The new Nikon D700 (buy from Amazon ) is the second Full Frame FX DSLRcamera from Nikon. It has the spectacular sensor from the Nikon D3, in a smaller, lighter body, and is fully compatable with the power accessories from the D300 (including the EN-EL3e battery and MB-D10 battery pack).
When compared to the D3, it has a smaller form, and it adds a pop-up flash and self cleaning sensor. However the frame rate drops from 9fps to 5 fps (8fps with Nikon MB-D10 grip), you lose the dual CF slots, and the D700 doesn't have the D3's level of weathersealing. It also uses the smaller, less powerful EN-EL3e battery. A buffer upgrade is also available for the D3, but not for the D700, which allows you to shoot at least double the shots before the camera slows down due to the buffer being full. The shutter on the D3 is rated for 300,000 shots, double the 150,000 of the D700. Final Image quality should be identical, and at current prices, the D700 is about $1,500 less than the D3.
Compared to the Nikon D300, the specs are very similar - the D700 has the bigger FX sensor, but the frame rate drops to 5fps from the D300's 6fps (although both cameras can achieve 8fps with the option Nikon MB-D10), and the D700 allows the full frame rate with 14-bit images (the D300 drops to 2.5fps when 14-bit images are captured.)
Bottom line, if you need high fps or an extremely droppable camera, or will take hundreds of thousands of exposures, then the D3 is your camera. If you need more reach, and are always at the long end of your zooms, then the D300 with it's 1.5x crop factor is for you. For everyone else that wants a very high image quality, amazing high ISO ability, and can justify the $3,000 price tag, then this camera is the camera you've been waiting for.
The D700 is currently shipping either as Nikon D700 Body Only or bundled with the 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G ED IF VR Nikkor Zoom Lens
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) - further cementing Nikons leadership in the flash department.
) and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/2.8D (buy from 
). There is no current information on availability of these lenses, and are priced at approx $1,800 each.
