Nikon D70

[gypsy77360]

About to take the digital plunge .
Any new owners of D70 out there ?

:scratch

[wxwax]

Not me, but it sounds like a kick-ass camera, and in ways it's better than the Canon 300D.

[fish]

Not me, but it sounds like a kick-ass camera, and in ways it's better than the Canon 300D.
$300 better. :nod

[rutt]

The common wisdom is that if you already own some lenses for eitehr Canon or Nikon, buy that compatible body. If don't have a lens already, I think Canon is at this point a little more complete system with more options. (But Nikon has a very nice flash that's designed for digital...) That's why so many people on this forum have Canon. If you get really into it, like many of us, you will end up with lenses worth more than the body, and the lenses will last a lifetime. That is very unlikely to be true of digital camera bodies bought now; they are likely to be obsolete in 5 years.

[gypsy77360]

The common wisdom is that if you already own some lenses for eitehr Canon or Nikon, buy that compatible body. If don't have a lens already, I think Canon is at this point a little more complete system with more options. (But Nikon has a very nice flash that's designed for digital...) That's why so many people on this forum have Canon. If you get really into it, like many of us, you will end up with lenses worth more than the body, and the lenses will last a lifetime. That is very unlikely to be true of digital camera bodies bought now; they are likely to be obsolete in 5 years.

I agree , already own some nice Nikon lenses --- need a digital to keep from the film/develop/process to digital loop.
Am interested in hearing from actual D70 user..

[gypsy77360]

Purchased D70 kit today along w/ 256mb CF card and card reader. Had to work tonight so I'm sittin here reading the manual.
This camera is as complicated as Chinese arithmetic.
Three Li. CR2 batteries added another $30 which I opted not to spend.Figure to wait till tomorrow and charge the batt..........
Seems all my other lenses will work
Seems SB-28 flash will work also (though not in TTL ?)
Will see how images flow from CF card -- reader---USB 2 ---Mac iPhoto--file ---PS Elements
Will try and get some up to Smugmug by this weekend

[fish]

Purchased D70 kit today along w/ 256mb CF card and card reader. Had to work tonight so I'm sittin here reading the manual.
This camera is as complicated as Chinese arithmetic.
Three Li. CR2 batteries added another $30 which I opted not to spend.Figure to wait till tomorrow and charge the batt..........
Seems all my other lenses will work
Seems SB-26 flash will work also (though not in TTL ?)
Will see how images flow from CF card -- reader---USB 2 ---Mac iPhoto--file ---PS Elements
Will try and get some up to Smugmug by this weekend

Congrats gypsy! I'm anxious to see your shots and hear how you like it. I *almost* waited for it, but opted for the 10D instead for instant gratification a while back.

[Deacon]

Test ran a demo D70 a couple of weeks ago and found it to be a very easy to use and comfortable feel in my hands. It is much lighter than the D1x or D2h and has nearly all the features. I understand reading the manual and re read mine every few weeks, but the basic program modes work very well and you can count on the product.

Once you recover from the original expense, give the new sb800 flash serious consideration. It works wonderfully and really compliments the camera. Very flexible and progammable as well. TTL and many other features, you can add a 5th battery for much quicker recycle times as well.

Lets see some stuff! :clap

Deacon

[fish]

I would like to take this opportunity to shout a hearty FO to all the naysayers who said the D70 wasn't going to be out until the Fall. Half of the reason I bought the Canon was because it was readily available (actually, it went on backorder shortly after I bought mine) and was a great dSLR. I would have rather bought the D70 and been able to use my Nikkor glass. So :flip...I hope you're happy with yourselves. :flip



That said, I'm anxious to go see one at the store and check it out. The D100 just didn't feel right in my hands, so I'm curious as to what the D70 is like. No, I'm not going to sell my 10D, 70-200/4L, 100mm/2.8, 28-75/2.8, or 550EX so :nono

[Matthew Saville]

It's an incredible camera; I've shot maybe 500 frames thus far. Just a quick note, the low noise at ISO 1600 is sweet, and the 3 fps is even sweeter. Even with my microdrive I can blast a couple dozen frames of fine JPG in a single burst, and if you have a high speed solid state CF, you're supposed to be able to hit 3 fps until your card is full. I had a microdrive, so I needed a big buffer- the D70 is for me. I've had the camera for maybe thirty + hours, and I pretty much understand everything or know where everything is, so it's user friendly for sure... I haven't a good enough lens to do any real official advising, but I guess you went ahead and bought it anyways hehe... If anybody's on the fence about a DSLR, I'd say if you have any stockpile of nikkors, go with the D70! It is an incredible camera. The 300D is incredible too, but in perspective, the D70 is more like the D100 than the 300D is like the 10D. Either way you go, you will be delighted; both the D70 and the 300D have their advantages and their disadvantages, but as for me the D70's advantages were what I wanted:

-turns on instantly
-awesome performance at high ISO
-RAW + JPG images

Some things I've had a hassle with thus far:

-New Nikon software is weird about reading NEF files, must download upgrade and I think pay $99 if you want some full version of some software.
-Ruckus about moire, but I have yet to see any. But I'm shooting a wedding tomorrow, we'll see how that goes.
-Images might be consistently under exposed, I'm not sure. Probably just the fact that it was terribly overcast and I was trying to shoot at high shutter speeds.

But don't listen to me, just watch my galleries for pictures!


http://matthewsaville.smugmug.com/photos/3218318-S.jpg
http://matthewsaville.smugmug.com/gallery/63231/1/3218318/Original

http://matthewsaville.smugmug.com/photos/3208508-S.jpg
http://matthewsaville.smugmug.com/gallery/63237/1/3208508/Original
http://matthewsaville.smugmug.com/photos/3193249-M.jpg
http://matthewsaville.smugmug.com/gallery/63284/1/3193249/Original

[HarveyMushman]

What little financial discipline I have is weakening . . .

[cletus]

What little financial discipline I have is weakening . . .
I know what you mean! But here is what would happen to me:

Ok I can now afford a D70... but it's only a couple hundred more to step up to the D100... and if I'm going to shell out the money for a D100 I might as well go ahead and spend a bit more and get a D2H... but then again, the D2X should be out sometime soon...

The next thing you know I'm giving thought to buying a new medium format camera and a $20k, 20MP+ digital back.

[HarveyMushman]

I know what you mean! But here is what would happen to me:

Ok I can now afford a D70... but it's only a couple hundred more to step up to the D100... and if I'm going to shell out the money for a D100 I might as well go ahead and spend a bit more and get a D2H... but then again, the D2X should be out sometime soon...

The next thing you know I'm giving thought to buying a new medium format camera and a $20k, 20MP+ digital back.
My sickness is clearly not as developed as yours. :D

If I ever find myself in a position where I'm selling pictures, than I would entertain the idea of a pro-level camera. Until then, the D70 will do just fine thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to return to the "discussion" I'm having with my wife. :deal

[gypsy77360]

My sickness is clearly not as developed as yours. :D

If I ever find myself in a position where I'm selling pictures, than I would entertain the idea of a pro-level camera. Until then, the D70 will do just fine thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to return to the "discussion" I'm having with my wife. :deal
Still working nite shift--- off on Sat. @ 0730. Will be able to play with camera then...
BTW , did not ask/tell wifey ....hopes she doesn't notice the difference in Nikons .......and mistakes it for my other one.

[patch29]

The next thing you know I'm giving thought to buying a new medium format camera and a $20k, 20MP+ digital back.


I am just waiting for the day I can buy a Fuji 680 with a full frame portable digital back. That will be an impressive setup, now if they can only make it soon and keep the cost down. :deal

[JohnR]

I got the D70 about 2 weeks ago when it first came out. I love it! This is my first SLR-type camera.

BTW, this is a great site!

[gypsy77360]

More to follow "P" no flashhttp://gypsy77360.smugmug.com/photos/3246677-M.jpg
http://gypsy77360.smugmug.com/photos/3246390-M.jpg
on "P" w/ adj for flourescent lites
http://gypsy77360.smugmug.com/photos/3246629-M.jpg
On "P" w/ no adj.http://gypsy77360.smugmug.com/photos/3246925-M.jpg

[gypsy77360]

http://gypsy77360.smugmug.com/photos/3277290-M.jpg
http://gypsy77360.smugmug.com/photos/3277886-M.jpg

will try to get out and do some more....
working on bike project tomorrow

[gypsy77360]

Since purchasing this camera , I have been short of time to sit down and read up on software that came with it , or for that matter even get out and shoot some daylight shots. From what my Mac has been able to do with iPhoto and Photoshop Elements , I'm not sure I even need to load it.
:dunno

[cletus]

Since purchasing this camera , I have been short of time to sit down and read up on software that came with it , or for that matter even get out and shoot some daylight shots. From what my Mac has been able to do with iPhoto and Photoshop Elements , I'm not sure I even need to load it.
:dunno Yep...

I've taken a bunch of shots with my father's D100 but I've never bothered to load any of the Nikon Software. Now that PS-CS has the built-in camera RAW plug-in I've found 0 need for the stuff that Nikon provides.

By the way, those are some good looking shots! :thumb

[cletus]

I am just waiting for the day I can buy a Fuji 680 with a full frame portable digital back. That will be an impressive setup, now if they can only make it soon and keep the cost down. :deal
I don't think it will ever happen. What will happen instead is that the current generation of 20 MP backs will get phased out and replaced with new 30-40 MP backs which will sell at the exact same prices as the current stuff. This trend will continue until they get to some astronomical pixel count that even the marketing people realize is over-kill. Then they'll start increasing bit depth for more colors or come out with a new type of sensor that greatly reduces noise. The end result is that the pro-level stuff stays at the same price, it just constantly gets better.

On the other hand, I never thought we would see a 6MP SLR for under $1k...

[patch29]

I don't think it will ever happen. What will happen instead is that the current generation of 20 MP backs will get phased out and replaced with new 30-40 MP backs which will sell at the exact same prices as the current stuff. This trend will continue until they get to some astronomical pixel count that even the marketing people realize is over-kill. Then they'll start increasing bit depth for more colors or come out with a new type of sensor that greatly reduces noise. The end result is that the pro-level stuff stays at the same price, it just constantly gets better.

On the other hand, I never thought we would see a 6MP SLR for under $1k...

It is still a great thought and one I am sure Fuji knows they can gain market share with if they can go FF in the 680, we can hope.

[patch29]

dpreview.com just posted their full review of the D70 and some comparison photos to other similar cameras.

D70 review (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond70/)

[wxwax]

Oh wow. This is sounding like a fantastic camera. Dear oh dear.

# Excellent resolution and sharpness, seems better than EOS 300D / EOS 10D
# Neutral color balance, 'Nikon like' (tuned towards skin tones)
# Good clean sharpening algorithm leaves almost no 'halo' artifacts
# Low noise even at high sensitivities, noise appears more monochromatic (film like)

Especially the bit about low noise at high ISO's.

[dkapp]

I just got my D70 tonight. Do any of the current owners have any hints/tips for me?

I've been playing with the camera the last hour or so, and it seems pretty easy to navigate. I've even put on a custom curve to test out tomorrow.

Thanks for any advice,
Dave

[gus]

I would have rather bought the D70 and been able to use my Nikkor glass. So :flip...I hope you're happy with yourselves. :flip




Dood ...is Nikon fitting glass any cheaper than the one for $5K we were talking about the other day ?

Finding this out was a real downer to me...without forking out on a few decent lens's its a bit like driving a ferrari in traffic !

[jd34]

thinking of buying the D70 or Rebel..........I bought two D70's, one a kit with the 18-70 lens. Fantastic cameras. Can keep shooting almost forever till your card fills up. I sell alot of cameras at the shop and find the nikon better than the canon. Many tests are out now and show the resolution better than the canon and also better than the canon 10D.

1/500 of a second flash sync is a plus when shooting outside and you need fill flash....................Instant startup..............Raw plus JPEG(not embedded like the canon) is great for weddings.............

Anyone considering it better buy now.............it takes our camera shop up to 5 weeks to get another D70 on the shelf from nikon............They are hot and flying fast....................

[jd34]

try a custom setting with sharpness up one............great camera.....have two now myself.I just got my D70 tonight. Do any of the current owners have any hints/tips for me?

I've been playing with the camera the last hour or so, and it seems pretty easy to navigate. I've even put on a custom curve to test out tomorrow.

Thanks for any advice,
Dave

[ExactImage]

Yes I have one....3 fps, 1/500 sink, great controls I would rate it above my S2

[HarveyMushman]

http://harveymushman.smugmug.com/photos/4432563-M.jpg

What little financial restraint I possess was no match in the end. Lookin' forward to learnin' a whole lot more than I now know. :thumb

[wxwax]

:clap Woo Hoo! Way to go Tim! Congratulations on yer new cam. It's a financial rat hole, but don't worry about that! You just got yourself one sweet camera.



Nigritude Ultramarine (http://nigritude-ultramarine.smugmug.com/)

[dkapp]

I found that buying the cam was the cheap part. Now comes the fun. I've had to buy some new lenses, software, extra storage (cd's & external drive). Now I'm shopping for a faster computer. I have a PowerBook G4 667 & Nikon Capture is a dog on this thing. I think it may be more of a problem with the software than my laptop, but the girlfriend bought the excuse!!!

Now I just need to find that rich uncle I've never met, or easier yet...win the lottery. :)

Dave

[wxwax]

Harv, I've been buying lenses, and had good luck buying used lenses. It ain't cheap, but it is a savings over a new lens - often a few hundred dollars. I've bought five lenses, and only one of them was not in the condition I'd hoped. Even so, the wear was cosmetic, and I didn't ask the right questions. All the others are indistinguishable from new, IMHO.

In case you're interested, here are the sites that I visited. Good stuff goes fast, so you have to get in the mode of checking every few hours, at a minimum! At most, you'll have to register to PM or get their e-mail info.



Fred Miranda Buy & Sell Forum. (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/10)
Easily the best, and by far the busiest and most competitive. Usually (but not universally) very trustworthy. Good experiences. Very self-policing, almost obnoxiously so, but that helps the buyer.



Photo.net Classifieds. (http://www.photo.net/gc/domain-multi)
Lots of new listings. Not user friendly, kinda messy interface. No responses allowed to ads. You have to register to reach the seller, unless they put contact info in their messgae body. Divided into a main forum (make sure you click on "Sort by Original Posting date" to get the latest) and sub-forums below that. Lotsa gear, but a bit of work. I've bought stuff through it, and it's worked out fine. But make sure you ask all the right questions!


Rob Galbraith's The Trading Post. (http://www.robgalbraith.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB34)
Much slower than the above two. Again, you have to register to get info. Rarely, something will show-up here that isn't also listed at the other two sites. But always worth a visit - almost got a 1D body for $2100. I saw the ad a few hours too late. :cry



SportsShooter.com Classifieds. (http://www.sportsshooter.com/classifieds.html)
Busy at times, slow at times. You will see stuff here that doesn't show elsewhere. This one's more of a community, it's not unusual to see a seller only wanting to sell to a Sport Shooter member. And to join, it seems you have to have a true photographic affiliation. As usual, some ads are cross posted elsewhere. Never bought anything here, but the ads seem honest. It appears that no responses are allowed to the ads.




In addition, you might also do a search for Nikon forums in Google. I did the same for Canon, found a Canon specific site with a buy/sell forum. It wasn't very busy. You never know, though. :dunno

I personally steer clear of eBay. For Canon lenses, I never saw any bargains. I did see a lot of excessively high bids. Just not worth it, IMHO. Far better to make contact with an individual seller.

Nigritude Ultramarine (http://nigritude-ultramarine.smugmug.com/)

[HarveyMushman]

In case you're interested, here are the sites that I visited. Good stuff goes fast, so you have to get in the mode of checking every few hours, at a minimum! At most, you'll have to register to PM or get their e-mail info.

Thanks, Sid. I'll bookmark 'em and start browsing regularly. I'm not sure what I'd buy yet though, so I'm going to play with the camera for awhile, using the lenses I have, and try to figure out what sort of lens would meet my needs.

BTW, I've reached the same conclusions as you with regard to eBay. I just don't see any real deals.

[wxwax]

:nod A sensible solution. :thumb We'll see how long your resolve can last. :evil Which lenses do you have now? And you do realize this means we have to go to the track and do some shooting, yes? Today I bought Patch's used 1D because his mkII ship finally came in. I am now loaded for bear. :wink

[HarveyMushman]

:nod A sensible solution. :thumb We'll see how long your resolve can last. :evil Which lenses do you have now? And you do realize this means we have to go to the track and do some shooting, yes? Today I bought Patch's used 1D because his mkII ship finally came in. I am now loaded for bear. :winkI have the Nikkor 18-70mm/3.5-4.5 that the D70 Outfit includes, plus a Nikkor 50mm/1.8, Nikkor 35-80mm/4-5.6, and a Quantaray (?) 70-210mm/4-5.6. Nothing special, obviously, but I figure they are capable of more than I at the moment so there's no need to spend big bucks. Yet. :D

As for shootin' at the track, you bet. :thumb I'm anxious to try the 70-210 telezoom at the track actually, partly to see how the D70's 1.5x magnification factor affects things.