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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
D700 AF v D3 AF?
Jeff Jones, Photographer
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Harrisburg | IL | USA | Posted: 10:57 AM on 02.05.11 |
->> Can anyone, who's shot extensively with both the D3 and D700, tell me how their autofocus speeds compare? I've searched the message board archives but not found the definitive answer I'm looking for. I'm looking to pick up one camera or the other as soon as I can confirm this issue.
I recently used a D3 and found its autofocus to result in a 90% keeper rate when shooting ambient lit basketball, which is about twice as good as my D300's.
I'm also sold on several of the D3's other nice features but if the D700 will focus as well in low light, I'd like to consider it and save a few bucks. |
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Jeff Stanton, Photographer
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Princeton | IN | USA | Posted: 12:01 PM on 02.05.11 |
| ->> Jeff, I've never used a D3, so I can't say whether it's faster. But I can tell you I have a D700 and compared to the D300, well, there is no comparison. The D700 outfocuses and outperforms the D300 in speed and image quality, hands down. I haven't figured out my keeper rate, but it's significantly higher. |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 12:47 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> The D3 is the world standard by every measure. AF is blindingly fast, much faster than the D700. The D700 is a tremendous wedding, portrait and landscape camera but it's not a sports camera. Yes, it outperforms a D300, but not a D3.
Being as how you are considering a D3 let me suggest you wait until the D4 comes out this summer. When that happens you'll be able to pick up a good used one for much less than you can now. Plus, I GUARANTEE you'll be drooling over the D4. If you have the financial cahones, just wait for the D4 and go whole hog. Walk the tall cotton. |
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Brian Blanco, Photographer
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Tampa / Sarasota | FL | USA | Posted: 1:41 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> Jeff,
I've only recently switched to Nikon but I do own both D3 and D700 bodies and honestly I have yet to notice the difference between the AF of either of them. I actually had the same question, so I've intentionally been shooting basketball lately with my 'down-court lens' on one body and my 'under the basket lens' (either the 24-70 or the 70-200) on another body and I switch them up at the half. I've been trying to find a difference and I simply cannot.
Honestly, if Nikon would put a voice tag feature on the D700 then I'd get rid of the D3 bodies all together. But that's just me, I like using smaller, lighter, less attention-grabbing bodies (like the 5DMKII and D700) when shooting news, features, portraits, travel, and well, anything other than sports. In my opinion, the D700 with the MB-D10 grip is every bit as capable as a D3... but man I just can;t live without a voice tag feature for baseball or any game where an on-site editor is editing my take. |
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Nic Coury, Photographer
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Monterey | CA | | Posted: 1:49 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> At Phil:
"but it's not a sports camera. "
I beg to differ. I know lots of photogs including myself that use it.
Hell, if I can nail off shots of motorcycles at 150 mph at MotoGP, than it's all good for me. |
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Jon Blacker, Photographer
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Toronto | ON | Canada | Posted: 2:00 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> The autofocus engines of both the D3 and the D700 are identical.
I own both and like Brian have not seen a discernible difference between them in AF performance using lenses ranging from an 28-70 all the way up to and including my 400/2.8 |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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Fresno | ca | usa | Posted: 2:46 PM on 02.05.11 |
| ->> Nic and Jon; Hey, more power to you! I'm just reporting what my experience has been... The D3 has been an overall more responsive camera for me than the D700. But whatever works for y'all. Build quality, shutter ratings, etc would lead me to lean toward the D3... I'm very sure which of the two cameras I'd rather have on a rain-soaked football field... But to each his own! |
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Steven Bisig, Photographer
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Seattle | WA | USA | Posted: 2:57 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> I have shot with both the D700 and a rented D3. No noticeable difference in my opinion. When it came time to buy a second body, I chose two run with two D700s.
Plus I like the fact that the D700 can be compact when the grip is removed. This comes in handy since I shoot some local adventure sports.
But, every photographer is different. I say rent both and see what you think before purchasing.
steven b~ |
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Jeff Jones, Photographer
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Harrisburg | IL | USA | Posted: 3:16 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> Thanks to all so far.
To be more specific, the D3 will nail subject coming directly at the camera at close distances when the D300 doesn't keep up. At distances beyond, say, 10 yards the D300 does fine but as the subject gets closer, and the proportional distance changes quicker, it almost always backfocuses. The D3 just keeps on tracking. BTW my old D2H seems to match the D3 autofocus speed, but alas, its image quality in low light is now woefully lacking.
Of course I've tried all combinations of focusing points, 3D metering, tracking, etc. on my D300 and some are better than others.
The best cenario I can think of is shooting under the basket with a 70-200 or 85mm with a player driving the lane right at you. Or, shooting with your trusty 70-200 from just inside the end zone with the player diving for the TD right in front of you. My D300, at least, will not get the shot. I feel after my limited time with a D3, that it will.
Question is: Will the D700? |
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Jason Jump, Photographer
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Humble | TX | USA | Posted: 10:31 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> I own the D700. I was actually disappointed with the focus speed and still remain someone disappointed. But that is my ONLY disappointment to date. I've been shooting with it for more than a year. I just had it sent to Nikon to replace the shutter and it's in use once again.
As far as using it in the rain I have absolutely no problem with it. Two football seasons ago I shot a football game on a Thursday night in rain like I have never seen before while covering an event. It really was torrential and it lasted virtually the entire night.
All I had was a garbage bag covering the body and my 300 2.8 lens. Not a single issue!
By the way it was an absolute blast to shoot that game :-). One of nights I've had the most fun. I was literally soaked from head to toe and then some as I did not have any rain gear on myself. I was like a kid playing mud football in the sandlot on a rainy afternoon :-).
For the money it is a FANTASTIC camera and it would not bother me to own another one. That being said I'll be interested in what the new body will have come this summer :-). |
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David Manning, Photographer
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Athens | GA | | Posted: 11:28 PM on 02.05.11 |
| ->> Isnt it the same autofocus module? Ive used both, I own a D700. If there's a difference, its not easily noticed. |
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Yamil Sued, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Peoria | AZ | USA | Posted: 11:42 PM on 02.05.11 |
->> I have shot both extensively and I must say that I can't tell the difference in the AF.
And I do shoot some Extreme Sports and the D700 worked great, but most of my work is in full daylight, except when it pours cats & dogs like it did in Tulsa in 2007 and 2008 ;)
both are great buys IMHO, but if you go with the D700, get the MB-D10, BL-3 and the EN-EL4a Battery, you will not regret it.
Y |
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Matt Brown, Photographer
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Fullerton | CA | USA | Posted: 12:29 AM on 02.06.11 |
| ->> They are the same. I have done tests with both. The D3 and the D700 are identical. |
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Michael Troutman, Photographer
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Carmel | CA | USA | Posted: 4:44 AM on 02.06.11 |
| ->> I wanna know what Phil knows about the D4... |
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Phil Hawkins, Photographer
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