Testing the Nikon D700 on the streets
This Nikon D700 is a clunky beast on the streets.
It does produces a satisfying pleasure of holding a big bulky camera like the Nikon D700. It makes you feel you are carrying a tool with a purpose, and when I mean carrying, I mean holding it with both hands with the sole intent of capturing pictures, I guess the feeling a hunter gets out on the open land.
But in no way it goes unnoticed. I don't go unnoticed. You could feel people a bit unease when seeing you coming up close with such a big camera, not too much, but just enough to sense it, and experience taught me to take the time to make a subtle approach of asking questions and start a conversation, and politely ask for pictures if it is OK. It usually is. And people have a lot to talk about, but I couldn't help missing the stealth of my Fuji gear, this beast clocks hard, but that shutter sound is so addictive, still, in a way, it limits your movements.
As oppose to my previous and first time testing this camera on the streets under a cloudy day, I wanted to test the D700 on a sunny, hot day, and yesterday was that kind of a day. I was curious to check and study the RAW files this system would produce with such harsh light and indeed there is a lot I learned about this Bayer full frame sensor. Keep in mind these are 12mp files, which I love because the computer performs so much faster when editing a smaller size file. I have to say Nikon RAW files take work, but I noticed that when using some film presets I have, it seems the RAW files absorbs the changes more naturally providing what was truly the intention of the preset. And the one thing I admit I love is the dynamic range of this full frame sensor, it does provide better detail on the shadows compare to the crop sensor. In the picture below see how much detail I was able to get out of the shadows and the highlights.
To sum up, I feel the Nikon D700 is a tool with a purpose, whether the purpose is to use its technology for certain types of situations, or if it is to give yourself the feeling of purpose, hope you know what I mean. No denying, I love the camera, I love it chunky grip, I love the clunky shutter sound, I love the 12MP, but I know it take a brave sense of self if this is going to be your street camera of choice, and if that is the case, you will love it too.
