Designed for a broad range of consumers from experienced amateur photographers to beginning photo enthusiasts, the 6.1 megapixel D70s builds on the su
Designed for a broad range of consumers from experienced amateur photographers to beginning photo enthusiasts, the 6.1 megapixel D70s builds on the success of the D70 with an improved autofocus system, larger LCD monitor, a remote cord port, and new graphic user interface, among several other enhancements.
Making the jump from Film to Digital is never an easy one. Don't get me wrong, I love film, and still do, but by the end of 2006 I was feeling the crunch, especially in the wallet, even though I had a nice digital camera (Panasonic Lumix FZ7) I was still shooting mostly with my Nikon F80...a lot.
So I did some research, and settled for the older Nikon D70s and the 18-70mm lens, so that I could keep the wide angle I had with my 24mm lens (which became a 35mm lens) and a SB-800 flash. It was an amazing beginner setup. Coming from an F80 to a D70s was simple, as the controls were laid out in a similar pattern.
Over the course of my using this camera, it's been camping, twice, gone through many abandoned buildings, beat up, portrait sessions, conventions, weddings, and it still works perfect. Never had a problem with dust on the sensors, although it did need to be dried out after a snow storm...lack of weather sealing.
It now serves as a backup camera to my D300.
Strengths:
Great beginner camera, easy to use.
Controls are simple and well laid out
Easy to navigate menus
Nikon CLS
Weaknesses:
Noise at ISO levels higher than 800, especally during long exposures
Lack of sealing
Similar Products Used:
Nikon F80
Canon Digital Rebel
Canon Digital Rebel XT
Customer Service:
None Required over the 1.5 years I used the camera.
I have owned my D70s for only a couple of months, and i have to say that i am extremely pleased!!! For the longest time i was debating with my self on which camera i should get. It was either going to be a D80 or a D70s. 3 of my friends own the D80 and hands down i love my camera more! the D80 only has a flash sync of 1/250, and with my bounce flash (vivitar 2000) it still only syncs at 1/250,and the max shuter is 1/4000. The D70s built in sync is 1/500 and with my bounce flash it can sync all the way to 1/8000?? other than a couple features here and there, its pretty much the same camera.
Strengths:
Easy to use,good metering, fast shutter of 1/8000, good quality photos, the best infrared camera,because it doesn't have the IR blocking filter. Very low noise, very tolerable all the way up to iso 1000. Well built, nice and sturdy, only being slightly bigger than the D80.
Weaknesses:
Lowest iso is 200, uses compact flash (i prefer sd), no built in black and white mode, doesn't have multiple exposure setting.
I have had this camera for a year and a half now and it has performed perfectly the whole time. I have clicked off over 12,000 images in that time. The camera is fast and easy to use, though you do have to read some of the manual to familiarize yourself with the finer features. it has proved to be everything I hoped it would be, in terms of being most like a film SLR. It was a wonderful experience to be able to use a digital camera the same way I did my film SLR, and have the benefit of digital. The picture quality is excellent, I might have preferred some of the menus arranged differently, but once you get used to the camera it's no problem. I find myself in a position to upgrade to a better DSLR, yet I must admit I'm a little reluctant to let this one go.
"Discovering" in the past few months the use of the Nikon Capture (trial) software that came with the camera (along with the impressive Nikon Picture Project software) has changed my perceptions of the strength of the camera, which I'm increasingly going to the RAW + JPEG mode. For a 6.1 megapixel, the RAW images can be zoomed 3 or 4 times (!) and retain rich detail. Autofocus is extremely capable and have (grudgingly, as a "old timer" Nikkormat/F3/FM2 descendent) gone almost exclusively to autofocus (it's that good). The "kit" 17-70 mm lens is very versatile, and high quality. The Nikon 50 mm 1.8 is also an excellent lens to complement the body, and more compact. After 9 months of use, simply slung over the shoulder on hikes and less frequently in the city, without case, it doesn't appear to have dust on the sensor (knock on wood). Extremely good light meter. The flash is one of its strongest suits. At 70mm and "macro" setting (in RAW), it is surprisingly effective in that capacity (Nikon Capture has made the difference).
Strengths:
Solid build
Interchangeable Nikon lenses (!) from the F days, but must "bracket" with test aperture settings
Strong menu with many options
Good battery life
Weaknesses:
200 ISO
Strongly software dependent for optimal images, but no big deal
No AC adaptor with camera
No Nikon Capture NX with camera (trial version very good though)
I previously had the Nikon D70 as my first digital SLR. With an opportunity to trade up at no cost, I chose to go with familarity and select the D70s. This camera has provided two important attributes to an aspiring photographer: (1) Ease of use and (2) great feature set.
Images are crisp right out of the camera under its normal settings; I find myself only tweaking the exposures occasionally as RAW conversions. And the flash sync of 1/500 is great.
The kit lens is sharp and has great color, and is probably one of the best kit lens/values offered today.
This camera has provided excellent images at a great value. Espcially at the close out prices they are currently running on these.
Strengths:
-Ease of use
-Flash sync of 1/500
-Build quality
Weaknesses:
-None to speak of
Similar Products Used:
-Other film based SLRs
Customer Service:
-Nikon could be stronger on this point; especially via the web
Sample Images
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