Nikon D700 vs Nikon D7000: An In-Depth Comparison for the Experienced Photographer

When it comes to choosing between the venerable Nikon D700 and the more recent Nikon D7000, enthusiasts and pros alike face a compelling dilemma. Both cameras hold their own in the Advanced DSLR category, but they come from different eras and philosophies of design. Trust me, after personally testing thousands of cameras across genres and shooting scenarios, I appreciate how each model serves distinct photographer needs, budgets, and styles.

Let’s embark on a comprehensive exploration grounded in real-world use, technical expertise, and hands-on experience. We’ll cover every angle - from sensor tech and autofocus systems to lens ecosystems and battery life - and include insights from portrait to astrophotography. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of what each camera can bring to your creative toolkit.

Feeling the Gear in Hand: Size, Weight, and Ergonomics

Before diving into megapixels and ISO ranges, I always stress the importance of ergonomics. The camera should feel like an extension of your own hands. So, how do the D700 and D7000 compare physically?

The Nikon D700 is a mid-size full-frame SLR with a slightly heftier body at 1074 grams and dimensions of 147x123x77 mm. Its magnesium alloy shell offers weather sealing, giving it that rugged pro heft you notice from the very first grip.

In contrast, the Nikon D7000 weighs a lighter 780 grams and sports a slightly smaller form factor (132x105x77 mm), still with environmental sealing. To me, this means more portability but perhaps less “tank-like” durability. If you chase wildlife or shoot events all day, that extra weight of the D700 might remind your muscles it’s a serious workhorse.

My takeaway? If you prize solid construction and a comfortable full-frame grip for extended sessions, the D700 excels. The D7000’s compact build suits travel and street shooting where discretion and ease of carry matter.

Design and Control: Which Interface Speaks Your Language?

Let’s peek at the top panel and controls, because quick access to essentials can make or break a shoot.

The D700’s control layout embraces simplicity with dedicated dials for ISO and exposure compensation, plus a top LCD for quick glance info. It's intentionally uncomplicated - classic Nikon pro style - and this contributes to speedy operation, especially in dynamic scenarios like sports or wildlife. However, it lacks illuminated buttons which can make nighttime adjustments a bit cumbersome.

The D7000 offers a more modern interface - dedicated exposure mode dial (P, S, A, M) on top plus two SD card slots hidden in a covered compartment. Also, it includes a built-in flash with an effective 12-meter range, which the D700 lacks. Notably, the D7000 offers a percentage point improvement in viewfinder coverage (100% vs 95% on the D700), which translates to more accurate framing.

If you appreciate a no-nonsense control suite and don’t mind working a little in low light to feel your way, the D700 wins ergonomics hands-down. But if you want more features packed into a smaller body, the D7000 provides a wealth of controls for enthusiast shooters.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Full-Frame vs APS-C Strengths

This is where the philosophical differences get clear: full-frame vs APS-C sensor, and how that impacts your creative results.

The Nikon D700 houses a 12.1 MP full-frame CMOS sensor (36x24mm), delivering images at 4256 x 2832 resolution. Though the megapixel count is modest by today's standards, the large sensor surface (864 mm²) enables excellent light-gathering ability, contributing to richer color depth (23.5 bits) and dynamic range (~12.2 EV stops). This translates to superior image quality at high ISO and smooth tonal gradation - ideal for demanding genres like portrait, landscape, and night photography.

On the flip side, the D7000 sports a 16.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor (23.6x15.7mm), with 4928x3264 pixel resolution, packing more pixels onto a smaller sensor area (370 mm²). This yields finer detail in well-lit conditions but typically at a cost of slightly reduced high-ISO performance (DXO low-light score 1167 vs 2303 on the D700). The smaller sensor also results in a 1.5x crop factor, effectively extending telephoto reach - a boon for wildlife and sports where reach matters.

Personally, for studio or landscape work where image latitude and ultimate quality matter, I prefer the D700’s full-frame sensor. The creamy bokeh and superior dynamic range help push creative boundaries. But for daylight action or travel, the D7000’s higher resolution and crop advantage mean you get more reach and detail at a budget-friendly level.

Harnessing the Autofocus: Does More Points Mean Better Focus?

Autofocus (AF) is crucial. Without reliable, fast focusing - especially continuous autofocus - you'll miss decisive moments.

The Nikon D700 advances with 51 AF points arranged to cover a broad area in the frame. This phase-detection system is fast and accurate, especially with cross-type points engaged under bright conditions. However, it does lack newer features such as face detection or eye detection autofocus, which after 15+ years of personal testing, can be a mixed bag but helpful for portraits.

Meanwhile, the D7000 offers 39 AF points, with nine cross-type sensors. Critically, it introduces features like continuous AF tracking, face detection, and live view contrast-detection autofocus - tools that can improve usability for event or street shooting where subjects move unpredictably.

In practice, the D700’s autofocus excels at fast action when using the optical viewfinder, with a rock-solid lock and minimal hunting. The D7000 delivers slightly better out-of-the-box intelligence for tracking moving subjects, especially in live view or AF-C mode.

Judging by my wildlife and sports trials, if your shooting depends on bold, confident AF, the D700 still feels more tactile and responsive with native AF primes. Yet the D7000’s features fit well for enthusiasts craving versatility and video autofocus compatibility.

Boot Up and Shooting Speed: Keeping up with the Action

Continuous shooting speed can define usability for fast-paced shooting.

The D700 maxes out at 5 fps, enough to capture sequences but modest for today's standards. Meanwhile, the D7000 pushes to 6 fps continuous shooting, coupled with a larger buffer and dual storage slots for redundancy.

More fps can mean more keepers, especially for sports and wildlife. However, I note that in real-life professional shoots, you rarely rely purely on fps - it’s the combination of AF accuracy, buffer depth, and file handling speed that counts.

Viewing the World: Display and Viewfinder Quality

Looking through the lens is fundamental; Nikon’s appealing optical pentaprism viewfinder and LCD screen matter here.

The D700 sports a 3-inch fixed TFT color LCD with 922k-dot resolution, featuring a wide-viewing angle. The optical viewfinder provides 95% frame coverage with 0.72x magnification. The screen is clear but lacks touch functionality (unsurprisingly for 2008 tech).

The D7000 also offers a 3-inch TFT LCD, nearly identical in resolution but without wide-angle tech, and no touchscreen. Its viewfinder outperforms on coverage at 100% but offers a slightly smaller magnification (0.64x).

Based on my pixel peeping sessions, the D700’s LCD offers a minutely better viewing experience for reviewing images in the field, but both cameras lack modern articulating or tilting capabilities many users crave today.

Sample Images from Both Cameras: Putting Theory to the Test

To demonstrate these specs in context, I shot side-by-side images covering studio portraits and landscapes on sunny and low light days.

Nikon D700 screen back Nikon D7000 front Nikon D7000 screen back

Observe the creamy skin tones and smooth bokeh from the D700’s full frame sensor. Colors render with subtle richness and shadows retain detail without clipping highlights.

The D7000 images show strong sharpness and greater resolution detail but with marginally harsher noise in the shadows and less seamless tonal graduation. Its 1.5x crop factor means tighter framing in wildlife shots was effective without needing longer lenses.

Versatility in Video: A Modern Advantage

Though both cameras primarily target photographers, if you’re looking for video capabilities, the difference is stark.

The Nikon D700 precipitates from the era before video was standard, offering no video capture capabilities whatsoever.

In comparison, the Nikon D7000 steps forward with full HD recording up to 1080p at 24 fps, plus 720p and VGA modes. It includes a microphone input for external audio, opening doors to better sound quality.

While neither camera is a serious video powerhouse by today's standards, the D7000's video features enhance its value, especially for hybrid shooters wanting stills and video in one package.

Battery Life and Media: Shooting Day-Long Sessions

Reliability counts. The D700 leverages the older EN-EL3e battery, rated for approximately 1000 shots per charge. It uses a single Compact Flash card slot - solid but less flexible for professional workflows.

The D7000 employs the newer EN-EL15 battery with improved efficiency delivering 1050 shots, plus dual SD card slots. Dual cards let you back up files in the field or separate RAW and JPEG storage - a significant workflow plus for serious shooters.

Lens Ecosystem and Mount Compatibility: Your Creative Arsenal

Both cameras share the Nikon F-mount, supporting a vast array of 300+ lenses, from budget primes to professional telephotos. Which lenses you bring to the table closely ties to sensor size.

On the D700 (full frame), you can exploit the true focal length of FX lenses without crop factor penalties, maximizing optical performance - ideal for portraits with wide apertures and landscapes with edge-to-edge sharpness.

With the D7000 (APS-C), all lenses experience a 1.5x multiplier, extending your telephoto reach but narrowing your wide-angle field. For action or wildlife photographers without pocketing long glass, the D7000's crop factor is an advantage to consider.

Durability and Weather Sealing: Can These Cameras Brave the Elements?

Both boast environmental sealing designed to keep dust and moisture out, though neither is fully waterproof or freezeproof. In hand, the D700’s sturdier magnesium alloy shell feels more rugged, ideal for challenging shoots.

The D7000, while sealed, uses lighter materials which impact its resilience over rugged usage.

Price to Performance: What’s Your Best Bang for the Buck?

Last but not least, let’s talk value. The D700 was a flagship in its time, priced near $2700 at launch - today often available used around $600-$900, making it a bargain full-frame option.

The D7000 launched near $1050 and remains popular on the secondhand market around $300-$450. It holds appeal as an affordable enthusiast-level DSLR with modern features.

How These Cameras Stack Up Across Photography Genres

Whether you prefer portraits, landscapes, wildlife, or street photography, here is how these cameras perform from my field tests and reviews:

• Portraits: D700’s large sensor delivers superior skin tones and bokeh; D7000 can handle but slightly less creamy due to smaller sensor.
• Landscapes: Full-frame equalizes to cleaner shadows and dynamic range for D700; resolution edge slightly to D7000.
• Wildlife: D7000’s crop lets you get closer without expensive glass; D700 offers better AF precision for experienced shooters.
• Sports: D700’s ruggedness and quick AF is solid; D7000’s faster fps and dual cards help in rapid-fire environments.
• Street: D7000’s lighter size aids portability; both fairly discreet.
• Macro: Full frame provides better bokeh transitions on D700.
• Night/Astro: D700’s high ISO prowess shines for clean, low-noise captures.
• Video: Only D7000 offers video, making it a no-brainer if video matters.
• Travel: D7000 balances portability and power.
• Professional Work: D700’s build and sensor preferred for demanding, high-end usage.

Final Thoughts: Which Nikon DSLR Should You Choose?

Drawing on years of testing and field use, here’s my straightforward recommendation:

• Choose the Nikon D700 if:
  You want the ultimate full-frame image quality on a budget, appreciate solid ergonomics and build, shoot primarily stills (portraits, landscapes, night), and don’t require video.

• Choose the Nikon D7000 if:
  You want a versatile, lighter DSLR that integrates video, dual memory cards, and a useful crop factor for telephoto reach. Perfect if you’re an enthusiast balancing photography with video, traveling often, or on a tighter budget.

Both cameras remain capable even today, with distinct strengths - much like choosing a trusted companion. Hopefully, this detailed guide helps clarify how they fit into your photographic journey.

This final rating summary reflects their tested performance, value, and enduring appeal.

If you want to see these cameras in action, I have detailed sample galleries and a side-by-side shooting video in my reviews linked above. Remember, the best camera is the one that feels right in your hands and meets your creative needs.

Happy shooting!