Nikon D70, 6.1 Megapixel, SLR, Digital Camera Body

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

A very solid and reliable performer. Color balance and reproduction are superb even with the low megapixels structure compared to the norm today.

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

When people write reviews, I noticed that they are limited by their knowledge and experience, it is very true in digital photography, this is the thing, if you don't have enough knowledge in digital processing, please don't blame the camera!!The D70 in the hands of a good digital photographer is the best value in the market!! It will knock the best film camera out , I use it for paid portraiture, weddings, all clients are happy, i do 20x30 prints with DETAILS, I sold my Hassy, and I am getting 2 more bodies!! Again if you get Photoshop the way you are suppose to, your dark room days are over, I love it and I can write a song about it, tough?? yes it is, I don't need to fight with it, mode dial is the weakest part, hopefully Nikon guys will replace it with one that locks up.

Problems Encountered: The mode dial can change accidentally every-time you touch it, you may use manual setting, a click of a thumb will turn it to Program for instance.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: d100, n90s. F5, lots of digital Fujis and Canons.

Items I Recommend: any DX lens definitely, enjoy Nikon optics, don't go cheap(sigma and all those guys).

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

The image quality is good. Film with theF100 is better...much better. that said, if you have a labscratch your film, develop it wrong (causing it to loosecontrast) which is very common , then digital would beatit. I really like it, though. Detail , and shadow depth areweak. Would not do paid portrait or wedding type work. Itjust is missing too much. 1600 ISO is nice for fun,however, it looks awful. Not worth it except to do someartsy fun stuff. 12x18 prints are impressive. I do see adifference between film (F100), better, and digital D70.Buy it. Invest in the sb 800 and a two prime lens. ( The 501.8 is 109, ) Extra batt is a good idea, the new 1500 milli amp is amazing.

Problems Encountered: No problems. The depth preview is clunky and awkward to getto. 95% viewing is a problem and annoying. A bit slow on autofocus ... same lens on the F100 is faster.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: F100 (is this equivalent ? )

Items I Recommend: sb 800, fast prime lens (always better) not a zoom, a 1500 milli. batt. (way better)

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I've had my D70 for one year, I've been slow to warm up to digital, but this camera has just amazed me with its speed, its ease of use.I have been shooting Nikons for 17 yrs, and the last year with the D70 has improved my photography so much. My lens of choice is Nikons 24x120vr, and 180 2.8 I'm looking to back my D70 with a D70s and Tokina 12x24, I don't have much talent for the printing of my digital photos, but I'm learning and my photos with my D70 don't need a lot of work.

Problems Encountered: none

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: F100, F3hp, and currently FE2

Items I Recommend: Fast VR Nikons

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

This camera from the box is just amazing. The colors it can produce are good but then again can be better, but you can get better color in a higher end DSLR. I bought this camera along with the Sigma Lens Kit which includes the 28-80, and the 70-300 which are really good but I am planning to buy the28-200 Sigma lens that gives you more versatility. The body is very sturdy and a friend of mine has fallen down with his about 3 times(has owned it for a year) and no problems have occurred. The ISO is great and you can use it on Auto or just have the Auto setting off to get better results when used correctly. Also the Shutter speed is awesome its fast enough to capture great sports shots and you can get good results on the Manual and Program settings. The presets on the dial aren't bad but sometimes you wont get the picture you want and that's why you can use the Program mode that dictates the Shutter speed and Aperture. Great Camera in my book! Soon to get the D2x and looking forward to it!

Problems Encountered: NONE

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon's

Items I Recommend: SB 800 Flash, 28-200 Sigma lens

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I bought my D70 after months of reading and comparing. This is my jump, as with many pro photogs, from film to reality. I use mine for studio portraits and I am more than happy with the results I have been able to get from this camera. I bought it right before the D2X hit the streets and I plan to pick one of those up as well. Once I do this camera will be a kickin' back up body as well as an easy to use money maker in the hands of an assistant on locations and wedding shoots. I have printed as large as 24x30 and every detail is clear and sharp (even when images are cropped down). In the six months I have owned this camera and two lenses, I have been able to pay off the investment 10 times over. You can not go wrong with this Even people who have limited camera knowledge will be able to get excellent results with ease. I love this camera and compared to the Phase One backs I have shot in the past, you can get 20 of these for the same $$$ and achieve results that will make you the envy of all your friends and foes. Do it...you know you want it...you wont be sorry.

Problems Encountered: None with the body, but with my 18-70 DX I get lens hood shadow when pulled all the way back. It is something I have to keep my eye on but have not lost any shots because of it.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: N70

Items I Recommend: 70-300 lens, extra battery, kickin' cpu

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I bought this camera to replace a Fuji S602 zoom digital camera, the difference in image quality is as good as i was expecting (hoping!). I didn't get the kit lens, I bought the body and the Tokina 24-200 ATX lens to give me an effective 35mm equivalent of 36-300mm, my requirement was to have at least the same zoom range as my old cam (36-210 I think) as I wasn't going to get another lens soon. It does sometimes underexpose (maybe 1 in 10?), can fix that in photoshop though. Updated firm ware, I'm not good enough to notice the difference in performance though, except the look of the menus etc.I do a lot of low light shots, so i use high ISO's, much much better than my old fuji, and you can see the noise reduction work on long exposures. If using shorter exposures there is some noise but its OK.Generally awsome camera with a lot of functions. The autofocus and shooting speed is quite good. It will certainly keep me happy for a wee while! I really like the build quality of the camera and the Tokina lens is well built too, I read a lot about this lens and I does produce generally nice pictures, if you really look for it you can see slight distortions at the extremes of the zoom range and it takes a little longer to focus at 200mm or in low light (to be expected though), all around very versatile lens, have no trouble recommending it as a travel lens or first/only lens.The image quality is better than any point and shoot cam I have owned or used.... only reason I would ever get another one of those is small size!

Problems Encountered: None yet (touch wood!!)

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Fuji S602 (not equivalent but still!)

Items I Recommend: the usual, big CF card, and decent lenses!

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

My only quarrel with the D70 is that, like all SLR's, it isset up to be convenient only for right-handed people, notlefties.There is a school of thought that says that cameras don'tmatter, they are just something to hang the lens on. TheD70 is a fine camera but it is just a camera. The Nikon VR(Vibration Reduction) lenses on the other hand arewonderful. They are also whompingly expensive, with oneexception starting at well over a thousand dollars and goingup sharply from there. The exception is the 24-120mm VRlens which B&H sells for around $500. With the D70 1.55magnification ratio, that is the equivalent of 36- 185mm. That covers moderately wide to reasonably long telephoto. The VR feature enables one to shoot between 2.5 to 3 stopslonger exposures and still get sharp pictures than withoutVR. That makes VR lenses by far the fastest glass Nikonsells. The f/3.5 - f/5.6 24-120 functions as though it weref/1.2 - f/2. The lens' only shortcoming is that it has nomacro feature.The 18-70mm kit lens I bought for $300 with the D70 mainlystays home.

Problems Encountered: The built in flash didn't work. Had to take it to Nikon tofix it.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Canon SRT101 (1970's SLR)

Items I Recommend: definitely get the 24-120mm VR lens instead of a kit.

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

The camera is great for what I use it for I use it to takeproducts in our surf shop. I also use it to take pictures ofour surf camp. I put The pictures on our web site It worksgreat.

Problems Encountered: none

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon N75 and a Nikon 6006s

Items I Recommend: Sigma18-50 DC lens and a Nikon EN-El3

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

Despite what Nikon says, this camera will sync with non-dedicated flashes at 1/3000 of a second! I've shot outdoor portraits into the sun with a Sunpak 544 for fill and you can actually tone down the sky. This camera is a terrific buy for the money. My D2X's only noteworthy advantage is the resolution.

Problems Encountered: None

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: D2X, D100

Items I Recommend: 85mm 1.8 AFD

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I tried my friend's Nikon D70, as usual the optics are amazing.The Camera is amazing!!! Nothing like film, but still the best digital ever.!

Problems Encountered: None, very easy to use

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon FG

Items I Recommend: SB-800 Flash and filters and lenses according to use.

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I was a Minolta Maxxum user from winter 1987 through Nov. 2004, when I purchased my Nikon D70. Having tired of waiting for the ever-coming Maxxum 7D, I jumped ship to the Nikon system of digital SLRs, and am I happy I did. When comparing the D70 with a 50mm f/1.4 D AF lens to the Maxxum 9 with a 50mm f/1.4 AF lens, the D70 not only focuses and tracks faster, but more accurately than the Maxxum 9. The D70 AE system also yields better and more consistant results than does the Maxxum 9. The flash system results are so far apart that they don't even deserve comparison, its enough to say the D70 rocks the Maxxum 9's world. The one (and only) advantage the Maxxum 9 has over the D70 is the ease in setting up off-camera remote wireless flash. I paid $900 (after $100 rebate) for my D70, its now available for $780 (without a rebate). What a steal! I was very happy to sell all my Maxxum gear on eBay, and, after raising about $5000 from that enterprise, purchased a very nice Nikon digital SLR system which included the D70, 4 lenses, an SB-800 flash, 2GB 80x Lexar CF card, and various accessories, plus christmas shopping for my wife and two kids. Nice.Nikon has done a very nice job on their entry-level D-SLR. Sure Canon has the 20D (for 70% more than the cost of a D70) and Minolta finally came out with the 7D (for 76% more than the cost of a D70), but I'm happy and proud to be in the Nikon family now.

Problems Encountered: None. The setup for wireless remote off-camera flash could be less complicated, however. Minolta still has the easiest procedure on the market in this area.

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I shoot extensively with this camera in Hawaii as a pro wedding photog. I will start off with its weak points then go over the many great points. It has very poor dynamic range, very poor. That is a big complaint I have, but it is a tremendous value in so many ways. First, it is feather light. Second, it responds quickly and can burn images pretty fast. The 1/500 second flash sync is superb! In the lighting I encounter at the beach, that extra stop faster sync is a life saver, that is a fact. I like the grip. The ease of menu browsing is outstanding, the histogram is great and easily read, that is a huge plus. The auto white balance is horrible, use the presets, and use the custom white, but always use an 18% gray card to achieve your custom white balances, I speak from extensive experience with that recommendation for sure. Skin tones are ok, that and the lack of dynamic range, especially in highlights are serious complaints, but for the money, it is the best dslr out there IMHO. My comments are absolutely honest, and come from extensive field use of this camera in the most demanding, high contrast light conditions imaginable.

Problems Encountered: Aweful dymanic range, especially with highligts. Poor auto white, skin tones are so so.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: NA

Items I Recommend: sunpak 120j flash

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

Couldn't be happier and more excited about photography now. Wonder why I waited so long. My F100 is but a distant memory.

Problems Encountered: None really, a very smooth transition... Read the manual completely and a few times.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: N70 F100

Items I Recommend: 1 Gig card is great 292 high quality Jpeg photos

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I've been taking pictures with Nikon equipment since the late 70's. I would consider myself an advanced amateur/semiprofessional. Manual focus was my mainstay in photography until I purchased an F100 in August of 2004.Autofocus was a dream to the 50 something eyes even though I can focus pretty accurately. By the way, the F100 is a great camera! Then in January of 2005 I bought my D70 kit and entered into the realm of digital photography! I took to it Like a fish in water. The D70 is a great camera that you learn to grow with. It is starting to become an extension of my mind's eye. The learning curve is very quick because it is so intuitive in its operation.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: F3HP(2 of them), FE(3 of them), 35TI, F100

Items I Recommend: SB800 FLASH AND 18-70 DX LENS

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I have had the D70 for 4 months and I love this camera

Problems Encountered: None

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: N80

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

Shooting mostly landscape and nature photography I have found that the in-camera meter works very well, giving me good exposures 90% of the time. In addition the auto-focus works well and fast.The camera has some great features including the bracketing system. The 6.1 resolution has served me well, as I have had some photos blown up to 3x5 foot prints with minimal if any distortion.

Problems Encountered: Rare issues with the meter system. Such as shooting in bright sunlight, the camera can let certain subjects get washed out.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon F100

Items I Recommend: Look into the Hoodman series of covers for the LCD screen on the back of the Camera.

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I purchased this camera for my wife's birthday. I have ownedthe D100 and D2H. She liked the D70 because of the lightweight. She never did like the D100 (with grip) so lookingfor a light camera was my priority. The D70 fits thatrequirement, and the electronics in it are first rate. The18-70 lens that comes with it, and the 70-300, make a verycomplete and incredibly light photography kit. This camerashould have been called the D200 if you ask me. The controldial (where the rewind knob used to be) has a number ofsettings for auto, sports, macro, etc. She can jump from acustomized setting right to an automatic camera in oneswoop. Nikon did good.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: D100

Items I Recommend: 18-70, SB-600, Lexar 1GB 80X, extra battery, Tiffen 67mm filter

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

I've been using this camera now for about 6 months, and have not found anything that it cannot do. Easily. I would never go back to film, unless someone put a gun to my head. The 70-300mm zoom lens is absolutely brilliant. I have had better success photographing wildlife with it than my 70-300 Pentax zoom.

Problems Encountered: Only one service, and that was within warranty period and fixed without charge.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Pentax

Items I Recommend: 70-300mm zoom lens.

Comments about Nikon D70 Digital Camera Body:

But! I use the D70 paired with a 12-24 1:4 G ED and SB-800 Speedlight- mostly for shooting real estate. It is a superb camera in its current configuration. Flawless. The but comes to play when you want to use any of the numerous Nikon flashes and non-digital Nikor lenses that I own. Then this wonderful camera basically becomes a manual camera. (This is especially true with older Speedlights.) Although it is full size- it is VERY light and sturdy. I love being able to use its full range of options as needed to maximize shots- lighting, depth of field, ISO, color saturation, etc. One more but- I wish someone at Nikon would learn to write a manual in simple English- far too complicated. Enjoy this wonderful camera!!

Problems Encountered: Even though the manual warned me, the camera seems to have lots of issues using non-digital Nikor lenses and older Speedlights- even when everything is set to manual!

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: Nikon Coolpix, Kodak

Items I Recommend: Extra batteries and charger, AC connect for desk.