Nikon D70s First Hand Impressions in the Road to Digital… As you may already understand from the title of this review, I use to work with for several years with wonderful film photo material such as Nikon F-series (from F original up to the 5) and superb Leicas M and R. Professionally speaking Nikon has been my main 35mm furnisher and we have a long loving affair even if I was not always following them instantly on their move. I was found of their Nikon F3HP and F4 and of their always charming Nikkor AIs like 24mm, Micro 55mm, 105/2,5 and 300/4,5. AF lenses such as 20/2.8, 85/1.8, 80-200/2.8 and 300/4 have got my full respect for the maker. This is a long introduction to indicate by background references. Digital evolution even from the yearly years appears to me as inevitable. Such as technological, communication and pollution issues has gradually put films out of the business especially in professional fields. So during the last two years I have made the commitment to go on digital for taking my pictures instead of scan negatives and slides. After a long way of searching and with the kind help of other professional friend fellows I did in buying a new Nikon D70s along with the DX AF-S NIKKOR 18-70/3.5-4.5G ED. Today I will give you just a first hand impression. The camera and the lens seem to be well built. The handling is very good and the camera/lens combination is light. Controls are following the traditions of all Nikon electronics cameras since F801/N8008. The viewfinder is good but you have to adapt ourselves to the tunnel effect view which took me a couple of days. Doing the focus manually doesn’t give any problem in particular but make sure to set camera and lens to the “M” position. Information’s inside viewfinder are non-obstructive and done in a simple direct manner. For exposure setting the camera controls are very user friendly and most of all very intuitive. With the D70s you will become an happy multiple-trigger-man in a short time. I have read the full and instructive manual that come with camera and it have gave a profound impression of what are the real possibilities of the D70s. And let me tell that I am not even in professional area that this camera will use fully. For example you can really do exact color metering by using the “WB” white balance option without any traditional use of expenses color meter and not practical color correcting filters. I have also begun to appreciate the flash system which seems to be very flexible. Menus are well presented and can be sophisticated as you may wish or not. Even the Nikon Picture Project software offer with the camera is useful but I am hoping to get and try the Nikon Capture 4 in a near future. In brief for these first impressions, I have really appreciated from the beginning to work and take pictures with the D70s. I am looking forward to get a “picture quality” point of view regarding the inside photo capture system and the electronic supporting it. But now on Digital has become my complete new photo way of life. Hope this review helps you, Daniel M.

Quality, feel of the camera in the hand, end product at a great price.

None evident at this point!

I bought this camera to upgrade into a DSLR for my photography business. I looked at both a Canon 20d and the D70s. I fought with this decision for two months and finally decided to shoot both cameras (friends of mine had already purchased them) and shot a card of each and had prints made off both cards at the same lab in the same day. The D70s prints were crisp, clean and sharp. The Canon was a tad bit soft for my taste. Not that it was a bad camera, but the D70s was better for my needs. The Nikon was easier to handle and a camera that for me was a steadier hold. The kit lens was far superior to the Canon! I don't plan to use the kit lens for everything (my next purchases are for the bigger glass) but the images I'm getting now are superb! For the short haul, the kit lens is what I have to use most often. I am borrowing a 28-200mm lens and while it is a bit older, the images still stand out! For less money than the 20d, I'm getting great quality SALEABLE IMAGES!!!! Did my first shoot for a client on Sunday and needed to do minimal adjustments in PS! The client is impressed and that is what truly matters. Instructions were well written and regular reading should be a part of the learning process with the D70s. It's not that the 20d is a bad camera...it's the fact that the D70s suits my needs better!

Customer Service

Not had to use yet!

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Minolta SLR