New Soon-to Be D70 User, From 300D

Well, I did it--I made a deal with a FM poster to buy his D70 from him, and
I'm selling my 300D. This is NOT to start a flame-war, I've read a
ka-zillion posts and reviews on the respective cameras. I'm buying mainly
because my 300D broke only a month after I bought it--yes I bought it used,
but I did likewise with my CP5700 and it's humming along perfectly (as was
the case with other Nikons I've owned)--and since I have a CP5700 and the
Nikon View/Capture software a D70 "integrates" more that way.

Why am I posting then? A few questions:

(1) Will I miss mirror lockup much? I do like macro-shots a lot but I use
the CP5700 more for those than I did the 300D, and never used slow-shutter
speeds when macro shooting for the most part; after all, at a shutter speed
of 1/15 second, any hand movement or movement from the wind blowing the
plant would ruin the shot anyway. The "fanciest" zoom I see myself buying is
the Sigma 70-300 APO Super Macro II; I'd LOVE VR glass but can't afford any
of it. (Of course the Sigma will be equivalent to 450mm at the 300 setting.)
Would I miss mirror lockup much here? How about if in the future I get (say)
a 80-400 VR lens?

(2) How often have you D70 users encoutered moiré? I hear shooting RAW helps
a lot (I intend to shoot a lot of RAW as it is.) I've read various posts too
on software that can remove it. (I do have Paint Shop Pro 8 but that's all.)

(3) I've heard many a user bitch about the 300D's flash performance, even
with flash-exposure compensation re-enabled via the hack. A pro friend of
mine who's shot longer than I've been alive (I'm 36) has bitched endlessly
about how hard it is to get good flash exposures with the 300D. I've heard
likewise elsewhere too. I hear the D70's flash performance is far superior.
True? And would you have to blow your wad on the SB-600/SB-800 to obtain
decent performance, or would something like the Sunpak PZ5000AF or even
(gasp) a Vivitar 283 be an adequate substitute until I can pony up for an
SB-600/800?

(4) The 300D is known for its "silky-smooth" ISO 100 images, but the D70 has
great noise performance also. In my case, I am known to do 2-minute
exposures trying to capture lightning storms. Such shots would HAVE to be
done with NR turned off, so I wouldn't have to wait 2 more minutes for the
next shot. Will the performance of the D70 do well there as opposed to
"falling flat" compared to the 300D?

LRH

"Ed Ruf" wrote in message
...

You are not going to be taking any macro shots like you did with the
5700 with any of these lenses. They don't allow you to focus close
enough.

I am totally aware of that. In the SLR world I am well aware that the way to
go is a specialized macro lens.
Also fwiw the 70-200 f/2.8
VR is a much better lens than the 80-400 f/5.6 VR if you read the
reviews.

Which reviews say this? Just curious.

Also, what about the OTHER issues I brought up?

LRH

Ed Ruf wrote in
:

You are not going to be taking any macro shots like you did with the
5700 with any of these lenses. They don't allow you to focus close
enough. You can try diopters and such, but you really need another
lens with close focus capability for this. Also fwiw the 70-200 f/2.8
VR is a much better lens than the 80-400 f/5.6 VR if you read the
reviews.

Personally I find a cheap prime lens (e.g. 50 mm) with
extension tubes being an excellent choice for macro photo.
Or even better, if you can afford, a macro lens. No need
for zooms for macro.


/Roland

Ed Ruf wrote in
:

You are not going to be taking any macro shots like you did with the
5700 with any of these lenses. They don't allow you to focus close
enough. You can try diopters and such, but you really need another
lens with close focus capability for this. Also fwiw the 70-200 f/2.8
VR is a much better lens than the 80-400 f/5.6 VR if you read the
reviews.

Personally I find a cheap prime lens (e.g. 50 mm) with
extension tubes being an excellent choice for macro photo.
Or even better, if you can afford, a macro lens. No need
for zooms for macro.


/Roland

"Larry R Harrison Jr" wrote in message
newsacFd.17750$c%.11181@okepread05...

(2) How often have you D70 users encoutered moiré? I hear shooting RAW
helps
a lot (I intend to shoot a lot of RAW as it is.) I've read various posts
too
on software that can remove it. (I do have Paint Shop Pro 8 but that's
all.)

two times in 6.000 pictures. the last time was a jpeg fine shot of the
chicago skyline and one of the buildings window front showed moire -
shooting the same in raw DID indeed inprove the moire a lot. its a matter of
resolution and math...

(3) I've heard many a user bitch about the 300D's flash performance, even
with flash-exposure compensation re-enabled via the hack. A pro friend of
mine who's shot longer than I've been alive (I'm 36) has bitched endlessly
about how hard it is to get good flash exposures with the 300D. I've heard
likewise elsewhere too. I hear the D70's flash performance is far
superior.
True? And would you have to blow your wad on the SB-600/SB-800 to obtain
decent performance, or would something like the Sunpak PZ5000AF or even
(gasp) a Vivitar 283 be an adequate substitute until I can pony up for an
SB-600/800?

i am by no means a pro, but i am totally happy with my sb-600 on my d70. i
bought it off overstock auctions brand new for 161 bucks - incl. shipping -
about a month ago. the sb-800 wouldve cost' 100 more.

sid

(2) How often have you D70 users encoutered moiré? I hear shooting RAW helps
a lot (I intend to shoot a lot of RAW as it is.) I've read various posts too
on software that can remove it. (I do have Paint Shop Pro 8 but that's all.)

My D70 just rolled over its 10,000th shot and I have yet to see any
moire.

And would you have to blow your wad on the SB-600/SB-800 to obtain
decent performance, or would something like the Sunpak PZ5000AF or even
(gasp) a Vivitar 283 be an adequate substitute until I can pony up for an
SB-600/800?

The sb-600/800 are so well tied to the D70 that it would be a waste of
money to buy anything else.
http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/sb600.htm I find that when I'm
working in the street, the sb-600's "balance" mode with the D70's
Program mode can do incredible fill flash. See my shots here
http://www.nymetro.com/arts/articles/04/street_performers/gallery/7.htm
and here
http://www.nymetro.com/arts/articles/04/street_performers/gallery/3.htm


I am known to do 2-minute
exposures trying to capture lightning storms. Such shots would HAVE to be
done with NR turned off, so I wouldn't have to wait 2 more minutes for the
next shot. Will the performance of the D70 do well there as opposed to
"falling flat" compared to the 300D?

A friend does long-exposure night shots with his D70 (and also with his
Canon 20D). Check them out here
http://www.notraces.com/archives/000674.php,
http://www.notraces.com/archives/000547.php, and archived here
http://www.notraces.com/archives/cat_nikon_d70.php.

But don't turn off NR. If I remember, it doesn't add that much time to
the processing of the shot on a D70.

-=-Joe