The D70 was my first DSLR, a massive and expensive step from my F70 in 2004. And yet, it allowed me to get results that businesses and individuals were actually prepared to pay money for. Before the D70, I was a keen amateur. Now, photography is an important part of my income. A glass ceiling that I hadn't even been aware of using film as an amateur was suddenly removed.
Having used it for over two years, I feel I can accurately sum it up. It is a remarkable camera, one that will meet or surpass the needs of most of its users. Some users will say 'The flash keeps popping up'. If that's you, sell it and get a compact. If you say 'It's very noisy at ISO800' sell it and trade up.
In most respects the D70 is incredibly competent and probably more than a match for its users. It took me two years to grow out of it, and that's not for reasons of pixels or FPS, but autofocus speed and reliability in reportage situations. Other poor points are the tiny, dark viewfinder that make manual focus impossible, the excessive noise at high ISO, and certain important functions buried in menus. That's why I eventually traded up to a D200. But for most users, the D70 will be more than adequate for their needs, and even now, when it gets it right, the results still make me smile.
For that reason I shall keep it, not simply as emergency back-up but to play a useful role in reportage situations, avoiding the need for lens changes by keeping a Nikkor 17-55mm F2.8 on it. The D200 will have the 70-200 f2.8 where focus is more critical.
Thank you, D70, for providing a fantastic introduction to serious digital photography, for realising some superb images, and for paying back my investment many times over. You are still playing a useful role.
Problems:
Small, dim viewfinder
Noise
Having used it for over two years, I feel I can accurately sum it up. It is a remarkable camera, one that will meet or surpass the needs of most of its users. Some users will say 'The flash keeps popping up'. If that's you, sell it and get a compact. If you say 'It's very noisy at ISO800' sell it and trade up.
In most respects the D70 is incredibly competent and probably more than a match for its users. It took me two years to grow out of it, and that's not for reasons of pixels or FPS, but autofocus speed and reliability in reportage situations. Other poor points are the tiny, dark viewfinder that make manual focus impossible, the excessive noise at high ISO, and certain important functions buried in menus. That's why I eventually traded up to a D200. But for most users, the D70 will be more than adequate for their needs, and even now, when it gets it right, the results still make me smile.
For that reason I shall keep it, not simply as emergency back-up but to play a useful role in reportage situations, avoiding the need for lens changes by keeping a Nikkor 17-55mm F2.8 on it. The D200 will have the 70-200 f2.8 where focus is more critical.
Thank you, D70, for providing a fantastic introduction to serious digital photography, for realising some superb images, and for paying back my investment many times over. You are still playing a useful role.
Problems:
Small, dim viewfinder
Noise