Why Photographers Still Use “Old” Cameras Like the Nikon D700

Ian Miller
Jan 26
2 min read

The Nikon D700 came out in 2008. By tech standards, that’s ancient.By photography standards? It’s still very much alive.

And there are solid reasons for that.

🧠 1. Image Quality Plateaued (a Long Time Ago)

This is the dirty secret of camera marketing:

For most real-world photography, image quality stopped dramatically improving around 2012–2014.

The D700’s:

12.1MP full-frame sensor
Legendary low-light performance
Gorgeous tonal roll-off

…already exceed what:

Social media
Editorial print
Street photography
Photo books

actually require.

More megapixels ≠ better photos.

🌗 2. CCD-Like “Look” (Even Though It’s CMOS)

The D700 shares DNA with the D3, and it shows.

People keep using it because of:

Natural contrast
Smooth highlights
Film-like shadow transitions
Skin tones that don’t need fixing

It renders scenes, not files.

Modern sensors are technically better — but often clinically flat until processed.

🧱 3. Built Like a Weapon (In a Good Way)

The D700 is:

Magnesium alloy
Weather-sealed
Rated for heavy professional use

You can:

Shoot in rain
Bang it on concrete
Freeze your fingers off

…and it just keeps going.

Street photographers love tools they don’t have to baby.

🎯 4. Autofocus That Still Slaps

The Multi-CAM 3500FX AF system is still:

Fast
Predictable
Excellent in low light

No face-detect.No eye-AF.No nonsense.

Just reliable center-point focus you can trust.

For street, that matters more than AI tricks.

🕰️ 5. Forces Better Shooting Habits

Limitations can be freeing.

With the D700:

You’re not chimping constantly
You’re not spraying 20fps
You’re not rescuing sloppy exposure later

You:

Pre-focus
Anticipate
Compose deliberately

That’s street photography DNA.

💸 6. Ridiculously Affordable Now

Here’s the killer argument:

Camera	Real-world value
Nikon D700	~$350–500
New full-frame body	$2,000–4,000

For the price of a kit zoom on a mirrorless body, you get:

Pro build
Full-frame look
Files editors still accept

It’s one of the best cost-to-image-quality ratios ever made.

🧬 7. F-Mount Glass Is a Goldmine

F-mount gives you:

Decades of legendary primes
Cheap used prices
Mechanical reliability

And the D700 drives them beautifully.

🧠 The Quiet Truth

People who keep shooting the D700 aren’t behind.

They’re done chasing.

They’ve realized:

Cameras don’t make photos
Familiarity beats features
Confidence beats resolution

The D700 disappears in your hands — and that’s the highest compliment a camera can get.

📌 Who the D700 Is Still Perfect For

✅ Street photographers✅ Documentary shooters✅ Low-light natural light work✅ Black & white photography✅ Photographers who value feel over specs

🧭 Final Thought

Old cameras become timeless when they stop getting in the way.

The Nikon D700 didn’t age poorly.It aged honestly.