Read about Nikon's current offering of flashes and accessories on Photo.net. Shun Cheung compares the SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, and SB-400, and offers detailed specs on the flashes.
Night photographer Lance Keimig takes you on a journey to the Aurora Borealis and helps you from start to finish, beginning with preparation for cold, Icelandic weather and finishing up with exposure...
The Nikon D70 is aimed squarely at the "prosumer" digital SLR market, or in
other words the same individuals that the F70 and F90 were aimed at with film
cameras. In film cameras the F4 and F5 series distinguished themselves from their
F70 and F90 counterparts in having the rugged construction and quality to stand
up to rugged and reliable pro use, and similarly the D2h and D1x cameras continue
to distinguish themselves in the pro segment.
Many extensive reviews of the D70 have already been written and posted on the
web by sites exclusively devoted to the purpose. In fact they formed the basis
for my decision to purchase a D70, even before any units were available to be
seen or handled. Instead of replicating these reviews, hopefully this review will
capture some of the thoughts of a typical consumer targeted by Nikon, and will
serve to stimulate discussion and capture information typically not addressed in
those "other" reviews.
Where to Buy
You may be able to find a used Nikon D70 in Photo.net's Classified Ads Section. Otherwise, check
out Nikon's newer small-frame sensor cameras from our partners. Their
prices are fair and you help to support photo.net.
Nikon F-mount supports AF, AF-D/G, AFS, AI-P, and non-cpu lenses.
1/8,000 maximum shutter speed. Flash sync at up to 1/500
Auto white balance, with TTL colour matrix metering using 1,005 pixel
sensor
Five area AF with predictive tracking
ISO sensitivity from 200 to 1600, including auto ISO selection
3D TTL flash with built in speedlight or SB600/SB800 flashes
Compact Flash type I and II cards, including microdrives
The 6.31 Megapixel sensor is reputed to be an improved version of the same
sensor used in the D100. If this is the case the difference should be noticeable
in terms of lower noise in shadow details. The 1/8,000 maximum shutter speed and
fast flash sync help contribute to more creative freedom by allowing the use of
larger apertures, and balanced fill flash in bright sunlight. However it should
be noted that this is offset by the minimum ISO setting of 200. In these
situations a film camera with ISO 100 film, paired with 1/4000 maximum shutter
speed, or 1/250 flash sync would yield the same results. So in a sense these
groundbreaking features are required to compensate for the sensor speed.
Nevertheless the faster shutter speeds and flash sync do help in situations where
one would like to freeze motion.
The Sensor
Prior to the arrival of digital SLRs, the camera body had been described as a
"light box", thus minimizing it's contribution to the quality of the final image,
and attributing the contribution to the selection of lens and film. In a digital
body however the sensor is the single most important contributor to image
quality. Nikon has announced it's own custom sensor development, which are being
used in the D1 series of pro-DSLRs. However it is widely rumored that the D70
sensor is the same as the D100 sensor and that it is manufactured for Nikon by
Sony. 6.1 Megapixels provides adequate resolution for high quality prints, the
dynamic range of 12 bits is excellent, and very low noise images at ISO 200 to
ISO 1600 provide excellent exposure flexibility.
The D70 can be set to generate images in the following sizes:
Image Size
Image Quality
File Size
Images/256Meg
Buffer Capacity
3008 x 2000 pixels
NEF-Lossless 12bits
5 MB
23
4
JPEG-Fine
2.9 MB
73
9
JPEG-Normal
1.5 MB
144
12
JPEG-Basic
0.8 MB
279
19
NEF+Basic
5.8 MB
21
4
2240 x 1488 pixels
JPEG-Fine
1.5 MB
130
7
JPEG-Normal
0.8 MB
253
7
JPEG-Basic
0.4 MB
481
7
1504 x 1000 pixels
JPEG-Fine
0.8 MB
279
19
JPEG-Normal
0.4 MB
528
27
JPEG-Basic
0.2 MB
950
49
The F-Mount and Lens Compatibility
One of the central elements of the "Nikon System" is the forward and backward
compatibility between lenses and bodies supported by the F-Mount. The D70
continues the tradition, by allowing the use of almost every Nikon SLR lens
designed. The D70 also comes with some of the constraints users of newer 35mm
bodies will have run into. Matrix, center weighted, and spot metering are
available with all CPU based AF lenses. In the D70 NO METERING, is possible with
non-CPU lenses. This is a little different from some nikon bodies that only
remove matrix metering, while still allowing center weighted and spot metering in
manual mode. However it is possible to work around this limitation by using the
preview feature on the camera to quickly narrow down the exposure by trial and
error. As long as the lighting doesn't change significantly from shot to shot,
the exposure can be set once by this procedure.
Pre AI lenses cannot be used since they bump into the little
tab near the depth of field preview button. The tab will flex a little in case
you make the error of forcing such a lens on, however repeated use would probably
cause some distress. A good source of information for all the gory details on the
F-mount can be found at the following links.
Oh! did I mention the depth of field preview button! A welcome feature, which
has been consistently missing from a number of Nikon autofocus bodies.
ISO settings
The D70 supports ISO settings from ISO 200 to ISO 1600 in either 1/2 or 1/3
steps. An auto ISO mode can be selected to operate in conjunction with various
exposure modes, to increase creative flexibility without fumbling with buttons to
change ISO settings from shot to shot. Image quality is excellent at all ISO
settings, with some caveats described in the image quality section.
Exposure Modes
The D70 supports a number of exposure modes. These being:
Manual
Aperture Priority
Shutter Priority
Flexible Program
Seven different Digi-Vari Programs
These modes provide a user interface consistent with previous Nikon autofocus
bodies. In manual mode, use of the dials to adjust aperture and shutter speed
should feel very familiar to users of the Nikon F601/N6006 style of body. In fact
the D70 allows the option to assign either shutter speed or aperture adjustment
to the rear dial. Things get interesting in manual mode however due to the extra
flexibility provided by auto ISO selection. If auto ISO is enabled, in manual
mode both shutter speed, and aperture can be set independently for complete
control over motion blur/camera shake as well as depth of field, without having
to live with over or underexposure for that combination. As long as there is an
ISO value between 200 and 1600 for correct exposure, the D70 will select it. The
con of this behaviour is that if over or underexposure is the purpose of engaging
manual mode, then the camera will conspire against you. Unfortunately switching
between auto ISO and fixed ISO requires entering the menus, which will cause
users to pick one mode or the other, and stick with it.
Aperture priority works as one would expect. The user chooses the aperture and
the camera picks the shutter speed. Once again auto ISO adds a new dimension to
this operation. It appears that as long as there is enough light the camera will
adjust the shutter speed, however as the shutter speed gets low enough to cause
camera shake, the D70 will start to increase the ISO instead. Once the ISO range
is exhausted, the camera shake guideline will start to be violated and the
shutter speed will once again start to decrease.
Shutter priority interacts with auto ISO in a similar manner. However this
time there is no camera shake judgment the camera can make, so it simply adjusts
the aperture, and once it runs out of range on the aperture setting it starts to
adjust the ISO. One of the good features in both shutter and aperture priority
mode is that once the auto ISO has run out of range as well, the D70 starts to
display over and under exposure on the metering gauge built into the
viewfinder.
But wait there's more... it is also possible to assign exposure compensation
to the front dial, when using Aperture and Shutter priority modes. Adding this
extra level of complexity pretty much blows my mind, however for those with a
stronger ability to keep things sorted it puts them in the driver's seat with
respect to creative control. Now it becomes possible to simultaneously think
about composition, depth of field, motion blur, focus, and exposure compensation,
in the instant before you press the shutter release. Perhaps it's really all a
ploy to make you wish there was a program mode, so that the camera could be
operated with point and shoot simplicity.
The D70 has more program modes that you can shake a stick at. There are seven
Digital vari-Programs. With the following characteristics identified by the D70
user manual
Auto
Use for snapshots. Vivid, smooth images with
balanced saturation, colour and sharpness
Portrait
Use for portraits. Main subject stands out, while
background details are softened.
Landscape
Use for vivid landscape shots. Enhances outlines, colours
and contrast.
Close Up
Use for close up shots of flowers and insects. Reds and
greens are captured particularly vividly.
Sports
High shutter speeds freeze motion for dynamic sports
shots
Night Landscape
Slow shutter speeds produce stunning night landscapes while
minimizing mottling and discoloration often seen in low-light photographs.
Night Portrait
Provides natural balance between subject and background in
portraits taken under low light. Lighting for portrait subject will seem natural
even when flash is used.
Subscribing to the value of these programs, versus sticking with manual and
pseudo manual modes like A, S and P is very much a personal choice. But once
again digital SLRs bring a new twist over film cameras that begin to change the
equation. With film cameras, the equivalent modes were limited to helping with
selection of aperture and shutter speed, and balanced fill flash.
However with the D70 Digi vari-programs also bring in the correct settings for
switching between vivid and normal colour saturation, degree of sharpening, and
use of extra noise reduction algorithms. Manually walking though the menus and
picking and choosing these options depending on the nature of the photograph is
an exercise in frustration. It is very appealing to have saturated colours for a
quick close up of a flower, and for the next shot to be able to take a portrait
without having your subject look like a lobster.
My only reservation in subscribing to these features, is the inability to opt
out of automatic control of major feature groups. I think of these as being,
autofocus, exposure/development, and flash. On the D70 most of these modes place
the camera in autofocus with nearest subject priority. This can be very error
prone, in many situations, leading to well exposed, and balanced portraits of a
twig, rather than your favourite nephew. Similarly in automatic flash mode, the
built in speedlight will wait quietly until the shutter release is depressed, at
which point it will pop open and release a burst if necessary. This is startling
to say the least, and annoying if fill flash isn't desired. To be fair Nikon has
provided the ability to override the autofocus mode, and flash automation in each
of the digi vari-program modes. However after going through and setting these
overrides, they are forgotten by the D70 as soon as the vari program dial is
changed, or the camera power is cycled. After doing this a couple of times, it is
easy to give up and stop using the vari programs at all.
White balance
The D70 produces excellent white balance in auto mode. Various
conditions covering a mix of incandescent tungsten, fluorescent and even candle
lights were tested. In most cases a natural white was produced, without giving up
all the warmth inherent in tungsten lighting. Occasionally a strong yellow cast
would appear under low light conditions, however it is difficult to fault the D70
in these situations. Manually setting the white balance to tungsten helped clear
up the white balance in these situations. Furthermore it is possible to shoot in
raw mode, allowing the white balance to be corrected during post processing.
Colour temperature can be fine tuned for each of the white
balance modes. For example shooting in tungsten mode, it is possible to vary the
nominal colour temperature assumption of 3000K , to values between 2700K and
3300K.
In addition the D70 supports a measurement mode, where the white
balance can be calibrated for a shooting session, without having it change from
shot to shot. Another really interesting capability is to use a reference photo
for extracting the white balance. This allows shot to shot consistency for colour
balance in a sequence of pictures.
Preset temperatures and correction are available for the
following conditions, with six steps for each range:
Incandescent 2,700K to 3,300K
Fluorescent 2,700K to 7,200K
Direct Sunlight 4,800K to 5,600K
Flash 4,800K to 6,000K
Cloudy (daylight) 5,400K to 6,600K
Shade (daylight) 6,700K to 9,200K
Autofocus Modes
The D70 provides 5 zone autofocus, with support for AF lenses and newer AFS
lenses with a built in motor. Performance was tested with an 80-200 F2.8 AFD
lens, as well as numerous other smaller and lighter lenses including the 16 F2.8
AFD, 20 F2.8 AFD, and 37-70 F2.8 AFD. All the lenses, including the big zoom were
powered and focused quickly by the D70 body. Testing with a 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G
AFS lens demonstrated that the AFS lens was much quicker to focus and quieter
than the AF lenses.
The rapid 3 fps burst shooting capability of the D70 is an excellent feature
at the present time, when most digital cameras still suffer from slow cycle times
and shutter lag. Furthermore, as a "prosumer" I had never really let loose with a
similar continuous shooting capability on the F601. The cost of film for burning
through a roll of 36 exposures was enough of a deterrent.
Giddy with enthusiasm for the speed of the D70, and freed from the cost of
film, it was very tempting to exercise this new found power. Unfortunately it led
to a large number of decisive shots, where nothing in the frame was in focus. The
reason for this is that in AF continuous servo mode (AF-C) the D70 fires the
shutter as fast as possible, without synchronizing with the AF sensor. If the
subject is moving slow enough, the AF system will track and crisp images will
appear, if not, well... the solution lies in (AF-S) mode. With AF-S the system
will not release the shutter unless the focus is locked.
All of which is to say that the D70 leaves a number of options open for how
the photographer would like to set up a dynamic subject. These are as
follows:
Focus Mode
Shutter Mode
Possible dynamic shooting methodology
AF-S
Continuous
Maximum frame rate shooting is possible, every shot is guaranteed to be in
focus, even at the expense of slowing the frame rate till the AF module catches
up.
AF-C
Continuous
Maximum frame rate shooting is guaranteed. Focus is best effort, however this
might not be a problem if the subject is tracking slow enough, if there is enough
depth of field to clear up small focusing errors, of if the occasional lost frame
due to bad focus is not a problem.
AF-S
Single
Pre focus at a known shooting location and ensure that the single shot taken
is the decisive moment.
AF-C
Single
Acquire and track an object. This gives enough time to ensure that focus
tracking is locked, before releasing the shutter.
None of this is unique to the D70, but is rather a characteristic of the Nikon
system. What changes with the D70 is that a large number of "prosumers" will now
be motivated to try these and other techniques, given that they have a tool that
can perform like a Nikon film camera, without the cost of film. It should also be
interesting to see if more and more people start to demand full 8 frames per
second performance in future DSLRs, in order to properly shoot pictures of their
kids running around.
In addition to focus tracking, the D70 also provides a number of options for
selecting how the 5 AF area sensors are used. Once again it was only after making
some focusing errors did the full impact of some of the warnings in the user
manual sink in.
Sensor Option
Description
Single Area
Single area, should not be confused with using just the central sensor. The
user can select any one of the 5 AF areas manually, however what this mode
ensures is that the camera will not use any information from any of the remaining
4 sensors.
Dynamic Area
Dynamic area is just like single area, except the camera will monitor the
input from the 4 other sensors, and if it detects a subject that was targeted by
the selected sensor temporarily moves to another sensor, it will automatically
use the input from that sensor.
Closest Subject
The system will automatically select the sensor covering the closest subject.
In AF-S this decision is only made once, in AF-C mode it is continuously
evaluated.
Until I sat down to write this review, and carefully read the manual to make
sure any of my complaints were well founded, it had been puzzling why a number of
my low light photos were coming out soft. The results seemed inconsistent, and
two identical pictures taken one after another seemed to vary greatly in quality
of focus. The clue might lie in the following quote from the user manual, "Single
area is also recommended with telephoto lenses or when the subject is poorly
lit". Aha. Without that distinction, it is easy to assume that Dynamic Area is
just like Single Area only better. There are many variables in trying to get to
the bottom of why focus is soft, particularly in low light conditions. I still
need to take a lot of pictures in Single Area mode, in order to confirm if this
is the root cause of the problem I observed. It would be interesting to hear a
number of opinions and experiences with the D70 in order for us to all be able to
get to the bottom of our own observed issues.
When all else fails, of course the D70 supports manual focus, with focus
assist using the built in rangefinder. If the lens is focused a green dot will
light up in the bottom left corner of the viewfinder. This is consistent with all
Nikon AF cameras. This is an essential feature for being able to use non CPU lens
from the AI and AIS series.
Metering Modes
The D70 has been given the best metering module Nikon has produced to date.
The legendary 1005 pixel RGB sensor first introduced in the Pro F5 body. The
complete or partial involvement of the colour sensitive metering sensor in white
balance control is not obvious. However the D70 maintains the Nikon features of
combining TTL metering, with distance information from the D type AF lenses, and
communication with the speedlights to provide excellent autoexposure in difficult
lighting conditions with and without fill flash.
Five segment matrix metering, center weighted metering and spot metering are
all available on the D70. These are all Nikon staples and not unique to the D70.
For further creative control it is possible to select the size of the center
weighted metering from 6mm to 12mm. Spot metering tracks the AF area segment
selected. If the AF mode selected is "closest subject", the metering is tied to
the central focusing zone.
Viewfinder
The viewfinder on the D70 is perfectly adequate. It seems a little cramped and
dim compared to other Nikons, but whether this is a problem or not is a very
subjective matter. Diopter adjustment is available. The only complaint with the
adjustment is that if it accidentally gets moved, it is hard to find the 0
correction position. A mark or detent would be useful.
The information displayed in the viewfinder is very complete, and familiar to
users of other Nikon cameras. The only room for improvement would be for the
camera to display the auto ISO value, rather than simply flashing the words "ISO
AUTO"
The included rubber surround is a simple but excellent idea for those who use
glasses. My glasses cost me as much as a good Nikkor lens, and I need to wear
them every waking moment. It is nice that the D70 does not scratch them.
LCD screen
The LCD screen is a 1.8" 130,000 pixel display. Which is meaningless. However
to put things in perspective the new SONY CLIE handheld has a resolution of
102,000 pixels. The screen is perfectly adequate to preview a complete image. The
D70 comes with an extremely well designed user interface for navigating the
preview image, and zooming into a section to check for details like focus and
depth of field. The zoom navigation is a difficult thing to explain in writing,
but is definitely worth trying to see how it works.
Data Display
The data display for camera mode settings is relatively simple, grouped into
four menus. There isn't much hierarchy in the menus, so it is easy to navigate,
and hard to get lost in. One of the best functions in the user interface is a
built in help function. A dedicated key on the back of the camera labeled with a
"?" can be pressed at any time, while navigating the menus, and context sensitive
help pops up to provide a clue about the camera function being modified.
The image preview can be overlaid with lots of relevant shooting information,
as well as a histogram, and blown highlights can be highlighted. It would be
handy to get an 8bit and 12bit indication, so users can be more aware of what
they are missing if they compress the dynamic range of their .NEF files.
Accessories
The Nikon D70 draws on practically every accessory designed for
SLR cameras in the Nikon system. This is one of the principal reasons for buying
one, if you are invested in the Nikon system. It is also a good reason to use the
D70 as an entry vehicle into the Nikon system of accessories, which have all been
forward and backward compatible for decades. Not withstanding some exceptions
with respect to speedlights, pre AI lenses, and some Nikonisms around metering
modes.
Flash
The D70 shows incredible promise in the flexibility it has for controlling
flashes. Unfortunately as a reviewer I am unable to do this topic justice, as I
could not justify the purchase of an SB800 to replace the old SB24 I have been
using occasionally.
Timing Issues
One of the biggest issues with digital cameras has been the various delays and
lags the camera imposes on a photographer, resulting more often than not in the
loss of a fleeting photo opportunity. The D70 poses no such limitations. It
handles as fast as any nikon 35mm SLR camera, in terms of autofocus performance,
shutter lag, and cycle time. It's incredibly deep buffer and fast write time to
flash results in a virtually unlimited number of continuous bursts at a nominal
rate of 1.5 to 2 frames per second. It can burst up to 3 frames at 3 frames per
second in raw mode before it needs to slow down to write the data to flash. Some
camera reviews claim 3 frames per second for up to 14 shots in JPEG Large+Normal
mode, however in practice, even with fresh batteries, I was unable to see that
speed in any mode other than raw.
Batteries
The D70 is supplied with an EN-EL3 1400 mAH rechargeable lithium battery,
which is good for up to 2000 images on a single charge. In addition a holder is
supplied to allow the use of 3 CR2 batteries. Considering the amount of signal
processing and automation the D70 runs, it is amazing how long the battery
lasts.
Software
[Editor's note: The reviewer is in Canada, and it seems that the software
included with the camera depends on where it is purchased. In the US, PhotoShop
Elements II is NOT included with the camera. Instead Nikon include their
PictureProject 1.0 software, a significantly less powerful image editor, but with
NEF conversion included]
The D70 comes bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2. This is extremely good
value, and virtually indispensable for "prosumers", unless they already have a
full version of Photoshop at the price of a good Nikkor lens. In addition Nikon
View and Nikon Edit can be used to quickly pull up images, and to download them
from the camera. Nikon Capture is not bundled with the camera and needs to be
purchased separately. The D70 senses and registers the camera orientation. The
nikon software works well with this function to present all the images right side
up. The convenience of this feature cannot be overstated.
A special raw (NEF) file driver gets installed with Photoshop. This driver
also performs the required post processing of the NEF file, resulting in 16 bit
photoshop images with the anti-aliasing filter applied to the NEF file for a
smooth and noise free result. ( The need for the filter is explained below in the
image quality section )
Other features
The camera does not allow the use of a cable release, however an optional
remote control can be purchased. The built in speedlight supports an RF control
mode for communicating with other nikon speedlights, for sophisticated multiflash
control.
Image Quality
Image quality on the D70 is excellent. Of particular note are the very low
noise shadow details. In addition at higher ISO settings, while the noise starts
to become observable, it is still not objectionable. Unlike many digital cameras,
the Nikon D70 allows independent selection of image size, and quality in JPEG
mode. With 3 image sizes, and 3 quality levels, there are a total of 9 possible
JPEG settings.
Of particular interest is an understanding of image quality when using RAW NEF
files. In order to enter a discussion on this subject, it is important to
understand that Nikon chose to implement the anti-aliasing function partially in
the softening filter in front of the sensor, and partly using image processing
algorithms after the picture has been taken. A complete explanation of this can
be found at the following link:.
http://www.nikon.co.jp/main/eng/portfolio/technology_e/image_processing_e/index.htm .
What this implies is that the NEF file contains a partially antialiased image.
This is illustrated by studying a NEF file directly without the antialiasing step
using the Nikon Viewer (below, left), and the same file by simply opening it in
Photoshop (below, right). The RAW file driver installed in photoshop performs the
antialiasing function automatically, as the file is imported.
Within a week of having the D70, and after a successful evening of nocturnal
photography at ISO 1600, with very low noise images, it came as a surprise to
hear in some online forums, that the D70 produced noisy shadows, and
oversharpened images. After quickly pulling up a random image in Nikon View to
check the results, I was amazed to find the image on the left. How disappointing.
Needless to say it took a while to find the link to the Nikon technical report
that explained what was going on.
Having understood this, there are some important conclusions that come out of
the way the D70 supports RAW output.
Some users have reverse engineered the .NEF format and produced open source
implementations of .NEF readers, particularly under Linux. Unfortunately these
readers will open the image without performing anti-aliasing. This places the
burden on the user to complete the processing in GIMP or some other imaging
application. Without a lot of care, it is quite likely a generic despeckle
function will produce an images as soft as, if not softer than the JPEG+Fine
image produced by the D70 directly in the camera.
The amount of anti-aliasing provides a direct trade off between sharpness and
noise. By leaving this choice as a post processing step, the D70 makes it
possible for people who like to fiddle, endless room to optimize each image to
their desired satisfaction. If the softness had all been built into the optical
anti-aliasing filter, there would be no recourse. While this fiddling is not
something that would appeal to 99% of the user community, there are likely
"prosumers" out there who continue to work with difficult films, and ultra fine
grain developers in order to enjoy the ultimate in sharpness. Perhaps some will
appreciate the hooks left by Nikon in the digital domain.
This discussion also helps to frame the question of image quality when
comparing JPEG and RAW files. So far it has been shown that the RAW file needs to
be softened to some extent, in order to remove aliased noise, and spatial
artifacts. This is done automatically by the Photoshop NEF input module. If the
imported NEF image was compared with a camera created JPEG, would the results be
the same ?
Both of the images above were taken with a tripod mount, and computer
triggered release to eliminate camera shake. The only difference in camera
settings was to switch from RAW capture mode to JPEG FINE+Large. The RAW image
was directly opened in photoshop and went through the automatic anti-aliasing
filter. It can be seen that the RAW path does preserve some image sharpness, over
the JPEG image.
Sample Images
Sample images taken with a D70 can be found on the nikon website at:
www.nikonusa.com.
Nocturnal and Low Light Photography
As an avid "prosumer" and target of Nikon's D70 design, it is a pleasure to
report that the D70 goes a long way towards improving the ability to work in
these situations. Excellent auto white balance, and low noise performance at ISO
settings as high as 1600 are key to enabling one to become untethered from a
tripod.
All of these factors are embodied in the picture above. Yes it could have been
taken with Fuji Provia rated at ISO1600, but what about the tungsten balance ?
Yes it could have been taken with slower tungsten film and a tripod, but what are
the odds I would have lugged all the paraphernalia around ? Yes it could have
been taken by any other digital camera that had an ISO 1600 sensitivity, but
would it also have the low noise performance of the D70 under those conditions ?
Thinking about these questions leads me to be satisfied that the D70
significantly improves the imaging options for creative nocturnal photography,
like no other film camera, and better than most digital cameras.
Macro Photography
Macro photography takes a degree of patience and fiddling, in order to archive
predictable results. The unique features of digital SLR photography with the D70
helps improve the workflow somewhat. Getting precise focus with a very shallow
depth of field is one of the challenges inherent in setting up a macro shot.
The instant preview capability of a digital camera is an excellent way to
check the results and fine tune the setup, as opposed to looking at a roll of
film after it has been developed. The setup shown in the image above works well
with the D70. The laptop is connected via the USB cable to the computer. The body
is mounted on a PB 4 bellows with a 135 F4 bellows nikkor. Another tribute to the
D70's compatibility with older accessories from the Nikon system.
Use of the PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) computer controlled transfer mode
makes it easy to look at full screen previews of the macro shot as each picture
is taken. Furthermore the use of the computer controlled shutter release provides
a solution for camera shake, in the absence of a mechanical cable release. Colour
saturation can be viewed in the sRGB space on the laptop or using Photoshop
directly in the Adobe colour space. Fine adjustments to colour temperature for
redoing the shots is then a snap.
Exposure: 1sec, F4. 135mm Bellows Nikkor, ISO 200.
Lighting: mixed tungsten and daylight. Tungsten WB
Fixed pattern noise reduction for long exposures.
Exposure: 30sec, F11. 135mm Bellows Nikkor, ISO 200
Lighting: mixed tungsten and daylight. Tungsten WB
.Fixed pattern noise reduction for long exposures.
PTP control of the camera has a long way to go, but it looks like the D70 has
provided the hooks necessary to get there. It is encouraging that the open source
community has started to embrace the idea. It is only a matter of time before
decent control packages for all manner of functions and camera types become
available, as alternatives to the expensive Nikon Capture option. The setup show
above was operated using the built in PTP support in Windows XP, which allows the
shutter to be fired directly, without requiring Nikon Capture.
What's good, what's not so good?
The Nikon D70 is an excellent camera, built on their experience with the D100.
It appears that many of the suggestions for improvement around the software,
features and user interface with the D100 have been incorporated into the D70.
Leaving a relatively short wish list of remaining improvements. These being:
ISO can be quickly changed by pressing the ISO key, and rotating the rear
dial. Why not use the front dial to also quickly switch between auto ISO on/off
?
Instead of flashing ISO Auto, it would be more useful to see the setting
chosen.
When the camera is tripod mounted at eye level, it is hard to rise above the
camera to look down on the LCD, as settings are changed. It would be very
convenient to echo the LCD display, on the large display on the back for such
situations. The display is turned off when the quick keys are used for camera
settings anyway, so there is no cross purpose limiting it's use.
Digital cameras are both an imaging platform, and an embedded computing
platform. Allow the open source community access to the embedded computing
platform, with a well designed SDK. Proprietary Nikon algorithms can still be
protected through binary distributions. The imagination and energy of motivated
users will likely turn the camera into a cult classic and secure it's
success.
PTP is an excellent start at controlling the camera functions. Nikon Capture
should be made available with the camera, not as an additional piece of software.
Alternatively a "prosumer" version should be released, in the same manner that
Photoshop Elements is bundled for "prosumers", and Photoshop CS charges for real
productivity and extended features that are useful to "pros" who use it every
day.
Better autofocus performance, and continuous frame rates would always be
appreciated.
Incorporation of a mirror lock up function for picture taking is very
important
Metering and support for all Nikon lenses including pre-AI lenses. Users will
buy AFS and DX nikkor lenses for their performance, making their lives
inconvenient to drive them away from their previous investment in the Nikon
system is a slippery slope to dissatisfaction.
The serial number is very hard to read on the base of the camera as it is
brown lettering on black plastic. This number is called for when installing the
Nikon software on a PC.
And of course Kudos to Nikon on the following fronts:
Excellent imaging and noise performance at all ISO levels
Amazing battery life for such a high performance and complicated beast
Very good compromise between build quality and price point
Including the depth of field preview is a very useful and pleasant surprise,
after missing it on many AF film bodies
Very good job on the user interface, notwithstanding the suggestions
above
Conclusion
In 1999 I promised myself I would switch to digital photography once a
reasonable 4 Megapixel camera was available. Well the time has come, and Nikon
has provided the answer in the form of the D70 Digital SLR. The fact that it is F
mount compatible (mostly), produces excellent images, and is affordable have left
me with no excuse for not jumping in at this point. The ultimate validation of
this is the fact that my wife (who has always maintained a healthy dose of
skepticism of my various equipment purchases) can't wait to get her hands on it,
finally relinquishing her 20 year old Minolta SLR as the only tool a photographer
needs.
Where to Buy
You may be able to find a used Nikon D70 in Photo.net's Classified Ads Section. Otherwise, check
out Nikon's newer small-frame sensor cameras from our partners. Their
prices are fair and you help to support photo.net.
Great camera, Nikon.
Now add a real AF system, a full size viewfinder, and (nearly)full F-mount compatibility (Yes, I don't care much for DX lenses, I want my 35/1.4 to run on this camera), and I'll take it. You may call it the D2X, or D700.
It's possible that the resolution comparion with the Clie is flawed. Typically camera products follow the TV convention, where each or R,G and B is counted as a seprate pixel, whereas PDAs follow the computer convention where each pixel contains all three of R,G and B. Thus the Clie has 307200 "camera" pixels (and that's only for the middle-end models, my wife's high-end one has 460800 "camera" pixels).
(It's surprisingly similar to the situation that exists between digital cameras and scanners, where a picture from a camera only has one sample per pixel, and had to go through some interpolation to reconstruct the two others, whereas a picture from a scanner comes directly from three sample per pixel).
Thank you Yatish for the Open Source plug. I'm resisting buying this camera because of the lack of open source support for NEF file reading -- well, they can be read but within the limitation you exposed.
As you pointed out, it's not a problem with the Open Source developers, but rather a lack of openness from the camera manufacturers. I hope Nikon can set the trend of better collaboration with the Open Source community.
The note about the software antialiasing was interesting, glad that you did some digging and shared it with us rather than having labeled this behaviour as an error. I read the linked Nikon article and believe this could be a good idea: less money on expensive AA filters and instead a focus on software tools, which can be upgraded afterwards.
Use of the term switching is somewhat a Freudian slip. I absolutely continue to enjoy shooting with my $20 folding 6x9 Baldina to my 4x5 Linhof and everything in between. But I will likely take most pictures of my kids in digital because of the convenience factor, so that would constitute switching in a sense. -- The Author
The review identifies difficulty with getting 3 frames per second in jpeg mode. The root cause of this is explained in the following post: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=007ud1
The solution is to turn off long exposure noise reduction, even if the exposure times are short enough not to trigger the action.
It should be the kind of thing fixable with a firmware patch.
Yatish, could you take a look at this photo, and similar samples in the same folder, and tell me whether it is consistent with your experience of D70 made pictures? In particular I'm concerned about the grid pattern clearly evident in this image and others like it. Can you shed any light on that?
By the way, I think you succeeded in writing a helpful, comprehensive review that is unlike the others I've read.
C D. I had a look at the picture you requested. Short answer is that there isn't enough information to comment. That particular picture is a highly compressed JPEG. Any sharpness/moire concerns cannot be addressed by looking at it.
Other pictures in the folder are a mix of D70 and some other camera. I have followed the discussion around the air hostess picture, and agree that the lines are not moire, they are some sort of lighting effect.
I have also followed discussions around "rainbow roofing tile" and colour shift from left to right across the frame, when shooting at ISO2000 and higher. Again with most of these, not enough information was available to get to the bottom of the matter. I could not reproduce these errors with my unit, and chose not get into it in the review for those reasons.
Feel free to contact me via email (yatish at moodcomputer.com) and I will be happy to have a more interactive discussion with you vis. the concerns you have.
Nice review. However, I disagree with what you say about the viewfinder:
"The viewfinder on the D70 is perfectly adequate. It seems a little cramped and dim compared to other Nikons, but whether this is a problem or not is a very subjective matter."
The D70 viewfinder is certainly the worst Nikon ever built, at least in the last 20 years. Compared to F90's and F100's (and others) bright and large viewfinders, the D70 looks like a toy P&S viewfinder! It's even smaller than the D100's which is already small and dark. I consider the viewfinder a very important part of a camera, it's where you compose and focus the final image. If you take a look inside the D70's body, you'll see how small the mirror and screen have become. Looks real cheap!
It's hard to imagine using my F100 and the D70 at the same time. Looks like I have to wait for D2X. Too bad.
As Yatish said, whether or not the viewfinder image size matters is subjective. Some people don't care, other's see a large viewfinder image as an absolute requirement. I'm not quite sure why, since for me, it's just an aiming device. Bigger and brighter is better, but hardly a deal breaker.
The viewfinder on the Canon Digital Rebel sufferes from the same size affliction (though not quite so badly, it's .8x vs. .75x for the D70). In the case of the Canon it's because a pentamirror is used rather than a pentaprism (to save weight and cost). I don't know if the D70 uses a pentamirror or true pentaprism.
I have to strongly agree with the above comment regarding the viewfinder.
Definitely one of the worst from Nikon I have seen.
I saw the D70 at a shop today, ready to make a purchase. When I looked through the viewfinder, my heart sank. It was that bad.
I am really surprised at the comment that the viewfinder is perfectly adequate, especially coming from someone who uses glasses (as I do).
This camera would simply be very difficult to shoot with for any extended period of time with this viewfinder. Ergonomics are pretty poor overall. Too bad....I wanted to like this camera!
"...other's see a large viewfinder image as an absolute requirement. I'm not quite sure why, since for me, it's just an aiming device."
You have to be kidding! Just an aiming device?! Is precise composition not one of the most important aspects of photography (never mind making sure the image is actually in focus)!?
Sure, but I can compose quite well with a small screen and the vast majority of users will be using autofocus. It's not meant to be a manual focus camera, even though (I presume) you can mount manual focus lenses on it.
I guess it's not perfect, but then I'm more interested in the images equipment can make than the equipment itself. I'm a Canon user anyway, so what do I know.
Maybe it does have a tiny, dim, pokey, useless viewfinder. Since I've never looked through one I wouldn't know. In that case you should probably buy a Digital Rebel. I've shot with one and had no problems...
The viewfinder on the Canon Digital Rebel sufferes from the same size affliction (though not quite so badly, it's .8x vs. .75x for the D70).
Are you actually saying the D70's viewfinder is worse than the 300D? Yikes. I love the 300D but the other day I looked through the viewfinder of a Contax Aria and I was stunned at how much different they are.
One of the quirks of the D70 viewfinder design is that it gets really dim if the battery is removed. My guess would be around 2 or 3 stops. I hope that there isn't a difference of opinion on the viewfinder due to the fact that some camera stores might be showing the D70 without a charged battery installed.
Given the amount of discussion, I just did a quick comparison between my Nikkormat FTN and D70. They really appear to be the same in brightness. Of course the FTN has greater coverage so it seems really wide and open, and yes my F601 is brighter.
I agree that Nikon should improve the finder, but I think it would be a shame to reject the camera for that reason only. I thought "adequate" nicely summed up the situation. I do wear glasses, and do enjoy nocturnal photography, and it works for me. Focusing is best done with the rangefinder assist anyhow.
One other factor in the mix is the speed of lens one typically uses. For low light photography, when brightness is an issue, I typically have F2.8 or faster lenses on the body. In full daylight I really don't think there is any brightness issue with the viewfinder.
"One of the quirks of the D70 viewfinder design is that it gets really dim if the battery is removed."
Just like the n80. If people are judging the D70 by the viewfinder without the battery, then they have to realize that it's a partly electronic viewfinder. If it's like the n80, it's not so bad (especially if it has those nifty n80 gridlines).
Any idea how battery power affects viewfinder brightness? In most cameras the viewfinder is a purely optical device. The SLR mirror reflects the image onto the screen and the eyepiece and pentaprism are used to view it. No electronics involved. None of the Canon viewfinders are affected by battery charge level.
Does the lens stop down when battery power is removed from Nikon SLRs? That's the only way I could imagine that the viewfinder image could dim, but that would mean the lens is constantly drawing power, which doesn't seem reasonable either.
I've heard the LCD over the focusing screen of F80 (its there for on demand grid lines) gets a bit dark when there is no battery. Probably same is true for D70.
Maybe it's an issue of mirror, that has not returned completely with no power, the problem I have experienced with some minolta SLR's with problems in AF system, or anything related to mirrors. so when I see a dim view finder on such a camera, I check immediately for a wrong position of mirror, and after reseting the camera (if not a permanent problem) and positioning the mirror to the right place, the viewfinder gets back its brightness.
I don't agree with the comments indicating that viewfinder is of minor issue. once upon a time I was agree with that, but once I switch from Minolta MD cameras and their dim viewfinders to an Minolta AF camera body, the whole world absolotuely changed. I felt like a person that suffered from eye weakness for years and now he offered with a proper glass. I don't imagine that I compoe my picture once again with such a viewfinder, and left my old minolta in the closet.
I tried out the D70 with charged batteries and the mirror was working fine as well. I used a 2.8 lens and had my F100 to have side by side comparison of the viewfinders. And the result is as I said: the D70 has a P&S viewfinder, it's dim, ugly and tiny! A good viewfinder, the photographer's canvas, is one major advantage of a (D)SLR over a P&S. Unfortunately not in this case!
"And the result is as I said: the D70 has a P&S viewfinder, it's dim, ugly and tiny! A good viewfinder, the photographer's canvas, is one major advantage of a (D)SLR over a P&S. Unfortunately not in this case!"
What I find myself doing with the 300D (as opposed to my old FM2n) is using a lot of trial and error. The viewfinder and the LCD screen go together. I pretty much shoot the photo, check the histogram and the LCD, shoot again.
Where I have to grab a shot quickly, the viewfinder isn't that great, but there's a dramatic difference between an autofocus SLR even with a tiny viewfinder and a point and shoot.
The reason the D70 viewfinder is such a hot topic is that people often choose to use Nikon because of their very nice high-eyepoint viewfinders, e.g. those in F3 HP, F4, F5, F100, F-801s, etc. It has been a primary reason for me to use their cameras, later of course my existing lenses. I wouldn't do photography at all if I had to use those cramped viewfinders in many other maker's cameras - just too uncomfortable, makes the whole process a negative experience. I also feel that Nikon putting these viewfinders into their newer lower end cameras is just one of the many ways they're trying to get rid of people using Ai-S lenses.
The assumption that the D70 is designed to use AF lenses so therefore manual focusing is not needed ergo a decent viewfinder is a non issue is... how shall i say this the PC way ... not intelligent.
The statement assumes that the camera/lens combination will always choose the right portion of the subject to focus on in all situations with no user intervention required.
No it's not but isn't the format size an issue here. The 1.5/1.6 crop DSLR has a smaller image circle than a 35mm camera so manufacturing a viewfinder as bright as an EOS 3's would be prohibitively expensive.
Too expensive to create a good viewfinder? HA! Even the D100 has a better viewfinder than the D70 and that is a $1500 retail camera.
People who dismiss the value of a good viewfinder on a digital and make blanket statements to the effect that "its designed to use auto focus lenses... so why do you need a good viewfinder" apparently have not seen the value in the use of a bright viewfinder in lowlight, action situations. Shooting flowers and tress outside in full sunlight - you can probably get buy using the monitor to compose your image.
If I cant see the image, and properly focus and compose the image - It really dosent matter if I have the best 20mp camera with the best image sensor know to man, because the image will never get created!
Since I don't shoot Nikon, I can't really comment except to say that after hearing about the pokey, dim, tiny viewfinder and the apparant need to use manual focus in dim light, I'm just glad I bought a 10D which has a nice viewfinder and focuses in dim light better than I can. In fact even the Digital Rebel didn't need manual focus in dim light, nor was the viewfinder so small and dim that it was unusable after sunset.
Poor Nikon users. Their expectations are so high and Nikon seem to disappoint them so often...
I'm really puzzled by Yatish's comment on the D70's bundled software. It was stated that "The D70 comes bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2". I can't find such software in my package (I'm in US). The review also states that "A special raw (NEF) file driver gets installed with Photoshop". Actually it does more than that. It replaces my D100 RAW driver from Adobe. I lost the ability to adjust the temperature continusly. I have to select one of a few preset color temperatures. All the other tunable variables are no longer there unless you pay to buy the Nikon Capture. Before Adobe releases the new RAW driver to support D70, I have to live with this very low powered RAW driver in the Photoshop. The information about the automatic anti-aliasing filter in the RAW driver is very insightful. For now I just can't wait to restore the full RAW driver capability in photoshop.
Seems you're trying hard to misunderstand. I was NOT comparing D70 to any Canon. I was comparing D70 to other Nikons. I don't know much about Canon but I know that Canon users never had the luxury of using beautiful bright and large viewfinders Nikon build. Have you ever looked through a F90, F100 or F5 viewfinder? I doubt that either the autofocus or the viewfinder of the Digital Rebel (300D) is any better than the D70's. Yes, the D70 viewfinder is a disappointment to Nikon users that are used to Nikon's film cameras, but that doesn't make the Canon viewfinders any better.
"Since I don't shoot Nikon, I can't really comment except to say that after hearing about the pokey, dim, tiny viewfinder and the apparant need to use manual focus in dim light".
Since you don't shoot Nikon, it would be wiser to avoid reporting such BS.
(Yes, I shoot Nikon, and yes, I've used a D70)
Chao. I apologize for any misleading info vis. Photoshop 2. I had not realized that Nikon would offer it in Canada but not in the US. In fact I am sure that on a global basis, the software bundle probably has more variations. Perhaps someone else from the US can post a note to confirm that Photoshop Elements 2.0 is not bundled with the D70 ?
As for the RAW driver, I think the problem is that they can only have one driver associated with all raw files, no matter where they come from. I had also been wondering what they would do with the anti-aliasing algorithm, if it changed depending on the camera model. It's a shame if the D70 version of the driver took away features that were useful in the D100 version.
An alternate way to proceed, (given that we have what we have from Nikon, and any changes will come in due course) would be to put the D100 driver back, and use Nikon View as a file browser to click on a thumbnail and have it edited in Photoshop. In this case it will do the conversion to TIFF and I believe the RAW driver for Photoshop will not be invoked. I don't have experience with a D100, but it might also be that the D100 photoshop driver is compatible with D70 RAW files.
folks,
I think the discussion so far on the viewfinder has been pretty good. I am sure it will cause everyone who reads it, to carefully evaluate the situation for themselves hopefully before they choose to buy a D70, or D100, or Dxxx, or a Canon xxx.
I suspect some of the disappointment comes from a straight forward 1.5x scaling of existing viewfinders. This makes it cramped and probably less bright. So in my mind the interesting input to hear is if there are examples of 1.5x scaled cameras (D1x, D100, Various Canon models), perhaps even APS SLRs, where the viewfinder is considered great and worth emulating going forward.
That's a relief - as a US customer with the D70 kit, Nikon is *NOT* including Photoshop Elements with the D70 in the USA. I wish they had - I think I'd like that a lot better than PictureProject which they did include. But no, I have a US release of the D70 and it does not come with Photoshop Elements.
As far as the viewfinder is concerned - is it a little tight? Yes. Could I wish for a brighter viewfinder? Yes. Do I prefer the viewfinder on my old OM-2s (still one of the best I've ever looked through)? Certainly.
All that being said, it's not bad - and I do like the "HUD" - optional alignment grid and more informative display. As an eyeglasses wearer, the relief is still adequate and I can certainly use it with no problems - and I also appreciate the rubber "bumper" on the finder. If the viewfinder were unusable or could not be viewed in its entirety by me, that would be a deal breaker - but with what it has? It's a minor concern in what's otherwise an excellent camera.
Also adding this note - I have shot with the Fuji S2 - I think the finder on that camera is a hair more informative, but to me it isn't as comfortable to view. I don't know if it has anything to do with the "crop" factor - probably it does, but I've seen finders on film cameras which were pretty much the same in feel as this one.
Relating to viewfinders, I had the pleasure of comparing a D100 to an F80 viewfinder.
While being the exact same size (92%) the D100 viewfinder seems cramped because of the cropfactor imposed on it by the DX sensor size.
The same is without doubt true of the D70 viewfinder as well which is also 92%.
In comparison: the 300D has an 86% viewfinder...
As to brightness, the viewfinders of the D100, F80, D70 and F75 are dim when the power is turned off because of their construction. The viewfinder is overlaid with a transparent CCD display unit which projects the information on it (as well as the on-demand gridlines in the D100 and F80, not sure if the D70 and F75 have that feature).
These components have a tendency to be slightly grey in tone and not fully transparent unless a current is trickling through them (which does not happen if the power is turned off).
When powered they are (almost) as bright as any other Nikon viewfinder (though a tad smaller than the large viewfinders of the professional cameras for which you pay a lot more of course).
The viewfinder will be small as long as the imaging chip is small. The cost of magnifying the viewfinder to a larger viewing size would make the camera larger, more expensive, and provide an even dimmer viewfinder. The other factor in viewfinder brightness is the maximum aperature of the lens used. f2.8 work very well, but are more expensive. It's all about how much you want to spend.
35mm viewfinders are approximately the size of a 35mm film frame. Medium format SLR viewfinders are the same size as the film frame. So 1.5 factor, being much smaller than a 35mm frame, results in a smaller viewfinder. Why the D70 viewfinder is smaller than the D100 viewfinder is probably a factor in why Nikon can sell the camera for $999 instead of $1200.
NOW - a topic that I can't figure out. Why do Canon users feel they are superior to Nikon owners? Most Nikon snobs figured it out in the 80's and don't worry about other brand owners any more. They are both good cameras with similar features, and it is all a matter of personal choice. I don's see much difference in the D70 and the Digital Rebel viewfinders. They are made for a similar market, and that is entry level digital photography. They are both excellent cameras. I prefer the D100 basically for its larger viewfinder. Eyepoint has nothing at all to do with brightness or size, but how far your eye can be away from the eyepiece and still see the whole image area. The D100 has a 24mm eyepoint, and the D70 has an 18mm eyepoint, and I wear glasses. Obviously, viewfinder size aside, I can see the D100 finder better with my glasses on (which I need).
I can get relief from this discussion by going back to my 4x5 camera, where all focusing screens are the same size, and camera owners judge each other on what results they obtain with whatever camera they happen to own.
Jim, it's nice that you can focus it fine, that doesn't really give you the right to question whether other people reporting on the VF are actual users or not. It wouldn't have come up if it weren't an issue. I'm using my D70 and get a lot of eye fatigue/pain when trying to use it in low light. I also get an unholy percentage of misses because of the VF. You can see the image just fine, enjoy the camera, but please don't assume that others reporting on their different experiences (using their eyes, not yours) are "spreading internet crap". We're not.
I received my D70 this afternoon and must return it with deep regret tomorrow. The CF card would not format. I tried several different types with no luck. Nikon tech support worked hard with me to resolve the issue but alas, they said the camera was a clunker. I hope the exchange gets me a working model. Has anyone here experienced any similar problems with this camera?
I've had my D70 for a little over a month now. Not much I can add to the praise heaped on the camera. With a SanDisk Extreme 1GB I'm very impressed with its shooting speed and responsiveness -- I'm using it more than I ever did my D100. The viewfinder has not been an issue for me, even though I wear glasses. All in all, a very good entry-level DSLR: very compact, lightweight, responsive, and capable of excellent image quality. The one gripe I have involves a tendency to underexpose flash photos, I usually have to dial in up to 1 stop over to get a pleasing image; of course, shooting NEF+JPEG Basic solves this issue, but I lose buffer depth and card capacity. Oh well.
folks, the viewfinder is really a non issue. i'm a Leica rangefinder user and frankly didn't even notice that the viewfinder on the D70 is small until I read it here. i had (and have) no complaints about the viewfinder. it is no harder to look into than a Leica M camera. it's not as large as the viewfinder on the F100 but it also isn't so small that you can't effectively use it. nor should this be a deciding factor and stop you from getting a D70.
none of the digital cameras in this price range have super-excellent viewfinders so trying to compare these viewfinders to higher end cameras is a lost cause. in this low price range, there will be compromises any way you look at it.
the D70 shutter/mirror is silky smooth. interestingly, i can handhold all the way down to 1/8 of a second with no noticeable blurr. note that non full frame digital cameras have a smaller mirror than a film or full frame digital camera. also, to me the D70 feels smoother and less vibration prone than the Canon shutter.
compared to the Canon Digital Rebel, the Nikon D70 is so much better. The D70 feels sturdier and better built. and the lens the Canon comes with is really a much worse lens. the kit lens that comes with the D70 is way better and actually quite usable rather than just something you might take because it comes with it and then never use. have a look at Bob Atkins' review of the Canon 18-55 lens-purple fringing and distortion in the corners-eek! and you can't use it on another Canon body anyway. Nikon's is 18-70mm (not just up to 55mm like Canon's) and it's faster (Nikon=f4.5 Canon=f5.6 zoomed in), you can use the Nikon on another Nikon body with no problem. the whole Nikon kit just feels to be of much higher quality and a better buy.
the difference is that the Canon feels like a camera that is cheaper than what it actually costs whereas the Nikon feels more expensive than it actually is.
I had a problem with CF cards as well. It seemed to gradually stop being able to store images or reformat card. I was using Sandisk 256MB (two different cards). Because of the way it failed, I think it is a problem with the camera and not the media. The retailer is replacing, but is out of stock :(
For what it's worth, I liked the camera for the 5 or so pictures that it worked for :)
Newbie to DSLR but have been shooting pics for the past few years. started off from a Canon, Fuji and finally Nikon. Received my D70 two months ago and took abt 7500 plus of images already. depending on the operator and the lenses, the images are tack sharp. with the kit lens, it focuses fast.
For those who are still in doubt of the D70, just get one and experience it yourself. it is one heck of the camera in its class.
I have beenshooting with the D70 since i got almost the first one off the assembly line. Overall, I really like the camera, but my biggest issue is with getting so many out of focus shots. I do wish the VF was really bright and sharp with the kit lens, which is so usefull of a focal range. I had to put menu to sharper setting and that made a major improvement with the kit lens. have yet to try my 2.8 glass becasue i am paranoid about getting dust on the sensor so i keep kit lens on there to avoid dust during lens changes. I am sure VF and focusing will be much improved with 2.8 glasss. I am not sure why i get so many out of focus shots using AF. I put the selector on one of the tiny red nubs, get my focus with shutter release held 1/2 way down, re-compose and shoot. why do i get so many out of focus shots? I tried manual focus with kit lens and that was a disaster. only really closeup shots can i focus manually with any success. another revelation- manual white balance when shooting people. the skin tones on auto white suck, and are pretty good on custom white. My fuji S1 has the absolute best skin tones of any DSLR, period, but the nikon s are useable but only with manual white balance.
Hi John,
are you shooting in AF-S or AF-C mode ? Also I trust you don't have the camera in "closest subject" AF mode. I was getting a lot of out of focus shots in the first week I had the camera as well, some of it was due to the use of AF-C.
Nice review. However, at one point it is technically inprecise probably due to the (marketing-driven?) descriptions on the Nikon webpage:
"[... It] is important to understand that Nikon chose to implement the
anti-aliasing function partially in the softening filter in front of
the sensor, and partly using image processing algorithms after the
picture has been taken. [...] What this implies is that the NEF file
contains a partially antialiased [sic] image."
This sounds as if it wouldn't matter when there is aliasing in a recorded
image as image processing can remove it later. Unfortunately, this is
not the case.
There is a mathematical result called the Nyquist-Shannon sampling
theorem which tells us, loosely speaking, how fine image details any
given sensor can record. Details too fine for the sensor need to be
optically removed from the image (by blurring them away). Otherwise,
the sensor will get confused and record very fine details as
relatively large-scale distortions. Once these distortions are in
your recorded image there is no principled way to remove them. It is
true that improved software may be able to reduce or remove artifacts
in many or most cases, but mathematics tells us that it won't always
work.
I'm an experienced amateur concert photographer and I really have pushed the D70 to its limits the few weeks that I've got it.
The viewfinder is smaller and dimmer than my excellent Minolta Dynax-7 but actually still pretty good. DEFINITIVELY not a PS viewfinder. There is no distortion and even in very low light it remains usable. Without a split image rangefinder it is as impossible to focus correctly at large apertures as it is on the Dynax-7. So big deal.
I think speed an handling are excellent and metering and AF are perfectly adequate for the kind of work I do. Some minor gripes (like that WB and ISO settings cannot be changed in play mode and that AF sensors can only be selected when the meter is on) but overal the camera is easy to use. Setting up all preferences for AE and AF for example took me more time than I had hoped for though.
AF performance as in correct AF is comparable to my Dynax 7 I think, I mostly use one sensor and need a lot of shots anyway with usual very dim lighting (large apertures, limited DOF) and moving subjects. Also did some max aperture close up tests and this seemed fine too.
Actually I'm quite impressed with the D-70 and my results with it really allow me to make a quantum leap in ok shots per assignment. I'm only afraid that I'll work it to death, even as an amateur I make so many pictures with it that I can't imagine it lasting more than two years.
To compare the D70 to the Digital Rebel is like comparing a Lamborghini to a Dodge Viper. To do so is a joke. The image quality difference is enough to silence anyone with doubts. I had the digital rebel and sold it to buy my D70. I am so much happier with this camera than I was with the Drebel. The pictures that I got with the DR were grainy and blocky like any digital camera that you can get for 300 or less. The pics from the D70 are much smoother and have very low noise just as the author of this article states. I have owned both as most people responding here havn't. As far as features and control is concerned, the D70 leaves the DR behind.
As far as complaining about the viewfinder, read the response a few lines up that explains the smaller CCD. This explains the viewfinder, hence lower cost smaller viewfinder. What it lacks in that area it more than makes up in features and control. The DR looks like a cheap piece of junk side by side to this camera. And one more thing, if I were going to pick between the Lamboghini and the Viper, i wouldnt pick the Viper becuase it has a bigger windshield to look through. It is the total package you should be concerend with. Which is why the D70 takes this one hands down
Matthias, no actual low-pass filter is able to filter only frequencies above the Nyquist frequency perfectly, and leave the lower frequencies intact. The D100 has a low-pass filter which reduces the amplitudes of frequencies below the Nyquist frequency a lot. Result: no artifacts, soft images.
In the D70, the filter has been moved towards higher frequencies, and as a result it produces strikingly sharp images with very rare artifacts. In fact, I've only seen one image in the 2000+ I've taken with the D70 which had noticeable moire, and even then it didn't show up in an A4 print.
I have owned Canon camera equipment for more than a decade, and despite my extensive collection of Canon lenses I ordered and just received the D70. I am very impressed by this camera. It's solidly built, with a very broad set of features (but unfortunately without mirror lockup). By comparison, the digital Rebel and it's kit lens is a joke. And I am even more impressed by the 18-70 lens. It's much better built than any consumer lens from Canon, and it's tack sharp. What's more, it came with a lens hood included (when does that ever happen when you buy a Canon consumer lens), which also has a very nice locking feature. I don't know how many photos I have ruined due to the flimsy Canon lens hoods turning on the lens and causing vignetting. Nice to know that my new Nikon won't have that problem.
It is my opinion that Canon is neglecting the serious amateur market, with their shoddy lower-end bodies and (especially) their consumer lenses. Unless you intend to buy a 1 or 3 body, and expensive L lenses, I recommend you to skip Canon and go with Nikon instead. Especially when shooting digital. I did!
Me too I was quite disappointed with the viewfinder being so small. Even when compared with the F75. One must admit that if Nikon (or any other brand) had made such a size of viewfinder on a classic SLR, the reviews would all be screaming unacceptable. Now that we know that the viewfinders in DSLR's in general aren't so great, it suddenly becomes acceptable. On the other hand, with the CCD being APS size, what can one expect. So or you pay for a professional DSLR, or you learn to live with it, or you wait another 5 years.
You may also look for things that can help; like the DG-2 eyepiece magnifier (which provides 2x magnification of the central portion of the finder image), or the DK16 circular eyecup.
Those who prefer Canon, that they chose Canon. They have every reason; fast autofocus, exellent image quality, 100 ISO, great number of IS lenses, etc.
Those who prefer Nikon, that they chose Nikon. They have every reason; autofocus and image quality 99% as good as Canon (who cares about the 1% difference), 12-24 wide-angle zoom, great ergonomics, extensive accessories, etc.
By the way, my father shoots Canon, my uncle too. Me I prefer Nikon. Should I start a fight ?
Re flash: There is NO TTL CONTROL AT ALL (not just loss of "matrix" metering) with any Nikon flash other than the new SB-600/800. If you set the flash to TTL on any other Nikon flash the shutter will not fire - you must use manual or non-TTL auto.
So you get to buy a new light for $300. This is annoying if you bought a "digitally compatible" SB-80DX a year ago as I did.
Beyond that I find the camera awkward to hold and sort of goofy ergonomically, but as it is the only digital offering from Nikon other than the D2H, and the FujiS series are more expensive (at least until you buy new lights for the D70)it is probably an OK choice. Nikon made a bunch of trade-offs, producing a very capable camera at a reasonable price.
I am getting the D70 and the reports looks good. Can any one tell me if they are having problems in delivery in uk I have been told by jessops that I could wait for 5 weeks?
2 Johannes S.: You're so obviously a Canon fanboi, it's not even funny. D70 (which I now own) blows away 10D (which I used to own) both in terms of focusing AND image quality. I don't care much about ISO 100, or tiny bit of noise in the sky that I'll never see in the print. I do care about sharpness (D70 with kit lens blows away 10D with 24-70 f/2.8L here), speed (just the other day I saw a funny colored car coming my way from the intersection - with 10D this frame would be lost, with D70 I took 3 frames before the car passed me), and color rendition (try to take pictures of small children with your Canon camera, and make their hands and feet look good - impossible, the damn thing gives them "frost bite" look).
very honest and detailed report! I've read it in three turns.
But I disagree, D70 is a prosumer camera. Just because, if it was prosumer camera, which one is a consumer camera? I think, both D70 and 300D are rather consumer cameras. E-1, *ist D, S2, D100, SD-10, and 10D tend to be prosumer cameras, but they are rather semi-pro. Which are therefore prosumer cameras? For me, these are D2H and 1D (Mk II), together with DCS Pro, they are typical prosumer cameras, whilst the only pro camera remains 1Ds.
But if we recall what prosumer exactly means, it becomes hard to state that D70 is not for prosumers. A prosumer is one buying some expensive stuff, that can more than (s)he can actually manage. While expensive is, of course, a relative category, it means here something you don't actualy need, although you can afford it, that's all. Usually it is an offended category, aimed someone believing the better technique can compensate his/her inabilities.
I am not sure, D70 deserves such a definition... I would use more neutral and adequate attribute like entry-level digital SLR.
I'd just like to add that I bought my D70 a month or so ago and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. My biggest complaints are:
1. Crappy crappy auto white balance. Manually, it does quite well! but the auto sensor is a joke. You MUST set it manually.
2. The viewfinder is particularly bad when compared to a regular SLR. My Nikon N80's viewfinder in infinitely brighter and much larger. This needs work.
But other than that, my camera takes great pictures, even in very low light. The 18-70mm range is perfect for most applications! The increased grip size is comfortable and a welcome addition. The 3D flash system is as good as all other Nikon's I've used. A great buy for $2000, an absolute STEAL for $1300.
It's a bit amusing to read about concerns about the relatively small size of the D70 viewfinder in comparison to those typical on a 35mm SLR. Just imagine Ansel Adam's concern when after wielding 8X10 and larger view cameras when he first picked up an SLR and looked at the viewfinder. Yikes!
Having looked at the D70 and seeing its viewfinder, I can say I'd rather see a larger and brighter image. But I can say this with my 35mm SLRs as well. Heck, I'd love to see a 4X5 image through my 35mm viewfinder. But understanding the physics and mechanics of an SLR, the D70's viewfinder seems appropriate for the APS-sized sensor and associated light path. The brightness given up by the use of a penta-mirror rather than a penta-prism is offset by the camera's light weight. I believe this is Nikon's first SLR design using a penta-mirror and I'd appreciate a response if it is not. Even with my failing eye sight, I find the viewfinder image adequate. The advantage is a smaller reflex mirror which seems to have less "clunk" than most 35mm SLRs which is welcome for a camera with no mirror lock up.
As far as Canon competition, I'm a long-time Nikon user who is thankful for Canon's innovations and competition. It keeps Nikon on its toes and assures a steady stream of increasingly better equipment at reasonable prices. Those who scoff at users of competing models simply don't understand the realities of the marketplace.
Great image quality and fast for $1300. I agree 100% with the review. The camera offers lots of flexibility, but with many options comes some confusion. This should not distract people from buying this camera. The image quality is exceptional for the price. This is after all what we buy a camera for. At $1300, it is clear that any manufacturer has to cut some corners to keep the camera economic. If you want a larger viewfinder, pay +$5,000 for a different camera. I am not totally happy with the ruggedness of the camera, but its more than adequate for a DSLR in its price range. If you want rugged with similar image quality, buy the Canon 10D. But you're getting slower response time and paying more for the lenses. It's all about what you want in a camera. For me, its all about image quality, flexibility, speed, and form factor. In my opinion, the D70 gives me all of these things, for a nice price. I shoot a Rollei SL66, Toya 45a, and Rollei 35 and still love film photography. The D70 has given me an excellent introduction into the world of digital photography. I recommend it for anybody that is doing the same and doesn't want to break the bank. Good luck with your decision.
One additional note to individuals that are considering entering the DSLR market. My suspicion is, from reading a large number of reviews and using the D70, is that hardware and software technology in this market is still evolving. That said, my recommendation would be to buy the best camera you can for the lowest available price, because you will most likely be making a new camera purchase in the next couple of years. I believe D70 is a good camera to consider, because of Nikon's backward compatibility with its lenses. Good luck with your decision.
Thanks for the thoughtful review. I am an amateur who had been shooting on an F5 for a number of years, and had been wanting to go digital, but couldn't afford to at the performance level offered until the D70. I actually got convinced to jump to digital with the D70 due to the review on Ken Rockwell's site. I haven't done as extensive a test as presented in the review, but agree that even with the consumer kit lens and smaller viewfinder, the D70 is an amazingly responsive tool that is a joy with which to work. Unfortunately for my F5, it is spending most of its time sitting in the camera bag neglected...
At the risk of being lynched by this community.. I find the viewfinder excellent! Being a photographer for more than 20 yrs, using Pentax, Nikon and Mamiya (6x4.5), and wearing glasses all the time, with most SLR camera's I have the problem that I cannot see the whole picture at once in my viewfinder because my eye is too far away (with the rubber surround and my glasses). To see the corners, I have to move my eye a bit. Sure, the viewfinder of my F5 is bigger and brighter, and I do miss the Fresnel optics to assist, but I never had any problems with focusing or making a good composition (Using a D70 daily for 4 months now). For it's price, it's an excellent camera. Digital cameras cannot compete with traditional ones, and from my point of view it will take a long time before they do. But if you want to learn how things work without wasting lots of pellicule, or just want to make some photos for personal use, it's an fine piece of equipment. I recommend it to all students...
From what I see and read, much F5 technology is included in the D70, so this can't be wrong. Remember it is only a tool. After all, YOU are in charge.
A lot of good tecnical points many very important, but as I have not used the D70 it would be interesting, if there was more info about the reason we use camera's--the pictures (images produced).
Are they any good through the ISOs? Colour saturation? Could I take a better image with a cheap throw away camera?
They not only post images for all combinations of ISO and Quality etc.. but they post the same images for dozens of other cameras, so that comparison between models is possible. So for example it is possible to say, "I wonder what happens in shadow detail between a D70 and a Coolpix 3200", and find an appropriate test subject shot by both, posted with full resolution. It would be impossible for an isolated review to be as thorough as the combined database of knowledge they present.
The above discussion about the D70 viewfinder is a bit silly. As far
as composition is concerned, anyone who has used large format or medium format with a wasit-level finder appreciates the benefit of assessing the effectiveness of an image while looking at it with both eyes-- you don't want to squint into a viewfinder when you have an LCD on teh back of the camera.
The relevant question is: do you need to manually focus the camera when the camera is on a tripod? This is something you may need to do when doing, say, macro shots. If you need to focus off-center it is inconvenient to take the camera off-tripod to focus-lock with autofocus, and moreover, and high magnifications, this isn't even possible as moving the camera changes the subject distance enough to throw off focus. Thus, it is easier to focus with the camera in proper position using the helicoid, or using a focusing rail that slides the camera position for final fine-tuning of focus at high magnifications. These techniques really do require manual focus where
you can look at the area of the ground glass you want in sharp focus.
So, as I see it, what matters about the D70 viewfinder is whether it is adequate to manually focus on ground glass with accuracy? If the answer is no, then don't buy this camera for this type of work, eg for macro work at high magnifications. On the other hand the above review has a nice macro shot posted that seems to indicate the viewfinder is more than adequate for sharp focus manually.
If so, this would be an improvement on the N80 which I find difficult
to focus manually.
I bought the D70 in Sweden while on holiday, and got a good deal compared with the guide price for the camera in the UK (?7 off amazon price, and no 4-6 week delivery!).
As my first SLR, i suppose I cant really comment other than saying that after some investigation I went out for an EOS 300D (Or as you folk seem to say 'Digital Rebel' - though i wonder why so rebellious!?) and ended up getting this.
It seems that at the moment these are the only two cameras in the "sub-?1000 DSLR" braket, and that price is most definately my range. For the money, this camera just felt the more valuable. Build quality and depth of features seemed both to excel over the 300D and the couple of hundred extra seemed more than worth it.
To clarify for europe- the kit i bought only came with pictureproject (only saved by it's NEF functionality over iPhoto, but I have yet to take a 'serious' non-jpeg picture), some kind of sharing software (again, I will probably never use) and a 30 day trial demo of Nikon Capture 4, which I am seriously considering buying as you can set up some great shots and play with all the settings, leaving the camera undisturbed. You can also shoot in .NEF and truly get an idea of the potantial of post-shooting production, even at a simple level (changing the white balance and so forth), by using the editor included with Capture 4.
As I already own Photoshop (7.0) and Elements the exclusion of these was not an issue, BUT, Elements would be a very handy addition to the package (a full version that is!!).
The only bad thing - a manual in Swedish! But Nikon are winging me a nice english one free of charge since I sent the foreign one back (I hope!).
So far, results from this camera have been very good. After Sweden, I visited about half of Europe, and with some fiddling, have got some great shots. Even on auto I am very impressed. Shooting in JPEG, at full resolution, using the 'Normal', 600 shots or so later I am happy. Battery life is EXCELLENT; I forgot to charge it 2 days in a row and it never ran out, a good few hundred shots later (many with flash). Superfast - instant - startup, and witha Lexar 1GB Professional (40x Write Accel) just amazing write speeds - blows any non-(D)SLR out of the water. The kit lens has been robust for my purposes, but a mid-level telezoom shall be my next purchase. I find the VIEWFINDER perfecty good, with the ability to add 'gridlines' to aid composition and orientation, and have had no issues with eye strain, despite being half-blind with my shooting eye!
The whole issue of the viewfinder is an interesting one, as now every shot no longer requires development or incurs cost, the idea of perfect composition within the viewfinder seems to be less prevalent to manufacturers. To me, I can manually focus fine with the D70, and 9 times from 10 I don't need to, with the Kit lens supplied (I can't wait to try/buy more lenses for it and really check out what results I can achieve!), due to all the types of focussing modes compatible with the kit lens.
If you are like me, and considering an SLR purchase, I would heavily recommend this camera over a film equivalent. You can find out what every knob and button does, see the effects for yourself, and snap away towards good SLR understanding before paying a penny for development (and then trying to remember what settings you had for what picture!) - As has been said before, a GREAT learning camera.
I would love to say "Get It!" But I'm sure with further testing I shall find some limitations (auto white balance already is starting to annoy at times), so I shall say that if you want an SLR, have the money to go digital, and want to 'get into' (digital) photography more, go for this, at the moment, for the price, I believe it's the best out there.
Aplogies for my over-use of punctuation (it's just the way I "do" things?!) or any spelling errors (not my strongest suit being an Engineering student for so many years!)
Just got my new D70, surprised to see "Mirror Lock Up" in settings menu. I have not used this yet (no remote). However selecting the menu does lock the mirror, the shutter becomes non responsive till the time i switch off/on the camera.
I believe the mirror lock up is to enable you to clean the inside bits of the camera, it is not for taking steady shots on a tripod. That is why the shutter doesn't work, once it's locked up.
Lately I've been using my D70 much more than my D100, even though the D70 lacks an accessory grip with a vertical shutter release. Especially on a StroboFrame QuickFlip, I've found that it nicely controls an SB-800 in wireless mode. Overall, the camera feels just so much more responsive than the D100, and the daylight flash sync of 1/500 is sooo useful. In the studio, I can shoot 3 fps (my Dynalite Uni400 can keep up when set to 1/8 power) and get wonderful, fleeting expressions... write speed to a SanDisk Extreme 1GB is terrific, the card fills up in minutes with 400+ images in JPEG Large Fine mode. The D70 is such a joy to shoot with, and in P/S mode even my 4-1/2 year old son can use it.
There's confusion about the D70 viewfinder for very good reason. Obviously, as you change focal length on any camera, the magnification changes--you get low magnification with a 20mm lens and high magnification with a 300mm lens; you can see that clearly and it makes intuitive sense, right? Well, 35mm film cameras have always had their viewfinder magnfication specified with a "normal" lens, which for 35mm cameras is 50mm. Unfortunately, because of the smaller "recording area" (18x24mm sensor on Nikon DSLRs, 24x36mm film gate on 35mm SLRs), 50mm is NOT a normal lens on a DSLR. Despite this, the manufacturers are STILL USING 50mm lenses to specify the magnification on DSLRs!
This is a source of a lot of confusion. What you have to do to get the "real" magnification for a DSLR viewfinder is take the stated magnification and divide it by 1.5 (or whatever the "crop factor" for that camera is). So if the stated viewfinder magnification is .9X on a Nikon DSLR, it is the same as .6X finder on a 35mm film camera. Which ain't so good.
The manufacturers will get around to fixing this, but only if people demand it. So keep talking!
I came here looking for reviews of the D70 as I am considering whether it's worth buying a 300d or paying the 15-20% more for the d70, or even waiting a little and buying the 20d. My preference is for canon since I am vested with canon lenses and adaptors but I am seriously considering a switch to Nikon if I feel the 20d is out of reach for now and the kit lense is ok.
The one thing I am surprised to see here is the constant sniping about canon and nikon. It's like listening to a couple of 12 years olds debating britney vs christina.
It seems obvious the D70 is a better camera than the 300d, that's why it's more expensive, and beyond that the 20d takes over. There really isn't anything but minor distinctions in image quality on any of these cameras, the biggest difference in any of them is the build of the 300d. Right now it strikes me that there really isn't a lot of competition for any of these cameras, you figure out how much money you can spend and buy the best one you can, the decision is made even easier if you have been using one brand or the other in the past and have glass.
Thanks for the nice and informative review. I am in Canada and recently purchased my D70 kit from London Drugs. I did not get, to my knowledge, Photoshop Elements other than some tryouts versions of software- including elements, ACDsee, Nikon Capture etc on the 123 of Digital Imaging Essential Edition CD, which are only samplers. Have I been shortchanged or are the previous comments regarding the elements program included with the d70 kit in Canada only describing trial versions?
I did receive the full verison of PS Elements, not a trial version. However it has been a while since the review was written, and it is possible/likely that Nikon has changed it's bundle.
For the record, the D70 ships in Australia with PictureProject, not Photoshop Elements. One frustration I have with the D70 is the lack of external switch to Continuous focusing. The D100 has an easy button to switch between Manual, Single and Continuous. On the D70, the switch is only between M and S. The need to refer to the menu to switch to Continuous focus, can cost precious seconds. It's also a shame that compatibility with Speedlights is limited. My SB-50DX, purchased last year with the D100, is not compatible with the D70.
Regarding the autofocus selection in the digital Vari program, I agree with the author that it would be nice if the camera remembered which mode you had chosen after switching to a different Vari program. But in use, it seems to only take a moment to change the AF mode, once you learn the keystrokes it is just MENU-RIGHT-DOWN-RIGHT shutter half way and you are back to Single Mode.
I imagine that for those not raised playing fighting games on playstation (or whatever) that may seem to be a "hassle", but if you practice a few times I'll bet you can do it without looking in about 1 second. By the way, the above key sequence only works if the last menu interaction was changing the AF mode.
Note to Nikon: I want a firmware update that remembers if I left it on single or dynamic or Auto!
Nikon has posted a firmware update for the D70 as of Jan 11, 2005. Go to this link at Rob Galbraith's Digital Photography Insights for links for Mac and Windows to Nikon USA.
i got the d70 recently, and i've also been playing with my dads old FM2 a bit with the same lenses. the bigger brighter screen is nice, but i just want to say that i would love the focusing screen the FM2 has in it. i always use centre point, because the other ones are spread out too far to be useful...even in sports.
the split prism would tell me where the centre AF is, but it is amazing how much more acuratly the FM2's screen shows whats in focus. the d70 has a good 6 inches on a 80-200 at 15 feet where you cant tell what its focused on, whereas the FM2 is spectacularly sharp, and the split screen lets you be even more precise.
am i correct in assuming you cannot change the screen on the d70? thats a drag, so i guess i'll be using AF, and using the LCD to see if it worked out.
I considered purchasing the Canon 20d as my first DSLR but bought the Nikon D70 instead because: 1. I have loads of Nikon lenses. 2. The D70 was about half the price. 3. The bundled lens was superior. 4. The lens was cheaper by about 100 pounds if bought in kit form than if bought alone. 5. I wasnt particularly impressed by the AF on the 20D (!). I must say that I only used it at a photo exhibition for about 15 mins or so with a 16-35 lens. Comparitively the 18-70 Nikkor was much quicker. 6. Faster startup time. 7. Personal preference for Nikon equipment. Having said that I have all the respect for the 20D as far as image quality is concerned, which in my opinion is the most important issue. Unfortunately I couldnt justify the extra expenditure for the camera body alone, let alone investing in a new set of lenses etc. If I had Canon lenses I would have definitely gone for the 20D. Hope this helps the first time buyer. P.S. What does one do with the old digital SLR after the new one comes out in a few months? Film cameras somehow have longer lives.
"If I had Canon lenses I would have definitely gone for the 20D."
If your suggesting using yester-years canon lenses with the EOS 20D you might want to look again. After a talk with a canon technical rep he notes,"..the Canon EOS is only compatable with EF and EF-S series lenses." "..Canon does not support the use of other Canon lenses with there EOS 20D camera..". After sitting on the phone with my local camera dealer he notes, "..the EOS series cameras can use the old Canon lenses but, a lot of people complain about reported error messages with the camera and a stop in the ability to shot it with non EF lenses attached." I dont know about you but, I dont feel like buying a whole new set of lenses. I really like the Canon EOS 20D but if i have to buy one its going to be the Nikon D70 unless someone can tell me how the 20D performs with old canon lenses.
after talking to another canon associate they inform me that all canon lenses after 1986 are in fact EF lenses. That means only one of my 3 lenses needs to be replaced. this sheds new light on the subject of which to buy for me.
Having owned the D70 for several months now I can honestly say I'm switching to Canon mostly for the viewfinder. Nikon doesn't seem to be coming out with a new DSLR with an accetably sized viewfinder. Now I do portrait work with very narrow depth of field, and since I started using the D70, the number of out of focus shots has jumped tremendously to unacceptable levels. The reason is that I can't see what's going on and have to trust to autofocus (which isn't always correct). Sure it's enough is you're shooting the f/3.5 kit lens...but man it gets to be a drag around F/2. It's hard to get both eyes in focus, especially when the camera's autofocus wants to focus on the nose or eye brow and you want the eye under an inch further away.
Anyone looking to buy a digital slr. Go to the store and pick up three cameras before for you make a decision. Some mid range film camera like a Nikon N80, The D70, and the Canon 20D all at the same time. Hold up two and go back and forth looking through them. You'll notice the film camera will be the best, the d70 will look pathetic by comparison, and the Canon 20D seems like an acceptable compromise. Remember you need to see the frame and all its nuances to take a good pictures.
Even with the the D70s rumored to be coming out, they are not addressing the viewfinder from what I can tell. I really hope Nikon releases a semi-pro digital with a large viewfinder someday. They just lost one customer here because of it.
I've been using the D70 for about an year now, I also have the F5 and had an F4. In my experience, the D70 is waaaay to delicate! the F5 - you can use it for self defence, the D70 - uses you for self defence. The most minute dirt particle can find its way straight into the sensor if you are not careful - and then you have to clean it up in PS. I'd find it hard to imagine someone using this for the same level of punishment as an F5. I certainly hope the D2X stands upto the F5 regimen....
Dear Sirs,
D70 users continue to exist and grow! :)
I bouqht mine (used) several months ago, and I'm really happy with the quality of this great camera..
I really appreciated the complete review I found here at photo.net. Well done!
I've owned a lot of cameras over the last forty-five years, including Canon F-1 and FTb, Nikon F, F2 and FE; Olympus OM-1, 2s, and 4. I've taught photography at a major University. My seven year old D70 is simply the best camera I've ever owned. Enough said.
After dithering and equivocating for several years I have at long last entered the D70 domain. Yes, I am now eight years into the life cycle of this camera - call me a late adopter perhaps but it is all that my limited budget allows. Late or not I am just as excited reading this review today as I might have been in 2004 had I shelled out for this baby when she was born. The D70 completes my stable of Nikon cameras (two analogs, an F90X and an F601) and a Sony A200 which sit alongside a full collection of other instruments including several compacts and P&S units from Kodak, Canon, Panasonic and Fuji. Whatever the particular limitations of any of these cameras, every camera I own does have its own unique personality and characteristics. I love them all and honestly just can't bear the thought of "retiring" any. So, I continue to use them all and to post selected images.
