Nikon D700

Manufacturer: Nikon
Type: DSLR camera (full-frame)
Year introduced: 2008
Sensor: 12.1MP FX full-frame CMOS (same as Nikon D3)
Autofocus: Multi-CAM 3500FX, 51 AF points (15 cross-type)
Image processing: EXPEED, 14-bit AD converter
Body: Smaller, lighter, and cheaper than D3; built-in flash; sensor cleaning system
ISO range: 200—6400 (expandable to Lo-1 [100] and Hi-2 [25,600])
Frame rate: 5 fps (8 fps with MB-D10 battery grip)
Viewfinder: 95% coverage, 0.72x magnification
Price at launch: $2,999 USD

Overview

The Nikon D700, announced July 1, 2008, was Nikon’s second full-frame (FX) digital SLR, bringing the D3’s professional sensor and autofocus system into a more affordable, compact body. Eric Cheng described it as sharing the D3’s 12-megapixel FX sensor, image processing engine, and sensor cleaning system, with a built-in flash and ISO capability up to 25,600 (^[1]). DPReview published a visual comparison of the D300, D700, and D3, showing the D700 was noticeably taller than the D300 due to a larger pentaprism (^[2]). For underwater photographers, the D700 represented the first realistic opportunity to adopt full-frame Nikon shooting underwater — the D3’s professional body was too large and expensive for most users.

Alex Mustard called the D700 “a classic pocket-battleship DSLR” that “bristles with the heavy weight features of the top of line D3” in a smaller, cheaper, lighter body, noting that “those last three points are sure to make it more attractive than its big brother to the underwater photographer” (^[3]). He went on to say that “nobody who buys this camera will regret choosing it for an instant,” while acknowledging it was not necessarily the best choice for every underwater photographer. James Wiseman called the D700 the “digital F100” that Nikon shooters had been dreaming about (^[4]), while Stephen Frink praised Mustard’s review as “very balanced and erudite” (^[5]).

The D700 sparked a major FX-versus-DX debate in the underwater photography community, as it competed directly with Nikon’s highly popular D300. Alex Mustard admitted that Nikon “lost a lot of D3 sales to the D700 (such as me). The D700 was already on sale when I was doing the D3 review for Wetpixel. So I just got the D700 instead. Vertical grips are not that attractive for underwater” (^[6]).

FX vs DX: The Central Debate

The D700’s arrival forced underwater photographers to confront the tradeoffs between full-frame (FX) and crop-sensor (DX) shooting. This was the defining discussion around the camera on Wetpixel.

Arguments for the D700 (FX):

• Superior high-ISO performance, enabling ambient-light shooting in dark environments such as wrecks, caverns, and temperate waters. Forum user “loftus” estimated at least a 2-stop advantage over the D300 at high ISO (^[7])
• Wider angle of view with the same lenses, beneficial for wide-angle and scenic work
• Better dynamic range and shadow detail. “Loftus” noted that “high ISO ability also allows better penetration of shadows and subtle gradations of shadows that show up with the D700 in low light that enhance photography of underwater landscapes” (^[8])
• Full-frame compatibility with classic Nikon lenses (16mm fisheye, 17-35mm, 105mm VR)
• The ability to use “DX crop” mode in-camera, giving users the option to shoot at a cropped field of view when desired, as Sam Chae demonstrated: “I prefer flexibility of d700 as I can choose ‘dx’ mode or crop the picture in camera” (^[9])

Arguments for the D300 (DX):

• Cheaper body ($1,800 vs $2,999) and cheaper housings
• Better autofocus frame coverage and 100% viewfinder (^[10])
• Access to the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye zoom, widely considered the most versatile underwater wide-angle lens of the era, which was DX-only
• 1.5x crop factor provided more reach for macro, making the 60mm macro behave like a 90mm equivalent. Forum user “craig” provided detailed angle-of-view comparisons showing that while DX and FX lenses could achieve similar perspectives, “DX gives you a 1.5x apparent magnification advantage” and “FX users not only have to work harder to shoot small subjects, the lenses they use are larger for the same perspective” (^[11])
• Better corner sharpness at wider apertures behind dome ports. Drew Wong argued: “All the tests show DX has better corners at faster apertures for equivalent focal lengths” (^[12])

Alex Mustard’s review concluded that “the biggest challenge to the D700’s potential for undersea dominance is its little brother, the D300 armed with its own 12 MP sensor” and that “the D300 is cheaper still, has better auto-focus frame coverage, 100% viewfinder and offers a more suitable range of lenses for underwater use” (^[13]). Community member “loftus,” who owned both cameras, wrote that if forced to choose only one system for underwater, he would “stay with DX” — primarily because of the Tokina 10-17mm (^[14]). Drew Wong was more blunt: “Even Alex Mustard will have to agree that FX is low on the plus side in uw shooting, he just won’t do it because he bought a D700” (^[15]).

The workaround for D700 users wanting the Tokina 10-17mm was to use it with a Kenko 1.4x teleconverter (specifically the Kenko 300pro), which eliminated the DX vignetting and provided a usable full-frame fisheye option. “Loftus” championed this approach: “Now that I use the 10-17 with TC, I do not miss my DX camera (D200) at all” (^[16]).

Early Adoption and Nexus D200 Compatibility

Within weeks of the D700’s announcement, Wetpixel forum members speculated about whether it would fit into existing D300 housings, given the similar body dimensions (^[17]). Forum user “loftus” noted that “the pentaprism definitely looks larger, so that D300 housing option is not looking good” (^[18]), while “davephdv” was relieved: “My D300 fits in the Subal housing like isotoner gloves. I won’t have to buy this camera” (^[19]). Alex Mustard wondered whether housing manufacturers could make a D700 housing that would also take the D300 (^[20]).

However, Wetpixel member Sam Chae successfully tested the D700 in a Nexus D200 housing and took it to Anilao, Philippines in August 2008 — among the first underwater images captured with the camera. He used a 16mm lens for wide-angle and posted samples showing “impressively sharp” corners (^[21]). This Nexus D200 modification became a viable path for early adopters; forum member Jenny Huang also used a modified Nexus D200 for her D700 on trips to Layang Layang and Mabu, shooting with the 17-35mm, Tokina 10-17mm with Kenko 1.4x TC, and 105mm VR (^[22]). Alex Mustard reviewed her images and noted that “a number of the wide angles suffer from lack of corner sharpness — which I think is one of the problems of shooting full frame cameras underwater” and suggested boosting ISO to allow stopping down more (^[23]).

Lens Recommendations

The transition from DX to FX required rethinking lens choices. Community discussions identified these key FX underwater lenses for the D700:

• Nikon 16mm f/2.8 AF Fisheye — the standard full-frame fisheye for underwater, though some users reported corner softness issues at wider apertures
• Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8 AF-S — widely recommended as the best wide-angle zoom for FX underwater. Forum user “ryan” of Reef Photo noted it was “a very good option that holds up well in dome ports,” while the 14-24mm had problems with corner sharpness underwater (^[24]). “Matthewaddison” agreed: “Keep the 14-24 on land. It is a great lens, just not for underwater (yet)” (^[25])
• Sigma 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye — a diagonal fisheye that worked well on full frame; recommended by James Wiseman for both macro and wide-angle FX work (^[26])
• Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 with Kenko 1.4x TC — the workaround for using this popular DX fisheye zoom on FX bodies
• Nikon 105mm f/2.8 VR Micro — the preferred macro lens on FX, with Alex Mustard noting it worked well with Subal’s dedicated port. He used the 105mm VR on the D3 and recommended Subal’s purpose-built port, while noting Martin Edge used the older 105mm port on his D300 (^[27])
• Nikon 60mm f/2.8 AF-S Micro — usable on FX but with reduced magnification compared to DX; forum users noted you needed to get closer to subjects, making the 105mm generally preferable (^[28]). Alex Mustard used the 60mm AF-S for creative work including his notable “X-Ray John Dory” image (^[29])
• Nikon 16mm fisheye + 1.5x teleconverter — Mustard used this combination in the Subal ND700 for his review, shooting at 1/250th @ F10, ISO 200 (^[30])

Housing Availability

The D700 was supported by every major underwater housing manufacturer, with housings ranging from $1,600 to approximately $5,000+.

Aquatica AD700

Announced September 2008 at $2,949 USD. The first D700 housing to feature Aquatica’s new milled-from-solid-aluminum construction (replacing their earlier cast housings), with a “bold new design” and military-specification anodizing. Features included bayonet port mount compatible with existing Aquatica ports including the 9.25” MegaDome (which accommodated the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8), 300ft/90m depth rating, fingertip access to all camera controls, a built-in remote control compatibility, and a lens release lever for changing lenses through the front port with the camera installed. The housing was supplied with dual Nikonos-type or Ikelite single strobe connectors, and included replaceable sacrificial anodes for electrolysis protection (^[31]).

At DEMA 2008, Eric Cheng praised the housing’s ergonomics, including angled buttons on the left-hand side for easier LCD access, a user-switchable AF Lock / AF ON control (requires opening housing), a third bulkhead for remote release, an external lens release control, a new matte finish, and a new hotshoe circuit board allowing selection of the number of active pins. A new inverted-V o-ring groove “slightly captured” the o-ring, preventing it from popping out accidentally — a design to reduce user-error floods (^[32]). Alex Mustard commented that “the Aquatica D700 housing was really creating a buzz at the show among underwater photographers” and noted their “new machining has resulted in very nice looking housings with some excellent ergonomic solutions,” making it “harder and harder to justify the premium” of European brands (^[33]).

Subal ND700

Displayed at Photokina 2008 (September) and DEMA 2008 (October) alongside housings for the D3, Canon 50D/40D, and a 45-degree viewfinder accessory ($1,530). The 45-degree viewfinder was described by Eric Cheng as “essentially an INON viewfinder with an upgraded casing” that produced a “large and bright” image (^[34]). Subal also showed their large 254mm glass dome port (with a radius of curvature of 165mm) and conical back, designed for wide lenses like the Nikon 14-24mm. The dome was “really heavy on land and quite buoyant underwater” (^[35]).

Subal’s new port design featured large port openings to accommodate thick lenses, with two interchangeable front rings supporting both new and old port designs. Though user-changeable, Subal recommended dealer installation with pressure testing (^[36]).

Alex Mustard’s landmark field review used the actual DEMA show housing, which “worked faultlessly in the ocean a few days later” during his Red Sea Photo Workshop on MV Blue Horizon. The housing belonged to UWP Magazine editor Peter Rowlands, who lent it to Mustard even before using it himself (^[37]). Mustard described the Subal ND700 as a “fully featured, but compact” package. The review trip provided direct comparisons with D300s in Subal, Sea & Sea, Sealux, Aquatica, Ikelite, and Hugyfot housings — “that camera is so hot right now!” he noted of the D300 (^[38]).

Forum user “loftus” ordered a Subal ND700 housing with a custom USB bulkhead from Ryan at Reef Photo, planning to use Nikon Camera Control Pro on a laptop for pool work — enabling immediate image review “without having to open the housing to download the card.” Mustard asked whether the USB connection would also allow remote camera control, and “loftus” confirmed it could (^[39]).

Eric Cheng noted at DEMA that Subal had been sold to new owners (^[40]).

Ikelite D700

Polycarbonate housing with iTTL support, $1,600 USD. Ikelite announced it would begin shipping during DEMA week (late October 2008), alongside housings for the Nikon D90 and Canon 50D (^[41]). At the same DEMA, Ikelite showed the new DS-160 Substrobes with 10 manual power settings and LED modeling light, which Alex Mustard called “a worthwhile upgrade for many DS-125 users, given how batteries etc are interchangeable” (^[42]). The Ikelite was the most affordable dedicated D700 housing, making it popular with photographers on a budget.

Sea & Sea MDX-D700

Announced February 2009 at approximately $3,995 USD. Housed in Sea & Sea’s MDX-style aluminum construction with 200ft/60m depth rating, two fiber-optic bulkheads, a YS-converter bulkhead, and 5-pin Nikonos bulkhead. Expected to ship around the first week of March 2009 (^[43]). Berkley White confirmed the D3x also fit in the Sea & Sea D3 housing, suggesting strong cross-compatibility within the Nikon FX line (^[44]).

Seacam D700

Harald Hordosch of Seacam announced at DEMA 2008 that the D700 housing was in development, with expected availability in Q1 2009. The Seacam D700 would incorporate the new design philosophy debuted in their D3 housing — the first large Seacam housing machined from a solid block of aluminum. Harald had “smoothed out” the lines with improved ergonomics: controls pulled out toward the handles for easier reach from shooting position, a new shutter lever with good haptic feedback for half-presses, and a new lens release lever. The innovative internal titanium latch system used 60 kg of spring force to hold the housing together at one atmosphere, tested to 300,000 cycles, and doubled as a registration point so the housing only closed one way. The remote socket doubled as a USB interface for remote camera control (^[45]).

Nauticam NA-D700

Introduced at DEMA 2009 as part of Nauticam’s debut product range by owner Edward Lai. Alex Mustard field-tested the Nauticam D700 in temperate Australian waters (Sydney and Melbourne) in February—March 2010, running it alongside his own Subal D700 with Peter Rowlands’ D700 body. He described it as “a very fine housing” with “impressive” ergonomics and praised the innovative port system that accepted ports from other manufacturers via adaptors, making “Nauticam a serious option for most folks.” The housing had intentionally large port openings so third-party port adapters could sit flush without increasing port distance (^[46]).

Forum user “loftus” summarized the competitive threat: “The European housing manufacturers had better take notice if they want to stay in business” (^[47]). Alex Mustard noted: “When you look up how much (or should I say little) it costs compared to other brands its a marvel” (^[48]).

Mustard’s review noted one issue with the shutter speed dial being difficult to operate with one hand in strong currents. Forum user “muppetcam” confirmed this after 70+ dives with the Nauticam D700 in the Maldives, reporting it was “impossible to change the shutter speed with my thumb and hold on to the housing with a tight grip.” User “blueglass” reported planning a home-made solution. User “digidiverdave” then reported that “Nauticam that the Command Dial Knob has been redesigned following feedback from some users — clearly a company that listens” (^[49], ^[50]). Drew Wong observed the side-by-side comparison looked like “Japanese manga vs Austrian sleek” (^[51]).

This review was instrumental in establishing Nauticam’s reputation as a serious competitor to established European brands.

Other Housings

• Nexus — While no dedicated D700 housing existed, the Nexus D200 housing could be modified to accept the D700 body, as demonstrated by Sam Chae and Jenny Huang (^[52])
• Hugyfot — Produced a D700 housing; multiple for-sale listings on Wetpixel forums attest to its use (^[53])
• Sealux — Housing available; the D700 was one of many Nikon bodies Sealux supported

Reviews & Discussion

Alex Mustard’s Subal ND700 Field Review (November 2008)

The definitive underwater review of the D700, published by Alex Mustard after shooting in the Red Sea aboard MV Blue Horizon during his annual photo workshop. The review provided the first comprehensive FX vs DX comparison in a real underwater environment, with D300s in various housings (Subal, Sea & Sea, Sealux, Aquatica, Ikelite, Hugyfot) available for direct comparison. Mustard noted that “at the time of writing, Nikon’s SLR camera range is capped at 12MP, meaning that the DX versus FX comparisons currently do not consider one potential advantage of a larger sensor — that of increased resolution” and hinted at future FX models that would fit in existing housings (^[54]).

The review was praised by Stephen Frink as a “very balanced and erudite review” and by James Wiseman for coming from “someone who has major experience with its brothers and sisters” (^[55]). Forum commenter “Arne” pushed back on Mustard’s statement that “the underwater world provides very few opportunities to utilise this feature above ISO 400,” noting the needs of temperate/cold water divers in places like the Netherlands (^[56]). Mustard acknowledged the point, directing readers to his D3 review from Canada.

Alex Mustard’s Nauticam D700 Field Review (March 2010)

A focused housing review rather than a camera review, testing the Nauticam D700 in the “cool and often murky waters around Sydney and Melbourne” in February—March 2010. Mustard ran the Nauticam alongside his own Subal D700 and compared it to housings from Subal, Seacam, Aquatica, Nexus, Sea & Sea, and Ikelite during dives with Australian underwater photographers. He tested Subal ports on the Nauticam via adaptors to evaluate cross-compatibility. The review was uploaded from Sydney Airport before Mustard’s 24-hour flight home (^[57]). This review was instrumental in establishing Nauticam’s reputation as a serious competitor to established European brands.

Berkley White’s D3x Housing Compatibility Test (December 2008)

Berkley White of Backscatter tested a rare pre-production Nikon D3x in existing D3 housings and confirmed it fit in both Subal and Sea & Sea housings, with Aquatica expected to be compatible as well. This was relevant to D700 users because it demonstrated Nikon’s commitment to maintaining consistent body dimensions within the FX line (^[58]).

Alex Mustard’s First Year Gallery (December 2009)

After one year with the D700 in a Subal ND700, Alex Mustard published a retrospective gallery showcasing the camera’s strengths. He wrote: “I have liked my D700 much more than I expected, and at times have wondered how I ever managed without it.” He qualified this by adding: “That said, I would not be surprised if my next camera is DX format, bought to run alongside the D700.” His diving in 2009 had deliberately moved away from coral reefs into darker environments (Canada, England, Indonesia) to exploit the D700’s high-ISO capability. Highlights included:

• Truck Inside Thistlegorm (Egypt) — 8-second exposure at ISO 200 with 16mm fisheye, using off-camera strobe for mood lighting. Mustard noted this was “my longest ever underwater exposure” and that magazines published his off-camera strobe work rather than safe options
• Black Rockfish in Bull Kelp (Canada) — ISO 800 with 15mm fisheye at f/9, 1/320th. “I also know that shooting an image with this sort of dynamic range, in dark conditions would not have been possible on the cameras I had shot before”
• Wunderpus in Spotlight (Indonesia) — ISO 800 with 60mm AF-S at f/10, 1/160th, using only a dive guide’s torch for lighting with no strobes. “The plan was to create the performer in the spotlight idea”
• Melibe Nudibranchs Filter Feeding (Canada) — ISO 800 with 15mm fisheye at f/14, 1/80th, shot in a 7-minute dive racing the setting sun

(^[59])

Spider Crab Aggregation (2010)

One of Alex Mustard’s most celebrated D700 images was his spider crab aggregation shot, taken in England for the 2020VISION conservation project. The image used the “rabbit-ear strobes” technique — pushing strobes up above the camera on long arms to create top-lighting for more even illumination with gradual fall-off. Equipment: Nikon D700 + Sigma 15mm fisheye, Subal housing, Zen 230 dome, 2x Inon Z240 strobes on 5.6 power, Ultralight arms. Settings: 1/160th @ f/14, ISO 640. The image received nearly 70 written comments in 24 hours on Facebook, more than double the response to his dolphin image posted the day before (^[60]).

Firmware Update

In May 2012, Nikon released firmware updates (A: v1.03, B: v1.02) to resolve an issue where “in some very rare cases, images were extremely under-exposed.” Adam Hanlon commented wryly: “They should have made one for the D800, a.k.a ‘BUGS’ bunny” — a reference to the well-documented autofocus issues affecting the D800 at launch (^[61]).

Legacy and Successor

The D700 remained in production for an unusually long time. In February 2012, with the D800 about to launch, Nikon’s Nobuaki Sasagaki confirmed the D700 would “continue to be built as long as there is demand.” Alex Mustard speculated this was “just a way to keep D700 sales strong until stock is used. And to make sure people buy the D4, rather than wait for that sensor in a cheaper body” (^[62]). Mustard noted the D700 had unusually strong resale values, “often close to original price and actually only a little cheaper than the re-sale of the D3” (^[63]).

Community members speculated about potential successors. “Don silcock” hoped for a D700S using the D3S sensor, which “would go straight in my D700 housing,” while “loftus” predicted that ultimately “for underwater and wildlife use DX will make even more sense once the proposed D400 arrives.” Forum member “peteatkinson” noted the D700 could not be sold in Japan “because of the battery contacts,” suggesting production changes were already underway (^[64]).

Forum member “fforbes,” a happy D700 owner, captured the sentiment of many loyalists: “Will I really take a better image if I spend another $9,000 (body + Subal housing)? I love the colors and the dynamic range of the D700. It focuses like a dream. I can use any ISO I want. At this point, is it the arrow or the indian that will make a better image? I’m thinking it’s the indian” (^[65]).

The D700 was eventually succeeded by the Nikon D800 in 2012, a 36.3-megapixel full-frame camera that represented a very different design philosophy — prioritizing resolution over the D700’s emphasis on high-ISO performance and speed. Many D700 users felt the D800 was not a true successor, and the D700 continued to be used and traded on Wetpixel’s classifieds forums for years afterward, with the thread “D700 Forever!?” capturing the sentiment of loyal users (^[66]).

Community Discussion

The D700 generated more forum discussion on Wetpixel than almost any other camera of its era, with over 60 threads dedicated to the camera. Key community threads included:

• “D700 - seems pretty solid” (33 replies) — Pre-announcement excitement and housing fit speculation. “Loftus” and “mandarinfish” confirmed the pentaprism was larger than D300. Alex Mustard wondered about cross-compatible housings (^[67])
• “Nikon D700 rumours” (17 replies) — Early rumors from Engadget. James Wiseman called it “the digital F100.” “Scorpio_fish” questioned early leaked images (^[68])
• “D700 vs. D300: help?” (11 replies) — The core upgrade dilemma, with Alex Mustard, Sam Chae, “loftus,” and “craig” weighing in. Sam Chae posted comparison shots showing FX vs DX with 105mm VR (^[69])
• “Why shouldn’t I buy a D700” (9 replies) — A buyer’s decision process weighing D700, D300, and D90. “Loftus” recommended the Sigma 17-70 Macro (before realizing it was DX-only) (^[70])
• “Upgrading from D300 to D700 - is it worth it” (7 replies) — High-ISO advantages for wreck diving. “Loftus” and Drew Wong debated the FX advantage with Drew arguing the D300-to-D700 jump was less pronounced than D2X-to-D3 (^[71])
• “Nauticam D700” (37 replies) — Discussion of the new Nauticam housing, started by Alex Mustard. Drew Wong compared the side-by-side as “Japanese manga vs Austrian sleek” (^[72])
• “First year with Nikon D700” (9 replies) — Alex Mustard’s retrospective gallery with community praise for the melibe nudibranch and rockfish images (^[73])
• “D700 Forever!?” (20 replies) — Loyalty to the camera as the D800 approached. “Fforbes” made the “arrow vs indian” argument for staying with D700 (^[74])
• “Happy with D700” (11 replies) — Jenny Huang’s showcase from Layang Layang using modified Nexus D200 (^[75])
• “Any ‘Buzz’ about D700 housings?” (6 replies) — Early housing discussion where “ryan” of Reef Photo warned against the 14-24mm underwater (^[76])

Timeline

• 2008-06-26: D700 rumors circulate from Engadget and Nikon France; Wetpixel forum members discuss possible D300 housing compatibility (^[77])
• 2008-07-01: Nikon officially announces the D700 at $2,999. Eric Cheng covers the announcement on Wetpixel, noting the same sensor as the D3 and DPReview’s D300/D700/D3 visual comparison. Forum discussion immediately begins about housing compatibility (^[78])
• 2008-08-03: Sam Chae takes D700 underwater in Nexus D200 housing at Anilao, Philippines — among the first underwater D700 images (^[79])
• 2008-09-12: Aquatica announces AD700 housing at $2,949 with new milled-aluminum construction, 300ft depth rating, bayonet port mount (^[80])
• 2008-09-23: Subal shows ND700 housing at Photokina 2008, alongside 254mm glass dome port and 45-degree viewfinder (^[81])
• 2008-10-22: DEMA 2008: Aquatica displays D700 housing with new milled design, inverted-V o-ring groove, magnetic diopters; Alex Mustard praises it (^[82])
• 2008-10-24: DEMA 2008: Subal shows D700 housing alongside 254mm glass dome port and 45-degree viewfinder ($1,530); Eric Cheng notes Subal has been sold (^[83])
• 2008-10-25: DEMA 2008: Ikelite announces D700 housing shipping next week at $1,600, alongside D90 and Canon 50D housings (^[84])
• 2008-10-28: DEMA 2008: Seacam announces D700 housing in development for Q1 2009, with new machined-aluminum design, titanium latch system, USB port (^[85])
• 2008-11-17: Alex Mustard publishes field review of D700 in Subal ND700, shot during Red Sea Photo Workshop on MV Blue Horizon (^[86])
• 2008-12-18: Berkley White confirms Nikon D3x fits in existing D3 housings from Subal and Sea & Sea (^[87])
• 2009-02-19: Sea & Sea announces MDX-D700 at ~$3,995, shipping March 2009 (^[88])
• 2009-07-20: Jenny Huang posts D700 showcase from Layang Layang and Mabu using modified Nexus D200 housing (^[89])
• 2009-12-21: Alex Mustard publishes first-year D700 gallery, citing high-ISO as the camera’s transformative feature for dark-water photography (^[90])
• 2010-03-02: Alex Mustard starts Nauticam D700 discussion thread on Wetpixel forums (^[91])
• 2010-03-17: Alex Mustard publishes Nauticam D700 field review from Australian waters, uploaded from Sydney Airport (^[92])
• 2010-08-19: Alex Mustard’s spider crab aggregation image, shot with D700 + Sigma 15mm in Subal housing, goes viral on Facebook with 70+ comments (^[93])
• 2012-02-20: With D800 launch imminent, Nikon confirms D700 will continue production. Community debates succession; “fforbes” declares loyalty to D700 (^[94])
• 2012-05-22: Nikon releases firmware update v1.03/v1.02 fixing rare underexposure issue (^[95])