Arggg... d70s, or d40x, or... d80?

ryan brown

ryan brown

lOwEr CaSe Member
I don't know what to do here.

I had my mind set on a used D70s kit.

Today I talk to a friend of mind and he tells me to save a bit more and opt for the d80. Then he says the D40x is now 10+ mega pixels, and might be the route to go.

I dunno. I really don't have the budget for a D80, but I do like the idea of 10 megapixels. I'd rather not spend so much on a camera (for hobby), and buy a camera and the kessler crane I've been waiting for (to make money).

I don't plan on making any money off of photography, I just want to get back into it. I would like the option to print BIG prints if I see fit (24x36 maybe?). But I'd also like a camera with full manual controls. I'll be shooting anything from landscape's to portrait's to bands to vacation photos.

Can someone please force me into a decision.

I'm just afriad the D40x won't give me the manual controls/professional options I'd like, but the D70s might not be able to print the size I'd like. Can anyone shed some light as to what might be my best choice? Please? I'm pulling my hair out over here.

rant over.

-brown

*with champagne taste and beer money*
 
4MP is more than enough for big prints

Of those options I would get the D70s, you get a great camera with everything you need. Stay away from the D40x if you want to have max lens flexibility. The D80 is nice, but I prefer the D70s.
 
I do all my work with the D80. It's the best of the lot that you mentioned in my opinion. I also needed a larger body for comfort, I have big hands,. The d40 is pretty small. But like many will tell you, it's the operator not the camera.

Good luck!
 
I have a d70s kit for sale. It has everything that comes with the original package, except the lens, plus a 1gig Lexar 133x card and a case. $500 plus $25 dollar shipping! It also has a transferable WARRANTY that is on until April 13, 2008. You can also extend the warranty with Ritz Camera! Please let me know if you are interested. Thanks! I have pictures avaliable and will post them as soon as possible!
 
I got a used D70 over a new d40 for the sheer fact that it had independent controls for the iris and shutter speed. Also am not stuck with AF-S lenses although I seem to only use AF-S lenses. Kent Rockwell has some good comparisons between the various nikons.
 
I'll sell you my D70s with all that with warranty to Aug 2009, case, etc... plus a 4 gig card and 18-70mm kit lens (the good one) for $700 + $25 shipping... but I'll tell you right now that I'll buy a D80 with your payment added to my own money.
 
Matt & I have debated the merits and pros/cons of the D70s vs. D80 for a while.

Let me clarify my original stance, the D80 is a better camera. It has more features, more MP, and is lighter. The D80 offers many of the features that I love in my D200 but in a smaller and lighter package.

That being said, I prefer the D70s.

Why?

First of all, the D70s uses CF cards, of which I have gigs upon gigs.
Second, for the type of shooting I do (events, weddings) I actually like the 6MP more (the files are 40% smaller) and 6MP is more than enough MP in order to deliver a quality massively large blown up image (I had full posters done out of D50 images).
The D70s Metering System - This is the #1 reason I prefer this camera to the D200, D80, D40s. With a little exposure compensation I think the images out of this camera are perfect and that it has the best meter of any camera I've used.

Don't get me wrong.... you can't go wrong with any model. If you get the D40 you will get used to using AF-S lenses, which is an awesome encouragement to get incredible glass. If you get the D80 you are getting some in camera functions that are hokey but an otherwise incredible camera. If you get the D70s you are getting a camera that is already outdated.

That being said, money was listed as a concern and I promise you, all three of these cameras will take the exact same pictures... no difference there. You might get larger files out of one but your images wont be better out of a $5000 camera or a $500 camera. It really is the Indian, not the arrows.

If money is your concern, get the D70s and be thrilled. It is a great camera that will make you happy.

If you are already wrestling between these models then just wait a few months because the D80 won't be enough, you will want the D200, which want be enough because you will want the D300 and so on...

I am not bashing the D80 because it is a superior camera to the D70s... but we're talking millimeters ahead. MP are overrated, look at the D2Hs, a 4MP camera built for professional photojournalists.

If you have champagne tastes on a beer budget then you answered your own question, get the cheapest and you will be happy... gear lust is always there but take you extra money and put it towards glass.

Glass is 500x more important than camera.

Good glass is the #1 most important factor in taking quality pictures.
 
Not sure if it's an important consideration for you but the d70s has a 1/500th sync speed(which is pretty cool) while the D80 is only 1/200th.
 
Well it depends on the way you look at it 2 in the can. If you had a 600 or 800 you can run the sync speed all the way up to 1/8000!
 
Is that just for the D70s using the hack or is there a way to do it with other Nikons? Namely the D200 'cause that would be sweet if I could get a few more stops.

Thanks,
Allen
 
I always have to chuckle ( not snicker, just chuckle) at these posts. They abound!
"I don't plan on making any money off of photography, I just want to get back into it. I would like the option to print BIG prints if I see fit (24x36 maybe?). But I'd also like a camera with full manual controls. I'll be shooting anything from landscape's to portrait's to bands to vacation photos."
I feel for ya! I made that decision in 2004 when I dropped out of chemical photography. Just to be extra careful, I tippy toed in by buying a point and shoot with semi- controllable functionality- The Nikon Coolpix 5000. My colleagues Snickered at me and this toy!. 30,000 keepers later, here in 2007 I'm pondering my next digital camera...maybe a D300. Nikon is willing to loan me one though.
The moral I'm trying to convey is that it really doesn't matter that much because next year.... a bigger, better, sexier camera will be introduced.
The Nikon CP5K is still going strong. I'm super careful how I care for it- too careful maybe?
Http:www.gearninja.com is a recen't proof of concept but I have the rest of those 30,000 images if you need to see what a 5MP toy can do.
Just so you know, If I use the right software I can output a 20X24 Iris print that is barely distinguishable from an 8MP Coolpix file:Drogar-Happy(DBG): I can't even imagine what 12MP looks like.
 
D70 experience

D70 experience

FYI the D70 series is discontinued, something to consider before buying one.

I own one, taken a bazillion pics with it, love it but...

CF cards stink, as you will discover if you have the misforutne of bending your in-camera pins. I got lucky and my bent pins don't effect performance. SD cards are a much more sensible design.

Wierd purple glow in upper left corner of photos on long nitetime exposures. Small problem but it's an unfixable issue.

6MP is plenty, especially if you shoot raw [I usually don't].

500 sync is really nice, the pop up flash is great, I use it often. Great for action shots outside.

My friend has the D80... the bigger LCD is really nice, that alone and SD makes it a better camera IMHO. But I'll shoot my D70 until it blows up...

If you really want to "go there" check out this site, this guy is an absolute mutant reviewer of just about everything Nikon and Canon has ever made. Even has a review of Nikon body caps featuring micrometer measurements... Not Kidding!

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech.htm
 
Thanks guys. After lots of debate, I'm sticking with my first insticts and going with the D70s package. This thread was VERY helpful, though, and it doesn't go unappreciated. That camera is right in my budget, and seems like plenty of camera for my needs. Dated? maybe a little, but so be it...

I also appreciate the offers on the cams, but I've found a great deal locally, so I'll probably be going with it. If it doesn't work out, I'll head back here and PM the sellers.

-brown
 
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