Nikon D70 w/ 18-70mm AF-S DX Nikkor Lens
Cameras Buying Guide
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March 16, 2005 08:03
4.5/5
I did a lot of homework comparing the D70 to the Canon Digital Rebel and the new 20D. The Rebel seemed too plasticky and had far fewer manual/creative controls; the 20D compared more closely, but I didn't find it worth another $500, which is saying a lot, because generally I am a Canon fan (I own an A70 that I love, and also a Canon printer). That said, I'm very pleased with the D70. It takes great photos in any mode; it tends to underexpose ever-so-slightly, but this is preferable than blowing out highlights. In any case, it's an easy fix either in-camera or with software.
<p>Even when compared to newer competition, the D70 seems to hold up well. The 8mp cameras out there aren't really much different detail-wise than the D70. I checked out the Fuji FinePix S3 with its gee-whiz sensor and was unimpressed, especially for $1500+ over the D70. The Canons are all excellent, and it's a toss-up between the D70 and 20D. Both offer some features the other doesn't, and I'd recommend you investigate both thoroughly to see what fits your needs. Same for the new Rebel XT, which looks like a winner, too.
<p>For my part, the D70 fit my needs well. Ergonomically I think it's superior to both Canons; all of the major functions--white balance, ISO, EV compensation, etc.--are one button-push or dial-click away (you don't have to wade through menus). It also fits my hand better than Canon, though that's a personal preference. I like the high flash sync speed (one of the few things in which Canon lags behind), which is great for action and fill-flash, especially outdoors. The white balance is generally very good even in auto mode, much better than Canon, actually. The metering system is just fantastic, though I wish the D70 had the Flexi-Zone AF more like Canon (the D70's AF zones are not placed well for composition purposes, IMO). Two seemingly small things I really like are the CR3 lithium battery holder (great if your rechargable battery goes bad and all you can find are regular camera batteries) and the plastic (and replaceable) LCD protector. I can't believe Canon doesn't offer something similar.
<P>The 18-70mm lens that comes with the kit is very good. It focuses very quickly and takes great pictures. It does show some pretty obvious barrel distortion at wide angle, but I can live with it. It's much better than the cheapo they throw in with the Digital Rebel, though it does cost quite a bit more.
<p>Overall, the D70 is a great camera that will make you forget about shooting film, unless you're into medium or large format. I'd encourage you to compare it closely with Canon and see what works best for you. Both take great pictures; it's a matter of what features are important to you and, more important, which one feels better in your hand and is more enjoyable to use. -
June 6, 2005 08:14
4.5/5
Hi,
I own an F100 (and an FM2n), with several AF and MF Nikkor lenses. My digital compact is a Sony S85 and just bought a Nikon D70 with the 18-70 lens. And I'm thrilled!
The F100 was the perfect extension to my photographic mind, I love it and it's the absolute best camera I've ever used (and I've used quite a few, among SLRs, medium format, compacts and compact digitals). BUT, since I bought the D70 I'll never use it again, unless someone makes a really good and affordable digital back for it!
I'm using my D70 since day one with the 2.0 firmware set, which was already available for a few days when I bought the camera, so I don't know how it's to use the D70 with previous versions of it's firmware set (mine came with 1.2 and 1.3 firmwares), but it's so great I couldn't let it go the first day I used it. My right hand got hurt from the ultra-heavy use in just 5 hours of index and thumb fingers - I took 500 pictures in this time period! Then I went do Barcelona, Spain, for 6 days and took 2200 pictures - I got NONE out of focus, underexposed or overexposed. I repeat: NONE, out of 2200. I took them all in P mode, which is the same flexible program I got in the F100, although in the F100 I always used aperture priority, because my lenses all have the aperture ring in the camera, which I prefer, so I used it always. But the P flexible program is almost the same, within the reach of the right thumb, so, no complaints, took 1/2 hour to get used to it.
It's image quality is really great up to ISO 800, and very usable at ISO 1600. It's colours are all beautiful and natural, plus you have three colour spaces to choose from (sRGB Ia, sRGB IIIa and AdobeRGB)!
It focuses (with the supplied 18-70) in a snap and really allows you to work as fast as you think, it's that great. Of course it helps to have a fast and large card (I have a 2 GB Hitachi microdrive).
And you can't believe the quality of the NEF (RAW) format sharpness and colours... but mainly the sharpness, which is perfect.
NOTE: You don't need to buy anything to take advantage of the RAW format! The supplied software is completely capable of converting your RAW images. Only if you want to take full advantage and have full manipulation capabilities of RAW images you have to buy extra software from Nikon.
In the end, believe me, the D70 is the best thing for any enthusiast and demanding photographer (not hardcore professional, for those there is the Dx line) since the F100
Cheers!
Fernando Martins -
April 30, 2005 07:49
3.0/5
I owned Nikon film cameras for years. I went digital and have been using a Sony DSC-S85 4MP camera for four years. I wanted more speed and flexibility and bought the D70. The feel and layout are much like my last film camera the Nikon F100. That camera was like an extention of my brain. After 10 days I sadly returned the D70. I loved the menus and feel and the bright view finder, but I tested it side by side against my Sony with at least 100 prints and the Sony consistantly produced better images in auto with no compensation. I could get close to the same quality of images with the Nikon only after considerable manipulations and adjustments. The Nikon cosistantly seemed to under expose images and the colors produced were not true. The Auto setting was bad so I used every combination available in program mode without seeing satisfactory and predictable results. The Sony goes down to 100 ISO, and to be fair I set it at ISO 200. The best pictures were by the Sony 98% of the time. I showed the prints to laymen and photographers and got the same opinion. I was very sad to return the Nikon. It reminds me of a beautiful wife who cheats on you, but you still don't want to let her go. The Sony is slow, but with the addition of a Tiffen .075 lens, my images were wider than the 28mm setting on the Nikon. The Sony built-in flash is so powerful it has to be turned down to keep it from over powering many scenes and the $100 Sony flash I have attached can be bounced and produces consistantly brilliant and shadowless images. In addition the Sony LCD instantly displays the results of exposure and white balance adjustments so I get a good image the first time rather that having to make adjustments after I preview a finished image as was the case with the Nikon. The F100 menus were very similar so I had no problems with the D70's set-up, but could not get a superior image. I am tempted to try one of the Canon DSLRs but they just don't have the same Nikon feel. The Sony went with me to Iraq and back and almost never failed to get me a good shot. I bought a second Sony from a pawn shop. The info lithium battery seems to last forever and it tells you battery life in minutes. The Nikon battery just died unexpectantly and the charger is huge. The sony battery charger fits in my shirt pocket. I guess I'll wait for a few more generations of DSLR camers to come and go and start shopping again.Updated
At the risk of sounding like a nut, I wish to revise my previous rating of the Nikon D-70. After returning the camera, and a brief trial of the Canon Rebel XT, I repurchased the D-70, and I am extremely satisfied. My first camera was bought at Best Buy. The repurchase was made at my local full service camera shop. I also did the firmware upgrade and started shooting exclusively in raw (NEF) mode. I dont know if my first machine was a lemon, or if the firmware made the difference, but I have outstanding shoots from San Francisco, Hawaii and in the Clinton Presidential Museum in Little Rock where no flash photography is permitted. It is difficult to take a bad shoot with the D-70. Mediocre shoots can be made exceptional with just a little touch-up in Photoshop. I did not have Photoshop when purchased the camera the first time. I also purchased the SB 600 flash, but in many situations when just a touch a fill flash is needed, the built-in flash does a good job. I use program mode most often and adjusting ISO, metering mode and / or flash settings, I can get a good shot 99.9% of the time. I hope my initial review didnt steer anyone in the wrong direction. My salesman shook my hand when I bought the camera and said, Welcome back . Its good to be back. -
September 1, 2004 11:19
4.5/5
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April 12, 2005 08:29
4.5/5
This is a comera that is easy to use for a beginer (point and shoot) and perfict for the advanced user. Manual exposure and focus are easy to use when auto just won't do what you want. -
April 6, 2005 09:34
4.5/5
The Nikon D70 is simply an amazing camera. Since buying this gem, I cannot and have not been able to put it down. This camera feels and handles so darn good, I just want to shoot all day long! The picture quality, especially using the D70's "vari-program" modes is fantastic. I have been shooting film cameras' since the late 70's. I own numerous Canon's and Minolta's. The Nikon D70 has made me a changed man and I am now a Nikonian for life! Get this camera! You will not be dissappointed! -
April 5, 2005 12:56
4.5/5
The D70 was extremely fast and responsive. The features are intuitive, and I am VERY happy with the image quality. I have printed 8x10 photos with great results.
The D70 does well with point-and-shoot, but really opens the creative doors with it's manifold capabilities. Unlike film SLRs, I can change the ISO from one picture to the next, and have extensive white balancing options.
Even when using point-and-shoot, this camera can shoot 3 images per second. With some digital cameras it may be 1-3 seconds per shot, which has caused me to miss many pictures.
You can spend a lot more for a decent Digital SLR, but for my money the D70 is a winner.
I looked seriously at this camera and the new Canon Rebel XT. The Rebel XT seemed to suffer from shutter lag and was uncomfortable in my hands.
I have owned film SLR cameras, and three digital point-and-shoot cameras. My film SLR broke several years ago and I have missed it terribly, but wanted to go digital.
I was just about ready to go back to film SLRs, until I tried this camera. -
May 15, 2005 07:03
5.0/5
Very high quality camera, especially for the price. This is almost a steal considering how point and shoot cameras are upwards of $500 now. No complaints at all after months of use. Image quality samples can be seen on my photoblog: http://shatteredabstracts.com.ru -
March 29, 2006 03:22
4.0/5
I love this camera! It's better than the D70S as it's a little smaller, cheaper and with the same functions. Ease of use,
the only thing better I think is a D200 which is heavier, quite pricey, eats up your batteries and your hard drive as well. Not for weekend photographers! -
January 31, 2006 08:13
4.5/5
I purchased my D70 in July 2004 in Singapore. This camera worked great for about 5 months before the auto focus started to go faulty. I sent the D70 to the repair faciliy in California but Nikon refused to honor the US warrantly because the camera was purchased in Singapore. I sent the camera to Nikon in Singapore but they did not repair the auto focus the 1st time. I sent the camera the second time to Nikon Singapore and they paid for the shipping and repair under warrantly. They replaced the CCD sensor and my camera Auto focus works properly. This camera is easy to use, has a great battery life and the pictures are sharp.
