1/10 sec, f2.8, ISO 3200, 17mm

This past weekend I was able to put the Nikon D700 through its paces in a challenging environment: Luxy Club in Woodbridge. The event was City Gala, which featured a fashion show and live musical performances in a very, very dark club, peppered with the usual assortment of coloured spotlights, seizure-inducing strobes, and other flashing nonsense typical of clubs everywhere.

1/4 sec, f4, ISO 1600, 17mm w/flash

Six hundred exposures later, I can tell you the camera performed extremely well. It focused quickly and without trouble in the dim light and I was able to fire off multiple bursts with ease, which is how I captured the above shot of Ashley and her friend dancing.

1/400 sec, f1.8, ISO 3200, 85mm

Most of my shots were done at ISO 1600 and 3200, although I also tried a few at ISO 6400 and was amazed at the results. The photos looked better than my Nikon D200 produces at ISO 1600. The D700 paired with the 85mm f/1.4 basically creates light where there is none. Scenes that were exceptionally dark to my eyes came alive on the LCD screen, bringing out detail that I couldn’t even see in the dark club. Amazing!

Model above is my fabulous sister Kirsten Visima, doing what she does best.