Nikon D750, Hands On Preview: Is it the D700 Update?

Nikon D750

Raj Lalwani is currently in the process of doing an elaborate test of the Nikon D750. But since it’s been only two weeks since we’ve got the camera, with a lot of testing left, here’s a hands-on preview, for the moment.

Almost six years after the launch of the venerable D700, Nikon has announced what could be an update of the old warhorse. I use the words ‘could be’ with caution and apprehension, despite having used the D750 for almost two weeks now. Here’s why this camera is a little complicated to talk about.

A Matter of Identity
Naming convention suggests that the D750 is an upgrade of the D700. But then, it has the D610’s body and sensor, the D810’s AF and video, and the D700’s speed and philosophy. Confused, much?

After using it for two weeks, my two primary impressions are: one, it is a fantastic camera, two, it is not quite the update that some D700 owners would have hoped for.

D750 Vs D700: Is it a Worthy Update?
The AF system is far improved in the new D750 and it has a bunch of video features, but no focus peaking. The D700 had no video. The body is lighter but does not seem as strong as the D700’s. Besides a jump in resolution, there is a definite improvement in high ISO performance in the D750. The D750 (6.5fps) is faster than the D700 (5fps).

But the D700 can go upto 8fps when used with a battery grip. Unlike the D700, the D750 (and all other new Nikon FX cameras) does not have an AF Mode selection switch at the back, which is ergonomically, a big step backward.

D750 Vs D810: What Do You Gain?
Video features seem to be the same and if you are into serious filmmaking, you may prefer the D750 because of its tilting LCD screen. The autofocus system is the same. In fact, the D750 is supposed to autofocus in -3EV light too. The body of the D810 is obviously sturdier, but I actually prefer the grip of the D750 more. It’s less curved, and consequently, deeper.

The D750 has the same bright viewfinder as the D810, which is slightly improved as compared to the D700. The eyepiece is rectangular though, and not rounded.

One wonders though, will we ever we see a D3S/D4S sensor in a D810esque camera body?

An Excellent Sensor
Simply put, there is not much to fault in terms of image quality. The 24MP sensor has an AA filter (unlike the D810), but the sensor seems to have a definite improvement over the D610. After the D4/ D3S/D4S and Df, the D750 seems to be the company’s best low light camera.

The choice of body is a debatable one. Telephoto users would miss the D700 body. The D750 is sturdy, but it does not seem to be a tank, the way the D700 was. The lack of an AF-ON button is also something that I personally miss.

But while the D700/D810 feel nice and solid, the weight advantage of the D750 is tempting. Never before has a full frame body that weighs so little had such excellent AF… the 5D Mark III is the only other camera that comes to mind, and the D750 is 100g lighter than the Canon too. The tilting LCD is a nice touch to appeal to the video market, but will it compromise on the build? That remains to be seen.

This wall in my house is almost like my standard low-light test. I’ve shot it with different cameras, lenses and at different apertures over the years. The D750 does an excellent job of managing ISO 25,600, an ISO I used so that I could shoot at a narrow enough aperture to get through-and through sharpness. The image above is at ISO 25,600 (Hi 1)
Photograph/Raj Lalwani

Does Not Seem Like a Compromise
We intend to test the camera even more exhaustively before publishing a review next issue. For the moment, I’m just glad to see that despite its attractively low price tag, the D750 does not feel like a compromise. It is priced at Rs. 1,34,450. With that price point, why would anyone want to buy a D610? But how does the D750’s performance compare to the D810, D700, 5D III and A7 series? That’s a topic for a different day.

The Nikon D750 weather-sealing internals

Nikon D750 Vs Bombay’s Rains
The D750’s build quality does not feel as impressive as the D700’s, but it is weathersealed. Just a few days after we got the camera, we encountered a crazy rainshower, which we decided to subject the camera to. Check the video here.