Hey Steve,
You've gotten some decent advice throughout the thread...lots of good reading.
I'll address your main question at the end but will interject the odd comment on the way down.
I’m seeking guidance on upgrading my rig. I want to upgrade for the following reasons:
(1) I am dissatisfied with the lack of sharpness and detail – especially when I crop.
Given you current lenses (especially the sub-par 70-300) much of your sharpness issues may be attributed to the lens or lenses you own. When I put my 70-200 2.8 on my D70s I can get some pretty impressive results (the 70-200 is my best lens).
(2) I was shocked at the superior colors I got with a borrowed D3100.
For a couple of generations the entry level Nikons have been known for the terrific colors. This holds true with the D50, D40, D60 and D3100. They have been set up at the factory to produce nice saturated images right out of the box. Other cameras, such as the D70 or D300 are a little more muted and generally need some tweeking to produce the same kind of colors.
(3) I’m suffering from long-denied GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome).
You've had that D70s for a long enough time .... you deserve something new.
(4) Faster, better operations would sure be welcome.
Ergonomically, not much has changed between generations of these Nikons, just a few refinements here and there.
My current rig (bought in the mid-1800’s) is as follows:
(1) Nikon D70S
(2) Nikkor AF f/3.5-4.5 G 18-70mm (27-105mm equiv.)
(3) Nikkor AF f/4.0-5.6 G 70-300mm (105 – 450mm equiv.)
The 70-300 is the weakest link in your chain.
(4) Nikon Speedlight SB-800’s (two) plus stands and umbrellas
Awsome! Love the SB800...make sure you get a CLS compatible camera.
What I shoot:
(1) Portraits (adults and children)
(2) Nature (some landscapes, but mostly animals at a distance, plus flowers, etc.)
(3) General, family get-togethers, weddings, baptisms, etc.
(4) I almost always shoot RAW
How I process my results:
(1) I mostly use Lightroom, but sometimes I resort to Photoshop.
(2) 75% of my shots are sent out in digital format.
(3) 20% are sent to a photo processor.
(4) 5% are printed on my Epson Stylus Photo 1400.
What I am considering:
(1) Nikon D7000 (now)
(2) Other lenses in the distant future.
Rationale:
(1) Almost triple pixels (6 vs 16.2 mp) on the sensor should yield sharper crops
True, but the question is ...why are you cropping so much? Is it because your 18-70 doesn't zoom in enough for your shooting style? Is it because your 70-300 does a poor job near 300mm. Maybe there are ways to not crop so much...to use all of your sensor.
(2) Tremendous improvements in technology should result in better color, etc.
Not really, you will get some extra dynamic range (more detail in shadows with a given white point) and some improvements in high ISO noise (and of course some ISO settings that just aren't there on the old D70).
(3) Several generations improvement in technology in general (ease of use, etc.)
Again, not really, a Nikon is a Nikon is Nikon. The D70 is just as easy to use as the newer cameras.
(4) I really want to keep the Nikon CLS and Flash Command support.
Concerns:
(1) All the hoopla about defective D7000’s – although it appears that some of this has come from mob-hysteria, and more, from people who weren’t prepared for such a sophisticated camera, and the need to RTFM – so much smoke makes me worry about the possibility of some real fires. However, virtually every expert has praised the camera, and not one encountered any of the supposed issues. NOTE: I am not trying to “stir the pot” on this issue.
(2) Perhaps I should wait 6 – 24 months to ensure that something amazing doesn’t come out at about the same price point as the D7000.
If you are still with me, please forgive the lengthy posting – but I have seen many responses to similar questions which complained about insufficient information. Any suggestions would be most welcome. I think I am at that phase of analysis where one just goes around in circles, chasing one’s own tail!
You've had your camera long enough, an upgrade is certainly deserved. But I've also read that your budget doesn't allow you to upgrade both your lenses and to get a D7000. While the D7000 might be the best camera you can get in DX, the question remains....do you need the best? The answer is probably no. I think if I were you I'd be looking to pick up a D90 at a good price and use the savings to upgrade your lenses. The 18-70 is generally considered a decent lens so I'd keep that as a walk around zoom unless I found a great deal on D90+18-105 kit. Then look to shore up on the lens front. Depending on how you shoot maybe the new 85-1.8 is the way to go. Shallow depth of field often makes for a nice portrait. Or maybe the newer AFS 70-300 if you want the same focal length as you have now in a better lens (maybe Tamron). Heck, you can sometimes find a used copy of the terrific 80-200 2.8 push pull for around $400.
The old adage of lenses before camera comes into play here. However, no one can deny you that new camera smell....you've put in the years with the D70. I think a nice compromise might be something like a D90 and some new glass.
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eddyshoots
