D70 Time to change
Author
Discussion

meagain

Original Poster:

359 posts

260 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
I have a D70 that I have always had good results from, but feel it is now time to upgrade. What would you recommend, bearing in mind that I have lenses that I would like to use with the new camera body so needs to be compliant with D70, plus a speedlight 600...

Any advice, I have a reasonable budget...

GetCarter

31,293 posts

309 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
Obvious choices are D300, D700 or D3

I think the speedlight will work but you'd have to check. DX lenses will work with all three but won't take advantade of D700 or D3 FX format.

If you want a D700 and can do so - hang on a few months, as prices will drop.

meagain

Original Poster:

359 posts

260 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
D700 seem to be around £1800.00 at present, do you feel they will drop?

GetCarter

31,293 posts

309 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
meagain said:
D700 seem to be around £1800.00 at present, do you feel they will drop?
#

Yep... only came out 2 weeks ago. I reckon £1500 in two months? (Depending on supply obviously)

D3 has dropped by over £1000 in a year - and picture quality on D700 is almost identical to D3.



Edited by GetCarter on Monday 11th August 16:04

Simpo Two

92,939 posts

295 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
IMHO there's not much point in having a D700 and putting a DX lens on it. It will work well enough, but you'll get a cropped 5Mp image not the full 12Mp.

Depends how much you have in the piggy bank really!

GetCarter said:
picture quality on D700 is almost identical to D3.
Where does it lose out? AFAIK it's the same chip and processor.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 11th August 16:11

dapprman

2,786 posts

297 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
When I replaced my D70 under insurance I could have upgraded to the D200 but instead went with the D80. I partly regretted this, but only partly. Still I treated myself to a D300 a few weeks back.

If you're just looking to upgrade your D70 because it's old, tatty and looks like it won't last much longer, then there's nothing wrong with going for a D80 (or the D90 which might be due out shortly). If you are looking to upgrade because you want more and don't use the preset programs (landscape, people, sport, etc) then the D300 is very very good, and for a similar price to the D80 (or not much more anyhow) you can still get a new D200.

cliff123

458 posts

272 months

Monday 11th August 2008
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I went from the D70 to D300, and it's bl**dy great. Love it. Super camera. Other than the fact that you notice if you have poor glass on the front, I can't fault it. Only problem is now getting the cash together to buy quality glass to go on the front. Of course, if you have the spare cash, D700 would be great, though you really will have to fork up for the new glass sooner rather than later.

GetCarter

31,293 posts

309 months

Monday 11th August 2008
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Don't you just love Ken Rockwell's reviews... hehe

"The Nikon D700 is Nikon's top new amateur camera"

What an ar5e.

EmmaP

11,758 posts

269 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
Don't you just love Ken Rockwell's reviews... hehe

"The Nikon D700 is Nikon's top new amateur camera"

What an ar5e.
Please enlighten me Steve. Who is Ken Rockwell? And what in God's name is an 'amateur camera'? Does he get paid to write badly?

RobDickinson

31,343 posts

284 months

Monday 11th August 2008
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GetCarter said:
meagain said:
D700 seem to be around £1800.00 at present, do you feel they will drop?
#

Yep... only came out 2 weeks ago. I reckon £1500 in two months? (Depending on supply obviously)

D3 has dropped by over £1000 in a year - and picture quality on D700 is almost identical to D3.
RRP over ☼2k isnt it? I thin it'll drop to 1600ish and settle there for a long time.

Simpo Two

92,939 posts

295 months

Monday 11th August 2008
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EmmaP said:
Please enlighten me Steve. Who is Ken Rockwell?
Emma, you need to stay in more!

I too was wondering what the difference between an amateur and professional camera is. It's not price, because any fool with money can buy a D3 etc.

NB: D3 £2995, D700 £1995, ability to find and make good images £0.

GetCarter

31,293 posts

309 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
Rob - D700 = £1799 as I type and will fall

Emma - you are a wag.

ETA... Simpo... don't know where you are getting your prices! Not anywhere near those on my internet (having bought one last week)

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 11th August 22:12

EmmaP

11,758 posts

269 months

Monday 11th August 2008
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
Emma - you are a wag.
I think he meant to say that it was the best camera for amateur use. Given my experience of 'amateurs' they pretty much go for the most that they can get for their money and are pretty hot on the technical spec aspect, infinitely more so than I. And of course being an amateur has nothing whatsoever to do with ability.

Edited by EmmaP on Monday 11th August 23:14

NiceCupOfTea

25,606 posts

281 months

Tuesday 12th August 2008
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dapprman said:
When I replaced my D70 under insurance I could have upgraded to the D200 but instead went with the D80. I partly regretted this, but only partly. Still I treated myself to a D300 a few weeks back.

If you're just looking to upgrade your D70 because it's old, tatty and looks like it won't last much longer, then there's nothing wrong with going for a D80 (or the D90 which might be due out shortly). If you are looking to upgrade because you want more and don't use the preset programs (landscape, people, sport, etc) then the D300 is very very good, and for a similar price to the D80 (or not much more anyhow) you can still get a new D200.
wavey Hi Gary (fliptop on Monowink )

I have a D70S at present - if it were to pack up I would be looking at a D200 I think (but my budget is probably a lot smaller than yours), they're £350-400 on ebay at the moment, that's a lot of camera for the money.

I have to say I didn't find the D80 much of an upgrade to the D70/S, in fact I actively sought out a s/h D70S over D80/D50/D40.

Simpo Two

92,939 posts

295 months

Tuesday 12th August 2008
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
ETA... Simpo... don't know where you are getting your prices! Not anywhere near those on my internet (having bought one last week)
They're just the RSPs that I recall; I appreciate that real prices will be lower as supply and competition pick up. But if by buying your camera sooner you can go and earn an extra £1,000 with it, that rather makes up for any small price drops!

rustyspit

462 posts

234 months

Tuesday 12th August 2008
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NiceCupOfTea said:
I have a D70S at present - if it were to pack up I would be looking at a D200 I think (but my budget is probably a lot smaller than yours), they're £350-400 on ebay at the moment, that's a lot of camera for the money.
yes indeed. I've just done something similar and upgraded from a D70 to a refurb Fuji S5 for £400 (same body as the D200). I agonized for a while over buying a D300, and while I would love to have one, I just can't justify spending nearly £950 on a camera at the moment. Now that the D700 has emerged I'm quite glad I didn't go for the D300 as it will be much easier for me to justify another upgrade in a few years time!

No-one has asked the OP what he wants to improve over the D70 - better handling, brighter viewfinder, higher resolution, less noise, more fps?

The S5 has dealt with all my complaints about the D70 (brighter viewfinder, better controls, more dynamic range, less noise), but it wouldn't be much good for someone interested in sports photography. Likewise a D200 would give improved handling, higher resolution and more fps, but the high ISO performance might not be great.

Depending on your requirements, it might make sense to spend less money now on something like a D200 or an S5 and plan to upgrade again to an FX body in a few years time? If you're really keen to have new toys, perhaps spend the money on lenses?

SGirl

7,924 posts

291 months

Tuesday 12th August 2008
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I made the switch some time ago from D70S to D200, and it was fab! Definitely worth doing. I've since switched from a D200 to a D300 - that was fab too. I'm trying not to read all the glowing praise for even better cameras. hehe

Agree with the comment above that with the D200/D300, you notice if you're using poorer quality lenses. It's very obvious in the image quality.

meagain

Original Poster:

359 posts

260 months

Tuesday 12th August 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice guys, think I am more confused as to what to do now....
I am going to read more reviews, perhaps go to the local camera shop take my lenses and have a play....

Once again many thanks...I will let you know what I decide....

GetCarter

31,293 posts

309 months

Tuesday 12th August 2008
quotequote all
meagain said:
Thanks for the advice guys, think I am more confused as to what to do now....
I am going to read more reviews, perhaps go to the local camera shop take my lenses and have a play....

Once again many thanks...I will let you know what I decide....
I guess if you have DX lens or lenses then the D300 is the best move - if not then the sky is the limit - D700 being a stunner (Of course the D3X is out at the end of the year... 23mp?)

EmmaP

11,758 posts

269 months

Tuesday 12th August 2008
quotequote all
Have you looked at dpreview.com?