Nikon D70, Still Usable in 2021?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ย. 2021
- Over 3 days I reacquaint myself with this 17 year old DSLR from Nikon and see how it compares to more modern digital cameras.
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I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and photographs using the D70 camera. I have a D70 and D80 and have grown to appreciate them more after watching demonstrations such as yours. I have three "D" series lenses, 28-70, 28-200 and 70-210. I also have the APS 18-55 and 55-200. I cherish my Nikon N8008s film camera but rarely use it because of the limited access to film and processing costs. I'm 80 years young and share in your frustration when trying to focus manually, hence, my auto focusing cameras, but I still enjoy hearing the shutters click. I purchased my D70 about four years ago for $50 U.S., it came with a very sticky film covering the leatherette but an amazing 327 shutter actuations. Half an hour of dobbing alcohol on with a cotton swab, wiping and repeating the process gave a new life to the little gem and I've come to love that camera. Thanks for sharing and I'm enjoying your site with each new video viewed. Cheerio from SW Ohio, USA.
Hello Ohio and hello Kenny! When you stop and think of the value you are getting for your $50 outlay, it is quite amazing. Both the D70 and D80 are more than capable of delivering great images and I quite agree about the shutter noise! I am delighted to hear from another senior citizen and I thank you for your kind words Kenny 👍
I've used a D70 off and on for fun for the past few years. I've experienced both of the problems you mentioned, and cured them.
The problems with the CF card are likely due to intermittency in the flat ribbon cable ZIF socket on the bottom of the camera that feeds the bottom circuit board. C
Common problem solved by popping the cable, cleaning its contacts and reinstalling it. I actually wedged a small thin piece of plastic underneath it to put more pressure on the ZIF connector contacts when it became intermittent again.
Autofocus glitch also probably due to oxidized lens contacts that can be cleaned with denatured alcohol and a Q-tip.
Great shots from a great little camera! I still have mine from 2004 and it still works great! I still use Capture nx on an old white iMac too! I never left the good old days. ☺ I am shocked by 45 MP cameras and can't for the life of me see the reasoning behind such huge files. I mainly use mine for personal projects. Recipe Books, Garden Books, Family Memory Books and Home Renos. It's just right! Thank you for showing us this little gem and I hope you have a great day!
I'm so pleased you still use it! The chase for more and more pixels is crazy, there are so many aspects to picture quality other than just megapixels!
Beutiful pictures! I just won a D70s off Ebay for less than the value of the lens, af Nikkor 24 - 85 f4/4.5 attached to the camera. I've used so many Nikon digital cameras from pro level, mid enthusiast, and a few consumer level cameras except the D70, D70s. As of this message; the camera is on its way, and I'm very excited. Love the DSL cameras! "God forbid mirrorless..." I fully agree.
Sounds to me like you are indeed "wizard" at spotting bargains! That 24-85 is such a great focal range to have. Thanks for watching and commenting!
There's still built-in autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses in the D780 (Nikon's last DSLR which came out in Jan 2020 - 16 years after the D70.)
Hello Timmy and thanks for commenting on one of my videos, I know about and share your perspective on gear, so it was good to hear from you! You have to give respect to Nikon for support of their F mount lenses, but I guess with so many hundreds of thousands out there still in use it made perfect sense to continue it with the D780.
Very therapeutic 22 minutes. I have reaquainted myself with the D70 I've owned since new in 2004. Last Sunday I spent some time to clean the crud off it that bonded with the plastic and must say it was stubborn and took some work. I followed the advice of some utuber and used IPA and q-tips and my D70 looks wonderful again. Just like you, I took it around my town yesterday and gave it the spin it's been waiting for all those years. The shutter sounder more confident with each consecutive shot. Must note, that D70 will work with all manual AI/AIS lenses when you switch to the manual mode. The only focus aid you have is the little Nikon dot in lower LH corner, when it appears then you are "almost" on a dime. In terms of cards, on some forums people consessed, that whenm you format a card on a computer in FAT32 (not in camera), then the camera will see the full card size. So, don't format in camera. And the sweetest thing of all, yesterday, after all those years I bought second hand the DK-20 rubber eye visor and what a difference 3USD makes in the camera experience. My current photography knowledge makes me appreciate the CCD sensor inside the D70, small,but what color magic it provides. All the best and don't stop.
Thank you so much for watching and subscribing Piotr! So glad that you have resurrected your D70 and got rid of the stickiness! There is a lot of joy in using older digital cameras and sometimes it reminds us of both how things have improved, but also that we don't need to keep chasing the latest and greatest models!
The bottom line is really what you said at the end of the video, just get out there and enjoy photography no matter what equipment you have.
Despite its age, and problems it gave you those are some wonderful photos that you took with that D70. I'm no professional, but of the cameras I've been able to use the D70 is by far my favorite.
Thank you Zachary, the D70 can still deliver great images and I'm pleased that you liked the video.
I've believe I've managed to fix the exact same CF card issue I have with my D70 - for me taking the card out and giving it a firm push home usually temporarily cleared the fault. But this can lead to missed shots. For a permanent fix I followed the iFixit guide to replace the CF card slot, but since the pins of the card slot seemed in good shape, I just air-dusted the slot (out of the camera) and all ribbon cable connectors and re-assembled. So far the fault has not returned.
I'm planning to leave my f1.8 50mm lens on my D70 as a second camera. I do miss the dual control dials and immediate tactile access to controls when I'm using my new D3500. I don't miss the weight of the D70 when carrying, but like the extra heft when actually taking shots.
Btw I found your video delightfully calming and the before/after processing of each shot has motivated me to invest in this area.
I'm delighted to hear about that fix for the D70 card slot Andrew, really helpful. If my video has inspired you then I consider it a success, so thank you for the kind comment!
As an ex D70 shooter, I liked it a lot. Current downside over time: bad pixels on the CCD sensor and sticky fake rubber grip.
Hi David, yes those are definite issues with nearly all D70's you find on the market these days, its a pity as it spoils an otherwise useable (and now cheap) DSLR
Nikon!!!???
Were you not feeling well mate? LOL!!!!!
Great little camera at the time.
Even better with prime lenses.
For focus aids, there is the little green dot on the bottom left of the view finder.
I'm having a break from the Internet as I spend far too long on here.
I'm going to wish you a happy new year and I hope you are well mate. 👍
Indeed it was Badger! It is still a workable proposition now for anyone starting out.
Muchas gracias, me encantó el video
Thanks for watching!
Lv this episode of vintage dslr (esp for ccd sensor) review thkU cheers
Thanks for the comment - love your 'handle'!
Excellent video. Cheers from California!
Thank you Jason and hello California!
I stil love mine... I upgraded to a D300 when that came out ( double the megapixel sensor :-) ) I have had the D70 converted to IR and it now has a second life and when used with a decent lens, produces some great images. It might be basic but it is a fabulous camera to just use and enjoy as a walk about DSLR. Many thanks for the video.
Hi Richard and thanks for watching! Yes I can imagine an IR D70 to be more than capable and I'm really glad to hear that yours has now got a second life.
Thank you, jolly good.
Thank you Victor!
Thank you
You are very welcome!
Hi Alan, I enjoyed watchin your 3-day "gettin back to the Nikon D70" video. I'm a Canon shooter myself (6D Mk II) so I can't relate to using a Nikon. However, I can relate to usin a similar "oldie" 5 MP Sony digital camera. I used it mainly for flower photos when I was a gardening columnist for a local newspaper, from around 2002 to 2009, 7 enjoyable years. I don't take it out much anymore, but I had it out recently and wasn't very impressed with the reaquaintance. I enjoy using my 6D Mk II, but in all honesty I'm a musician at heart and have recently set up my own home recording studio and have started working on some original compositions. Setting up my studio was actually inspired by Covid 19. I must also refer to what Zdenka Darula mentioned in the video she recently uploaded regarding presssing the reset button. I suppose you could say that my accident probably created the impetus for my pressing of the reset button - I almost cut off my right index finger this past September and realized that without it, my ability to play the guitar would be non-existent! It's mostly healed now, but with a small screw inside that was needed to reconnect a piece of bone that was chipped off when the accident occurred, there was some tendon damage too that needed repaired. When I hit the reset button this past October I forgot and used my right index finger, it was still quite sore! But we trudge along anyway don't we? New friend here and supporter, from across the Big Pond. Peace.
Thank you so much for the comment! I can only imagine how terrifying the potential loss of a digit must be to any musician, you have my total respect for pulling through and persevering with your recovery. I'm so glad to have you onboard as I have huge regard for the USA having spent a couple of months in Dallas, combined with a visit to Luckenbach, somewhere I'm sure you are familiar with!
Love the video! Just bought a d70 to mess around with!
Gratias vigilantes amici - or in English "thanks for watching friend!". Your probably not Roman, I just couldn't help myself. Hope you enjoy the D70 and your comment is much appreciated!
After watching this video I got myself a boxed d80 with a 60mm micro lens then then a friend gave me a d70s with a 28-105 lens all for the total price £50 I think I'm ready to go and give ccd photography a crack ... Very impressed with your shots just proves you don't have to spend megabucks to get some great images 😉👍
Well Spiller, what can I say! You got some excellent kit there at fantastic prices, the 60mm should yield great macro images and the 28-105 covers the most popular range. As you may have noticed, the channel is all about getting the most from whatever equipment you own, irrespective of age. Thank you so much for watching and commenting.
Thank you for a comprehensive program on the Nikon D 70 , your photography
was very nice too . I have three Nikon D 70 's & two Nikon D 50's , I also have X three Nikon D 100 , I have all the Nikon higher end cameras such as the D 7100 & D 600 & D 610 full frame , among other models I also have the D 200 , D 300 , D 90 & D 80 , all these cameras serves various purposes within my photography .
My photography is mainly photographic art , I like to use the D50, D70 & D100 for film effect photography , as theses cameras was essentially designed to look like & compete with film cameras back in the day , I love the grain from the 6.1 mega pixel single layer CCD sensor , it's just incredible , and indeed these cameras really do produce an ambiance that is very similar to film , hence why I use these cameras , I'm convinced that it's only going to be a matter of time before the intrinsic value rises on theses vintage digital cameras , there will always be a place for these digital artistic effect cameras within the art photography world , I treat them like a film camera & with all its limitations makes the shoot all the more challenging , forget the small screen on the back , as I wouldn't have this facility using a film camera , I treat the Nikon d70 as it was designed & intended for , a substitute replication of a 35mm film camera & a lot cheaper too in todays times , of course one cannot beat 35mm film , but those old Nikons are really close & not forgetting that warm lovely unique colour pallet from the CCD sensor , in general these cameras in my view is a must have to the artist photographer , along side all the high end DSLR's , I haven't gone mirrorless , it's still too early , battery life , sensor contamination , their not used a lot in Africa or the North and South Pole, and we'll still hear the shutter clicks from the press photographers for sometime yet I think , the mirrorless is more or less a glorified still's video frame , I'm also not used to the viewfinder monitor & I'm not fussed to see what the image will look like prior to taking the picture , but its subjective & indeed I'm happy for the many that like mirrorless camera .
in short every camera is sharp these days , razor sharp vibrant super clear images , everything is subjective within the art of photography , and the new cameras don't always apply to certain fields of art photography , it would be interesting to see if these mirrorless cameras will still work in seventeen years time like the the old Nikon D70 ?.
Hello Julian and thank you for such a valuable comment! Anybody would think you like Nikon 😉. I agree with your logic when it comes to vintage digital cameras increasing in value over time (with some exceptions like point-and-shoot models), although by their very nature we must not forget that each has an "end-of-life" expectation date (sensor usually) and that spares will undoubtedly become harder and harder to source. I guess the motto is to look after them as well as humanly possible! The mirrorless/dslr argument comes down to personal preference IMO, but it looks very much as if most manufacturers are ceasing DSLR line production. So now is the time for people to dive-in and buy some less expensive models, because as you say the quality can still be extracted from them!
Very interesting video. About checking the exposure there is a histogram available, and highlights warning.
Thanks Hugo, yes indeed the histogram is very useful, especially with these slightly older sensors.
Manual focus on all DSLR Nikon's uses a range finder indicator > • <
Simply focus until you either see the dot or the arrows. The arrows represent far and near. This is the range focus or zone focus system.
Depending on DSLR model, you can calibrate the body to the lens and fix the focus. If you cut a slot on the base of Ai lenses you can get exif data.
Thanks for sharing Don!
Your video pop up as a suggestion from TH-cam today and I watched with great interest not only using old DSLRs but also photographing Liverpool. I got interested in using old 6mp CCD sensored cameras a couple of years ago due to channels like Snappyness and what can be achieved using one. I bought a very used D100 from Cambrian photography in Colwyn Bay and a couple of older Sigma zooms from LCE online and have been having a blast using this old camera and lens combo. I grew up with film and was slow to adopt digital but now find that the early DSLRS where like film cameras with a sensor instead of a roll of film. The D100 shares a lot with the D70 and all the issues you mentioned in your video. I would not really shoot either above 400 iso as the noise is very noticeable unless you turn the image into monochrome and pretend it's film grain! I still like shooting with my modern mirrorless cameras but it is also fun to play around with the earlier stuff as well. I've just subscribed and will follow your channel from now on especially as I probably don't live too far from you and know some of the locations you have photographed.
Hello Dave and thank you so much for commenting and subscribing! Cambrian Photography have been trading for very many years and I have dealt with them myself, it is a great independent outlet. Yes the D100 is similar in many ways to the D70 (probably a better built body though). You are very welcome over here in Liverpool anytime!
@@photographyforenjoyment I came over to Liverpool yesterday as my wife wanted to do some cityscapes so we set off armed with a couple of m43 bodies and lenses. We had a strange spell of lighting yesterday with some really dramatic skies and a rainbow around midday. Do you know why a RN destroyer is berthed at the cruise terminal?
Apologies for not seeing this until now Dave, it's my fault for not scanning back over older comments! Sadly I can't see any stories relating to a RN ship at the terminal this year.
Nikon is still putting focus motors in the top of the line DSLRs. The hybrid(ish) d780 has it.
Indeed, with such a huge number of camera driven lenses still in use it makes good sense. Thanks for watching!
Focusing concerns. You can simply swap in a magnifier eyepiece over the eyepiece cover. Plenty from 1.5x to 10x.
Thank you Don!
I still use my D80 and D90. =) Both allow focus motor for D lenses.
Hello Kenny and thanks for the comment! I had D70 and D90 and they are still very useable cameras as you say. All the best for the festive season!
if u like,love, n enjoy taking pictures, is not the camera or thought u are that one will decide when to take a good pic....,my d70 my best friend, great till now,,,
The D70 can still give great results, it just lacks some of the features found on later models, but as you say it's the thought process that really makes the difference in seeing an image. Thank you so much for watching!
my d70 have molds in the sensor and stock lens, do you advice still having it cleaned or just buy a new one. ?
have not used it for 14 years
In all honesty I would say that it is better to replace it. If it simply needs a CLA (Clean, Lubricate, Adjust) then maybe it would be worth at least getting an estimate, but stripping the lens to remove mould + whatever is required to renovate the sensor, is probably going to be more than the cost of a replacement. In the UK they are selling for between £70 and £120 with lens and I think most repairers would charge that kind of money minimum.
Put a good lens on it such as a 17-55 f2.8 or some fast primes and you are set to go. Ok my D850 is another story but that is not the discussion now. Actually enjoy using older stuff now and then. Still have some analog slr's from the 70's.
Yes there is something about film cameras that digital just doesn't have. Thanks for watching!
Bought my D70 2004 paired it today with the 17-55 f2.8 and it gives good images. The camera is dated but still performs well with its 6meg pixel sensor image quality. The lens is outstanding I have used it on the Z50 and results are comparable with the DX Z lenses.
D70, D70S, D50, D89, D90, D7XXX all have AF motors in the body. The D40, D60, D3XXX and D5XXX don't
Thanks for pointing that out, it's really useful to anyone with suitable lenses. Thanks for watching!
And the D3 variants, D200, D300, D500, D600, D610, D700, D750, D780, D800, D810, D4 variants, D5, D6 I believe. Thanks for the video. 😊
I'm still using mine with the 28-105 lens but I don't get particularly sharp photos--certainly not as sharp as those you show here.
It is definitely a very useable camera in 2021. The 28-105 AF-D does have a good reputation, although inevitably some come out of the factory not quite up to par! But before consigning it to the bin, if you have a Skylight/UV filter on it please take a couple of shots WITHOUT it. You'd be surprised what a difference some filters can make - I speak from experience here when I bought a Canon M50 that gave appalling results, until I removed the filter and hey presto! sharp photos!
wot wot... someone's ears just pricked up!!
good exercise and conclusion. my thoughts were that of course you can use a D70 (or equivalent) today, but why oh why would you want to when your phone can take better pictures!?
having said that, the images with the 28-200 were much better I thought, and to answer the question why, if you don't like sometimes oversharpened computational images then any camera will be better.
personally I could never go back to a DSLR despite their better battery performance.
Yes Nick I agree, and that is the situation I am in right now - phone alone (Sounds like a movie?). The lack of 'reach' with longer lenses is the limiting factor, although again for my own photography I tend to be looking for the slightly wider shots anyway.
Said Mr D700. LOL
Happy new year mate.
Checking exposure should be done by checking the single big histogram not the image review.
I personally only use the review for composition and focus, b/c the viewfinders aren't 100% coverage.
If you're able to change the center button to the big histogram, that solves all exposure concerns.
Yes Don, I completely agree that if you are concerned about exposure accuracy then using the histogram really is essential. It is probably more important with cameras of this age, due to their more limited dynamic range.
@@photographyforenjoyment yup. I wish they'd go back to CCD
I use a 32gb in my d70 and d70s, but its a pain in the ass once you go to transfer photos via camera because of the slow usb 1.0.
Oh yes, we dont realise how slow USB1 is these days. If you can, transfer via a modern card reader.
It also has 1/500 flash sync.
In all honesty I didn't know that! Thanks for sharing 👍
and 1/8000 shutter
And it'll fire the flash at 1/8000 with manual non-dedicated flash i.e. centre pin only.
I have 3 of them XXXOOOO
Terrific! I'm so happy to hear that you are obviously so keen on the D70.
Getting another one---just in case.......................
You can never have too many!
perhaps you accidentally flicked the af/mf switch at the front bottom left on the body near the lens.
Knowing me, that is certainly a possibility!
I just got a Nikon D200 off ebay with a battery and charger for $56. 10mp and has a screw drive. So...no D70 isn't all that worth getting , unless you own one already.
Well I can't argue with that, a D200 for $56 was an absolute steal!
@@photographyforenjoyment It stinks like perfume. I've cleaned it 5x with various liquids. 70% iso., Hydrogen Peroxide, baking soda in hydrogen perocide and I even gave it a dusting of baking soda , let it sit a few hours and blotted it up with hydrogen peroxide....STILL , there's a faint whiff of it. 😒
Chanel No.5? 😂
@@photographyforenjoyment I have no idea. Maybe I should get a UV bulb or go outside and let it catch some rays😎