Backup Questions

[Kathy121622]

I am starting to do weddings with my D100 and SB80. Yesterday, I bought a D70 for my backup camera. In the past, I've carried my husbands's N80 with me. Comparing the spec sheets for the D70 and the D100, I am a little concerned that the D70 only shoots compressed raw and I saw that it shoots less frames per second. Are there other differences that I should be concerned about?

Second, the guy at the camera shop recommended the Metz 54 MZ-4 for my flash. I asked him if it supported I-TTL and he said it did. I've been reading around the internet this am, and I'm not sure it does. I'm wondering now if I should return the Metz flash and exchange it for the SB-800? Since the primary function of the camera and flash are backups for the D100...are the SB80 and the SB800 pretty much interchangeable between the two cameras? I also saw that the SB600 is coming out maybe during the summer...what features will it have that the SB800 doesn't have?

I have another wedding at the end of May, so need to resolve these things fairly quickly.

TIA for your help.
Kathy

 

[Yves P.]

I am starting to do weddings with my D100 and SB80. Yesterday, I
bought a D70 for my backup camera. In the past, I've carried my
husbands's N80 with me. Comparing the spec sheets for the D70 and
the D100, I am a little concerned that the D70 only shoots
compressed raw and I saw that it shoots less frames per second.

What do you mean ? The D-70 shoots 3 FSP, 1/2 FPS faster than the D-100. It also writes compressed nefs faster than the un Comp Nefs from the D-100

Are there other differences that I should be concerned about?

Second, the guy at the camera shop recommended the Metz 54 MZ-4 for
my flash. I asked him if it supported I-TTL and he said it did.
I've been reading around the internet this am, and I'm not sure it
does. I'm wondering now if I should return the Metz flash and
exchange it for the SB-800? Since the primary function of the
camera and flash are backups for the D100...are the SB80 and the
SB800 pretty much interchangeable between the two cameras? I also
saw that the SB600 is coming out maybe during the summer...what
features will it have that the SB800 doesn't have?

I have another wedding at the end of May, so need to resolve these
things fairly quickly.

TIA for your help.
Kathy

--
Yves P.
PBASE Supporter

Some pictures I like:
http://www.pbase.com/yp8/root

 

[Joe Marques]

I am starting to do weddings with my D100 and SB80. Yesterday, I
bought a D70 for my backup camera. In the past, I've carried my
husbands's N80 with me. Comparing the spec sheets for the D70 and
the D100, I am a little concerned that the D70 only shoots
compressed raw and I saw that it shoots less frames per second.
Are there other differences that I should be concerned about?

The D70 has a much faster processor and will outperform the D100 speed wise so no need to worry (it's the same fps IIRC and will blow away the D100 writing to card). The D70 doesn't trail the D100 in any performance category.

Look at Thom Hogan's comparison:

http://www.bythom.com/D70.htm

Second, the guy at the camera shop recommended the Metz 54 MZ-4 for
my flash. I asked him if it supported I-TTL and he said it did.
I've been reading around the internet this am, and I'm not sure it
does. I'm wondering now if I should return the Metz flash and
exchange it for the SB-800? Since the primary function of the
camera and flash are backups for the D100...are the SB80 and the
SB800 pretty much interchangeable between the two cameras? I also
saw that the SB600 is coming out maybe during the summer...what
features will it have that the SB800 doesn't have?

Why is the D70 a backup to the D100? It has faster writing, better meter, superior flash performance and identical if not better output?

As for your question, find a new camera shop with knowledgeable staff. Nikon i-TTL is only supported by the latest NIKON flashes as part of their creative lighting system - SB800 and SB600. I wouldn't use anything other than one of these on the D70 based on my experience with the D2H/SB800 combo. i-TTL flashes aren't just about wireless - they are more accurate with the color metering of the D70/D2H.

Having upgraded from a D100/SB80DX to a D2H/SB800 I'm willing to make you a friendly wager. Borrow/rent an SB-800 and use it with your D70 then use your D100 with the SB80DX under varied shooting conditions - I bet you a $1 that after this test the D70/SB800 will be your main camera and the D100 the back-up (and you'll be selling your SB-80DX on ebay).

--
Joe