There's a devil on my shoulder

[_dobbo_]

And he's telling me to get a D70 instead of a 300D...

Here' the deal - I have 1500 with which I need to buy a new (good spec) PC and a DSLR. Now I've been looking into it, and it seems that the lens that comes with the 300D isn't all that great.

Then I found this Nikon D70

Which seems like a great deal? Any thoughts? Bearing in mind it's for business use and as such I wont pay the VAT, that seems like a great price and still leaves me enough to buy a good PC.

Somebody stop me before I hurt myself...

[simpo two]

Let the man through...

[_dobbo_]

Only trouble is that although it comes with two lenses (28-80 and 70-300) It doesn't say what lenses they are, so they could be crap?

Damn it. At this rate I'll end up spending all the money on a camera.... My head hurts.

[luca brazzi]

I'm so glad so many people are buying DLSRs this christmas Why?, you ask. Well, why should I be the only one who's skint

I've persuaded the chap at work who bought my 300D to spend another £5-600 on other stuff to go with it, PhilS to buy a 20D plus lenses....given up with DustyC

Seriously, its a good time to get a camera, you get a lot for your money, whatever brand you get. Bags of fun, and highly addictive.

LB

[Phil S]

I haven't used a D70, but I did own a 300D for 6 months. My only niggle with the camera was the lack of AI Servo (constant focussing) in the creative modes - you could only use the AI Servo in sports mode, which meant you could use it for panning shots etc.

Apart from that the camera was excellent - the startup time could have been quicker, but that wasn't a massive problem and depends entirely on how you plan to use it!

I don't know the specs of the D70, but you can't go wrong with a Canon

I'll need one of these from now on -

[Mad Dave]

That D70 kit appears to come with 'G' lenses. Im still undecided on them - they feel very cheap, and although Mr Simpo here will disagree with him, the chap in Jessops described them as 'a bit shit'.

re D70 vs 300D - no contest in my eyes. I looked at both, at length, and asked aforementioned bloke in Jessops - the D70 has won 'Digital SLR of the year' in many places - the 300D didn't even come second.

Personally, I would (and did) buy a D70 with the 18-70mm DX Nikkor lens. This lens sells for around £300 on its own and seems to be of a very high quality. I paid £748 for my kit as I persuaded Jessops to pricematch an internet price. I already have a Sigma 70-300mm APO Macro lens that I paid £89 for second hand (£160 is the brand new price).

Edit to add that my Nikon F70 has constant focussing and I found it to be truly excellent when I was taking panning shots of fast moving Superbikes. The D70 has the same system and although i'm yet to try it, i expect it to be just as good.

>> Edited by Mad Dave on Monday 20th December 10:52

[chim_knee]

I'm not sure whether the Pixmania camera will come with a european plug for the battery charger - not too big a deal as it's just a kettle-lead type cable, easy enough to buy a UK one.

Also, the widest lens you'll have is the 28mm which equates to a 42mm full frame. This may not be wide enough for you.

I have exactly the same kit as Mad Dave and it certainly does the job for me (although you'll always be wanting that other lens... the very wide angle, the macro lens, the 400mm+ etc!!)

It depends on where you think you'll progress with the camera and how much money you'll have in the future. As a kit to keep you going for a long time I would say it's pretty good - it covers the basics admirably. But, if you think you'll "want the best"... I'd go for the 18-70mm kit and save up for a good longer lens etc, etc.

eta: 42mm not 45mm as gently pointed out by simpo_two

>> Edited by chim_knee on Monday 20th December 14:20

[Mad Dave]

The 18-70mm kit lens equates to 27mm - 105mm so is great for landscapes AND portraits. Ideal really.

[simpo two]

_dobbo_ said:

Only trouble is that although it comes with two lenses (28-80 and 70-300) It doesn't say what lenses they are, so they could be crap?

They're not crap but they're nothing special either. 28mm on a D70 = '42mm' = no wide angle. The 70-300 G feels plasticky but actually does a good job for the price.
IMHO you'd be better to go for the 18-70mm lens, which is far better and more useful, and add a telephoto later.

[DustyC]

luca brazzi said:

I've persuaded the chap at work who bought my 300D to spend another £5-600 on other stuff to go with it, PhilS to buy a 20D plus lenses....given up with DustyC

You can try all you like, I don't have the money!

[pug406]

At the end of the day, we will all say - "Welcome to the PH D70 Owners Club" You know it makes sense.

Edited for DUMB TYPO

>> Edited by pug406 on Monday 20th December 15:21

[simpo two]

pug406 said:

At the end of the day, we will all say - "Welcome to the PH D70 Owners Clud"

[ehasler]

Mad Dave said:

re D70 vs 300D - no contest in my eyes. I looked at both, at length, and asked aforementioned bloke in Jessops - the D70 has won 'Digital SLR of the year' in many places - the 300D didn't even come second.

While I'd agree that the D70 is better than the 300D, if you put two photos taken by each camera side by side, most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

If I were you, I'd try out both cameras and see if you prefer the feel of either one. Nikon and Canon have different control layouts, and some people find one better than another.

Once you start buying lenses/accesories for one make of camera, it becomes very expensive to move to a different make, so this is another thing to bear in mind. A DSLR isn't just for Christmas!

[pug406]

simpo two said:

Bugger