Need second body: D80 or D70s

I'm going to Africa next year and I'm looking for a second body to reduce lens changes because of the dust. I already have a D70 and I'm wondering if I should buy another D70(s), wait for the new D80 or even buy a D50?

Whatever camera it will be I will have to buy new memory cards. The advantage of a new D70(s) is that I can use the new cards also with my current D70. My PD70X will swallow both CF and SD so that is no problem.

Suggestions?

--
Kees

For a collection of photos see http://www.kdbruin.net/gallery2/

I wouldn't let memory cards determine my camera choice.

At some stage they will be too slow for future cameras anyway, so the technology inherently changes, and the big mo seems to be behind SD cards now, as their more compact size fits into a wider range of products so they get more development dollars and greater economies of scale.

Unless I desperately needed the faster flash synch I would go for the D80 - the viewfinder alone is worth it - it really, really helps to be able to see what you are shooting! ;-)

kdbruin said:

I'm going to Africa next year and I'm looking for a second body to
reduce lens changes because of the dust. I already have a D70 and
I'm wondering if I should buy another D70(s), wait for the new D80
or even buy a D50?

Whatever camera it will be I will have to buy new memory cards. The
advantage of a new D70(s) is that I can use the new cards also with
my current D70. My PD70X will swallow both CF and SD so that is no
problem.

Suggestions?

--
Kees

For a collection of photos see http://www.kdbruin.net/gallery2/

Click to expand...

--
Regards,
DaveMart

'Just a wildebeast on the plain of life'
Please see profile for equipment

I'd get the Nikon D80 without hesitation.

As David Martin said, don't let the SD cards be a factor in your decision.

Photographing stunning Africa? You'd need more pixels, not less. You need a camera with better colour and image quality (see links to full-sized, unprocessed photos at nikond80links.com/nikon-d80-reviews#JapaneseD80Samples). And if you're not the type who likes doing mundane stuff like lightening shadows in postprocessing, the D80 has that feature. More AF points give you greater compositional flexibility, eg use AF-C and track the running hyena's head using the upper right AF bracket. Use the More Vivid image optimization parameter to put the camera into Mode III sRGB, More Contrast, Enhanced Saturation and High Sharpening setting quickly for Landscape and Nature shots. Reduce postprocessing effort since the D80 shows promise (from the Japanese image samples) of better Automatic White Balance and nicely sharpened, non-dull JPEGs.

Oh yes, it'd be the D80 for me if I could buy one now.

--
Regards, David Chin
(D.7.0. & C.P.4.5.0.0.)

Nikon D80 Sneak Pictures and Buzz:
http://www.pbase.com/dlcmh/nikon_d80_sneak_pictures

Nikon D80 Links:
http://www.nikond80links.com

http://www.nikond80links.com/nikon-d80-reviews#JapaneseD80Samples

Sorry for the slip-up.
--
Regards, David Chin
(D.7.0. & C.P.4.5.0.0.)

Nikon D80 Sneak Pictures and Buzz:
http://www.pbase.com/dlcmh/nikon_d80_sneak_pictures

Links to all my other sites:
http://www.flickr.com/people/davidchinphoto

Thanks for the suggestions. The problem is that we will be leaving in january or february next year and based on the availability problems with the D70 and D200 I don't know if the D80 will be available on time.

--
Kees

For a collection of photos see http://www.kdbruin.net/gallery2/

If you get your name on a list you can get one before you go - I hope to get mine before the end of September.

kdbruin said:

Thanks for the suggestions. The problem is that we will be leaving
in january or february next year and based on the availability
problems with the D70 and D200 I don't know if the D80 will be
available on time

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/jola13

... kinda
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=19640669

From the 2nd set of full-sized D80 images featuring high-ISO shots and scenes with extreme contrast, I'm more convinced than ever about the D80's ability to deliver in the imaging department.

To the question of supply availability, did you have a chance to check with your local camera store?

--
Regards, David Chin
(D.7.0. & C.P.4.5.0.0.)

Nikon D80 Sneak Pictures and Buzz:
http://www.pbase.com/dlcmh/nikon_d80_sneak_pictures

Links to all my other sites:
http://www.flickr.com/people/davidchinphoto

Hi Kees,
The D80 is nice but I reckon you'll be on the waiting list for ages.

I would get another D70 and then upgrade the firmware through the free download from Nikon to the same as the D70s. The only difference is a slightly smaller screen. I have 2 x D70 at home and use 2 x D200 at work. The screen size does make a difference but doesn't, in my opinion justify the extra cash which you could spend on the memory cards or lenses.

Don't know how cheap memory cards are at home for you but here in UK I use http://www.mymemory.co.uk

I can get a 1Gb CF card for around £20.00 with postage and packing and SD cards are even cheaper.

Neal

David Chin said:

To the question of supply availability, did you have a chance to
check with your local camera store?

Click to expand...

Problem is the local camera stores will have the D80 but they charge top-euro for it. Usually the selling price is almost the same as the suggested selling price by Nikon. There are some larger stores that sell via the internet and they have competative prices so I will try these shops first.

--
Kees

For a collection of photos see http://www.kdbruin.net/gallery2/

Nealh said:

Hi Kees,
The D80 is nice but I reckon you'll be on the waiting list for ages.
I would get another D70 and then upgrade the firmware through the
free download from Nikon to the same as the D70s. The only
difference is a slightly smaller screen. I have 2 x D70 at home and
use 2 x D200 at work. The screen size does make a difference but
doesn't, in my opinion justify the extra cash which you could spend
on the memory cards or lenses.
Don't know how cheap memory cards are at home for you but here in
UK I use http://www.mymemory.co.uk
I can get a 1Gb CF card for around £20.00 with postage and packing
and SD cards are even cheaper.

Click to expand...

I wouldn't buy another D70 as there is the BGLOD issue and the D70s are also lowering in price. The prices for memory are also dropping and SD or CF doesn't really matter.

--
Kees

For a collection of photos see http://www.kdbruin.net/gallery2/

The stores here in Stockholm are supposed to get the D80 late August - and expect to get it by September! So, that should leave you plenty of time if you're leaving in January.

Stores here in the Netherlands should also have stock in september, but that is usually just 1 or 2 items. Also, the dutch importing firm INCA is no longer importing Nikon stuff as this is now handled by Nikon Germany. So this could also pose some problems.

--
Kees

For a collection of photos see http://www.kdbruin.net/gallery2/