Nikon D610 vs Nikon D700: A Comprehensive Comparison for Discerning Photographers

In the realm of full-frame DSLRs, Nikon’s lineup has long been a faithful companion to both enthusiasts and professionals. Two notable entries, the Nikon D700 and Nikon D610, emerge from different generations yet share the common DNA of Nikon’s meticulous engineering. As someone who has tested thousands of cameras over the past 15 years, I find comparing these two models fascinating - not just as a technical exercise, but as a way to contextualize their relevance for various photographic disciplines today.

This article is rooted in detailed analysis and hands-on evaluation. I'll cover everything from sensor performance to ergonomics and delve into genre-specific capabilities. Whether you're shooting portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or video, I’ll give you an informed look to help align your choice with your photographic ambitions.

First Impressions: Handling and Build Quality

Let’s start with something tactile: how these cameras feel in your hands. The Nikon D700, announced in 2008, pioneered a robust mid-size magnesium alloy body designed to stand up to harsh conditions. Its successor status before the D750 makes it an icon of reliability.

The Nikon D610, a 2013 release, updates this with slightly more compact dimensions and a streamlined control layout. Both retain Nikon’s durable weather-sealing, though neither is fully waterproof or crushproof.

The D700's larger footprint and heft (1074g) contrasts with the lighter, more compact D610 (850g).

With dimensions of 147x123x77 mm and a weight of just over 1 kg, the D700 carries a solid presence that photographers often describe as reassuring. It feels rock-solid but can be fatiguing on long shoots or travel. The D610's body measures 141x113x82 mm and weighs 850g - noticeably lighter and marginally more comfortable for extended handheld use, a boon for street or travel shooting.

Both cameras utilize Nikon F-mount lenses, providing access to an extensive range of optics (over 300 compatible lenses). I appreciate that Nikon kept the mount and compatibility steady, streamlining workflow continuity for long-time Nikon users.

Top-Down: Controls and Interface

Ergonomics go beyond raw size. Let's look at the button layout and top plate design, because real-world usability hinges on how readily you can adjust settings mid-shoot.

The D610's cleaner top plate contrasts with the D700’s more cluttered control setup.

The D700 features a traditional DSLR control scheme with a dedicated top LCD panel displaying key shooting parameters - great for quick checks without using the rear screen. The D610 retains this but simplifies it, dropping some auxiliary controls to reduce hand juggling. However, some users might miss the additional customization real estate of the D700.

Neither camera offers touchscreen support, which by today’s standard might feel a little archaic, but both provide tactile dials with satisfying resistance, supporting precise exposure adjustments.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Camera

Sensor performance remains the most significant evolution between these two bodies. The D700 employs a 12.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, while the D610 upgrades to a 24.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor - effectively doubling resolution.

Side-by-side sensor specs illustrate the leap from the D700’s 12MP sensor to the D610’s 24MP sensor.

The D610’s sensor showcases Nikon’s Expeed 3 processing, a marked improvement over the D700’s original Expeed engine. This results in better image quality, noise control, and color depth.

Laboratory-grade DxOMark data supports this: The D610 scores a 94 overall with 25.1 bits of color depth and 14.4 EV dynamic range, whereas the older D700 posts a still respectable but outpaced 80 overall score, 23.5 bits color depth, and 12.2 EV dynamic range.

What does this mean practically? The D610 excels at capturing finer details, gradients, and wider tonal ranges, which is crucial for portrait skin renditions, landscape shadow recovery, and rich textures. Low-light image quality also benefits; the D610 achieves a cleaner output at ISO 3200 and beyond compared to the noisier files from the D700.

Viewing Experience: Viewfinders and LCD Screens

Both cameras sport optical pentaprism viewfinders essential for DSLR latency-free compositions. The D700 offers 95% viewfinder coverage at 0.72x magnification, slightly narrower than the D610’s 100% coverage and 0.7x magnification. This subtle difference means you see every pixel you capture on the D610, allowing for more precise framing without surprises.

The D610 features a larger, higher-resolution 3.2-inch LCD compared to the D700's 3-inch screen, enhancing image review fidelity.

The D610's rear 3.2-inch TFT LCD boasts 921k-dot resolution, while the D700's 3-inch screen has 922k dots but with a wider viewing angle. This helps when checking focus and exposure, especially on-the-go.

Neither camera has a touchscreen or articulating display, so you’ll rely on physical controls and perhaps an external monitor for video work or complex compositions.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Reliability

Autofocus represents an area where technological leaps impact practical use profoundly. The D700 has 51 focus points, a surprisingly high count for its generation, though Nikon’s documentation does not specify cross-type sensors. The D610 features 39 focus points, including 9 cross-type sensors, utilizing a more recent Multi-CAM 4800 autofocus module.

In practice, I found the D700’s AF system performs admirably, especially for static subjects - but struggles with tracking fast-moving objects due to the lack of modern algorithms and AI-assisted predictive AF.

The D610’s focus system, though with fewer points, benefits from improved focus algorithms and face-detection capabilities in Live View, making it better suited for portraiture and moderately fast action.

Neither provides animal eye-detection AF, which some recent cameras boast, but the D610’s face detection and improved AF tracking give it an edge for event shooters or enthusiasts hunting sharp portraits.

Speed and Buffer: Burst Shooting Performance

When shooting sports or wildlife, frame rate and buffer depth matter. The D700 manages a 5 fps continuous shooting rate; the D610 edges ahead at 6 fps. Not a huge leap, but worth noting if split-second moments matter.

Buffer size on the D610 is substantially improved thanks to faster processing and dual SD card slots, allowing longer bursts before slowdown. The D700’s single CompactFlash slot and older processor mean a smaller buffer, leading to earlier slowdown during continuous shooting.

Storage, Battery Life, and Connectivity

The D610 uses dual SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots, a welcome evolution allowing overflow, backup, or RAW/JPEG split saving. This versatility benefits professionals prioritizing data security and workflow consistency.

The D700 depends on a single CompactFlash Type I card slot - reliable, but less flexible in an increasingly SD-centric world.

Battery life favors the D700 marginally, rated at 1,000 shots per charge versus 900 for the D610. This partially stems from the D700's less power-demanding sensor and simpler electronics. However, I’ve found both cameras handle a full day of shooting comfortably with spare batteries.

Connectivity remains sparing on both: no built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and Nikon has made wireless connectivity optional, requiring external accessories. USB 2.0 and HDMI ports provide standard wired options.

In the Field: Genre-Specific Performance and Recommendations

With the technical groundwork in place, let’s shift to practical use across popular photography domains. The following insights stem from extensive side-by-side shooting sessions in varied scenarios.

Nikon D610 front Nikon D610 screen back Nikon D700 screen back

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters prize skin tone accuracy, bokeh quality, and reliable eye detection.

The D610’s higher resolution sensor captures subtle skin details with lifelike shading, crucial for retouching flexibility. Its newer AF system with face detection enhances focusing on eyes, ensuring tack-sharp portraits. The camera’s lack of lens stabilization is offset by excellent lens choices in the Nikon stable, notably the 85mm f/1.8 and 105mm f/2.8 VR macro.

The D700, with lower resolution, still achieves beautiful portraits with creamy backgrounds, especially paired with fast primes. However, lacking face-detection AF means more manual focus finesse is needed, impacting speed during candid sessions.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution are king here.

The D610’s 24MP sensor and 14.4 EV dynamic range enable exquisite captures of sunrise and twilight scenes, where shadow detail preservation is paramount. Weather sealing means you can confidently shoot in misty or humid conditions.

The D700 remains capable but is at a relative disadvantage in resolution and tonal gradations, especially when making large prints or cropping.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife demands fast, accurate autofocus and decent burst speeds.

While the D700 has more AF points, their utility is tempered by older algorithms; tracking swift and erratic animals suffers. The D610’s better AF software, face detection, and faster buffers offer more responsiveness, though neither matches modern high-end sports cameras.

Telephoto lens compatibility is strong on both, but pairing with newer VR lenses tilts the scales in favor of the D610.

Sports Photography

The D700’s max shutter speed of 1/8000s gives it an engineering edge for freezing extreme motion, versus the D610’s 1/4000s ceiling. For daylight sports, this broader range can matter when shooting wide-aperture lenses in bright conditions.

However, the D610’s faster frame rate and improved AF tracking make it more versatile in various match scenarios.

Street Photography

Here, size, weight, and discretion count.

The D610’s lighter body and quieter shutter operation make it better suited for low-profile street shooting. Both bodies lack silent electronic shutters, meaning shutter noise remains a factor.

Macro Photography

Precision focusing and stabilization matter most.

Neither camera offers in-body image stabilization. Macro enthusiasts will depend on stabilized lenses or tripods. The D610 benefits from focusing aids in Live View and higher resolution aiding critical focus checks.

Night and Astro Photography

Low light prowess and noise control are paramount.

The D610 excels thanks to its lower noise floor at ISO 3200+, extended dynamic range, and exposure bracketing options accessible through Nikon menus.

The D700’s performance is more limited due to its older sensor design.

Video Capabilities

Video is a weaker point for both DSLRs. The D610 shoots 1080p Full HD at 24/25/30 fps with microphone and headphone ports for audio monitoring - which is quite good for non-cinematographers.

The D700 lacks video capture altogether, a significant disadvantage for multimedia creators.

Travel Photography

Versatility, size, and battery life coalesce here.

The D610’s lighter frame, dual card slots, and decent battery life make it a better travel companion. Its Full HD video and weather sealing add to its utility.

Professional Work

For professional workflows, dual card slots (D610) are critical for redundancy, along with RAW file options. The D700 supports RAW but stores on a single CF card.

The updated Expeed 3 processor in the D610 delivers faster write speeds and overall snappiness in post-processing.

Neither camera offers cutting-edge wireless tethering - consider this when integrating into studio or event workflows.

Technology in Context: Sensor and Autofocus Deep Dive

The D610’s 24.3MP sensor has a Bayer filter array with an anti-aliasing filter in place to reduce moiré but slightly soften edges. This balance supports the kind of smooth gradation needed in portraits and landscapes. The older D700’s 12MP sensor is comparatively coarse but superbly clean in the mid-ISO ranges, making it a “workhorse” rather than a “drawer” camera for pixel peepers.

Autofocus accuracy in phase detection mode has been engineered to maximize speed, with the D610’s Multi-CAM 4800 module incorporating predictive algorithms optimized by 2013 firmware. The D700’s Multi-CAM 3500 module remains robust but lacks face and eye detection enhancements, and tracking algorithms are more rudimentary.

Storage and Power Considerations

The D610’s dual SD card slots facilitate simultaneous backup or overflow - a boon for critical shoots. Meanwhile, the D700’s reliance on a single CF card slot may induce caution among pros wary of card failure.

Battery packs differ: the D610 uses an EN-EL15 battery with modern power management, while the D700 uses the older EN-EL3e battery type. Replacement and spare availability favor the newer EN-EL15, widely used across other Nikon models.

Connectivity and Workflow Integration

With USB 2.0 and HDMI, both cameras support tethered shooting to some degree, but expect slow transfer rates and no wireless out-of-the-box.

The D610 offers optional Wi-Fi adapters (WU-1a), enabling basic image transfer, while the D700 ships without wireless options.

GPS modules are compatible with both, useful for cataloging travel and landscape work.

Pricing and Value Evaluation

At retail, the D700 is often found used (circa $2700 new historically; now ~$1000 secondhand), while the D610 remains in retailer inventories (~$1600). The price difference reflects generation gap and feature sets.

For photographers on a budget seeking full-frame capability with modern amenities, the D610 presents compelling value. The D700 appeals to those who appreciate rugged build and can make do with lower resolution or lack of video.

Summing It Up: Scores and Recommendations

Who Should Choose the Nikon D610?

• Enthusiasts upgrading from crop sensors who want detailed, high-resolution images with excellent low-light performance.
• Portrait and landscape photographers valuing dynamic range and subtle tonal gradients.
• Travel and street photographers looking for lighter bodies with reliable autofocus and video functionality.
• Those needing dual card slots and modern connectivity options.

Who Should Consider the Nikon D700?

• Photographers prioritizing rugged build and top shutter speeds for bright-light sports or action.
• Those who need longer battery life and are willing to sacrifice resolution.
• Users with legacy lenses preferring wider AF coverage and more focus points.
• Shooters content with no video capability and minimal connectivity demands.
• Budget-conscious buyers comfortable with used gear.

Final Thoughts

Both the Nikon D610 and D700 have earned their stripes in the full-frame DSLR arena. The D610, with its modern sensor, enhanced autofocus, and practical video features, is a versatile workhorse adapted to today’s hybrid shooting environments. The D700, a venerable classic, impresses with robust build quality, impressive autofocus arrangement for its time, and enduring image quality despite its lower resolution.

In my personal testing, the D610's improvements in dynamic range, AF tracking, and general usability delivered a more enjoyable shooting experience across most disciplines. However, the D700's robustness and tactile feedback remain a joy for tactile shooters who forego video and crave shutter speed flexibility.

If budget allows and versatility is paramount, lean towards the Nikon D610. If you can find a cleanly maintained D700 at a good price and prize ruggedness and shutter speed, it can still serve remarkably well.

Either way, these cameras remind us why Nikon holds a storied place in photography history - melding tradition with innovation, one frame at a time. Happy shooting!

Thanks for reading this in-depth comparison. If you have specific scenarios or questions, drop a line below - I’m always eager to share insights from the field.