Nikon D70
Encyclopedia
The Nikon
D70 is a digital single-lens reflex
camera
, introduced at the 2004 PMA Annual Convention and Trade Show
, as Nikon's first affordable consumer-level digital SLR, and a competitor
to the Canon EOS 300D
. It was often sold in a "kit-package" with the Nikon 18-70mm AF-S
lens. The Nikon D70 was succeeded initially by the Nikon D70s and more recently by the Nikon D80
and Nikon D90
, announced on August 9, 2006 and August 27, 2008 respectively. The Nikon D70 is the first DSLR camera built by Nikon's factory in Thailand.
Due of its hybrid electronic/mechanical shutter, it is in fact possible to flash sync the D70 and D70s beyond their published 1/500 maximum sync speed up to the maximum shutter speed of 1/8000.
The Nikon D70 has been considered superior to its predecessor, the D100
, despite the higher price of the latter. The D70 is backward compatible with most of the older Nikkor lenses. Sigma
, Tokina
and Tamron
are other popular lens suppliers of Nikon F-mount
lenses.
In early 2005, Nikon announced the D70s. The D70s is essentially an update of the D70, adding a larger LCD screen (2 inches (50.8 mm) instead of 1.8 inches (45.7 mm)), though still having 130,000 pixels. The D70s also comes with the newer EN-EL3a battery with slightly higher capacity. While the battery performance is increased, the new version of the D70 lacks the previously included MS-D70 battery holder, which allowed users to mount three CR2 batteries in the camera in case of a dead battery (notably the adapter is not compatible with CR123 batteries). The camera is also equipped with a terminal for a proprietary remote release cable (MC-DC1).
In addition, the D70s features an increased 18 mm angle of coverage from its built-in flash; the flash on the D70 could only be used with lenses as wide as 20 mm. All other updates to the D70s are available for the D70 through a firmware
update, which include improved auto-focus performance, updated menu design and updated in-camera printer support.
The Canon EOS 350D
(known as the Digital Rebel XT in the US) was its then-competitor when the D70s was introduced.
Nikon
, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
D70 is a digital single-lens reflex
Digital single-lens reflex camera
Most digital single-lens reflex cameras are digital cameras that use a mechanical mirror system and pentaprism to direct light from the lens to an optical viewfinder on the back of the camera....
camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
, introduced at the 2004 PMA Annual Convention and Trade Show
Photo Marketing Association Annual Convention and Trade Show
The Photo Marketing Association International International Convention and Trade Show is an annual imaging technology trade show conducted by PMA held in Las Vegas. The PMA International Convention and Trade Show frequently are the occasion for the public introductions of important imaging products...
, as Nikon's first affordable consumer-level digital SLR, and a competitor
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...
to the Canon EOS 300D
Canon EOS 300D
The Canon EOS 300D, manufactured by Canon, marketed in North America as the EOS Digital Rebel, and in Japan as the EOS Kiss Digital, is a 6.3-megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera. It was initially announced on 20 August, 2003 at a price point of $899 without lens, $999 with the...
. It was often sold in a "kit-package" with the Nikon 18-70mm AF-S
Nikon 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
The AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm 3.5-4.5G ED-IF is an F-mount zoom lens manufactured and sold by Nikon. Designed exclusively for use on Nikon DX format cameras, this lens covers from wide-angle to medium-telephoto range....
lens. The Nikon D70 was succeeded initially by the Nikon D70s and more recently by the Nikon D80
Nikon D80
The Nikon D80 is a digital single-lens reflex camera model announced by Nikon on August 9th, 2006. The camera shipped the first week of September to US retailers. Considered by many to be an amalgam of design elements of the entry-level D50 and high-end D200 cameras, it occupied the same price...
and Nikon D90
Nikon D90
The Nikon D90 is a 12.3 megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera model announced by Nikon on August 27, 2008. It is a prosumer model that replaces the Nikon D80, fitting between the company's entry-level and professional DSLR models. Nikon gives the D90's Estimated Selling Price in the U.S...
, announced on August 9, 2006 and August 27, 2008 respectively. The Nikon D70 is the first DSLR camera built by Nikon's factory in Thailand.
Features
The D70 features include:- Nikon DX formatNikon DX formatThe Nikon DX format is an alternative name used by Nikon corporation for APS-C image sensor format being approximately 24×16 mm. Its dimensions are about 2/3 those of the 35mm film format . The format was created by Nikon for its digital SLR cameras, many of which are equipped with DX-sized...
sensorImage sensorAn image sensor is a device that converts an optical image into an electronic signal. It is used mostly in digital cameras and other imaging devices... - 1.5x field of viewAngle of viewIn photography, angle of view describes the angular extent of a given scene that is imaged by a camera. It is used interchangeably with the more general term field of view....
crop - 6.1 megapixel sensor (23.7 mm × 15.6 mm)
- 1/500th second x-sync
- Nikon F-mountNikon F-mountThe Nikon F-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm SLR cameras. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F camera in 1959, and features a three lug bayonet mount with a 44 mm throat and a flange to focal plane distance of 46.5 mm...
lenses - File formats include JPEGJPEGIn computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
, NEF (Nikon's raw image formatRAW image formatA camera raw image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of either a digital camera, image scanner, or motion picture film scanner. Raw files are so named because they are not yet processed and therefore are not ready to be printed or edited with a bitmap graphics editor...
), and JPEG+NEF - Single Servo and Continuous Servo focus modes
- Continuous shooting at 3frame/s up to 144 images using a high-speed storage card (minimum burst of 4 images with a low-speed storage card)
- ISOFilm speedFilm speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system....
200–1600 (in full stops or 1/3 stops selectable) - Configurable Auto-ISO (Automatic sensitivity change to keep required Shutter and/or Aperture values)
- New TTL Flash System
Due of its hybrid electronic/mechanical shutter, it is in fact possible to flash sync the D70 and D70s beyond their published 1/500 maximum sync speed up to the maximum shutter speed of 1/8000.
The Nikon D70 has been considered superior to its predecessor, the D100
Nikon D100
The Nikon D100 is a discontinued 6-megapixel digital single-lens reflex camera designed for professionals and advanced hobbyists. It was introduced on February 21, 2002 at the PMA Annual Convention and Trade Show as a direct competitor to the Canon EOS D60...
, despite the higher price of the latter. The D70 is backward compatible with most of the older Nikkor lenses. Sigma
Sigma Corporation
is a Japanese company founded in 1961, manufacturing cameras, lenses, flashes and other photographic accessories. All Sigma products are produced in the company's own Aizu factory in Bandai, Fukushima, Japan...
, Tokina
Tokina
is a Japanese manufacturer of photographic lenses and CCTV security equipment.-History:Tokina, become a partner of Pentax, division of Hoya Corporation and jointly developed some lenses. These will be available under the Pentax and Schneider Kreuznach D-Xenon and D-Xenogon brands in Pentax K mount...
and Tamron
Tamron
is a Japanese company manufacturing photographic lenses, optical components and commercial/industrial-use optics. Tamron Headquarters is located in Saitama City in the Saitama Prefecture of Japan....
are other popular lens suppliers of Nikon F-mount
Nikon F-mount
The Nikon F-mount is a type of interchangeable lens mount developed by Nikon for its 35 mm SLR cameras. The F-mount was first introduced on the Nikon F camera in 1959, and features a three lug bayonet mount with a 44 mm throat and a flange to focal plane distance of 46.5 mm...
lenses.
D70s
In addition, the D70s features an increased 18 mm angle of coverage from its built-in flash; the flash on the D70 could only be used with lenses as wide as 20 mm. All other updates to the D70s are available for the D70 through a firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
update, which include improved auto-focus performance, updated menu design and updated in-camera printer support.
The Canon EOS 350D
Canon EOS 350D
The Canon EOS 350D is an 8.0-megapixel entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera manufactured by Canon. The model was initially announced in February 2005. It uses Compact Flash storage and a Lithium ion battery...
(known as the Digital Rebel XT in the US) was its then-competitor when the D70s was introduced.