*Solid body design with metal in all the right places
*Vari Program Modes
*Electronic rangefinder
*Built in Speedlight
*It's a Nikon!

*No multiple exposures
*No DOFP
*No vertical grip
*No auto film rewind
*No eyepiece diopter adjustment
*No backlit LCD

I feel the Nikon N70 is a very excellent camera for the price. I've primarily used Minolta SLRs in the past, but became tired of their slow autofocus speed. The Canon line looked promising, and even the budget Rebel 2K is loaded with features, but the heavy use of plastic in their body design left me wanting. I'm all for lightweight, but using plastic in key areas like the lensmount have to make you question long-term durability. Nikon has always had more accessories available than the competition, but the price of their equipment seems higher than Minolta, Canon and Pentax. You may be paying for the Nikon name, but you also get what you pay for IMO. Once I settled on Nikon, I was left to what model to purchase. My budget allowed me to spend roughly $500 on a body. My choices that fell into that price range were the N60, N70 and N80. The N60 was almost immediately discarded because of so many weaknesses, including:

*No spotmetering
*No 3D fill-flash
*No slow sync or rear-curtain sync
*No remote shutter capability
*No exposure bracketing
*No ability to meter manual focus lenses

With the money I was willing to spend on a body, I knew I couldn't have every feature, such as MLU, but the glaring weaknesses of the N60 dismissed it entirely.

I was then left with the N70 and N80. At the time I was looking for a camera, the N70 had been recently discontinued and replaced by the N80. The N80 does have some features the N70 doesn't, such as vertical grip ability, DOFP, eyepiece diopter adjustment, and multiple exposure capability. This, along with Popular Photography's 5 star rating of the N80 made it look pretty capable, but upon further investigation, I noticed these comparisons:

*The N80 has only four exposure modes: Auto, Manual, Aperture priority and Shutter priority. The N70 has eight more modes for quick and easy exposure settings. This decision was made in the N80 because people wanted a simpler interface. They got it, Nikon just removed all the Vari-Modes.
*The N80 has no electronic rangefinder to assist with focusing of manual lenses while the N70 does. No surprise, as N80 users would not be using MF lenses anyway because they can't meter them.
*The N70's exposure compensation is more flexible than the N80's, allowing up to +/-5EV with ½ and 1/3 steps, while the N80 only allows +/-3EV with ½ steps.
*The N80 lacks the quick recall feature of the N70, to help simplify the interface.
*The N70 has a more powerful flash, allowing coverage up to 46 feet, while the N80 only allows 39 feet.
*The N80's film rewind motor is slightly weaker than the N70's. The N70 can rewind film in 12 seconds compared to the N80's 15 seconds in quick mode, and 22 seconds compared to 23 seconds in silent mode.
*The N70's film advance motor is quite a bit more powerful than the N80's also. The N70 can continuously take 3.7 pictures a second, while the N80 can only do 2.5 pictures a second. The weaker motor was probably put in to lower the body weight.
*The N80 seems to be much more of a battery hog than the N70, even with it's weaker motors and easier interface. The N70 can take 115 rolls of 36 exposure film with no flash compared to the N80's 60 rolls. With flash on half of the pictures, the N70 can take 25 rolls compared to the N80's 17 rolls.
*The N70 has a higher quality(albeit expensive), electronic cable release, while the N80 takes a step back with a manual release.

It seems to me that Nikon isn't stupid, and in listening to the complaints about the N70 from users, they added a few features, but they also weakened the camera in MANY key areas to compensate. They would not just add features without taking some away, or else we would just end up with the N90, and that's not the same market as the N70 and N80. I feel the N80 is a pretty good camera, and would make a nice second body if you already owned a higher model. If nothing else, just for the built in speedlight and weight factor. But I feel one of the N80's biggest shortcomings is it's unability to meter manual focus lenses. Not a big deal if you don't plan on using any, but some of the older manual lenses can be had for quite a bit cheaper than the modern autofocus equivalents. Take for example the 18-28mm f4 AIS manual focus Nikkor. You can purchase one of them new for under $150. To my knowledge Nikon does not make an AF equivalent, but they do have a 20-35mm f2.8 AF lens. But unfortunately, that lens runs around $1200. Granted, it's a faster lens, 2.8 compared to 4, but such a wide lens would primarily be used in taking pictures of vast landscapes, where smaller apertures would be used for greater DOF. The same can be seen in other speciality lenses such as macro lenses. Most people that are using macro lenses are also using a tripod and the AF isn't that big of a deal. A Nikkor 100mm f3.5 AIS Macro manual focus lens is around $130. The autofocus equivalent, the 105mm f2.8 Macro AF lens is around $520. Again, the faster lens would be nice, but it's not in all of our budgets. Especially when photography might just be a hobby and not a profession, where our job isn't paying or contributing towards the costs involved. Finally, I would like to comment on the user interface of this camera. From the reviews I've been reading on this and other sites, some people seem frustrated with the layout of the N70. After READING THE MANUAL, I found the controls quite intuitive and well laid out. It's really not half as bad as many have made it out to be. And the ability to store quick recall settings is an excellent feature. The eight Vari-Program modes worked very well, and seem very useful if you don't feel like learning aperture or shutter priority, or like me, have a spouse who could care less what the P,A,S,M modes are. For them to easily switch to preset modes such as portrait, landscape, sports, and close-up greatly help in getting good shots from an average person with a very small learning curve.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Various SLR Minoltas and Canon EOS models.

NIkon

Usabilty

This is a great intermediate camera but is very very very clunky to use. Trying to switch modes and features with the dial set up is difficult if not impossible in a fast situation. I think that Nikon figured this out when they decided to launch the N80. Asside from the lack of usability it takes fabulous photos if you simply leave it in Auto mode and the features are there once you figure them out.

Similar Products Used:

N90 - N60 - FM2

The quality of the product you get when buying the N70 is excellent. Great on-board features.

The control window is a little confusing. Shutter is a little loud.

I recommend this camera for the intermediate photographer. It has plenty of options to toy with, and is an excellent deal for what you are paying.

Customer Service

Haven't been exposed to it yet.

Similar Products Used:

Old Minolta and an old Canon.

Matrix
Flash
Made in Japan
quiet

no DOF, why you...!!!

Ok, I love this Made in Japan camera even though it has been upstaged by the N80. I have figured out how to combine the features into modes, see below. Now, I just concentrate on the image, not playing with my silly camera. Lemme get this out of the way before I start complaining: It works and works well- quickly, quietly, and is durable. It no longer gets in the way of the image. That's it, now let me b*tch because I need some release! If you start playing around with the ISO be sure to set it back to DX or you are majorly screwed-your film, that is. If you don't use a D lens, the P program likes to start at wide open, where your lens s*cks. It is not super, new, gadget cool with multi focus eye control blinky lights, but you will get the shot with your black blob of a camera. Aperature mode requires use of the lens aperature ring-like an oldie manual camera- is this thing autofocus or not!?! You do look silly when you use your manual focus lenses on the AF body, but who cares when the film develops and your shots are incredibly saturated vs. today's low contrast cheap zoom lenses. Those d*mned CR123 are miserably expensive and toylike-I really believe that the fat grip CAN hold 4 AA's, but Nikon chose not to use it. Curse those who took out the threaded cable release!-I can never take firework shots or any nighttime shots. Who sculpted the left side and forgot to include a gripping surface?-It's a miracle I can hold the camera still!!! If those Nikon lenses were that good, I'd chuck it all on ebay!

Customer Service

hehehehe

Similar Products Used:

None

lightweight, good metering options,
durable

the controls could be made easier to use

Great camera ! Especially for the price ! I rarely get a shot that is not technically
excellent because the metering system and focusing are top-rate (I use only Nikon lenses and that makes a difference, too). Even the little flash can handle many situations.

Customer Service

never needed it

Similar Products Used:

N5005, F3, F4

solid,durable body
3D-build-in-flash
matrix metering

no DOF
complicated and time consuming settings
no mechanical cable release

great camera for the value.Once used to the settings,operation is easy. Camera produce very good pictures even in Program-mode with matrix metering.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

None

Weight is just right to hold. Reasonable price when compare performance with N90, N100; Has built-in flash, easy to bracket +/- X ev. Accurate metering (TTL, Matrix, Spot)

Very hard to use at first.
Can't customize to rewind film automatically at the end like N80 (I accidentally open the case about 3 times already)

Followings are probably too much too ask for that price :-)
No pre-lockup mirror,
No preview Depth-of-field
AE-L button: can not customize to become either AE-focus, or AE-Lock, or both.

Once familiar with buttons, I love what it can do for me for that price

Customer Service

Never needs one

Similar Products Used:

N301, N6006, N8008, N60, N90

Rugged, reliable camera with plenty of advanced features for money, built-in flash, big accessory range

I prefer more buttons, time consuming changing of some parameters through two buttons and dial control, AF could be a bit faster, expensive batteries / no optional battery pack

I dropped my camera on concrete twice. Nikon service tested it and it is absolutely OK. It is worth the money.

Customer Service

outstanding

Similar Products Used:

Pentax ME Super
Nikon F90

very few buttons
solid body
Matrix metering
fast autofocussing
built in flash
quiet operation
Quick Programs is useful
durabe-well sealed

no DOF, use experience instead
interface not fast
archane aperature ring Aperature setting

This is a solid, very durable camera. I've taken it to humid locals and to dusty locals and in a bag while mountain biking. The built in flash is very useful midday to brighten shadows.It is also very quiet in operation. Matrix metering is very good, but sometimes you have to use centerweighted or spot metering to get an accurate exposure. Due to the myriad of features, changing a few of them at a time can get confusing and cumbersome- that is why the quick programs work so well. QuickProgram tips:I use one setting as a general Programmed/Matrixmetering/spot focus. Second, for difficult or night metering, I use:SpotMeter/Programmed/slow flash. Third:FullManual,Spot meter. In this way, I have general shooting, problematic shooting, and full manual control all within quick access. The reasoning for most of these settings is that with Matrix metering, you should not try to alter the exposure- it is adjusting automatically. With problematic metering (night scenes or contrasty scenes), you need spot metering so that you ignore the distracting areas. Full manual control is easy with the N70. You find the correct metering spot, adjust according to scale in finder, then shoot. I, too, have been reading about the pros and cons- it's human nature to always want something different/better. The way Nikon set up this camera, it is flexible (too flexible) for people to decide to do things one way. In product development, sometimes you have to almost tell people what to do or else they don't know where to start. Once you find the way to use it, you will use it best, but because the N70 is not totally visual, people have a hard time remembering every feature. Using the Quick Programs is the only way to organize the features into different shooting so that you can set them all in one adjustment versus changing several on the fly(that never works). This is not an intuitive interface at all and requires organizational skills to figure out how to combine the features to make up your own modes. When used like this, you will handle alomst any shoot situation

Similar Products Used:

None

good camera with fast focus, good metering and build in flash for fill in.

no pof, poor flash sinc

for the price and quality better than f90, iwaiting now for the new n80.

Customer Service

no problemm

Similar Products Used:

nikon f nikon fm 4001
nikon fm2