First photo is the straight-out-of-camera (SOOC) JPG, second photo is from the RAW version, processed in Camera RAW (adjustments for exposure, highlights, and shadows for all, except for the last image, where I reduced the yellow cast).
difference: darker shadows
difference: higher contrast
difference: more vibrance in the reds
diggerence: more vibrance in the shadows
difference: none
differnce: darker, overall
difference: darker overall, lower highlights
difference: lifted detail in the shadows
difference:brighter highlights
difference: deeper shadows
difference: darker, more contrast
I processed the RAW files to my liking, ending up with files that were really only lighter/darker/contrastier than the SOOC JPG files. It would seem that SOOC JPGS from the Nikon D700 are useable straight out of the camera, setnng the EV comp to -0.3, colour profile to VIVID, and in general, exposing to avoid clipping the highlights.
