Nikon D700

The Nikon D700 is a full-frame DSLR released in 2008. Its 12.1-megapixel sensor and Nikon F FX mount mark it as a camera built for stills, and the 1074-gram body carries an optical pentaprism viewfinder.

It suits photographers who want full-frame depth-of-field control, a burst rate of up to eight frames per second and a sealed body for outdoor work. It does not record video, so anyone needing motion capture should look elsewhere.

Owning one means planning around CompactFlash cards and EN-EL3e batteries, and its 147 x 123 x 77 mm dimensions make it a substantial camera to carry.

The heart of the camera is its full-frame CMOS sensor behind the Nikon F FX mount. Full frame gives you real control over depth of field. At 12.1 megapixels, cropping room is limited, so frame with print size in mind.

For moving subjects, the D700 can shoot at up to eight frames per second, and the 1/8000 maximum shutter speed helps keep fast apertures usable in bright conditions. Fifty-one autofocus points give plenty of placement options when you compose.

Sensitivity spans ISO 200 to 6400. The ISO 200 base leaves little room at the low end for long exposures, and 6400 is a moderate ceiling for dim venues. With no in-body stabilisation, shutter speed and steady technique manage camera shake.

Framing happens through an optical pentaprism viewfinder that shows the scene directly. The Optics score of 54 is modest, and the camera sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics.

The Nikon D700 does not record video. This 2008 DSLR was built entirely for stills, with no movie mode of any kind, so photographers who need motion clips alongside their photographs will need a different camera.

The one motion feature it offers is built-in timelapse. The camera shoots a series of still frames at intervals, which you combine on a computer into a moving sequence. Timelapse suits slow subjects like clouds, crowds or a construction project unfolding over hours.

Live view is available, so you can compose on the 3-inch LCD rather than only through the viewfinder. Since motion recording is absent, live view and timelapse are the closest this body comes to moving pictures, and both remain stills-based tools.

Most shooting happens through the optical pentaprism viewfinder, with live view on the 3-inch, 922,000-dot LCD when you want to focus on the sensor instead. The display is fixed and not touch-sensitive, so overhead or waist-level shots mean moving yourself, not the screen.

Lighting options are well covered for a body of this age: a built-in flash handles occasional fill, and support for external flash units allows more elaborate lighting setups.

The body is weather sealed against dust and damp. WiFi is built in, while Bluetooth and GPS are absent, so location tagging is not built in.

The Features score of 54 is modest, and the main deductions come from the missing touchscreen and Bluetooth.

Files record to a single CompactFlash Type I card. There is no second slot, so a long shoot means carrying spare cards, and CompactFlash is a format you may need to buy specifically if your existing cards are SD.

The EN-EL3e battery is rated at 1000 shots per charge. Actual endurance will vary with how much you use live view and the rear screen.

Charging needs the dedicated charger rather than a USB cable, so a second battery is the practical way to stay shooting on the road. The Storage & Battery score of 43 is modest, and the main deductions come from the single card slot and the lack of USB charging.