Nikon D70 Digital Camera

I had been a die hard Nikon fan for many years...until I bought the D70(nikon en-el3). This was a backup body to my F3. Yes, I know that this seems quite backward from most other people, but I still prefer manual focus to auto focus. The camera worked well for a little over 12 months, then I had 3 "major module" failures at the same time. The folks at Nikon refused to consider that this particular unit may have been a lemon, and I had to pay full price for the repairs. I was particularly dissatisfied with the way Nikon handled this situation...2 weeks out of warranty and no consideration at all. They could have, and should have done better.
Sensor • 6.24 megapixel (total) CCD

specification

• 6.1 million effective pixels
• 23.7 x 15.6 mm
• Nikon DX format (size)
• RGB Color Filter Array
• 12-bit A/D converter
Image sizes • 3008 x 2000 [L] (6.01 million)
• 2240 x 1488 [M]
• 1504 x 1000 [S]
File formats • NEF (12-bit lossless compressed RAW)
• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
• NEF+JPEG
Color space • Ia (sRGB)
• II (Adobe RGB)
• IIIa (sRGB - more green for colourful landscapes)
Lens mount • Nikon F mount (with AF coupling & AF contacts)
• 1.5x field of view crop
Lens compatibility • DX Nikkor : All functions supported
• Type G or D AF Nikkor : All functions supported
• Micro Nikkor 85 mm F2.8D : All functions supported except autofocus and some exposure modes
• Other AF Nikkor*2 : All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering, i-TTL balanced fill-fl ash for digital SLR
• AI-P Nikkor : All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering, i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR, and autofocus
• Non-CPU : Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster
*1 IX Nikkor lenses can not be used
*2 Excluding lenses for F3AF

Autofocus • TTL phase detection
• Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module
• Detection range: EV -1 to +19 (ISO 100 equivalent, at normal temperature)
Lens servo • Single Servo AF (AF-S)
• Continuous Servo AF (AF-C)
• Manual focus (M)
AF Area mode • Single Area AF
• Dynamic Area AF
• Closest Subject Priority Dynamic Area AF
Focus area One of five areas can be selected
Focus lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
AF Assist White light lamp
Exposure mode • Digital Vari-program
- Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close up, Sports, Night landscape, Night portrait
• Programmed auto (P) with flexible program
• Shutter-priority auto (S)
• Aperture priority auto (A)
• Manual (M)
Metering TTL full-aperture exposure metering system
• 3D color matrix metering with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor
• Center-weighted: Weight of 75%(8mm circle) given to 6, 8, 10, or 13-mm circle in center of frame, or weighting based on average of entire frame
• Spot: Meters 2.3mm circle (about 1% of frame) centered on active focus area
Metering range • EV 0 to 20 (3D color matrix or center-weighted metering)
• EV 3 to 20 (spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C)
Meter coupling CPU coupling
Exposure compen. • +/-5 EV
• 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
AE Lock Detected exposure value locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
AE Bracketing • 2 or 3 frames
• +/- 2 EV
• 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Sensitivity • Auto
• ISO 200 - 1600
• 1/3 EV steps
Shutter speed • Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter
• 30 to 1/8000 sec
• Steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
• Flash X-Sync: up to 1/500 sec
• Bulb
White balance • Auto (TTL white-balance with 1,005 pixels RGB sensor)
• Six manual modes with fine-tuning
• Preset white balance
• White balance bracketing possible
Image parameters • Sharpening
• Tone
• Color
• Hue
Viewfinder • Pentaprism
• Optical-type fixed eye-level
• Built-in diopter adjustment (-1.6 to +0.5 m-1)
• Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0 m-1)
• Frame coverage 95% (approx.)
• Viewfinder magnification approx. 0.75x with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1
• Focusing screen: Type B BriteView clear matte screen Mark II with superimposed focus brackets and On-Demand grid lines
LCD monitor • 1.8"
• 130,000 pixel TFT
Flash control • TTL : TTL flash control by 1,005 pixel RGB sensor
o Built-in Speedlight: i-TTL balanced fill-flash or standard i-TTL flash (spot metering or mode dial set to M)
o SB-800 or 600: i-TTL balanced fill-flash or standard i-TTL flash (spot metering)
• Auto aperture: Available with SB-800 and 600 with CPU lens
• Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 80DX, 28DX, 28, 27, and 22s
• Range-priority manual available with SB-800
Flash Sync Mode • Front-Curtain Sync (normal sync)
• Red-Eye Reduction
• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync
• Slow Sync
• Rear-Curtain Sync
Built-in Speedlight • Auto flash with auto pop-up
• [P], [S], [A], [M]: manual pop-up with button release Auto flash with auto pop-up
• Guide number (ISO 200/ISO 100, m): approx. 15/11 (manual full 17/12)
Flash compensation • -3 to +1 EV
• 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Accessory shoe • ISO standard hot-shoe with safety lock
Flash Sync Terminal No
DOF Preview When CPU lens is attached, lens aperture can be stopped down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or value selected by camera (Digital Vari-Program, P, and S modes)
Shooting modes • Single frame shooting (S) mode
• Continuous shooting (C) mode: approx. 3 frame per second (up to 12 consecutive shots with JPEG format, 4 shot with RAW format)
• Self-timer/remote control mode.
Self-timer • 2 to 20 sec
Playback functions • 1 frame: Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments)
• Magnifying playback
• Slide show
• Histogram indication
• Highlight point display
• Auto image rotation
Storage • Compact Flash Type I or II
• Microdrive supported
• No CF card supplied
Text input Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input is available with LCD monitor and multi-selector; stored in Exif header
Playback functions • Single image
• 4 or 9 thumbnails
• Magnified playback
• Slide show
• Histogram indication
• Highlight point display
Video output NTSC or PAL selectable
Remote control ML-L3 wireless remote controller (optional)
Connectivity • USB 2.0 (only at 12 Mbps)
• Mass storage / PTP selectable
• Video out
• DC-IN (optional AC adapter)
Power • Lithium-Ion battery pack EN-EL3
• Three CR2 lithium batteries (with supplied MS-D70 battery holder)
• AC Adapter EH-5 (optional)
Dimensions 140 x 111 x 78 mm (5.5 x 4.4 x 3.1 in)
Weight (no battery) 595 g (1.3 lb)
Weight (inc. batt) 679 g (1.5 lb)
Box contents * Strap, Body cap, Eyepiece cap, LCD monitor cover, Video cable, USB cable, Rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL3, Quick Charger MH-18, Picture Project CD-ROM, MS-D70 CR2 battery holder
Optional accessories Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Nikon EN-EL3, Multi Charger MH-19, Quick Charger MH-18, AC Adapter EH-5, Speedlight SB-800/600, Nikon Capture 4 Software, Semi-soft Case CF-D70, Remote Controller ML-L3, CompactFlash™ Card


This is a wonderful camera that delivers, but there are a few complaints:
1. You can change the position of the auto focus, but the control for that is on the camera back, where your face is when you are using it. This control should be on the front, so you can adjust the focus while composing.

2. These focus points are not at the traditional "rule of three's" intersection points, where they should be.

3. The same control, the focus point control, isn't very responsive, so there is a lot of fumbling to get it where you want it quickly.

4. I think (no test data to back this up) the autofocus is noticeably slower than on its Canon counterparts.

5. The Camera is too heavy. A camera this pricey should incorporate pricier, lightweight materials into its casing, such as magnesium, titanium or composite plastics.

I've used it for two years, alongside an FM3. Nothing to say about the latter, but from the D70 I've only had problems. It died on me in the middle of an assignment (stuck on bulb position). After a year the rubber coating came off. The on/ off switch began working erratically, so that the camera would turn itself on in the bag. I had a long think before buying the D70 because of the many, many reports of unreliability I had seen on the Internet, but as a long time Nikon user I decided to go ahead with it. I now had it repaired, as I had purchased a three year warranty, and I put it on Ebay. I have switched to Canon with an Eos 3, Eos 5 and Eos 10D, although I'm keeping the FM3 with 24mm and 50mm primes, as I like to have a fully mechanical camera. I must add that I was very surprised at how many users in Nikon forums considered the fact that a top- of- the- range camera, bought new, should fall apart within sixteen months as absolute normality, and were irritated by my pointing out that Nikon seems to have a serious quality control issue with this model that they are failing to address - and why should they, since many users seem very happy to act like sheep. Many people told me that, since I had a warranty, I shouldn't complain and just have the camera fixed. As if that were the point. I think it is important that gear gets used for what it is meant to be used for - it shouldn't become surrogate babies.

Great Camcorder battery for the money. I was very tempted to go with the F5 but kept reading all the great reviews and decided to go with this camera and have money left for the high end AF-S lenses. I have always had Nikons, but this one just knocked me off of my feet. I had had it only a few days when a friend of mine had his wedding. On the way to the ceremony, I went by my photo shop and picked up an SB-28, went to the wedding and casually shot around having some fun. I had the prints made on Fuji paper and was amazed at how sharp and "trasty" this camera and lens was. I have meanwhile gotten the MB-15...it works great also and makes the camera heavier but more comfortable. Also....if you can afford the marque lens GET THEM. They are better than anything I have ever seen with 35mm. I just got back from a trip to Guatemala and Tikal...the slides are out of this world. Buy the camera and don't look back.

I can't understand some of these reviews. The camera was designed at a specific price point for a specific audience. I think this camera has everything you would ever want for the price you are paying. YES there are nit picky little things, but overall it's a fantastic camera.

I think most people want the D70 features at the F80/N80 price. You simply can't get it at the price you are paying. Maybe Nikon needs another new model that has more features again, but costs less than the D70.

My nit picky items so far... - dim viewfinder, I know this is because of the fancy on-demand grid lines. - very annoying low light assist beam. (should have used the red-eye feature of the F70 built into the flash and have the standard infra red beam). Yes, I know you can have it turned off.

There are more things, but can't really complain because of the price.

After sending my first Nikon D70 en-el3 back to Nikon three times for the same rewind fork problem of breaking..I finally received a new D70 body with the new and beefier rewind fork and the camera is serving me well. I have two N90s', an 8008s, a FM and a FE2...all of which I use periodicly as backup for my D70. I do a lot of studio work and weddings and definitely appreciate the custom settings and functions of the D70 which suit my needs...that my other Nikons don't have. All are wonderful performers in their own right..but the D70 seems to fit like a glove and promotes confidence in my abilities to create exceptionally good portraits with it. I applaud Nikon for taking care of the professionals' needs when they are called on to service and repair in an expeditious manner...and I have always received courteous service speaking directly with service relations personnel explaining my needs and desires. Nikon always comes through for me. I have tried Canon, Pentax and Maxxum pro 35MM systems..but never really satisfied with their optics. Not so with Nikkor lenses. They also breed confidence. There are no perfect cameras which suit all photographers needs...but the D70 along with the two N90s bodies have served me well for the type of photography I do most. My other Nikon bodies also have their place and function...and serve equally well for what they are used for. I prefer Nikon as my choice of equipment over the others I've tried in the past and the D70 was chosen over the F5 because of bulk...not to mention heft of the F5. After a two to three hour photo shoot the F5 would feel like a lead filled bucket to wheel around. The Nikon D70 Battery fills my need perfectly..or nearly so