Digital photo camera?

T

Thomas_E_SP

Active member
Hello,
I'm thinking about buying a digital camera. I'm experienced with 35s and don't want to let go of the control you have when shooting film ( stills ). I'm biased towards Nikon, and I can spend about 1000 bucks.
Any suggestions?
Thanks.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

Nikon+$1000= Nikon D70, with no lens. If you have other NIkon lenses then you are set, at least for the telephoto end. You will probably want to get a 16-35mm lens to make up for the smaller chip size.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

D70. Gets rave reviews all 'round, same basic layout as, for example, the N80, supposedly actually better than the somewhat older and more expensive D100. $1299 for the kit with the lens, but if you already have some Nikon lenses (as it sounds like you do), just the body is $999.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

do you already have nikon lenses?

i think you can get a d70 for around 1000.00 now.

www.dpreview.com check this site out, great in depth reviews of digistill cams.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

:D
Nice, so many responses in such a short time!
Yes, the d70 was my first choice.
I do have a few decent lenses and it's nice to know that I can use them with a digital as well.
Glassblowerscat, the main difference I could find about the d100 is that it's body is a metal body. And, as you know, that may tell something more about the camera. ( like, the N80 is plastic and is not even built by Nikon, the FM2 is metal, and it is...) I'll see if I can find out more about that.
But the d70 seems like the best choice.
Thanks.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

I have two D70's. They're fine cameras. Plastic bodied, yes...but do you seriously want to consider dropping any digital camera?
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

Just to correct. they're only plastic shelled correct? I assume it's still a metal internal casing? Or am I completely wrong? Is it on par with the 10D or 300D in built quality?
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

The 300D is also plastic bodied. The D10 has a magnesium alloy body.

All three have metal substructures, but only the D10 has a metal exterior out of the three you mention.

I've heard that the build quality of the D70 is marginally better then the D300...but it's really about what lens you'd prefer to use. I like nikon better then canon for many personal reasons, which is why I picked nikon.

The lens that comes with the D300 kit is generally thought to be junk, so it prices much closer to the D70 kit when you consider buying the body with a higher quality lens. All of them are great really.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

The EOS20D is now the best for the money but it has some serious flaws (banding, and weird firmware error.) D70 is best for under 1000 (without a lens). In march, I suspect canon will release a second generation digital rebel based on the d20 which should be the best for the money and the cheatest dSLR when it comes out. If you have a preferance towards nikon, the D70 is definitely your best bet, though.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

Yeah, the 20D looks like it's not ready for primetime, which is very weird for canon to do in the open market.

Things are really going to ramp up soon, as Nikon has finally relented and agreed that the APS sized dSLR's will never compete with full 35mm frame dSLR's in the creative and pro markets. This will put more competition at the top end of the development scale, greatly increasing the technological hand-me-downs available to the entry-level range of dSLR cameras.

At least, that's what I think is going to happen eventually.

There's also a growing interest in dedicated monochromatic dSLR's...but it's not certain if there's enough interest to generate a production from any company out there right now.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

James--have you heard something about Nikon producing a full frame dSLR? If so it would be a (thankful) turnaround in their marketing strategy. With the D2X just released, it would probably be awhile before a followup gets released.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

Dude, just go out and get a used 10D. they're going for cheap right now. the 10D is superior than the D70. You can also look at a used D60, which offers almost identical picture performance to the 10D in a well built body. That can be had for around $500.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

BARRY_S,

From Rob Galbraith's site: "Herbert Keppler's column in the latest issue of Popular Photography
quotes a Nikon spokesperson as saying future professional DSLRs from them
will be full frame".

Also, the dSLR market is apparently growing at a rate of over 140% per year, with nikon and canon controlling well over 2/3 of the market between them. At this point, Nikon doesn't have much choice but to develop a full frame dSLR, or they'll let Canon have the whole top end of the market to themselves.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

I don't consider the 10D to be superior to the D70 by a large measure in any sense. You might be able to find a 10D for close to the same price as a D70 body, but the D70 is still going to be cheaper. Either way, the bulk of your money will end up going into a good lens, so the minor differences between a 10D and a D70 are negligable...the differences in the glass you put in front of the camera will be astounding.

Right now, there's about a $250 price difference between the D70 and the 10D, mostly because the D70 is selling like hotcakes and the 10D isn't moving at all. I personally think that the extra $250 would be better spent in glass then in the camera. A 10D is great, but not if you stick a generic sigma or tamron in front of it.

Go with the lens you want and can afford, then pick a camera to match it.

(Of course, this advice doesn't apply to me because I'm going to put the worst lenses I can find in front of mine!)
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

Cool, I look forward to a full frame Nikon dSLR that I can afford--or maybe just the sucessor to the D70. I'm a real wideangle guy and I also want keep all the Nikon glass I've accumulated. I almost bought a D70, but felt like a 6 megapixel SLR wasn't going to do it for me. So, I got a Sony DSC-W1 to tide me over and I'm not packing up my darkroom just yet.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

Barry...sorry, you said a full frame nikon sSLR you can afford? you are in a far better financial position then I! I'd expect anything from nikon to clock in at a minimum of 6 to 7k once it's ready for market.

But the one major advantage Nikon has over Canon, they never redesigned their lens mounts, meaning you can use nearly any nikon/nikkor lens on their dSLR's.

For the record...When faced with a three story climb up to my new apartment, I'm ashamed to admit that I tossed two enlargers into the dumpster rather then make the trip.
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

The dumpster?--ouch. Maybe I should rephrase that--I'm looking forward to living long enough to be able to afford a Nikon full frame dSLR. :P
 
Re: Digital photo camera?

By the way, I found an XL2 for the weekend. If anything is promising, I might post a frame grab or two next week.
 
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