D70 and lenses

Okay, I'm still in the search for the right dig. camera for me. If I

don't go with the Panasonic FZ20, then I am considering the D70. I

went to circuit city the other day to look at both, etc.. Anyways,

the lady there told me that I CANNOT use my Nikon N60 lenses on the

Nikon D70-that the Cannon was the only slr that I can use 35mm

lenses with. I believe in my research I have found that I CAN use my

slr lenses with the D70--which really makes me not want to go back

to circuit city anymore! So, what is it? I have a Tamron 80-210mm

lens and a Quantaray 28-80mm. If I CAN use these with the D70, that

would make a huge difference in my choice. Are there any problems I

will encounter using the slr lenses in the D70? Also, I think I am a

bit "afraid" (for lack of a better word) that I will never use all

the D70 has to offer. I read many of the forums and get lost on

terminology. I can take a great picture, but I certainly don't know

all there is to know-far from it. I know I can always learn, but I

am just afraid that if I buy this camera, alot of its features will

go unused! (I do more portrait photography-weddings, senior pics,

pics of my kids, etc...) Any thoughts on these questions/concerns?

Thanks-Kari

<I>Anyways, the lady there told me that I CANNOT use my Nikon N60 lenses on the Nikon

D70-that the Cannon was the only slr that I can use 35mm lenses with.</I><P>She is ill

informed.<P><I> I believe in my research I have found that I CAN use my slr lenses with

the D70--which really makes me not want to go back to circuit city anymore!</I><P> if

these are AF lenses you shouldn't have any problems with using those lenses - -except for

their quality.

The D70 will take any Nikon F-mount lens. Thom Hogan has more details in his D70 review <a href="http://www.bythom.com/D70REVIEW.HTM">here</a>. The relevant bit is:

 

<p><i>"The D70 takes any Nikon F mount lens (well, lenses earlier than the AI manual focus Nikkors damage the mount if you try to put them on the D70, and a few specific lenses won't work on the D70, usually because they have elements that stick into the mirror box and require mirror lock-up). Non-CPU lenses (AI and AI-S manual focus lenses) don't allow metering and must be used in Manual exposure mode."</i></p>

Forgive my ignorance-what is a CPU lens and a non-CPU lens? My lenses ARE AF lenses. Kari

In response to Ellis--why would the quality differ on my lenses? Do you mean as opposed to digital lenses? Kari

No he is saying that the lenses you have are not good optically when comapred to the manufacturers own ones.Whereas Tamrons are OK ,Quantaray is a brand I have never heard of and I would probably think they equate to the Centon brand lenses in the UK which are not very good.If I were you I would buy the D70 wih it's own kit lens as this would not only go wider(after consdiering the 1.5X magnification factor) but "beat the socks off" off the 28-80mm you currently have!

Get the D70. You'll love it. You'll love learning while you use it. If

the Tamron and Quantaray lenses you have are Nikon F mount

AF lenses, they will work on the D70. You are limited only by their

quality (as stated above).

 

And if you need a new washer or dryer, go see that lady at Circuit

City.

Keep in mind that you can put the D70 on autopilot, and not every worry about all it has to offer. I'm going on one year with mine now, and am just getting to the point where I feel I've mastered all of its features. I could make them work immediately, but it took me time to assimilate their best uses and turn that into sunconscious actions when I'm working.

 

An all-in-one digicam is convenient, but I never knew how much I loved photography until I wrapped my fingers around the grip of an SLR. It's a wonderful tool assuming its size/heft jives with your personal style.

 

If the size isn't an issue, I'd strongly encourage you to go with the D70 as you can use as much or as little as you want.

Kari,

 

Check out my web site www.dbrockwayphotography.com (I write under a different name on this forum) Its all shot with a D70 and the "kit lense"...while this lense is capable I would highly recommend the 50mm 1.8 nikkor.

 

Yes you can use the lenses you have now. Any nikon or other brand F mount lense will work on the D70. Thats why most of us bought it!!

 

If you need more help e-mail me from my website. I went through all this about 8 months ago. Trust me I understand how steep the learning curve is!!

 

Overall the D70 is a great camera.

<i>I can take a great picture, but I certainly don't know all there is to know-far from it... I do more portrait photography-weddings, senior pics, pics of my kids, etc...</i>

<br><br>

Dari,

<br>

Before I get stoned by other forum members let me state that I have and use a Canon 20D, a Fuji S2 Pro DSLR with Nikon glass and a Panasonic FZ20 as far as digital goes, as well as Nikon F5,F100,F3,F, Leica R9,R8,SL2,M3, Alpa 11si, Rolleiflex amongst other film cameras. I have tried the D70.

<br><br>

People who pretend that a DSLR is the necessarily the best do not consider what you are going to use it for. I think for portraits, weddings, pics of kids, etc. it is important to have a camera that gives good results while being simple to use. The FZ20 has become my favorite camera for allround photography.

<br><br>

The DSLRs are essential for some special assignments, such as macro photography, low available light, or when you need very big prints. Up to 8x10 or even 11x16, the LZ20 is excellent. It's 12x zoom means you can nearly always frame exactly the subject you want to take. The 2.8 constant aperture is enough for most daylight photography. The Image Stabilization means you can make hand-held shots even at 400mm. With a DSLR you would need a tripod. An Image Stabilized Nikon zoom lens alone, without body, would cost you several times the price of the Panasonic.

<br><br>

The Panasonic is light to carry (about 500g - 1 lb.), the D70 with a zoom lens weighs more than double. As has been pointed out before, the lenses you own (manual focus Tamron and Quantaray) don't allow metering and must be used in Manual exposure mode, a very serious disadvantage. Also, the quality of those lenses is not the highest. The Leica lens on the Panasonic would give you better results.

<br><br>

Considering all this, for your needs the Panasonic Lumix FZ20 seems the better buy. It is simple to use, light to carry and makes excellent pictures with no or little need of post-processing. The pictures are sharp enough for prints up to 11x16. Even if you learn all the features of a DSLR well, you will lose time in going through all the menus, and accidentally modifying a setting will mean you may lose a unique picture. Keep it simple.

<br><br>

If you are still unsure, have a look at the following threads on Photo-Net:

<br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00ASiw">Panasonic FZ20 or DSLR</a><br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009bru">Panasonic DMC-FZ20</a><br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=009lCx">DMC-FZ20 Panasonic Lumix Model ?</a><br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00Az4I">Panaleica FZ10 Digilux 2 comparative shots</a><br>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00AExe">Is Panasonic DMC-FZ20's small sensor 1/2.5" bothering you?</a><br>

<br><br>

 

Test Reviews:

<br>

<a href="http://www.steves-digicams.com/2004_reviews/fz20.html">Steves Digicams</a><br>

<a href="http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fz20-review/index.shtml">DC Resources</a><br>

<a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz20/">DPReview</a><br>

<a href="http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/FZ20/FZ20A.HTM">Imaging Resource</a><br>

<br><br>

Let yourself not be influenced by gear-fanatics. Choose what is best for you.

We are not all "GEAR HEADS"!

There are two options available

1.)Keep your N60 and buy a good budget film scanner and the Panasonic.The FZ20 is a good camera with a very wide zoom range.

2.)Buy the Nikon D70.

 

The main problems with modern consumer digital cameras other than SLRs is the noise you get above iso100 or iso200.This is especially evident in the newest 8MP wondercams! Anybody who tells you otherwise is talking other rubbish! It is usually so bad at iso400 that Neat Image or Noise Ninja maybe unable to help you!

<i>The main problems with modern consumer digital cameras other than SLRs is the noise you get above iso100 or iso200.</i><br><br>

Agreed. If you tend to shoot a lot in low available light and do not want to use a flash, the LX20 would not be a good choice.

<div></div>

St. Cergue near Geneva, Switzerland<div></div>

For this kind of Photo, the D70 beats the LZ20.<br>

Detail of a Phalaenopsis Orchid<div></div>

Kari's forum has become Peter's showcase...

Kari, take this for what it's worth considering that I'm a dSLR newbie (with 30+ years of experience as a film photographer, all but the last few with manual focus lenses)...

 

Faster is better. Quicker is better.

 

Before buying a Nikon D2H and the AF-S "kit" lens the only AF gear I had was a Nikon N6006 and old 28-85/3.5-4.5 AF-Nikkor. The lens was fine optically but autofocus was slow and noisy. It persuaded me that if I was going to get another AF SLR and lens it was going to be quicker - *much* quicker. There wasn't much point in buying an AF system if I could focus faster manually with my old gear.

 

The AF-S Nikkors with the Silent Wave Motor are *quick*. If the third party lenses can match it with their equivalent to SWM, they should be satisfactory.

 

Now I just need a lens that's *fast* - f/2.8 or better.

 

There's not much worse than autofocus that hunts and pecks and piddles around, especially when your subjects begin to feel like victims. You can take your time carefully focusing for landscapes, macro, senior pix, etc. But hyperkinetic kids, fast moving weddings, etc., won't wait for pokey cameras.

Just an update...I ordered the D70 this afternoon from B&H. Can't wait for it to get here! I know for sure I will have lots more questions, once I get it. Thanks for everyone's opinions and advice. Kari

Kari, I've been shooting with the D70 since last March and I LOVE it. it has been a fantastic camera. I highly recommend the f1.8 50mm prime as an additional cheap but great quality lense. I've used it for low lighting situations (concert shots. see shots at www.raerocks.com) and it has been excellent. I also have the 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 which was also cheap but I'm not very impressed with it. I should have just saved and gotten the 80-200mm F2.8 which is an industry standard.

 

Enjoy the camera!

In response to peter's statement:

<p>

<i>Even if you learn all the features of a DSLR well, you will lose time in going through all the menus, and accidentally modifying a setting will mean you may lose a unique picture. Keep it simple.

</i>

<p>I have been shooting with a D70 now for some months, and i find that, after about half an hour of initial shooting, changing the settings is a painless and concise process, they are well laid out, and if you're shooting raw, don't put you at risk of losing a picture.