Hello everyone. I am looking at buying the Nikon D70 camera so I was just wondering, does anyone have this camera? What do you think of it? Would you recomend it?
Hello everyone. I am looking at buying the Nikon D70 camera so I was just wondering, does anyone have this camera? What do you think of it? Would you recomend it?
Also, now is a great time to buy one. Nikon is offering a $200 rebate on the body and kit lens, which by te way is a great lens. Oh well to all of us who bought it earlier. Great camera, I love mine
I've had mine for about three months now, and I love it. Would I love a Canon as much, hmmm... I think I might just be in love with the DSLR experience, I don't have anything to compare it to.
What would I change about the camera?
ISO 200 is as low as it goes - I see friends with $400 cameras shooting at 50 ISO and I'm a little envious.
That's really my only complaint though. The controls I need all have slick little shortcuts that makes adjusting settings quick and easy on the fly. I've really learned to love the interface.
It was a ton to learn, I've shot around 3,000 exposures now, and I'm starting to get more of what I expect from the settings I use.
I bought mine because I had Nikon lenses. Then the first thing I did was buy new lenses. If I had to do it over again, I would test drive a Canon first just to see.
But remember, I love it. It's the best purchase I ever made, with the possible exception of the engagement ring I bought for my wife.
careful about those low prices. I got a great deal on mine, and I asked if it was grey-market. "Oh no, it's a real model" my salesman told me.
It's grey market. No downloads from Nikon, no warranty. I pressed them where I bought it, and they will send me a "white-market" body if I return mine and pay the shipping both ways. Now to find the two weeks I can stand to live without my camera...
Would have been worth it to spend the extra money in my opinion and know what I was getting is warrantied.
Its a great camera but very expensive to maintain. By this I mean that the inexpensive part is the camera itself and then you start feeling this urge to go out and buy lenses and other accesories and so on. Before you know it, you've spent a whole whack of cash because it becomes like a sickness. I think counselling is a good thing to look into before anyone buys one.
Good luck and see you at the group therapy sessions.
Yup! Stick to reputable stores. If you find a "too good to be true" price, call up the store and ask them if they are a Nikon Authorized Dealer.
That's what I did for A&M. The guy said yeah and hung up on me.
(hang up on you is a bad thing)
A good thing to do would be to go to a local camera shop and ask to try out the cameras that are in your price range right at the shop. Aviod places like Best Buy because then you have a security cord connected to the camera. Those tend to get in the way.
Now that you have many opinions here is mine. If you can afford just a little more buy the Canon 20D. I have both the Nikon D70 and Canon 20D. I am using the Canon 20D a whole lot more.
Reasons:
1. Faster 5FPS compared to the Nikon D70 which lags behind at 3FPS.
2. There is no vertical grip on the Nikon D70.
3. The Nikon D70 does not come with a battery grip for additional battery power.
4. I have shot over 1200 photos in 3.5 hrs with my Canon 20D on one day, while I covered the Pasadena Rose Parade.
5. Image wise the Nikon D70 creates great quality photos without too much fussing with WB.
6. The Canon 20D, needs lots of TLC and tweeking of WB and Contrast.
7. The Canon also shoots in Black and White. I thought that this would not matter, but it takes beautiful B/W images and even has internal color filters.
8. The Canon 20D body is made of sturdy-magnesium alloy, unlike the hard plastic body of the Nikon D70.
9. I had to return my first Nikon D70, the AF would not work.
10. My Canon works fine, except for misfiling some images in the wrong folder.
So in summary, I would go with the Canon 20D. For now its the best camera money can buy. Good luck...
So in summary, I would go with the Canon 20D. For now its the best camera money can buy..........
That is a bit of a stretch. It all depends on the $ you have to spend. Buying any DSLR means you have many more expenses ahead of you. Lenses are the big ticket item and you will want more once you get into it. You might want to look at a prosumer camera to start with. It will keep you quite happy and busy for some time and you can keep your costs down to well under a $1,000. That will not happen with a DSLR. Good luck. Oh, and BTW - try looking here for camera reviews:
Now that you have many opinions here is mine. If you can afford just a little more buy the Canon 20D. I have both the Nikon D70 and Canon 20D. I am using the Canon 20D a whole lot more.
Reasons:
1. Faster 5FPS compared to the Nikon D70 which lags behind at 3FPS.
2. There is no vertical grip on the Nikon D70.
3. The Nikon D70 does not come with a battery grip for additional battery power.
4. I have shot over 1200 photos in 3.5 hrs with my Canon 20D on one day, while I covered the Pasadena Rose Parade.
5. Image wise the Nikon D70 creates great quality photos without too much fussing with WB.
6. The Canon 20D, needs lots of TLC and tweeking of WB and Contrast.
7. The Canon also shoots in Black and White. I thought that this would not matter, but it takes beautiful B/W images and even has internal color filters.
8. The Canon 20D body is made of sturdy-magnesium alloy, unlike the hard plastic body of the Nikon D70.
9. I had to return my first Nikon D70, the AF would not work.
10. My Canon works fine, except for misfiling some images in the wrong folder.
So in summary, I would go with the Canon 20D. For now its the best camera money can buy. Good luck...
Some responses to your bullets
#1. I'd like the D70 to be a bit faster, but unless you are shooting action sports, it's a rather moot point.
#2. There is an aftermarket grip being developed by Harbortronics, if it is an absolute necessity for you. I shoot a lot of vertical portraits adn really don't care about not having it.
#3. You don't need it. Battery life on the D70 is unbelievable. I've shot an entire wedding plus a couple days of piddling. Recently, I shot a supercross event, another night of motorcross practice photos, plus another evening of odd snapshots on a used battery before it started to run down. Battery life is NOT an issue with this camera.
#4. I've shot hundreds of photos during a day covering weddings and model portfolio shoots.
#5. I agree the auto-WB is rather good. Not perfect by any means.
#6. can't comment
#7. I personally prefer to shoot in color and then convert to B&W. That way you have both versions available.
#8. The D70 body is a rather sturdy composite with a nice rubberized coating that makes it really comfortable to grip.
#9. No problems with mine and I've had it for close to a year.
#10. Never experienced this.
Not so sure about that last comment there. :) I know the D70 definately isn't the "best" camera money can buy. The D2X might be up there though. :)
Try them all out, read the reviews, and pick the one you like the best. Nikon and Canon are both great cameras.
I love mine. Got it from Butterfly Photo. Battery life is unbelievable. ANY DSLR is going to cause you to spend lots more on lenses & accessories. That's not an issue exclusive to the D70.
Whatever you decide to buy, take your time making the decision. You'll be spending a large amount of money. We look forward to seeing your pictures on DPC!
Been shooting the D70 for almost 10 months now. After nearly 20,000 trouble free frames I can say it is a very acceptable camera that will do most anything you ask it to do with the correct lens on it. I have been quite pleased with it.
The only knock I have for it is that it only goes to ISO 200 which means it does not perform quite as well in low light unless you add a faster lens. I now shoot a Tamaron 28-75 f/2.8 in low light with it and am finally happy with the results and the 80-400 VR (cost more then the dang camera) does a great job for sports, wildlife and covering events or candids where you just can't get in close.
Unless you already have an investment in lenses, I would consider the Digital Rebel XT with the kit lens. At $999.99, you are getting more camera for less money as compared to the Nikon D70.
Also remember that with a higher-megapixel camera, you will need a larger memory card. A 1 GB Compact Flash card will cost about $97 (for an Ultra II card, slower cards will be a little less expensive, but at the expense of speed).
Unless you already have an investment in lenses, I would consider the Digital Rebel XT with the kit lens. At $999.99, you are getting more camera for less money as compared to the Nikon D70.
I haven't read anything about the XT. Is it less dumbed down compared to the 300?
Unless you already have an investment in lenses, I would consider the Digital Rebel XT with the kit lens. At $999.99, you are getting more camera for less money as compared to the Nikon D70.
I haven't read anything about the XT. Is it less dumbed down compared to the 300?
There are already reviews all over the internet on the new Canon 350D or Rebel XT. Try this Canon 350 XT Review
When I started looking at the DSLR I considered the 300D the D70 and the 20D. I looked long and hard and went with the D70 and I don't regret it one bit.
It bounces rolls on hard pavment, drops from 1 m onto carpet and hasn't got a scratch. Oh yeah it also takes great photos.
I have not looked into the new Digital Rebel XT so you may want to consider that as well.
Don't forget your buying into a system because all your lense etc will go with you to any upgrades later. Its a tough choice, it might just be what you can get a better deal on.
When I started looking at the DSLR I considered the 300D the D70 and the 20D. I looked long and hard and went with the D70 and I don't regret it one bit.
It bounces rolls on hard pavment, drops from 1 m onto carpet and hasn't got a scratch. Oh yeah it also takes great photos.
I have not looked into the new Digital Rebel XT so you may want to consider that as well.
Don't forget your buying into a system because all your lense etc will go with you to any upgrades later. Its a tough choice, it might just be what you can get a better deal on.
