D700 vs D300

[donsilcock]

I recently "invested" in a Nikon D700 for above water use as it's high iso performance is something I really need for my travel photography.

Underwater I am currently using a D300 in a modified Subal D200 housing and have been really pleased with my results, but now that I have seen what the D700 is capable of I am wondering whether I sell my DX stuff and go FX for all my photography.

Has anybody out there used both the D300 & the D700 underwater?

Thanks, Don

 

[Mariozi]

I use a D300 and never missed the high ISO capabilities of the D700 until I was doing a job in an aquarium on a shopping mall... I ended up getting a borrowed D700 for some external shots, with a 14-24mm awesome!!!
For the uwphoto part of it I don't think the difference (1-to-2 stops in high ISO quality) would compensate for:
1) The better lenses we have on the DX cameras (10.5mm, 10-24mm, the more powerful "cropped" macros and even Tokina 10-17);
2) The compactness of my Sea&Sea MDX-D300 housing with the Optical Dome (made of coated glass), that is the perfect match for the WA lenses I mentioned above, as you can get REALLY close (much closer than with bigger domes) and get amazing contrasty colors.
But I will probably do as you did and get the D800 (or used D700) for topside work...

 

[scottfiji]

Don, Alex Mustard compares the D300 with the D700 here

Field Review of Nikon D700 in Subal ND700 :: Wetpixel.com

Almost all non-pro NIkon UW shooters are happy with a camera like the D300 for wide-angle, macro and super macro underwater, imho. If you shoot full-time professionally, than different factors come into play and getting that extra image quality from a full-frame camera can become important, and worth the extra money/time, etc.

good luck with your choice,
Scott

 

[jcclink]

With one camera model & 2 bodies you truly have a backup. Most housings are mechanical with a few electronics (bulkheads, hotshoe adapter, etc). If the housing floods you should be able to fix it if you have a complete factory rebuild kit (ALL o-rings, c-clips, etc). The electronics are toast but that's why we carry spares. If the camera is history, then the second identical body slides right in. (Lens is another story - I don't try to spare those.) So - I prefer to use identical bodies for topside & u/w.

 

[Mariozi]

That's a cool review Scott...

 

[donsilcock]

Marcelo, yes, I tend to agree.... infact I was convinced that I did not need to capabilities of the D700 underwater.

But when I came to use the D700 above water, I started to think that, well maybe....

Don

 

[donsilcock]

Scott, yes I read Alex's review when he posted it and I was very happy with the D300 underwater, especially as I had one of Sam Chae's conversion kits to get it in my Subal D200 housing - but then I tried out the D700 above water.... it's quite a camera!

I think sense will probably prevail, but it was tempting to sell my DX stuff which would pay for a new D700 housing.

Don

Don, Alex Mustard compares the D300 with the D700 here

Field Review of Nikon D700 in Subal ND700 :: Wetpixel.com

Almost all non-pro NIkon UW shooters are happy with a camera like the D300 for wide-angle, macro and super macro underwater, imho. If you shoot full-time professionally, than different factors come into play and getting that extra image quality from a full-frame camera can become important, and worth the extra money/time, etc.

good luck with your choice,
Scott

 

[Mariozi]

Yeah I don't also feel the need to upgrade to the D300s, unless an amazingly good deal presents itself, so I will probably wait to see what comes up with the D800 x D400 until I do my next move.

 

[donsilcock]

Yeah I don't also feel the need to upgrade to the D300s, unless an amazingly good deal presents itself, so I will probably wait to see what comes up with the D800 x D400 until I do my next move.

It would all be so easy if we could see "around the corner" and knew for sure what the camera manufacturers are going to do with their technology....

I was very satisfied with the D300 and only bought the D700 for it's low light performance after a recent opportunity in PNG to witness a Puri Puri "ritual" - it seems like I was the first non-local to be allowed in to see it and it was really dark in the rainforest. I used an SB900 to get some really good images with the D300, but it would have been fantastic to have had the D700 at that point in time.

The first thing I did when I got back to Sydney was order a D700 from B&H to be picked up while I was in the US the following week on business. But when I used the D700 I was VERY impressed with it - hence this post....

Don

 

[ghnouer]

Before upgrading to D700 read page 2 of this interview.

A Conversation With Espen Rekdal :: Wetpixel.com

GHN