Hello all,

I recently purchased a Nikon D70S in like new condition for approximately $324. It came with 3 batteries 1 7v and 2 7.4v's, charger, strap, body cap, a 1GB memory stick and the 18-70mm Nikkor Lens along with a Lowepro case. (Nikon Picture Project 1.5 software and manual was not included). Not sure if it has the rubber eye piece and the vacant slot on the top leads me to believe it didn't come with the additional flash attachment? I'm not sure if that's standard or not.

Now I am a complete n00b and i'm not into photography, but I bought this for my gf and I don't want to give her some outdated yesterdays tech that may also #### out on her later. I sprang for it in the moment since we were planning on researching and choosing a camera for her this week for the holiday season. I was hoping some wise people here may be able to steer me into the right direction.

I have heard that this unit is a bit old in technology and I really want her to have something that will take a long time to grow out of without being too over the top in expertise. I have read that there can be a bluish tint on some shots and that the memory card jams or even the mirror (There was a lock feature in the control panel for it i don't know if that is a fix or not).

I know i'm not allowed to post a "What should I get?" type post but gosh sometimes you experienced folk don't understand how difficult it is when it's all so new to you and you don't want to end up with anything less than the best bang for your buck. Sticking with this model, being already outdated conjures up images of a few years down the line and it being even older and more outdated. I'm no expert but to me it's not worth the price since it has been replaced by the D90 which is almost double the resolution @ 12.3 vs 6.1. Amazon lists it for a little over a $1k and oddly enough someone is selling the D70 for $2,500k new.. does anyone know why the older one is going for more than the newer?

I believe I can resell mine for about $400/450? ..and roll it into our budget which would be $250 to $400 even $450 tops with all accessories and shipping.

Caveat: She is new to photography but knowledgeable and a fast learner. She is also a graphics designer.. Should I stick with this D70S with the potential of it crapping out later and being antiquated more as time passes or is there a better decision I can get right now that I will be happy with 5 years down the line?

Finally, the biggest thing I am hoping to gain from this post is the timing of the purchase. Is now really the best time or should we wait until Black Friday or until after the holiday season? I know BF tends to only benefit those in the market for beginner level models but I could be wrong. When is the best time to get the best deals during a holiday season?

P.S. Brands don't matter to me; only overall value and quality does. Price is second to that for me.

Well, now that you've bought it…
Sounds to me like buyer's remorse or insecurity.
There were a lot of great images that were produced with the help of this model, and, don't forget it used to be the latest.
With your budget, I think you did fine and you should let her enjoy it until she needs something more. She'll have plenty to learn with just learning post processing.
If it doesn't work, just sell it and buy her a point and shoot.
All these cameras take nice pictures, but they still require someone to press the shutter at the right moment at the right place.

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You know now that you mention it, I don't think that she will take as serious an interest in photography as I was hoping for. What would you say is the best point and shoot model that does automatic post processing very well while still allowing a degree of photographic manipulation (pre and post).

To reiterate, What is a real "nice" point and shoot to get her that is in the same budget as the Nikon D70S that would be a fair or equal trade/upgrade?

In that case I would recommend the Nikon J1, preferably in a nice red or pink colour! J1 makes a very nice package for someone you describe like your GF.

I just bought the corresponding V1 model and am quite happy with it so far.

Best regards, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
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Funny you should mention that KnightPhoto! I guess Nikon knows very well how to track potential customers because between only visiting this site, flickr and amazon about this camera including consulting Google they had advertised a banner ad to me on a random site for the new Nikon 1 and I was totally checking it out last night. It is a gorgeous camera but as with all things that look too good to be true..

I just don't want to sacrifice functionality for beauty and she is not the type to appreciate that trade off either logically (thank god right?). The features it sports are really great, logical and very well thought out as I can definitely relate to them. While design/color, (they charge $30 more for pink what a rip off haha!) features, mobility and performance justify the high price for this model (it's slightly out of my budget) I am concerned with the potential low-light issues.

I'm new here and not 100% sure if we can post links but read the review for the Nikon 1 here (there are only 2) and you can see my comment concerning that issue:

http://www.amazon.com/review/R14C0V8QGYAY4Y/ref=cm_cd_NOREF?_encoding=UTF8&cdForum=Fx3D6VLVNZMUGXZ&cdPage=&asin=B005OGQY5U&newContentNum=2&cdMSG=addedToThread&store=photo&cdThread=Tx7L9EAZDL0EWG&newContentID=MxZR0C1MVLUFII#CustomerDiscussionsNRPB

She does not need the close-up lens so that cuts it from $900-1200 down to $600. I personally think it's a rip off when the lens costs anymore than half of the camera itself. Some of these cost more than the camera itself, it's highway robbery! Her biggest issue will be lack of control (especially indoors) of lighting and between her cheap digi cam, cell phone cam and webcam the biggest fail and motivator for this purchase is the lack of performance in those low light conditions.

By the way, what is the main difference between the J1 and V1?

Main difference is the V1 has the EVF, so you can shoot it discretely like I do in darkened theatre with the LCD turned off. Competitor camera EVF add-on accessories cost in the same ballpark as the J1-V1 price difference. The other advantage of EVFs are shooting in bright sunlight.

V1 also has a switchable electronic or mechanical shutter (J1 elec only), V1 has a bigger buffer for continuous shooting.

J1 is smaller.

Best regards, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
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I would guess "the D70 for $2,500k new" is a typo and it is the D700 selling for $2,500k.

KenL

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Nope not a typo! Check it out:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=nikon+d70s&x=0&y=0

It confused me too initially and is the only price for new ones there. Everything else is used.. maybe they are harder to find new now that they have been replaced making them a bit of a collector item or no?

Hi ______,

Welcome to Nikonians!
The $2499.95 price listed at Wall Street Photo on Amazon is more than likely a scam. Wall Street Photo has a 0.00 rating at www.resellerratings.com which is as bad as it gets.

The D70S was introduced in May 2005 with a sreet price of $899.95 for the body only and $1199.95 for the D70S w/18-70mm kit lens.
Nikon D70S Press Release
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty

Haha you guys must be mind readers! I was just reading this article from April 20th 2005 and learned that.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0504/05042003nikond70s.asp

It talks about the differences between the D70 and D70S because for some reason the D70S shots look so much better to me.

Example:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobs_images/6293288828/in/pool-26555142@N00/lightbox/

The technology improvements seem to be minor so it must just be me?

It really is a great camera and shines over the Nikon 1 in many ways.

"Demonstrating just how well Nikon understands that performance is paramount when capturing precious moments, every system within the camera is optimized to keep the photographer on top of the action. Powering up in a mere 0.2 seconds, the D70s is ready to shoot the instant it is turned on. Shutter release time lag is minimized for quick response that makes shooting more efficient and more enjoyable. It is also capable of shooting a rapid 3 frames per second for a continuous burst of 144 pictures*."

144 vs I believe 16 for the J1 and 30 for the V1.

Then:

"Shutter speeds of 30 to 1/8,000 sec. ensure full creative control. The built-in auto pop-up flash can synchronize at shutter speeds of up to 1/500 sec. for great fill flash effects. Its new optimized design also increases flash coverage to support lenses as wide as 18mm. Sensitivity can be set between ISO 200 to 1600 or controlled automatically (AUTO ISO) across the same range of settings to maximize available light."

+

"The 5-area autofocus system continues to feature a cross-type sensor in the center, broad frame coverage, and class-leading low light detection, but is improved to deliver greater precision with fast, more consistent subject acquisition and improved focus tracking. Also included is an AF-assist illuminator to help maximize performance when shooting in low lighting conditions."

Seems to position this one above the J1 or V1 for our low-light situation..

This is just nuts:

"Nikon's 3D Color Matrix Metering with 1,005-pixel sensor delivers consistently accurate exposure automatically by measuring brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area, and subject-to-camera distance information for each shot, and then referencing the results against an onboard database of 30,000 scenes from actual photography. Variable center-weighted metering and a choice of five spot meters are also available, as are exposure compensation, and auto exposure bracketing." (30,000 Built-In? Wow.)

And finally:

"The new high-energy rechargeable lithium-ion battery EN-EL3a delivers the power to shoot up to 2,500 images* on a single charge. The D70s can also be powered by the EN-EL3 battery used by the Nikon D100 and D70, or by CR2 batteries when using the optional battery holder (MS-D70)."

The J1 has a max of 230 per charge and the V1 400.

Plus everything else makes it hard to sacrifice this for the few smart features the Nikon 1 has..

The D70S is also compatible with the EN-EL3e battery used in the D200, D300, D300S, and D700.
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty

The D70s is pretty "obsolete" - but it still takes excellent pictures. The D90 is also pretty much "obsolete." And whatever you buy today will be obsolete in four years or less. And, like today's D70s, they will all take excellent pictures in five years.

> sometimes you experienced folk don't understand how difficult it is when it's all so new to you and you don't want to end up with anything less than the best bang for your buck.

On the contrary, some of the most experienced folk will recognize your deal as quite an excellent entry. Used equipment is nearly always a better bang-for-the-buck play than new. You just can't get the latest technology that way - but then again, photography and even digital photography has matured to an extent that the improvements are often relatively in the margins.

Consider these two images:





One was taken with a setup that includes a 7-year-old D100 DSLR (even older than a D70, which is older than a D70s), the $120 18-55VR kit lens from the D40, using a lightweight, underpowered travel tripod. The other was shot with a D3, the $1800 24-70/f2.8 AFS (a lens noted for low light ability) and a tripod that I otherwise use to support an 11lb 400/f2.8. And there is a fairly interesting mistake in the capture of one of them. Which is which and why?

Your D70s can provide results similar to these, which are night scenes and are more challenging than many of the opportunities you will come across. Of course you can spend more - but particularly within your $450 budget, you won't find much of an upgrade that is feasible.

As far as resolution goes, yes, the D70s has a little better than a third of the resolution of a current D7000 and a quarter of a D3x ($6500+). What that buys you is the ability to make bigger prints. But how often will you exploit that capability? I used my 6mp D100 (more or less the same sensor as in the D70 and D70s) to make a full-color magazine cover (typical 8x11.5" size). I have a print on my office wall that is a 16x20" - and it is from my D2h, which is only 4mp, not 6mp. Not a single viewer has realized that it was from the totally "obsolete" D2h and not from one of my newer, bigger cameras, all of which are obsolete now. Of course, with a 4mp image one has to be letter-perfect to make a 16x20, and even at that some subjects don't work out all that well. But that's a 16x20, and it's 4mp. How often do you need to make 11x14 prints or larger?

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

Hi Brian,

Brilliant train shots, theres something about them, they're big bits of metal made to last.

Has it something to do with the smoke on the top picture, it looks like the train is going backwards but when you look closely at the front wheel it looks like theres a hard stop on the track to prevent the train from moving.

all the best

stevo

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> it looks like the train is going backwards

Alas, 614 can't move under her own power, as her flue time has expired and she requires some fairly extensive boiler inspection work to be legally allowed to steam. So she wasn't moving, and the smoke was being blown by the wind. (Indeed, the smoke is from a smoke generator, since in fact we can't fire her up.) There's no wheel chock - her brakes are in fine working condition and are easily sufficient to stop a 5000 ton train on a downhill run, let alone her own weight.

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

> Is now really the best time or should we wait until Black Friday or until after the holiday season?

Waiting this year could be a serious mistake. With Nikon's primary manufacturing facility in Thailand literally flooded and under nearly three meters of water, their products are going to be very scarce for the next few months. This is compounded by the fact that their primary Japanese manufacturing plant in Sendai was heavily affected by the earthquake in the spring. Even though Nikon is bringing up a new plant elsewhere, some of their supply chain is also disrupted. By the end of the holiday season prices are likely to be higher than they are now, not lower. This is a very unusual situation, but it's very real nonetheless.

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

My wife and I still use our D70s. Dated, yes; outmoded, no. That's if what you are really looking for is a multi function DSLR camera that will produce excellent jpg images that are more than adequate for 8x10 prints and electronic sharing. The 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 AFS DX lens is an excellent kit lens, one that we've used extensively on several different cameras.

There are some annoyances that are obvious as the technology progresses. One is the smallish LCD display on the back of the camera. However, the camera has a very capable "auto" mode and the whole array of P,S,A,M modes for more user control.

I often use our D70s with a 24mm f/2.8 AFD lens for a smallish street camera.

It's always tricky buying a camera for someone else. I'd certainly try using the camera and passing it around. It sounds like your gf is familiar with post processing software so shooting in RAW might be another way to wring even more from this camera.

Enjoy, if you decide to resell you should be able to get most of your money back, the lens is worth at least half what you paid for the outfit.

Best Regards,
Roger

I only recently upgraded from my D70 to an already obsolete D90. I kept the D70 as backup. Both are fine cameras, and if the D90 fell apart tomorrow it would not be a real hardship to go back to the D70. You should keep the one you bought and use it, you'll quickly learn how nice it is. You certainly shouldn't have any worries about the quality of the camera or the images it makes.

Gary
"Yea, Sussex by the sea!" - Rudyard Kipling

I bought my D70s in early 2006 and upgraded to a D90 about a year ago. The D70s is a great camera and capable of excellent images with the 18-70 lens. I think you made an excellent purchase. It is as easy to use as any point and shoot and at the price very comparable. I would definitely keep the D70s and use it. My wife claimed my D70s after I purchased my D90 and she is not a photographer and knows very little about it. She shoots in auto mode like you basically would with a point and shoot and loves it. We recently returned from a trip to New Mexico and the images with the D70s she took were great. She was excited and has caused her to gain some interest in learning more about photography. I guess what I am saying is that I believe the purchase you made is a great entry level into digital photography. This camera will take you a long way into learning about photography and discovering how much interest you have, at a very inexpensive price. I don't need another camera, but if I found a D70s in like new condition at that price with all the items you got with it I would buy it today. The D70s is a great camera!

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Good golly, KEEP the D70s. It's a great camera, it's better than any "point and shoot" for sure ... but it'll do the "point and shoot" when needed in the lazy auto mode and it'll do it before the shot is lost unlike those "point and shoot" cams.

I know what is bugging you, it's the 6.1 mp figure ain't it? The D70 has a great sensor that is full size at 3008 pixels wide and 2000 pixels tall and those pixels are some larger and gather more light than many of those smaller pixels in smaller but higher mp rated sensors. The prints from a D70 or 70s that is used with good technique will stand up very well in comparison.

If you're taking pictures to print or store for normal use, the D70 / 70s will be way more than just adequate, they do a super job.

Yeah, I like my D70. It's been good to me and it shoots as well today as it ever did. I thought a lot about a D90 (I prefer it over the other new ones for my uses), but after looking at my pics and realizing I don't need the video ... I pulled the trigger on a "like new" virtually unused D70s as a backup or companion .... I'm happy.

She will be too.

Lots of good advice here. And here's my two cents worth: My first DSLR was a D70s. It has over 100,000 actuations on it and is still going strong. I still use it as a second camera at weddings and community events. When all is said and done, nobody can tell the difference between my D70s shots and my D300 shots without looking at the file or image size.

They were great cameras when the were introduced and they haven't gotten any worse since then. Ad a great lens and you will get some terrific images.

C. Michael Hager
Your most important piece of photo equipment is built into your face.
www.cmhager.com/Content/photo.shtml

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I'm still using a D70 (pre D70s) and it works great. It still takes excellent pictures and is as usable as a DSLR can be, for a new user.

Best Regards

SP

Learning a little bit more, every day...

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Hi,

I bought an D70S for my GF last november. At the beginning i was not sure if i should pic the new D5100, with 14MP i guess, or this "obsolete" camera.
I opted for the D70S because of the controls are more "D90 like", which i own, and if she will be more in the "photo mind", like me, when she will decide to upgrade it will be easier and smother.
The first pictures i saw in the PC i was quite suprised about the IQ achieved - very similar with my D90 pics.
This is a very nice "obsolete" camera. I've been lucky that she's loving it, and a few days ago she told me that she'll upgrade (by me, lol) to an used "not so obsolete" D300/D300s.


José

Nikonians!!! My best investment made after my camera!!!

D90, F80, F Photomic FTn

Another happy owner of the 2 obsolete Nikon D70s and D90 cameras. I have a D70s that was stolen when my house got burglarized, so I bought a D90 with the insurance money. Then my D70s was recovered at a pawn store (always record those serial numbers ) and I bought it back for the price that was paid by the pawn store.

I ended up giving my D70s to my wife and she really likes it.

Like others have said, even though it is 6MP, it has a nice large sensor.

I don't know that I would have upgraded, had it not been stolen.

Reading the comments above I don't recall mention that the D70 and D70s have the so called screwdriver focussing motor and thus are able to make use of a very wide range of older lenses as well as all current lenses.

My D70s's are always charged up and ready for use :>)

Regards,
Clive Liddell
Pietermaritzburg
South Africa

I happened to carry my D70 along on a shoot last night as a backup. Had just put up my other gear, and just picked up the D70/SB-800/85mm, when an opportunity arose to snap a good quick shot of the initial subject (a friend's daughter getting ready for first communion). Turned out that the two I snapped quickly with the D70 are two of the best of the entire night. The D70 is still an excellent camera.

I've got a D70 and a D70s. Sounds like you got your package for a steal! I think they are still good cameras and I've used mine along side of more advanced models. Yes, the sensor is a bit dated but still, as pointed out they were a great camera back in the day and are still capable of doing great shots. I'd stick with it and if you decide to get serious you can build up a great system from there.

On the other hand, the new Nikon 1 series cameras might be a good purchase if you want something smaller, but you'll have to pay a lot more!

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