Recent visit to local Digital Imaging establishment acquainted me with the Nikon D70. This 6 meg camera takes standard Nikon AF Zoom lenses and is considerably lighter and more compact than my current D1X.



Anyone had a chance to use one yet?



D.









Reduced D1X shot of Southwester Montana. Looking west to foothills of the Rockies.

I don't know about the Nikon, but it's good to see that the camera companies are getting their acts together and are offering digitals that use their proprietary systems of SLR lenses, respectivly. I'm waiting on Minolta's digital which is supposedly due out in "fall, 2004" (HA!) What I can't understand is why the 6mp nikon costs the same as the 10mp Sony that sorta looks like a SLR. WTF?! I'd really like a 10mp digital

Toolmaker

DMCI,

I have used the D70, its a good camera. Your D1x will give you much better detail in the blacks & shadow areas.

IMHO the focusing in the Canon DSLR is far superior.

lynx

I bought a D70 5 days before my safari to RSA. Read the instruction manual and played with it on the plane. I also got a 1 gig card, best money I spent on a camera yet.

Just keep in mind that most of the digital SLR's that use existing or older lenses are NOT full frame camera's with the exception of one of the new ones from Kodak ($4000+). The image
sensor is less than the normal 24x36mm image area of the older film cameras. What this translates into is that your typical 50mm lens will have and "effective" length of about 75mm.
Note that this is not a precise technical discussion. I can provide that if you wish, I just wanted you to be aware of the difference in the full frame and digital image capture situation. You will see Nikon selling a 13mm to about 70mm zoom for the D70. It is optimized for the smaller digital image capture chip. Digital is great.

I prefere this Canon

digital Canon

I can't comment on the Nikon, but I'll second Doug's opinion on the Canon 10D. I've had one for about a year. Excellent camera.

I have found the Nikon to be brilliant, no complaints with it at all...

Two of my coworkers have purchased the D70. Both are serious . . . VERY serious amateur photographers and as one put it . . . "up until he bought his D70 he had owned a 900 dollar birthday party camera".
Until one jumps off to get a SLR type digital this seems to be THE issue . . . the rest are all just a more expensive "snapshot" cameras.
Not my opinion, but the opinion of folks that shoot a lot more pictures than I do.

One of them shot some "cottonmouth" photos for identification and you could blow it up to see the raised center in the scales with NO distortion.

I was impressed!

quote:

Originally posted by Old Elk Hunter:
Just keep in mind that most of the digital SLR's that use existing or older lenses are NOT full frame camera's with the exception of one of the new ones from Kodak ($4000+).... What this translates into is that your typical 50mm lens will have and "effective" length of about 75mm.

As an example, the D1X has a 1.4X factor, very close to the 50mm = 75mm instance quoted here.

They are all different though, so it pays to investigate first so that you know what to expect.

quote:

Originally posted by David W:
I can't comment on the Nikon, but I'll second Doug's opinion on the Canon 10D. I've had one for about a year. Excellent camera.

I got to play with a 10D last month at a photography course that I took.

I had been thinking about picking up the new 20D.

After using the 10D a bit on the side, I'm convinced, I want the 20D. (Meaning the 10D was great, so I can only imagine the 20D is that much better...)

It seems that only a couple of months are necessary for technology (and prices) to change. The D70 is being replaced by the D70s and that is one reason why good deals can be had. Nikon hasn't yet announced delivery dates on the new D70s but it shouldn't be long now.

I have used both the D1X and the D70. Both are great cameras, but, the D1X certaibly shows more detail.

A couple of weeks ago I got a D2X, and this one knocks spots of both of course.

I especially like the reduced resolution to 6.8 MB and getting a 2x crop.

That means the 80-400mm VR lense becomes 160-800mm at this resolution. It should be great for birds in Africa.

Saeed, In a French photography magazine a professional used the Nikkor 200mm, f2.0 with the D2x for some spectacular photos. Image quality is superb with this lens which of course can be used not only in low light but at the maximum opening allows fast shutter speeds, all in a relatively easy to handle package compared to longer heavier lenses.

I got one for a retirement present and I can't imagine going back to film although I also can't see selling my F3 as we've been too many palces together.

Wink....I should add that all the changes that are going into the new D70s will be available as a "no-cost" upload to current D70 owners..with one exception and that is the bigger screen on the D70S.

DB Bill, I've also got an F3 (and an F100 and an FM2) and have been waiting for the right Nikon digital camera. I bought a Minolta Dimage A2 a couple of years ago and it has been fine, giving good quality images and doing what digitial cameras are supposed to do without being able to accept other lenses. Then again, there is less chance of dirtying up a CCD with a fixed lens bridge camera and where ever I go it's dust bowl time.

quote:

That means the 80-400mm VR lense becomes 160-800mm at this resolution. It should be great for birds in Africa.

Saeed,

I've been thinking of getting this lense, as the biggest I have now is the 80-200 2.8 ED. Have you been pleased with the 80-400 VR? Are there any drawbacks to know about?

Nikon! I'm a die hard Nikon user. I have 2 F100's and 1 D100. I also just bought a Coolplex, (good size to keep in your pocket when hiking) Nikon has the best optics on the market. I did Wedding Photography many years ago, only Nikon.

I took a photo class at B&H in New York last year, we got talking about the D70, heard alot of good things about it.....