Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/08/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have been giving the D700 a workout with the new 24-70, the 70-200, and a Zeiss 50 f.4. I have also tried the 14-24. Well, as others have mentioned, this is a hell of a camera. Shots at ISO 5600 and f/2.8 with no bothersome grain and beautiful color. I will be posting some soon. The Zeiss lens has almost Leica build quality. The reviews have suggested some focus shift, but I have not seen it. The Zeiss is easier to focus on my D300 which has a Katz split screen, but the D700 has a focus assist that helps with focus on the standard screen. In terms of image quality, the 24-70 beats anything I have seen, my Leica lenses included, even wide open at f/2.8. Just knock your socks off. Of course, it is heavy and rather big. The Zeiss does not beat it, unless you use Live View, zoom in to focus, on a tripod. Then the Zeiss is slightly better, but not visible on day to day stuff. The 14-24 is also big and heavy, but just unbelievable performance. At 14 there is no distortion, and the color and contrast are beautiful. The rumors are that a new set of primes for the D700 will come at Photokina. If that is true, I would hold off buying any more Zeiss lenses, because a set of primes with the quality of the 14-24 and 24-70 might be coming, with auto focus. With the 14-24 and 24-70 so good, you have to have a reason to buy anything else. MEANWHILE, the rumors are also around that Leica is coming out with a FF Kodak chip. If you put the D700 chip in an M camera, then I would be in photo heaven. Save your dollars, you are going to need them. Bob Rose