The crops are taken from the original images, saved as High Quality JPEGs in Photoshop CS2 and presented here at 100%. Each number represents 100 lines per picture height (lpph), so a figure of 20 means a resolution of 2000 lpph.

Note: we performed this test with both Nikon bodies set to their base sensitivity of 200 ISO. We also repeated the test at 100 ISO, but the results were the same.

Fitted with the Nikkor AF 50mm f1.8 lens, the Nikon D700 resolved 2400 lpph of horizontal and vertical resolution. This score matches what we measured for the Nikon D300 equipped with the same lens (although note this is a higher figure than previously recorded for the D300 with the AF-S 17-55mm DX lens). The actual images delivered by both cameras with the same lens seen below also have a very similar appearance.

So from the results below, the full-frame D700 has no visible advantage over the cropped-frame D300 when using the 50mm f1.8 at the same low sensitivity. The real advantage of full-frame comes when shooting at higher sensitivities as you’ll see on the next two results pages.

We’ve also shown results from the Canon EOS 5D and Pentax K20D here, both cameras again scoring 2400 lpph, although with different characteristics. The Nikon samples look quite soft in comparison, especially compared to the crisp output of the EOS 5D. While there were differences in optics not to mention the sensor’s anti-aliasing filter, much of this is down to default image processing.

Shoot in RAW with the D700 and even with the default conversion settings you’ll end up with a much crisper result – scroll down to the bottom of this page to see an example, or head straight over to our Nikon D700 High ISO Noise results page where we’ll see how it performs across its sensitivity range next to the Canon EOS 5D and Nikon D300.