Summary: Another voice in the chorus of praise.
Comment: Please allow me to add my voice to the already considerable chorus of praise that this camera has received. I have been using Nikon cameras since the days of film, and have owned the D100, D70, D200 and D300. I jumped at the chance to get the D700 for two main reasons: 1), the FX sensor took away the sometimes annoying multiplication factor for focal length, and 2) the wide acclaim this camera has received for operating with very low noise at high ISOs. The FX sensor has breathed new life into my considerable investment in Nikon glass over the years, and the low noise at high ISOs is nothing short of astonishing. I really don't like to shoot with flash (and I have tried everything from built-in flashes to various SB-800s set up with the Nikon CLS system), but with this camera I have been able to shoot indoors at night with low ambient light up to 6400 ISO and produced results that put my previous Nikon DSLRs to shame, with the exception of the D300 which was reasonably good in low light, but had the DX sensor/multiplication issue. Now a 50mm 1.4 lens really IS a 50mm 1.4 lens! Of course, it's not just the sensor and the FX format, it's also about your investment in glass! Nikon Professional Lenses turn this thing into a truly professional, beautiful tool. I have managed some amazing shots with my 50mm 1.4. Even at ISOs higher than 6400, using custom profiles that I post-processed with Noise Ninja software, I have managed to achieve clean, clear shots with very little chromatic noise in the shadows. It has to be seen to be believed. At one point I considered abandoning the Nikon platform in favor of the Canon 5D after having a chance to play around with one that a friend had, and I was especially intrigued by the 5D Mark II. Of course, that would have meant abandoning my investment in Nikon glass, but I was intrigued by the results my friend was getting, and also the higher pixel count. However, there are numerous discussions on the Web and elsewhere about the value of pixel count, and the 12mpx D700 generates super high quality images that withstand considerable enlargement, perhaps due to the favorable pixel density ratio. The controls are very similar to the D300, though it feels a little heavier and sturdier. It does have a somewhat disappointing CF flash flip-open door - the only 'cheap' detail on an otherwise premium body. The rear LCD is much brighter than the D300, and the new viewfinder is bright, clear and a joy to use. I love the virtual horizon feature which displays on the rear LCD. Just as a side note: I am a creative director, and I shoot semi-professionally for some of the projects I get involved in. I was responsible for the Adobe CS1 and CS2 creative suite and individual product packaging, and some of the flowers that appear in the Adobe Illustrator CS1 packaging were shot by me with my D100, what seems like an eternity ago... So I have had to shoot a lot of different subjects in widely variable conditions, and I have no doubt that my new D700 will handle whatever I throw at it! Now that FX sensor sizes appear to be within the grasp of what I would call 'affordable' DSLRs, there is a distinct possibility that the DX format (and maybe DX lenses) may not have such a long life span. This is worth considering as camera bodies are certainly an investment, but your investment in lenses is where the real money is, and in the long run may favor non-DX formats. Hope this is helpful!