Seriously thinking about purchasing the D70

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the wealth of information, guys. It's much appreciated.

We talked it over last night, and it's a done deal. The D70 will be ordered as soon as I can figure out what two lenses I'm starting with.

Len, would you like to chime in with your thoughts on lenses, especially macros? Between Mike, John and yourself that would give me more than enough to chew on before I came to y'all with what I'm planning.

I'll be bouncing all choices off you guys before I actually purchase...

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

In just doing some searching on RDO, it seems like the Nikon 60mm f2.8 micro lens is the one thing I should start with as far as macro shots.

Then all I would need is a general all-around lens, and one for sports and fast-moving things like cats fighting.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

In just doing some searching on RDO, it seems like the Nikon 60mm f2.8 micro lens is the one thing I should start with as far as macro shots.

Then all I would need is a general all-around lens, and one for sports and fast-moving things like cats fighting.

Peace,

Chip

Hey Chip,

I have a Nikkor 55mm micro (macro) for my 35mm. The 60mm is basically the same thing. It is a nice lens and give decent magnification. That would be a nice first lens and should be able to double as a "normal" lens (50mm). The only problem here is it's probably a bit slow compared to a f/1.8 or f/1.4 50mm. I use mine outdoors for a versatile micro (macro) and normal lens when space/weight is at a premium. I also have a f/1.4 50mm but often times use the 55mm micro as it has close focus feature throught the focal range.

The secone micro/macro you might consider for more magnification is the 110mm (or what ever it is now? I'm basing my info on older manual lenses). Do a google search for macro ratios to get a better idea here.

I have the following lenses in my bag and though I'd like more this pretty much has been able to cover just about every photo I've come across over the last 20 years.

28mm f/2.8
50mm f/1.4
55mm f/2.8 micro (macro)
105mm f/2.5
200mm f/4
300mm f/4.5
2x tele converter

All are Nikkor ai-s manual focus lenses (great glass..oldies)

As mentioned earlier, I like the fixed focal length lenses for sharpness & color rendition. If you decide to get a zoom try and cover a wide angle through portrait/short tele like a 28-90mm with as fast an aperature as you can afford. The second range would be 80-200mm. I don't like the super zooms like a 28-250 mm or something like that. Just too much of a range and I really feel you loose some clarity/sharpness not to mention acquire more flair.

I've rambled on enough for a day. I've got to go prepare for Ivan

I'm jealous. I want a new DSLR Let us know what you are thinking of getting . I'll be glad to give my free advice :twisted:

Cheers

BMP

 

[Anonymous]

Ok...I'm not done

If I could only own two lenses they would probably be.

55/60mm micro f/2.8
200 mm (as fast as you an afford)

My f/4 200mm is too slow IMO. I shoot with iso 400 and would like a bit more sppeeeeeeeed..even with the Florida sun. The problem is $$$$$. Speed kills (your wallet)

See if you can't borrow/rent various lenses before dropping the big bucks. Yeah..a PITA..but well worth it. Your photographic needs are unique to YOU..and despite getting our .o2 it really doesn't matter what John, Len or I think. Try them out first if at all possible. Even if you just run around best buy checking out various focal lengths.



BMP

 

[Anonymous]

Mike, as always, thanks. I'll definitely be getting the 60mm f2.8. I'll price up other lenses this week...

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Make sure you try B & H for prices. ( www.bhphotovideo.com ). Some of the best mail order pricing around. They're cheaper on the order of hundreds of dollars over buying most stuff locally for me.

Also another good place is www.adorama.com

Can't wait to see some stuff from your new gear!

 

[Anonymous]

Chip,
I love my D70 and would not hesitate to recommend this camera. I ordered it from B&H before it was released. One month after the release date I finally got it. They are clearly the best place to order from. Most pros use them exclusively.

I own 5 other Nikon lenses, so for me the D70 was a no brainer. Personally, I have found that the kit lens is actually a fine piece of glass for the money. This is not some junky lens that they threw together for this new body. I have heard that complaint about the Canon kit lens.

I only have one problem. When using my 60mm macro lens, my ringflash no longer works with my D70 body. This has bothered me when lighting with such a tight macro lens.

My other concern is the widespread warnings I have read about the introduction of dust onto the CCD whenever lenses are changed. Supposedly these CCDs have a charge to them that attracts dust, Many photographers are recommending that you keep your lens changing to a minimum and do it in a controlled environment. I have previously been known to change my lenses on my F4 in a moving waterski boat!! So far, no dust on my D70 that I can see.

Good luck and enjoy the purchase.

mitch

 

[RichK]

I just got a D70 as well. The selling point for me is that now I can use all my Nikkor SLR lenses in it. My only problem now is what do I do with my Nikon 8008s film camera? I took some shots at MACNA of the Boston skyline at night. The results were amazing. I used a 5 sec shutter speed and detail was great. Do a search for D70 reviews. They compare it to cameras costing 4x as much.

 

[fade2black]

I just got my D70 over the weekend. The kit lens that it comes with is a great lens! You can't go wrong with it really.

www.nikonians.org .....you're next addiction

 

[RichK]

Went to MACNA and tested the D70 out on a few things. Here is a small sample of the pictures I got. Sorry I didn't resize them, but I just wanted to post them quick. http://home.comcast.net/~richknecht/macna_2004.htm

 

[Anonymous]

I was just in Roberts' camera over the weekend and held a Canon 20D for the first time. :drool: Even if I hadn't already gotten started in Canon lenses, it would whup the pants off the D70 in my eyes. It's got a much more solid feel to it than the Nikon. I'm already starting to save my pennies. Maybe by christmas... hmmmm...

 

[Anonymous]

I was just in Roberts' camera over the weekend and held a Canon 20D for the first time. :drool: Even if I hadn't already gotten started in Canon lenses, it would whup the pants off the D70 in my eyes. It's got a much more solid feel to it than the Nikon. I'm already starting to save my pennies. Maybe by christmas... hmmmm...

Come on Sharkkman......why not just come out and tell them all their Nikons SUCK :wink:


What was the price on that noCan ........ughm Canon, John? Tax? :evil:

I like putting my $$$$ into the lenses and not the box 8)

I'm waiting for the Browney 3500 with 3500 megapixels and built in beer tap.

BMP (Nikon & Canon owner)

 

[fade2black]

it would whup the pants off the D70 in my eyes.

Of course it would, they aren't even in the same class. That's like comparing a digital rebel to a Nikon D2h

How about that new Nikon D2x? Now that is a camera!

 

[Anonymous]

$1499 for the 20D at Roberts, and they actually had them in stock.

I guess in a perfectly linear world, you'd be comaring the d70 to the canon 300d (digital rebel), and those two match up admirably. Where one has deficits, the other strengths, and vice versa. But Canon really has a range of 'intro' level DSLRs. The 300d, the 10d (now discontinued) and the 20d. None are designed to be true professional DSLRs, as the d70 isn't either.

I guess my whole point is that in my eyes, the d70 is much like the 300d, but several hundred dollars more expensive, and for only another $150/$200 more than that, you could go to the 20d.

But yeah, I am biased--I think canon has a better product overall, esepcially for the money. The d70 takes great shots, and I think its kit-lens is better glass than what the 300d comes with as a kit, but is it really several hundred dollars better?


On a different note, Roberts Camera had 1G CF cards for $89!!! 8O

 

[Anonymous]

On a different note, Roberts Camera had 1G CF cards for $89!!! 8O

Check out


Buy.com


They have some great specials on memory cards also. Picked up a couple 256mb cards for my parents for $15 @. Most are on sale NOW.

I've used these folks many times before and was always very happy with price and service.

Cheers

BMP

 

[fade2black]

Yeah, I just picked up a 512Mb SanDisk Ultra II from buy.com for $63 shipped. Don't order it if you need it in a hurry, it took 2 weeks before mine even shipped!

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I just picked up a 512Mb SanDisk Ultra II from buy.com for $63 shipped. Don't order it if you need it in a hurry, it took 2 weeks before mine even shipped!

Ouch....sorry to hear that. Did you select FREE SHIPPING? That is pretty slow. Their normal shipping has always been fast IME.

BMP

 

[Anonymous]

Is this just a new wave of price-drops for CF cards, or is there some new tech around the corner? Seems like about a year or so ago they suddenly dropped about 50% or so, then held steady, now they're dropping again.

 

[fade2black]

I think as technology progresses and they make larger and larger CF cards, they drop prices on the smaller cards. Personally, I wouldn't go with large CF cards, I would go with multiple smaller cards. That way if you have a card failure, you don't lose 200 pictures! 8O

 

[Anonymous]

Good point. My initial thought was to spring on that deal, but then I can shoot pretty much full resolution and get 100+ shots on a 256M card, so :shrug: Not much point in going to the 1G. Maybe when I get my 20d down the road a bit and am shooting at 8MP instead of 6.1MP...