Nikon announced the D700 digital camera in July 2008. The camera features 12 mega-pixel resolution, a full-frame sensor and had an initial market price of around $3,000. Features of the D700 resemble those of the professional Nikon D3 model, but in a smaller size (similar to the D300) and lower price. The D700 offers a sturdy magnesium alloy body, with the features professional and semi-professional photographers need in a digital camera.
Menu Banks
The D700 allows users to set four menu banks, designating separate settings for each bank, labeled A, B, C and D. Users can change each bank to meet the needs of specific shooting situations. For example, if a photographer often shoots outdoors in bright sunlight, he might set memory bank A at an ISO setting of 200 and aperture priority exposure. For indoor shooting, he might set memory bank B at an ISO of 400, with a shutter priority setting of 1/60 of a second to maintain steady shots. The menu banks do not automatically recall a preset menu setting, but recall the last settings the photographer uses for each bank. The D700 does, however, allow users to reset default memory bank settings from the menu. Users can also add custom names to their menu banks.
Auto ISO Setting
The auto ISO setting can also incorporate an auto shutter speed setting. A photographer can set the base ISO she prefers and the maximum ISO, along with the lowest shutter speed. For example, if the photographer prefers an ISO of 400, but does not like an ISO over 1000, she can set the base ISO at 400 and the maximum allowed at 1000. She can then select the lowest shutter speed, such as 1/60 of a second. In response, the camera will always start with the base ISO setting of 400. If the light level requires a shutter speed slower than 1/60 of a second at the 400 rating, the camera will automatically adjust to a higher ISO. The feature allows the photograph to maintain control by pre-programming her preferences, while allowing her to use the technology the camera has to offer. She can see any automatic ISO changes in the menu and switch to a manual ISO setting if she prefers.
White Balance
The D700 offers a number of white balance settings, including auto, tungsten, fluorescent, sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset and continuously variable, for making manual adjustments to the degrees Kelvin. While the D700 provides multiple settings under fluorescent lighting conditions, each type of fluorescent bulb can emit a different color of light. Preset fluorescent settings rarely match the actual color of the the light emitted. Selecting the tungsten setting can also prove inaccurate, as tungsten bulbs can emit light at different degrees Kelvin. Auto white balance often provides the optimal setting for most shooting situations, allowing the camera to measure the light temperature. Photographers can also select the preset white balance option, for making manual settings with a gray or white card.
Tags: shutter speed, each bank, memory bank, white balance, camera will, color light, D700 offers