Nikon DSLR Question

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Good Evening, All,
I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR
and a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
equipment she already owns.
So, here are the questions I need help with...
1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
is somewhat limited (max $1500).

2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
be true. Are they? Does anyone have any experience with
these guys? I plan om calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow.
I just thought I would ask the newsgroup for their collec-
tive experiences.

Thanks in advance for all your help with these questions. I will
probably have more before I get this all sorted out.

--
Regards,
Dale Neidhammer |
John 3:16 --+-- Matt 11:28-30
Any Proverbs!! | Live for Him
|

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Dale" <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:da9pe.29059$j51.6861@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> Good Evening, All,
> I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
> is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR and
> a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
> equipment she already owns.
> So, here are the questions I need help with...
> 1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).

Start with the D70 and the kit lens. It's a great lens for the money, works
well with the camera, and covers a wide variety of situations except for
telephoto. It's not a macro lens, but does focus fairly close. After that
I would look at a telephoto zoom and a micro lens.
>
> 2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
> be true. Are they? Does anyone have any experience with
> these guys? I plan om calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow.
> I just thought I would ask the newsgroup for their collec-
> tive experiences.

Don't know anything about BestPriceCamera.com. I do know if the price
sounds too good to be true it often is.

Sheldon

 

[Bob]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Tue, 07 Jun 2005 04:14:01 GMT, Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>Good Evening, All,
>I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
>is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR
>and a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
>equipment she already owns.
>So, here are the questions I need help with...
>1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).

The kit lens is good for all around home use... with your budget, you may be
able to also get a macro lens... around 100mm would probably be good... Getting
a long lens as well is probably out of your budget... they go from $400 to
$4000...

If she's a good photog she may want to choose her own lenses anyway... I know I
would...

You may want to get the IR remote control ($20) and maybe even an outside flash
unit... lenses aren't everything!

>2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
> be true. Are they? Does anyone have any experience with
> these guys? I plan om calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow.
> I just thought I would ask the newsgroup for their collec-
> tive experiences.

I would stay away from anything that is too good to be true!! Come on... how old
are you?? Smarten up!!

>Thanks in advance for all your help with these questions. I will
>probably have more before I get this all sorted out.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Tue, 07 Jun 2005 04:14:01 GMT, Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>Good Evening, All,
>I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
>is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR
>and a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
>equipment she already owns.
>So, here are the questions I need help with...
>1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).
>
>2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
> be true. Are they? Does anyone have any experience with
> these guys? I plan om calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow.
> I just thought I would ask the newsgroup for their collec-
> tive experiences.
>
>Thanks in advance for all your help with these questions. I will
>probably have more before I get this all sorted out.

Chances are, they've stripped out some of the accessories that
come with the camera (like the battery) and will charge you a king's
ransom to get them. You also have to buy a lens (kit zoom is a good
one) a UV filter for it, a memory card of at least 1 gig size,
a case (unless she has one)and a sensor cleaning kit and a spare
battery. Those are all "must haves."
-Rich

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Bob wrote:
>
> The kit lens is good for all around home use... with your budget, you may be
> able to also get a macro lens... around 100mm would probably be good... Getting
> a long lens as well is probably out of your budget... they go from $400 to
> $4000...
>
> If she's a good photog she may want to choose her own lenses anyway... I know I
> would...
>
> You may want to get the IR remote control ($20) and maybe even an outside flash
> unit... lenses aren't everything!


Also a couple memory cards and a spare battery! And sensor cleaning kit,
Photoshop Elements, card reader, an external hard drive & DVD burner...
all that stuff adds up.


--
Paul Furman
http/www.edgehill.net/1
san francisco native plants

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Dale" <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:da9pe.29059$j51.6861@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> Good Evening, All,
> I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She is
> a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR and a
> Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the equipment
> she already owns.
> So, here are the questions I need help with...
> 1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).
>
> 2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
> be true. Are they? Does anyone have any experience with
> these guys? I plan om calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow.
> I just thought I would ask the newsgroup for their collec-
> tive experiences.
>
> Thanks in advance for all your help with these questions. I will probably
> have more before I get this all sorted out.
>
> --
> Regards,
> Dale Neidhammer |
> John 3:16 --+-- Matt 11:28-30
> Any Proverbs!! | Live for Him
> |

1. The kit lens isn't a bad place to start--its 18-70mm range gives you the
digital equivalent of 27-105mm. If you wanted to go beyond that, you could
take a look at the 24-120mm VR lens. It's not as wide and, some would say,
perhaps not quite as sharp as the kit lens, but I have both and find myself
carrying the VR lens most of the time. You should be able to stay under your
budget with a D70/24-120mm VR combo and have enough left for a good-sized
memory card.

2. I have no experience with BestPrice, but I do have a lot of experience
with B&H Photo and can say that they are excellent with competitive prices.

Good Luck

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Hey, All,
It is nice to know that I am not the only night owl out there!!! Thank
you all so much for your quick responses! I can't tell you how much I
appreciate it. One last question for you D70 owners... how is the
reliability been? Are the extended warranties offered by everyone worth
it? I usually turn them down, but in this case....

You all raised good points that I have considered. For instance, if it
is too good to be true, then it is. The point raised about letting
Linda pick out her additional lenses is a great point. That is probably
what I will do. Lastly, she has more digital photo accessories than she
shake a tree at. Over the last couple of years I have bought the following:
2 GByte microdrive
Canon i9900 printer
120GB network drive (3 on the network so far - we all rip music to one,
the other is for my job)
DVD Burner
more s/w than I care to admit - she really likes the GIMP now that she
has learned it.

This is why I like the photo angle for presents for Linda. It gives me
years worth of ideas to work with as I am sure you all can relate to.

Once again, thanks for the feedback.

Later,
Dale

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Dale" <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:da9pe.29059$j51.6861@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> Good Evening, All,
> I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
> is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR and
> a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
> equipment she already owns.
> So, here are the questions I need help with...
> 1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).
>

I would go with the kit lens and a 60mm macro lens. With the 1.5 crop
factor, the 60mm becomes the equivelent of a 90mm macro, which is an almost
perfect focal length for what she likes to do and would make a great
portrait lens as well. I find that the flatter perspective I get with
longer macros (like the 100mm macro) just doesn't work well with flowers.
With your budget, a D-70 kit (not D-70s) and the macro lens should leave you
enough for a nice dinner as well.

As far as stores are concerned, I would stick with either a local store she
trusts, B & H, or KEH.

Walt Hanks

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On Tue, 07 Jun 2005 04:14:01 +0000, Dale wrote:

> Good Evening, All,
> I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
> is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR and
> a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
> equipment she already owns.
> So, here are the questions I need help with... 1. What lense(s)? She does
> a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance shots
> to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing to go with more
> than one lense, I just want to be sure that I am getting the right
> lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget is somewhat limited (max $1500).
>
> 2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to be true. Are
> they? Does anyone have any experience with these guys? I plan om
> calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow. I just thought I would ask the
> newsgroup for their collec- tive experiences.
>
> Thanks in advance for all your help with these questions. I will probably
> have more before I get this all sorted out.

As others have stated, get the 18-70mm DX kit lens. It's the best bang for
the buck out there. Stay away from the 24-120 VR. Not all that great.

Don't give your money to anyone other than B&H Photovideo or Adorama.
There are a lot of bad eggs out there. Those two are tried and trusted
(and that's from a guy in South Africa!).

--
?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> writes:
> 2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
> be true. Are they?

They are.
Pure bait & switch according to resellerratings.com.
--
- gisle hannemyr [ gisle{at}hannemyr.no - http/folk.uio.no/gisle/ ]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kodak DCS460, Canon Powershot G5, Olympus 2020Z
------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote:

>1. What lense(s)? (<$1500)

I'm relatively happy with my combo of Nikkor lenses:
18-70 DX kit lens, 50mm f1.8 (B&H $100) and used 70-210 AF f4-5.6
(bit hard to find, about $150).

Next item might be a macro lens for very close up work, probably
Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8. For a next telephoto I'd wait to move
up to an AF-S lens, and preferrably image-stabilised. The only
option so far is the 70-200 f2.8 AF-S VR, but that's for after
I find a bag of gold (~$1500). There might be more options in
the future.

--
Ken Tough

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Walt Hanks" <walthanks@comcast.net> wrote:

>I would go with the kit lens and a 60mm macro lens. With the 1.5 crop
>factor, the 60mm becomes the equivelent of a 90mm macro, which is an almost
>perfect focal length for what she likes to do and would make a great
>portrait lens as well.


That is very poor advice. The 60mm macro has unpleasant, harsh bokeh
and renders portraits in a very unflattering way. Portrait subjects
will not thank you for using this lens.

It is best to avoid using macro lenses for portraiture, with one
exception. The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro works well as a macro lens
*and* offers superb rendering for portraiture.

There used to be several macro lenses that worked well for portraits.
Alas only the Tamron is still available new.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Tony Polson" <tp@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:74saa1hqr4bmjtcb7m7rc8u4s49lagkfl6@4ax.com...
> "Walt Hanks" <walthanks@comcast.net> wrote:
>
>>I would go with the kit lens and a 60mm macro lens. With the 1.5 crop
>>factor, the 60mm becomes the equivelent of a 90mm macro, which is an
>>almost
>>perfect focal length for what she likes to do and would make a great
>>portrait lens as well.
>
>
> That is very poor advice. The 60mm macro has unpleasant, harsh bokeh
> and renders portraits in a very unflattering way. Portrait subjects
> will not thank you for using this lens.
>

Interesting. I have a friend who uses his for portrait work regularly. Of
course, he almost always adds a soft focus filter or diffuser, so that might
elliminate the harshness you report. I still feel that it is the best lens
for the flower work the OP's wife does though. The added distance from the
subject needed to use the longer macro would not yield an appropriate
perspective, in my opinion. Though that is mostly a matter of taste.

Thanks for letting me know, though.

Walt

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> writes:

> Good Evening, All,
> I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife.
> She is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006
> SLR and a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due
> to the equipment she already owns.
> So, here are the questions I need help with...
> 1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).

As you say, one reason for going with the D70 is that it works with
her existing equipment. Since we don't know what her existing
equipment is, we can't advise what to add very well.

Generally speaking, what she'll need is something new at the wide end,
due to the 1.5x crop factor. From what I hear, the D70 and the kit
lens would be a good place to start her.

The standard D70 kit lens has a decent rep and a great price, and you
won't do much better for a "walkaround" zoom (one suitable for most
situations when walking around with the camera) within your price
constraints.

Alternatively, getting her one of the 12-24mm zooms would give her a
really *good* wideangle end. I think getting *both* the kit lens
*and* the 12-24 will blow your budget (even if you go with a 3rd party
12-24 instead of the Nikon); but if it won't, then that's the perfect
choice IMHO, and based on NOT knowing what she already has and what
kinds of photography she does (i.e. my judgement of perfection here is
far from reliable).

It may not work this way within you relationship with your wife, but
for me, camera equipment is something I have such strong opinions
about that it's pretty darned hard for people to give it to me as a
gift. For me, getting the *not quite right* thing would make me
annoyed each and every time I used it. I would much rather give up
the surprise factor and get equipment that was exactly what I wanted.
But this is very much an individual question, and you may have already
considered it in coming to your (apparent) decision to figure out what
to get without consulting her. If you don't know better than I how to
pick an anniversary gift for your wife -- you have worse problems than
what camera to give her! (And congratulations on your 20th
anniversary!)
--
David Dyer-Bennet, <mailto:dd-b@dd-b.net>, <http/www.dd-b.net/dd-b/>
RKBA: <http/noguns-nomoney.com/> <http/www.dd-b.net/carry/>
Pics: <http/dd-b.lighthunters.net/> <http/www.dd-b.net/dd-b/SnapshotAlbum/>
Dragaera/Steven Brust: <http/dragaera.info/>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"RichA" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:c4caa1pjpdp30v5fvn9jnm1f1g3vqvij50@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 07 Jun 2005 04:14:01 GMT, Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote:
>
>You also have to buy a lens (kit zoom is a good
> one) a UV filter for it, a memory card of at least 1 gig size,
> a case (unless she has one)and a sensor cleaning kit and a spare
> battery. Those are all "must haves."
> -Rich
>
>

The UV filter is not a "must have." I don't have one, anyway, on any of my
lenses.

--
Regards,
Matt Clara
www.mattclara.com

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

"Dale" <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:da9pe.29059$j51.6861@tornado.texas.rr.com...
> Good Evening, All,
> I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
> is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR
> and a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
> equipment she already owns.
> So, here are the questions I need help with...
> 1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).
>
> 2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
> be true. Are they? Does anyone have any experience with
> these guys? I plan om calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow.
> I just thought I would ask the newsgroup for their collec-
> tive experiences.
>
> Thanks in advance for all your help with these questions. I will
> probably have more before I get this all sorted out.
>
> --

I'll ignore the blatant evangelizing in your signature (which I've clipped
anyway because it has no place in a photographic discussion) and try to give
you one additional reason for purchasing a Nikon DSLR instead of any other
brand.

I've picked up a friend's Minolta digital and even though I used Minolta
manual focus film SLRs exclusively for over 20 years I couldn't
figure out where to start. BUT ... since I'd already had a few years
experience with Nikon film SLRs and had owned and used a Nikon P/S digital
for almost 6 months, when I picked up the D70 I could just start to use it
because (almost) everything was exactly where I expected it to be and almost
every control did precisely what I assumed it would do. Sure, I wasn't
using more than a third of the camera's capabilities that way at first, but
the learning experience was so easy that I can't imagine wanting to buy
another brand. Your wife should find her experience similar.

Norm

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

Norm Dresner wrote:

> I've picked up a friend's Minolta digital and even though I used Minolta
> manual focus film SLRs exclusively for over 20 years I couldn't
> figure out where to start.

You turn it on. All photographic controls are on dedicated dials,
buttons, switches. Set to A,S,M or even P if you're that way inclined.

The only 'thing' to know is that the the right rear 'wheel' controls
aperture; right front wheel controls speed. (Or in A or S mode both
wheels control the prioritized setting).

Shoot.

Unlike the D70 where menu diving is required, most things you will need
are on the the camera body as buttons, switches, levers, etc.

Cheers,
Alan

--
-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http/www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- r.p.d.slr-systems: http/www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http/www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

On 07 Jun 2005 in rec.photo.digital.slr-systems, Dale wrote:

> 1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).

What the others have told you. I have a D70, and I like the kit lens.
However, if she already has a Nikon SLR, then she already has Nikon
glass? It will, by and large, work on the D70, so don't try and
duplicate it. Just remember that, given the size of the sensor, it will
have an effective focal length 1.5 times what it is on a 35mm camera.

Also, if she does any flash work at all, pick up a SB-600 or SB-800
flash. I have a 600, and it's perfectly adequate for what I do with it.

--
Joe Makowiec
http/makowiec.org/
Email: http/makowiec.org/contact/?Joe

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

In article <da9pe.29059$j51.6861@tornado.texas.rr.com>,
Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote:
>Good Evening, All,
>I am looking at a Nikon D70 as a 20th anniversary gift for my wife. She
>is a serious amateur photographer who presently has a Nikon N6006 SLR
>and a Nikon 5700 Coolpix. I want to stick withj a Nikon DSLR due to the
>equipment she already owns.
>So, here are the questions I need help with...
>1. What lense(s)? She does a great deal of family photography
> as well as a lot of outdoors stuff. Everything from distance
> shots to real close and tight insects/flowers. I am willing
> to go with more than one lense, I just want to be sure that
> I am getting the right lense(s) for her. BTW, my budget
> is somewhat limited (max $1500).

Hmm ... If I were limited to a single lens, for what you have
listed, I would suggest the lens which I already had when I got my D70
(body only). That is the "28-105mm f3.5-4.5 D", which offers an
equivalent focal length range from 42mm to 157.5mm when you take the crop
factor into account. It has a macro mode which can get you quite close
(as long as you stay within the 50mm-105mm range).

Be warned, however, that when you are that close, you can't use
the built-in flash, as the lens itself casts a shadow. But if you have
sufficient light outdoors, you should be fine.

If she needs wide angle coverage, this lens won't do on a D70,
thanks to the 1.5 crop factor. However, the "kit" lens will do a good
job at that end. (I don't have that lens, so I don't know whether it
has a macro mode available.

>2. Found an ad for Nikon D70 equipment at a place on the web
> called BestPriceCameras.com. The prices seem to good to
> be true. Are they?

Probably. There seem to be a large number of shady operators in
NYC. There are those in this newsgroup who track such, so you will
probably get better information from them on this part.

One of the tricks appears to be that all of the standard things
which come with the camera are taken out of the box and sold separately,
bringing the price back up closer to normal. In this case, the things
would include the battery, and the battery charger (all sold
separately). Maybe even the camera strap would be sold separately,
since it is not attached to the camera as it is originally packaged.

But also consider -- the D70 is being replaced by the D70s, so
you can expect some price drops. (However, their pricing on the D70s
seems rather suspiciously low, two.

> Does anyone have any experience with
> these guys? I plan om calling the BBB in Brooklyn tomorrow.
> I just thought I would ask the newsgroup for their collec-
> tive experiences.

I think that both precautions are good ideas.

>Thanks in advance for all your help with these questions. I will
>probably have more before I get this all sorted out.

Best of luck,
DoN.

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Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital.slr-systems (More info?)

In article <K6ape.23827$PR6.5445@tornado.texas.rr.com>,
Dale <dneid@austin.rr.com> wrote:
>Hey, All,
>It is nice to know that I am not the only night owl out there!!! Thank
>you all so much for your quick responses! I can't tell you how much I
>appreciate it. One last question for you D70 owners... how is the
>reliability been? Are the extended warranties offered by everyone worth
>it? I usually turn them down, but in this case....

My own feeling is that they are not. Generally, the standard
warranty covers the "infant mortality" period, during which failures are
likely. (Not that I have experienced any with the D70), and then you
should have a good trouble-free life until it finally reaches
end-of-life, where failures start to rise again as things wear out.

>You all raised good points that I have considered. For instance, if it
>is too good to be true, then it is. The point raised about letting
>Linda pick out her additional lenses is a great point. That is probably
>what I will do. Lastly, she has more digital photo accessories than she
>shake a tree at. Over the last couple of years I have bought the following:
>2 GByte microdrive

A consideration about the microdrive -- aside from the fact that
many consider them to be more fragile than the CF cards. You will
*need* at least one CF card (even an 8Mb one from my CoolPix 950) to
install firmware upgrades into the camera. It will *not* install from a
microdrive, and Nikon's web site warns about this on the pages
explaining how to install firmware upgrades. (And the latest firmware
upgrade gives you most of the non-hardware features of the D70s. Only
the larger display and the electrical remote control, which are hardware
changes, are left out by the firmware upgrade. (And your D70 may or may
not have the firmware bumped to 2.0 (two parts, each is a separate
install.)

Good Luck,
DoN.
--
Email: <dnichols@d-and-d.com> | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http/www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---