Nikon D70 SLR Review

The D70 is compatible with about 90% of the F mount Nikkor lenses made. Because its imager is physically smaller than a 35mm film frame you need to use a picture angle conversion factor of 1.5x to determine proper focal length coverage when using 35mm format lenses.

Upper left is the focus-assist illuminator lamp, it is also used for red-eye reduction flash mode. On the left side of the lens mount is the Depth of Field (DOF) preview button, on the right side is the lens release lock button and the 2-way switch used to select the desired focusing mode, auto or manual.

Here's a closeup look at the Focus Mode selector switch (AF or Manual). The MA/M switch on the lens selects either full manual or auto focus with manual override. The D70 employs the Nikon High-speed, high precision 5-area AF system with predictive focus tracking and Lock-on™ to ensure quick response and sharp focus, while an AF-assist illuminator helps ensure top performance in dark situations.

The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED lens is compatible with all Nikon D-series digital SLRs and will be included as the standard zoom lens in the Nikon D70 digital SLR camera outfit. With an equivalent coverage of a 27-105mm zoom in 35mm photography, it offers Nikon's highly regarded Silent Wave motor (AF-S) for super fast and quiet autofocus, Extra-Low Dispersion glass (ED) for minimized chromatic aberrations, and Internal Focusing (IF) for convenient and balanced handling. It also incorporates a distance information guide window, a reliable metal lens mount for years of durability, and a M/A mode for seamless switching between autofocus and manual modes.

Designed exclusively for use with Nikon digital SLR cameras, DX Nikkor lenses deliver a versatile range of angle-of-view, higher performance, and outstanding center-to-edge-to-corner image quality, while realizing smaller and lighter designs. The current lineup of DX Nikkor lenses includes:

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5 IF-ED

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

• AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 12-24mm f/4G IF-ED

• AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED (180º angle-of-view)

When used with a Nikon digital SLR camera and NikonCapture software, images shot with the AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm lens can be transformed into ultra-wide angle rectilinear images with a choice of 100° and 130° horizontal angles of view.

Sooner or later you will need to clean your D70's imager or lenses. This is the American Recorder C02 Duster and Digital Sensor Cleaning Kit. It includes the handy C02 duster, 3 C02 cylinders and 3 Eclipse Sensor Swabs with cleaning fluid and a travel case. Perfect for cleaning the CCD imager and keeping your lenses dirt-free.

The D70's built-in speedlight employs Nikon's i-TTL flash control technology. The speedlight automatically pops up and fires when natural lighting is inadequate or to add balanced Fill-Flash when there is strong backlighting. i-TTL technology improves the accuracy of fill-flash exposure and white balance in a picture, by seamlessly integrating color information from the speedlight's monitor pre-flash with information from the D70's 1,005-pixel RGB sensor.

You can shoot at synchronized speeds up to 1/500 second for great fill effects under bright light conditions. FV Lock maintains the measured flash value while recomposing the shot so you still achieve the appropriate flash output for the subject. Manual Mode with Power Ratio from full output to 1/64 power in ½ step increments puts you in control of flash output to match your needs, and flash exposure compensation lets you increase or reduce flash output for even finer control.

The built-in speedlight can be used in Commander Mode to remotely control one group of multiple wireless SB-600 and/or SB-800 Speedlights. You can attach an SB-800 as the Master Speedlight and control up to three remote groups of wireless speedlights, with each group consisting of any number of Nikon SB-800 or SB-600 Speedlight units.

The D70 controls the SB-600 or SB-800's motorized zoom head and makes use of its more powerful AF-assist beam. The output of the flash is controlled precisely thanks to the new i-TTL flash exposure control system. And nothing beats the natural look of bounce flash.

The D70 does not have an integral PC sync port so you need to use the optional Nikon AS-15 Sync Terminal Adapter to connect to external studio flash units. It slides on the flash hot shoe and gives you a standard PC sync connector. (Note that the AS-15 does not contain an isolation circuit so be careful of strobes that use high trigger voltages.)

The eyelevel penta-mirror viewfinder shows approximately 95% of the captured frame. It has dioptric adjustment (-1.6 to +0.5 m-1) and a comfortable 18mm eye relief with a fairly wide viewing angle.

To accommodate individual differences in vision, viewfinder lenses are available with diopters of -5, -4, -3, -2, 0, +0.5, +1, +2, and +3 m-1. The optional DG-2 magnifies the scene displayed in the viewfinder for close-up photography, copying, telephoto lenses, and other tasks that call for added precision. Requires eyepiece adapter (available separately). The optional DR-6 attaches at a right angle to the viewfinder eyepiece, allowing the image in the viewfinder to be viewed from above when the camera is in the horizontal shooting position.

The D70's viewfinder display - in the center are the 5 autofocus areas and the center-weighted metering circle. The focus area that is selected or active will turn red briefly when the shutter is pressed. The horizontal and vertical grid lines can be enabled or disabled via the menu.

Across the bottom is the digital information panel that shows the autofocus status, focusing mode, battery status, shutter speed, aperture setting, analog exposure scale, flash compensation, exposure compensation, # of pictures remaining and the flash status.