Compared to...

People's first reaction to the D70, especially existing D100 owners was that it doesn't appear to be a downgrade from the D100. Indeed, this is also my reaction. Yes, the D70's design is simpler than the D100 and the menus have larger type face, there are some custom functions missing and you can't add a vertical hand grip. But in all other respects the D70 is as good as and in some cases better than the D100. This then makes the naming convention a little odd. From a competition point of view the D70 was clearly aimed at nudging the EOS 300D of its perch but is also capable of taking on the EOS 10D which costs quite a bit more.

 
Nikon D70
Nikon D100
Canon EOS 300D
Price $999 (body only) $1,499 (body only) $899 (body only)
Body Plastic Metal Plastic
Sensor 6 megapixel CCD (new) 6 megapixel CCD 6 megapixel CMOS
FOV crop 1.5x (Nikon DX) 1.5x (Nikon DX) 1.6x
Modes Auto, P, S, A, M, 6 scene P, A, S, M Auto, P, A, S, M, A-DEP, 6 scene
Image formats JPEG, RAW JPEG, RAW,TIFF JPEG, RAW
RAW+JPEG One RAW, One JPEG One RAW, One JPEG JPEG embedded in RAW
Image params Auto
Sharpness (6 settings)
Tone (6 settings)
Saturation (3 settings)
Hue (7 settings)
7 preset parameter sets		 Auto
Sharpness (4 settings)
Tone (4 settings)
Hue (7 settings)		 Contast (5 settings)
Sharpness (5 settings)
Saturation (5 settings)
Color tone (5 settings)
3 preset parameter sets
Color 2 x sRGB, Adobe RGB 2 x sRGB, Adobe RGB 1 x sRGB, Adobe RGB
ISO 200 - 1600 (1/3 EV steps) 200 - 1600 (1/3 EV steps)
3200, 6400 via boost		 100 - 1600 (1 EV steps)
Exp. compen. +/- 5 EV
1/3 or 1/2 EV steps		 +/- 5 EV
1/3 or 1/2 EV steps		 +/- 2 EV
1/3 EV steps
Flash exp compen. -3 to +1 EV
1/3 or 1/2 EV steps 		-3 to +1 EV
1/3 or 1/2 EV steps 		No
Metering 3D matrix, 1005 pixel 3D matrix, 10 segment 35 zone
Shutter 30 - 1/8000 sec 30 - 1/4000 sec 30 - 1/4000 sec
Flash X-sync External: up to 1/500 sec 1/180 sec 1/200 sec
AF mode Single, Continuous Single, Continuous Not manually selectable
AF area mode Single, Dynamic, Closest Single, Dynamic, Closest Single, Dynamic
AF assist White lamp White lamp Flash strobe, must be up
AF system 5-point
Multi-CAM900		 5-point
Multi-CAM900		 7-point
TTL CMOS sensor
Continuous JPEG: 3 fps, 12 images *1
RAW: 3 fps, 4 images		 JPEG: 3 fps, 6 images
RAW: 3 fps, 3 images		 JPEG: 2.5 fps, 4 images
RAW: 2.5 fps, 4 images
Self-timer 2 - 20 sec 2 - 20 sec 10 sec
WB Auto, 6 preset, manual
Can be fine tuned		 Auto, 6 preset, manual
Can be fine tuned		 Auto, 6 preset, manual
Bracketing AE, White Balance AE, White Balance AE, White Balance
i-TTL flash Yes No n/a
D-TTL flash Yes Yes n/a
Slow sync flash 1st or 2nd Curtain 1st or 2nd Curtain 1st Curtain
Viewfinder Pentamirror
Eyepoint: 18 mm
(-1.6 to +0.5 m-1 dioptre)		 Pentaprism
Eyepoint: 24 mm
(-2.0 to +1.0 m-1 dioptre) 		Pentaprism
Eyepoint: 20 mm
(-3.0 to +1.0 m-1 diopter)
LCD 1.8", 130,000 pixels 1.8", 118,000 pixels 1.8", 118,000 pixels
Orientation sensor Yes No Yes
Custom functions 9 or 25 settings 24 settings None
Memory banks One Two One
Storage CF, FAT16/FAT32 CF, FAT16/FAT32 CF, FAT16/FAT32
Power Lithium-Ion EN-EL3
CR2 carrier		 Lithium-Ion EN-EL3 Lithium-Ion BP-511
Connectivity USB 2.0 (only 1.1 speed) USB 1.1 USB 1.1
Text comment Yes, embedded in EXIF Yes, embedded in EXIF No
PictBridge Yes No Yes
Dimensions 140 x 111 x 78 mm 144 x 116 x 81 mm 142 x 99 x 72 mm
Weight (no batt) 595 g 700 g 560 g
Remote release Infrared (optional) Wired (optional) Wired (optional)
Infrared (optional)
Vertical grip No Yes, optional Yes, optional
Status LCD Top of camera, backlit Top of camera, backlit Rear of camera, backlit
Command dials One rear, One front One rear, One front One top
Power on Virtually instant Virtually instant 3 seconds
Shutter release Very fast Fast Fast

*1 The D70 buffers the final image rather than the 'RAW data' and at lower image sizes / qualities can shoot hundreds in a single burst.