Nikon D70 announced

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Discussion

beano500

Original Poster:

20,854 posts

288 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
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Anyone considering the new D70 when it comes out?

The initial spec looks quite interesting, but I can't see if it's got a grip (like the MDB100) or will connect to remote cords like the MC-20?

getcarter

30,059 posts

292 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
quotequote all
From a review by Simon Stafford:

There is no optional multi-function grip like the MB-D100 available for the D70. It does accept three CR2 Lithium batteries in the dedicated MS-D70 battery holder as an alternative power supply to the EN-EL3.

beano500

Original Poster:

20,854 posts

288 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
quotequote all
Thanks Steve

I'm really quite torn - my current F90X gets a lot of use in portrait mode and the MB10 is worth it's weight just for the shutter release; since I haven't got the MB-15 grip, it's another reason my F100 is still in pristine condition!!! So how to make a further move to digital - which is turning out to be so much more convenient than film?

I like the D100 except for price and the fact that it is small and fiddly! Guess I'll have to handle the D70 before I can make up my mind, but the spec looks good.

Am pretty much committed to Nikon because of my lens range. But was thinking about one of the new Fuji S5000/7000s as an additiona rather than a replacement. Am not sure that a D70 will be "affordable" to my budget!

simpo two

88,603 posts

278 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
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I'm in much the same boat - though can't justify binning the F70 for a while. From what I've read the Fuji compares well if not better than the lower Nikon digital SLRs - but can you really go round with 'FinePix' written on your camera??!

At least, by the time I've scraped up another grand, these beasts will be about £50 each!

Scooby_snax

1,279 posts

267 months

Sunday 15th February 2004
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Might be worth looking out for a second hand D100...I imagine quite a few D100 owners may be tempted by the D2H
I agree though that if it had the capability of taking the base unit with the extra shutter release then it would make a cheap back up digital....most of my shots are in vertical plane too

Edt

5,152 posts

297 months

Monday 16th February 2004
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beano500 said:
Thanks Steve

I'm really quite torn - my current F90X gets a lot of use in portrait mode and the MB10 is worth it's weight just for the shutter release; since I haven't got the MB-15 grip, it's another reason my F100 is still in pristine condition!!! So how to make a further move to digital - which is turning out to be so much more convenient than film?

I like the D100 except for price and the fact that it is small and fiddly! Guess I'll have to handle the D70 before I can make up my mind, but the spec looks good.

Am pretty much committed to Nikon because of my lens range. But was thinking about one of the new Fuji S5000/7000s as an additiona rather than a replacement. Am not sure that a D70 will be "affordable" to my budget!


Was waiting ages for the Fj s7000 but really wan not impressed with the results I saw.

Ed

beano500

Original Poster:

20,854 posts

288 months

Monday 16th February 2004
quotequote all
Edt said:



Was waiting ages for the Fj s7000 but really wan not impressed with the results I saw.

Ed


And, is it just me or, it looks overpriced for the spec when next to the S5000.

Edt

5,152 posts

297 months

Tuesday 17th February 2004
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What annoys is Fuji's claimed resolution, which is a load of balls !! Have you seen how bad the 7000's '12 million' pixel output looks ?!?!?! It's the same as some DV cameras that boast 100 x zoom.. all rubbish

Ed

CVP

2,799 posts

288 months

Thursday 19th February 2004
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beano500 said:
Anyone considering the new D70 when it comes out?

The initial spec looks quite interesting, but I can't see if it's got a grip (like the MDB100) or will connect to remote cords like the MC-20?


Doesn't connect to MC20 and doesn't have a grip like the MBD100, so no vertical shutter release.

I initally wasn't convinced by digital but after seeing some output from the D100 I changed my F5 for a D100 + MBD100. I've never regretted this, it's a top notch piece of kit. OK it's not built a solidly as the F5, but then a fairer comparison would be the D1 and now D2 which will be robust enough to take the knocks of professional life.

I'v seen the spec of the D70 and it looks really interesting, same resolution and the D100, spot metering etc. For me it's got almost everything. I reckon the only downsides are the lack of remote cord release (although it does have a small remote transmitted so you can set off the self timer from the front) and no ability to have portrait format release. If these two things are vitial to you then I would say the D100 is your weapon of choice, otherwise D70 seems pretty good.

Getcarter quoted Simon Stafford about the D70. There's not a lot Simon doesn't know about Nikon, in fact I'd go as far as saying there isn't anything he doesn't know.

Also talk to the guys at Grays of Westminster (who Simon works closely with) www.graysofwestminster.co.uk. A most excellent Nikon establishment, often selling brand new stuff at very reasonable prices and with service second to none. I'm not linked ot them apart from being avery satisfied customer over the last few years.

Chris

simpo two

88,603 posts

278 months

Thursday 19th February 2004
quotequote all
Edt said:
What annoys is Fuji's claimed resolution, which is a load of balls !! Have you seen how bad the 7000's '12 million' pixel output looks ?!?!?!


Pity. Marketing depts have obviously cottoned on to the fact that most people buy a camera based on the number of pixels. I suspect *price* might be a better arbiter of quality....

Edt

5,152 posts

297 months

Thursday 19th February 2004
quotequote all
simpo two said:

Edt said:
What annoys is Fuji's claimed resolution, which is a load of balls !! Have you seen how bad the 7000's '12 million' pixel output looks ?!?!?!



Pity. Marketing depts have obviously cottoned on to the fact that most people buy a camera based on the number of pixels. I suspect *price* might be a better arbiter of quality....



The new(ish) Sony 828 was another bitter disappointment. The excellent review on dpreview.com called it something like 'a triumph of marketing over function'

Bah

stuh

2,557 posts

286 months

Sunday 22nd February 2004
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Got someone going over to the states to pick one of these up for me. It'll be my first "proper" SLR and i'm wondering what advice anyone could offer of a suitable lense for wildlife shots ?

simpo two

88,603 posts

278 months

Sunday 22nd February 2004
quotequote all
stuh said:
Got someone going over to the states to pick one of these up for me. It'll be my first "proper" SLR and i'm wondering what advice anyone could offer of a suitable lense for wildlife shots ?


To get decent shots of timid creatures, you'll need a long (telephoto) lens, I'd guess at least 300mm. If fast shutter speed is important to you (ie to freeze moving objects), then you'll need a telephoto that's not only long but 'fast', ie has a large maximum aperture. Unfortunately such lenses have big elements = lots of glass = big money. f5.6 is about average for an autofocus lens, but you can get up to f2.8 if you're rich!

stuh

2,557 posts

286 months

Sunday 22nd February 2004
quotequote all
OK. Well i'd like something that's suitable for the camera, Nikkor ? Also that i can use without a tripod as i'll be in the back of a safari jeep ? Would say $500 get me something decent ?

getcarter

30,059 posts

292 months

Monday 23rd February 2004
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stuh

I got most these ( www.stevecarter.com/notsowild/notsowild.htm ) with a fairly cheap Nikon Lens - the Nikor 70-300 ED. Of course to all the Nikon digital SLRs that will effectively be a 105-450.

To get really decent pics of creatures a long way off, you'll have to spend a lot of money.

Steve

simpo two

88,603 posts

278 months

Monday 23rd February 2004
quotequote all
stuh said:
OK. Well i'd like something that's suitable for the camera, Nikkor ? Also that i can use without a tripod as i'll be in the back of a safari jeep ? Would say $500 get me something decent ?


Yes, I have the Nikkor 70-300ED and it's very good. You can also get independent lenses in Nikon fit - Sigma seem to be the top choice at the moment.

Whether or not you need a tripod is a function of shutter speed and focal length - the longer the lens, the higher the shutter speed needs to be to prevent camera-shake. The usual guide is that for hand-held photography, you should use 1/60th sec or faster at 50mm, 1/250th sec or faster at 300mm, etc. However, I'd have thought that bouncing around in a Land Rover would make it pretty impossible; you'll have to stop first!

Fast lenses will not only be way over $500 but heavy and cumbersome for what's basically a holiday, so I'd say a 70-300 is a good compromise.

stuh

2,557 posts

286 months

Monday 23rd February 2004
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Thanks guys

Any links to specific lenses at good prices ?

getcarter

30,059 posts

292 months

ehasler

8,568 posts

296 months

Monday 23rd February 2004
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Or £99 at Warehouse Express!

Or even £89 at Park Cameras, although both these prices are for the non ED version...

>> Edited by ehasler on Monday 23 February 10:58