ptkeam

I have used my SB400 with a LumiQuest mini-softbox with great results. I do have to over-expose about a half stop, but results are great

Hi,

Great question -- and interesting that you're considering getting a prime lens.

I think that you'd find the 50mm focal length to be a little long for your all-around needs.

People don't talk about it much but I would highly recommend the 28mm 2.8 nikon lens.

It's just a tad wider than a "normal" lens on 35mm film, very sharp, affordable and the 2.8 apeture should be adequate for most of your needs.

I had this lens for about 3 years and used on D70 -- It's a FABULOUS lens esp. considering its low cost, small size and light weight. The only reason I got rid of it was because I got an 18-200mm zoom (sigma). If you have wide angle covered, then this would be a great walk-around lens.

On DX format this would be = 42-300mm. Yeah, it would be nice if it were a little wider on the wide end, but a Nikon 18-200 would cost 3 times as much.

One overlooked feature of this lens is its close focusing capability.

I shoot with 2 D70's and one of the lenses I use is a Sigma 18-200mm DC lens. (not the OS version) I thought about digging deep in my wallet and getting the Nikon version, but didn't want to spend over twice as much as the Sigma costs.

I have been really, really happy with it.

I don't think VR is a really big deal. Think about it. Maybe you can shoot at 1/15th of a second @ 200mm with a Nikon VR but this is only practical if your subject is STATIONARY. It's really of limited utility.

I have a Nikon 28-105 as you mentioned that I've used on my D70 for several years. It's a FABULOUS lens -- I've used it for portraits/landscape and closeup/macro work.

Unless price is absolutely no issue with you, by all means get the 85mm 1.8. In 99.9999% of situations the slight extra speed of the 1.4 won't really make ANY difference -- ESPECIALLY since with a digital camera you can EASILY bump up the ISO 1/2-stop or so if you need to in a given situation.

Going up to 1.4 will add considerably to the COST, SIZE, and WEIGHT of the lens. The only downside is that you might not impress some navel-gazing, nit-picking Nikon crazies who think the quality of the work is in direct proportion to the size of their lenses.

I have six lenses I use for my two D70's. If I had to get rid of all of them and just use one on each body, I would have to keep the Nikon 28-105mm. It's a superb lens. The 28mm is comparable to a "normal" lens on 35mm and 105mm more than long enough for a great portrait lens.

The macro performance is great too.

I have Nikon's 28-105 3.5-4.5 lens. I have used it for macro and portrait work. It's a fabulous lens -- I would highly recommend it for weddings.

I have three Vivitar 283's that I've used for ages -- on old Nikon stuff and Mamiya medium format cameras.

They were and are superb flashes.

I have thought about putting them on eBay but just can't bare to part with them (esp. since they only go for $10=$15 or so).

I now use them with my two D-70's. I recently purchased an SB-400 to play around with iTTL flash. It's a really neat little gadget, but the results aren't really different from the 283's. Hey, light is light, right?

You do have to THINK a little more with a non-TTL flash, but what's wrong with that???

I'm glad that I cut my eye teeth on manual cameras & flashes (guide numbers anyone??). Made my living with MECHANICAL cameras for a couple of decades.

Today, people who started on autofocus/autoexposure cameras have, at best, a vague idea of what f/stops, shutter speeds & depth of field are all about.

I have an SB400 and I LOVE it. It's so tiny you can just stick it in your pocket and pop it on the hot shoe in a couple of seconds when you need it.

Go for it. You won't be sorry.

I had a Nikon 18-70mm and was never happy with it. It just wasn't sharp -- especially at 18mm.

I finally sold it & got a sigma 18-200mm lens and have found it to be much sharper across the board.

Dan,

Thanks so much for your response -- I'm selling this baby on eBay

I use two D70's & recently purchased an older Sigma 28mm 1.8 -- I had problems

with the lens not focusing consistently with either body. I've used a number

of lenses on these two bodies and never had focusing problems with any of them

except this sigma.

I've read in various forums that older lenses may not work well because of the

chips in the lenses.

Does anyone have experience with the newer sigma 28mm 1.8 EX DG with a D70???

I agree with John -- get a 50mm 1.8 prime -- excellent optics and it's a great portrait focal length -- Also a super available light lens for low-light situations

a super AND affordable answer would be the 28-105 D macro lens. It has the perfect range for portraiture and focuses to 1:2. I have one and love it. I am very, very satisfied with the optics. You should find a used one for around $200

If I were you I would keep the D50 for the time being. If you have bucks burning a hole in your pocket, spend them on lenses. I have two D70's and have no plans to plunk down any money any time soon for a new camera body.

In the film days, you could confidently spend a lot of money on a good camera body and know you would be able to use it for many, many years. Now, with digital, unless you are a photojournalist, you really don't need the robust body you can also hammer nails with. As one of the above contributors noted, the changes from D50-D70-D80 are incremental -- not exponential.

Yes, I agree 100% with Brooks. You should shoot Raw files on a D70. I have two of them and the "auto" white balance setting is really only good for full sunlight. I find that when I shoot JPEG's (which I seldom do any more) I have to adjust the WB to the situation. That's my major complaint about the D70 -- otherwise I love the camera -- I'm in no hurry to plunk down a grand or more for a new body just yet.

It's no big deal to open the Raw file in photoshop (I use elements 4.0) and apply the correction.

Oh Boy, I had one of these lenses in my film days. Fabulous lens. A lot of people didn't even know it existed. Super, Super sharp.

I've also had a 28-200 G Nikon lens for SEVERAL years. -- recently sold it when I got an 18-200 -- The lens mount held up very well -- no problems (by the way this is a great lens)

Go ahead & use the 28-105 lens with confidence. It's a GREAT lens. Many people pooh-pooh it because its widest focal length is only 28mm. however this is very close to a "normal" lens on 35mm format. You'll find it just fine for most situationa at a wedding.

And as several people have mentioned, it's really, really sharp.

I have used one for several years on a D70.

I have the nikon 28-105 zoom which has macro focusing (1-2) It's a great portrait lens and has the added advantage of zoom which the 105 macro doesn't

It's really sharp and reaonably priced

Several people have mentioned the 28-105 nikon. I have this --- it IS a fabulous lens -- however it wouldn't give you too much more reach than the 18-70. I'd look for a Nikon 28-200 G lens. It is a "consumer" lens -- plastic mount -- but the optics are REALLY good and it will focus quite close.

Hi, I have and use a lens exactly like the one you describe. It's a great lens -- built like a tank and sharp as a tack. I use it on a D70. Make sure it's been modified to AI. If not you WILL damage your camera body by mounting the lens. The lens I bought was not modified so I filed down the "lip" on the apeture ring so it didn't touch the tab which protrudes from the camera body.

Happy shooting

Your question was "Is a D70s a capable backup" The answer is OF COURSE IT IS. In an ideal world you WOULD want another D80 but you can probably get a D70 for less than half the cost of a D80. Go ahead and get the D70 and use the extra money for a lens or flash. (or new tires for your car)

The controls are similar enough that it shouldn't be an issue and memory cards are cheap enough now that that shouldn't be a huge factor in your decision either.

Hi,

I currently have an 18-70DX lens -- I'm not absolutley thrilled with its

performance @ 18mm. Would the 18-35 D lens be any better on a D70?????