Nikon D700 vs Olympus E-5: An In-Depth Comparison for Serious Photographers

When I compare the Nikon D700 and Olympus E-5, I’m not just looking at specs on a sheet – these are two advanced DSLRs from distinct eras and sensor philosophies, yet both aimed at serious photographers. Released just a few years apart, each carved a niche with its own strengths and compromises. So whether you’re a gear enthusiast considering a used buy, or someone curious about full-frame vs. Four Thirds in DSLRs, this comparison offers hands-on insight based on extensive real-world testing across photography genres. Let’s dig in.

Getting a Feel for the Cameras: Size, Ergonomics, and Design

This might be a bit obvious, but how a camera feels in your hand really shapes your shooting experience. First up, the Nikon D700 is a sturdy, mid-size SLR weighing just over 1 kg, built as a classic full-frame workhorse with a big grip and robust control layout that suits long shooting sessions. The Olympus E-5, meanwhile, is more compact and lighter - about 800 grams - designed around the Four Thirds system with a noticeably smaller body but still a rugged feel.

Looking at these side-by-side, you notice the D700’s deeper grip and heft that give confidence especially when paired with heavier lenses. The E-5’s smaller footprint favors portability without sacrificing much in build quality - it has full weather sealing as well. For those who favor a more pocket-friendly option without giving up DSLR ergonomics, the E-5 is compelling. But if prolonged handling with larger glass is routine, the D700’s heft wins out for me.

Controls and Interface: Getting Your Hands on the Essentials

No amount of pixel peeping can replace a tactile feel test. The Nikon D700’s top plate offers a nice balance of direct access dials and buttons for ISO, exposure compensation, and drive modes - essential for quick changes on the fly when shooting portraits or sports.

The Olympus E-5, while fully featured, takes a slightly different approach with a slightly more compact but still fully articulated LCD, and control placement that encourages menu navigation more often. It includes a top LCD screen for quick info checks, which I found handy in outdoor shooting scenarios.

Neither is touchscreen, but both use effective, responsive buttons without illuminated keys. You’ll appreciate the D700’s larger buttons for gloved hands in cold weather. Ergonomically, it’s a close call, but the D700 edges out for photographers who demand rapid manual control.

Under the Hood: Sensor Size, Image Quality, and Resolution

Here is where the lines draw sharpest between these two systems.

The Nikon D700 boasts a full-frame CMOS sensor (36x24mm) at 12.1 MP, with a native ISO range of 200 to 6400, expandable to 25600. Its sensor area is nearly four times larger than the Olympus E-5’s Four Thirds 17.3x13mm sensor, also at 12 MP, with ISO up to 6400.

In real-world tests, the D700 delivers superior dynamic range (12.2 EV vs. 10.5 EV) and color depth (23.5 bits vs. 21.6 bits), which translates to richer tonal gradations and better detail retention in harsh lighting - vital for landscapes and studio portraits.

Low-light performance is one of the standout strengths of the D700, with a validated DXO low-light ISO score of 2303 compared to the E-5’s 519. Simply put, the D700 lets you shoot handheld in dim conditions or at fast shutter speeds without crippling noise.

The E-5, meanwhile, with its smaller sensor, naturally exhibits slightly higher image noise and less shallow depth of field. However, it benefits from sharp in-lens corrections and a quadrupled crop factor, making it especially effective with telephoto lenses for wildlife and sports, where reach matters.

Viewing the World: Viewfinders and LCD Screens

Nikon’s tried-and-true optical pentaprism viewfinder on the D700 covers 95% of the frame with 0.72x magnification - bright, clear, and comfortable for extended use. The E-5’s optical pentaprism is somewhat smaller, with 100% coverage but slightly less magnification (0.58x). Practically, this means the E-5 gives you confidence in framing accuracy, though the view appears less immersive.

When it comes to LCDs…

Both have 3-inch screens with roughly 920 to 922k dot resolution, but the E-5’s fully articulated LCD with HyperCrystal transmissive technology offers greater flexibility for shooting at odd angles and more vivid outdoor visibility, especially useful for macro or street photography.

The D700’s fixed TFT TFT screen is reliable but falls short on articulation, which impacts versatility for video or awkward positions. Still, viewfinder purists favor the Nikon’s larger and brighter finder for critical focus work and sports shooting.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

The D700 uses a 51-point phase-detection autofocus system, a significant strength in its day, facilitating fast and accurate AF especially in continuous mode at 5 frames per second. However, it lacks face detection and tracking capabilities. The Olympus E-5 has an 11-point AF system with cross-type sensors, along with the ability to do face detection and live view contrast detection autofocus, but its burst speed is the same 5 fps.

In practice, when photographing fast-moving wildlife or sports, the Nikon’s more extensive AF points and better phase detection system make it far more reliable in tracking erratic movements, especially under poor lighting or with telephoto lenses. The Olympus autofocus system, while solid for general use, feels less confident with erratic subjects or low contrast scenes.

Lens Ecosystems and Compatibility

Lens choice can make or break your photographic freedom. The Nikon F-mount enjoys an encyclopedic lens collection: over 300 native options including legacy Nikkor glass and the latest AF-S and FX prime and zoom lenses. This means you can access specialized glass - from ultrawide to super telephoto - with superb optical quality.

Olympus E-5 supports the Four Thirds lens mount with a relatively limited pool of around 45 lenses. That said, the Four Thirds lenses are generally smaller and lighter and often include advanced features like built-in stabilization, which the E-5 uses sensor-based to advantage.

If you value stretching your creative vision through lens options and superior optics, Nikon’s wider offering is a clear advantage. The Olympus system remains attractive for travel and wildlife where compact, stabilized lenses help reduce gear burden.

Portability and Travel-Friendliness

Let’s talk gear weight and size in the field. The smaller sensor camera with fewer lenses might seem like a travel winner, right? Indeed, the Olympus E-5’s ~800 g weight and smaller dimensions (143 x 117 x 75 mm) make it easier to carry all day. Its fully articulated screen, weather sealing, and built-in image stabilization boost in-camera versatility.

The D700 is heavier and bulkier at 1.07 kg and larger dimensions (147 x 123 x 77 mm), plus you need to consider the extra weight of larger FX lenses. However, the Nikon’s ability to shoot effectively at high ISO and deliver superior image quality makes it worthwhile for professional travel photography when image quality cannot be compromised.

For street photographers or casual traveling enthusiasts, the Olympus may offer more discretion and comfort without too much sacrifice. For professionals – particularly in landscape or event work - the Nikon remains the definitive tool.

Durability, Weather Sealing, and Build Quality

Both cameras offer serious build quality geared towards rugged use. The Nikon D700 is known for robust titanium and magnesium alloy body parts with weather resistance - great for harsh environments (dust, moisture) and even low temperatures. The Olympus E-5 is also weather-sealed with magnesium alloy construction, designed for tough outdoor use.

While neither camera is fully waterproof or crushproof, both handle rain and dust well, with the Nikon slightly displaying more robustness especially over prolonged use given its professional construction pedigree.

Battery Life and Storage

Battery life can be a make-or-break on long shoots. The D700 can capture 1000 shots per battery charge with its EN-EL3e battery, which is remarkably high and reliable for extended days without recharging.

The Olympus E-5, using the BLM-5 battery, offers about 870 shots per charge, respectable but slightly less than Nikon’s offering.

Storage options differ too. The D700 supports one Compact Flash Type I card slot, while the E-5 has two slots that accept CF (Types I & II), SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards. This dual-slot setup is a significant advantage for backup recording or overflow storage, critical for professionals on assignment.

Video Capabilities

Neither camera is primarily aimed at videography, but it’s worth noting their video performance for hybrid shooters.

The D700 offers no native video recording capabilities - it’s purely a stills shooter. The Olympus E-5 offers basic HD capture up to 1280x720 at 30fps in Motion JPEG format, which is pretty limited by modern standards but usable for casual video work or behind-the-scenes footage. The E-5 also provides a microphone input, a distinct advantage if you want better audio capture.

If video is an essential part of your workflow, these models may feel limiting compared to modern hybrids, but for purely still photography, especially in DSLR shooting, they still shine.

Sample Image Comparison

To get a sense of how these cameras perform with natural subjects, I took sample shots in various conditions.

Nikon D700 screen back Olympus E 5 front Olympus E 5 screen back

Notice how the Nikon D700’s full-frame sensor produces richer depth of field and smoother skin tones in portraits, coupled with excellent dynamic range preserving highlight and shadow details. The Olympus E-5’s images have excellent sharpness but show more noise and less background separation, typical of a smaller sensor.

In landscape shots, the D700 provides cleaner skies and more nuance in foliage. Wildlife photos benefit from the E-5’s crop factor allowing longer effective reach but at the cost of noisier high ISO images.

Overall Performance Scores

I rely partly on independent lab measurements but also practical field tests to determine camera strengths.

Here the Nikon D700 scores much higher overall, thanks to its sensor size, image quality, battery life, and focusing capabilities. The Olympus E-5 fares respectably but falls short mainly due to sensor size and AF point count.

Genre-Specific Strengths

Looking more granularly…

• Portraits: Nikon D700’s bokeh, color depth, and accurate skin tone reproduction make it stand out.
• Landscape: D700 leads again with dynamic range and high resolution.
• Wildlife: Olympus E-5 benefits from extended reach (2.1x crop factor) and in-body stabilization.
• Sports: Nikon’s larger AF array and low light autofocus speed dominate.
• Street photography: E-5’s portability and articulating screen help for discreet shooting.
• Macro: E-5’s articulation aids composition but Nikon’s full-frame sensor may offer finer detail rendition.
• Night/Astro: D700’s high ISO and long exposure control shine.
• Video: E-5’s limited HD and mic input give it a small edge.
• Travel: E-5 is more compact, but D700 offers ultimate image quality.
• Professional use: D700’s file handling, reliability, and ecosystem make it preferred.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Both cameras have earned respect, but for different reasons. The Nikon D700 remains a benchmark for full-frame DSLR photographers valuing superior image quality, dynamic range, and robust autofocus. If you shoot weddings, portraits, landscapes, or sports, and demand low noise at high ISO, it’s tough to beat at this price point. Its extensive lens ecosystem and excellent battery life add to the appeal.

The Olympus E-5 is a clever alternative for those who prioritize a compact, weather-resistant system with in-body stabilization and enough reach for wildlife or street photography. It suits enthusiasts who want versatility in an affordable package with respectable image quality and dependable performance.

In short, if absolute image quality and low light performance top your list - the Nikon D700 is your camera. If portability, lens stabilization, and extended telephoto reach are more important, the Olympus E-5 deserves serious consideration.

My Personal Take

Having tested thousands of cameras over my career, I appreciate how each system reflects distinct philosophies and practical solutions to photography’s varying challenges. The D700 feels like a timeless tool built for uncompromising quality. The E-5 demonstrates how system size and sensor size trade-offs shape the shooting experience differently.

For photographers on a budget who do not need ultra-high resolution but desire ruggedness and versatility, the Olympus is a charming system. But if you want a DSLR that confidently handles professional demands across genres without compromise - the Nikon D700 remains a solid, highly capable choice even years after its release.

I hope this side-by-side comparison clarifies the practical choices between the Nikon D700 and Olympus E-5. Questions? Feel free to ask - I’m always here to help photographers find their perfect gear.

Happy shooting!