C modes, bracketing options, and button assignments. This feature enhances workflow efficiency and ensures the camera adapts to various shooting styles. The Custom Menu is a powerful tool for optimizing the D700’s performance, as detailed in the official manual.
4.2 Saving User Settings for Quick Access
The Nikon D700 allows users to save custom settings for quick access, streamlining workflow. This feature enables photographers to store frequently used configurations, such as autofocus modes or exposure settings, in the camera’s memory. By saving these presets, users can recall them instantly, reducing time spent adjusting settings during shoots. The process is straightforward, involving selection of desired settings and assigning them to a user-defined slot. This customization enhances efficiency, making the D700 adaptable to various shooting scenarios and personal preferences, as outlined in the manual.
4.3 Assigning Functions to the FUNC Button
The FUNC button on the Nikon D700 can be customized to access frequently used settings quickly. By navigating to the custom menu, users can assign functions such as ISO, white balance, or image quality to the FUNC button. This feature enhances workflow efficiency, allowing photographers to adjust settings without diving into menus. The assigned function can be easily accessed by pressing and holding the FUNC button, making it a convenient tool for streamlining operations during shoots. This customization is particularly useful for adapting to changing conditions.
Focus Modes and Autofocus
The Nikon D700 offers manual focus for precise control and autofocus modes, including Single AF and Continuous AF, ensuring sharp images in various shooting conditions with fast, accurate performance.
5.1 Manual Focus and Its Benefits
Manual focus on the Nikon D700 provides precise control over focusing, allowing photographers to achieve exact sharpness. This mode is particularly useful for macro, portrait, and still-life photography, where exact focus placement is critical. To engage manual focus, switch the lens to MF mode or use the camera’s focus switch. Benefits include eliminating autofocus errors in tricky lighting or low-contrast scenes, ensuring creative control, and allowing photographers to work in environments where autofocus may struggle. This feature enhances accuracy and versatility, making it a valuable tool in a photographer’s arsenal.
5.2 Autofocus Modes (Single AF, Continuous AF)
The Nikon D700 offers two primary autofocus modes: Single AF (AF-S) and Continuous AF (AF-C). Single AF locks focus on a stationary subject, ideal for portraits and still-life photography. Continuous AF tracks moving subjects, adjusting focus dynamically, making it perfect for sports or wildlife photography. Each mode can be customized via AF-C settings to suit different subjects, enhancing focus accuracy and versatility; These modes ensure photographers can adapt to various shooting scenarios, capturing sharp images consistently.
5.3 AF-C Custom Settings for Different Subjects
The Nikon D700 allows customization of AF-C modes to suit specific subjects. Users can adjust settings like focus tracking and prediction, enabling better performance for fast-moving subjects. For erratic movements, such as birds in flight, higher sensitivity settings are recommended. Conversely, for predictable motion, like athletes, balanced settings ensure stable focus. These customizations enhance autofocus accuracy, allowing photographers to tailor the camera’s behavior to their subject’s unique movement patterns, ensuring sharp and precise images in dynamic situations.
Exposure Control and Metering
Exposure control and metering are crucial for capturing images with precise brightness and detail. The D700 offers metering modes like Matrix, Center-Weighted, and Spot to adapt to various lighting conditions, ensuring accurate exposures and helping photographers achieve their desired results efficiently.
6.1 Metering Modes (Matrix, Center-Weighted, Spot)
The Nikon D700 offers three metering modes: Matrix, Center-Weighted, and Spot. Matrix metering evaluates the entire scene for balanced exposure. Center-Weighted prioritizes the central area, ideal for portraits. Spot metering measures a small section, perfect for precise control in challenging lighting. Each mode adapts to different scenarios, ensuring accurate exposures. By understanding these options, photographers can tailor their settings to capture images with optimal brightness and detail, enhancing their creative control and final results effectively.
6.2 Exposure Bracketing and HDR
Exposure bracketing on the Nikon D700 captures multiple shots at different exposures, merging them for high dynamic range (HDR) images. This feature is ideal for scenes with high contrast, like landscapes or interiors, where detail in both highlights and shadows is crucial. The camera allows bracketing up to nine frames with adjustable intervals. HDR processing can be done post-capture using software, enabling photographers to achieve rich, detailed images with enhanced tonal range and color accuracy, making it a powerful tool for creative photography.
6.3 Exposure Compensation and Its Usage
Exposure compensation on the Nikon D700 allows photographers to adjust the brightness of images by ±5 EV in 1/3 EV increments. This feature is useful for correcting exposure in challenging lighting conditions, such as backlit subjects or high-contrast scenes. Users can apply compensation via the dedicated button and sub-command dial, ensuring quick adjustments without accessing the menu. This tool provides precise control over exposure, enabling photographers to achieve balanced and visually appealing results in various shooting scenarios, enhancing overall image quality and creativity.
Flash Photography with the Nikon D700
The Nikon D700 supports flash photography with its built-in flash and compatibility with external Speedlights. Flash compensation and sync modes enhance lighting control for professional results.
7.1 Built-In Flash and Its Limitations
The Nikon D700’s built-in flash provides convenience for casual shooting, offering adequate lighting for nearby subjects. However, it has limitations, such as low power output and limited range, making it less effective in bright environments or for distant subjects. Additionally, it can create harsh shadows and lacks the versatility of external Speedlights. For more professional results, external flash units are recommended to achieve better lighting control and coverage.
7.2 Using External Speedlights for Better Results
External Speedlights enhance the Nikon D700’s flash capabilities, offering more power, flexibility, and creative control. They reduce harsh shadows and provide better light distribution, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Wireless operation and TTL metering enable precise illumination, while bounce and swivel functions allow for directional light control. External units also support high-speed sync, enabling flash use with faster shutter speeds. For optimal results, adjust flash compensation and explore different sync modes to achieve balanced, professional-looking images.
7.3 Flash Compensation and Sync Modes
Flash compensation on the Nikon D700 allows adjustment of flash output to balance lighting, preventing overexposure. Sync modes offer flexibility, with options like front-curtain and rear-curtain sync. Front-curtain sync freezes motion with flash at the start, while rear-curtain sync creates motion trails. Slow sync combines flash with ambient light for natural results. Customizing these settings ensures optimal flash performance in various scenarios, enhancing your photography by providing precise control over illumination and creative effects. Proper use of these features elevates image quality and artistic expression in flash photography.
Sensor Cleaning and Maintenance
Regular sensor cleaning is crucial for maintaining image quality. Use mirror lock-up for manual cleaning or Nikon-approved tools to prevent damage. Follow guidelines to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
8.1 Mirror Lock-Up for Sensor Cleaning
Mirror Lock-Up (MLU) mode ensures the mirror stays raised during sensor cleaning, reducing vibrations and preventing dust from settling on the sensor. Access MLU via the Custom Settings menu. This mode is essential for manual cleaning, allowing direct access to the sensor. Always use Nikon-approved cleaning tools to avoid damage. Follow the manual’s step-by-step guide for safe and effective cleaning. Proper technique ensures your sensor remains dust-free, maintaining image quality and camera performance over time.
8.2 Manual Sensor Cleaning Steps
Enable Mirror Lock-Up via Custom Settings to prevent mirror movement. Turn off the camera, then raise the mirror manually. Use a Nikon-approved blower to remove loose dust. For stubborn spots, gently swipe with a sensor swab dampened with Eclipse solution. Avoid touching the sensor surface. Clean in a dust-free environment, using a fully charged battery to ensure the mirror remains raised. Follow the manual’s guidelines for safe and effective cleaning to maintain image quality and camera performance.
8.3 General Camera Maintenance Tips
Regularly update your Nikon D700’s firmware for optimal performance. Clean the camera body and lenses with soft cloths, avoiding harsh chemicals. Use a blower to remove dust from the mirror and sensor. Protect the LCD screen with a high-quality cover. Store the camera in a cool, dry place to prevent moisture damage. Always handle lenses with care, ensuring proper mounting and removal. These practices ensure the longevity and reliability of your Nikon D700, maintaining its excellent image quality and functionality.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
The Nikon D700 may experience shutter malfunctions or error messages. Regular firmware updates and proper sensor cleaning can resolve many issues. Always handle the camera with care to prevent damage and ensure optimal performance. Refer to the manual or official Nikon support for detailed solutions to specific problems, ensuring your camera operates at its best.
9.1 Shutter Problems and Solutions
The Nikon D700 may experience shutter issues such as stuck or misaligned shutters, often causing errors. Clean the shutter mechanism gently with a soft brush or compressed air. If problems persist, use the mirror lock-up feature to access the shutter for manual cleaning. For severe damage, professional servicing is recommended. Regular maintenance and careful handling can prevent these issues. Always refer to the manual for guidance on troubleshooting and resolving shutter-related problems effectively.
9.2 Error Messages and How to Resolve Them
The Nikon D700 may display error messages like “ERR” or “CARD” due to issues such as lens communication problems or memory card errors. For lens errors, clean the lens contacts or restart the camera. For memory card issues, format the card or replace it if damaged. If “ERR” persists, reset the camera to default settings or update the firmware. Always refer to the manual for specific solutions, and if unresolved, consult a professional technician to avoid further damage.
The Nikon D700 remains a powerful tool for photographers, offering exceptional image quality and durability. Mastering its settings through this manual ensures optimal performance and creative control.
10.1 Summary of Key Features and Settings
The Nikon D700 excels with its 12.1MP full-frame sensor, delivering outstanding image quality and low-light performance. Key features include a wide ISO range, burst mode, and durable construction. Custom settings, such as saving user preferences and assigning functions to the FUNC button, enhance workflow. Metering modes, exposure compensation, and flash options provide precise control. Autofocus modes and manual focus capabilities ensure sharp results. Regular maintenance, like sensor cleaning, is crucial for optimal performance. Mastering these settings unlocks the D700’s full potential for professional-grade photography.
10.2 Final Tips for Mastering the Nikon D700
Mastering the Nikon D700 requires practice and familiarity with its features. Experiment with shooting modes, customize settings to suit your style, and regularly clean the sensor for optimal performance. Use external resources like the official manual or tutorials for deeper insights. Organize your workflow by saving user settings and assigning functions to the FUNC button. Understand the exposure triangle and metering modes to enhance your photography. Lastly, explore creative techniques like HDR and flash photography to unlock the D700’s full potential.
Additional Resources
Explore Nikon’s official website for the D700 manual, software, and guides. Utilize the Nikon Manual Viewer 2 app for iOS and Android. Visit photography forums and tutorials for expert tips and troubleshooting.
11.1 Downloading the Official Nikon D700 Manual
The official Nikon D700 manual is readily available for download on Nikon’s website. Visit the support section, navigate to the D700 product page, and select the manual option. The manual is provided in PDF format, ensuring easy access and readability. It covers all camera features, settings, and troubleshooting tips. Additionally, the Nikon Manual Viewer 2 app offers a convenient way to access the manual on mobile devices. Downloading the manual is essential for mastering the D700’s capabilities and resolving any operational queries effectively.
11.2 Recommended Tutorials and Guides
Supplement your Nikon D700 manual with official Nikon resources like the Manual Viewer 2 app, available for iOS and Android. This app provides interactive guides and troubleshooting tips. Additionally, Nikon offers video tutorials on its website, covering topics from basic operations to advanced features. Third-party guides and forums also provide hands-on advice for mastering modes like Shutter Priority. These resources help users of all skill levels optimize their camera settings and improve photography techniques effectively. Utilize these tools to enhance your D700 experience and capture exceptional images consistently.