flash
matrix system
can meter awesome manual lenses
cheap now that N80 is out

NO DOF-Shame on Nikon
archane only center focus point

Now that the N80 is out- this N70 is getting cheaper and cheaper. It is a great deal if you can work it. Consider this: It has a built in flash- great for convenient flashfill (how many amateurs carry around an SB28?), has modern AF unit (although, not multipoint)-use spot focus only, is quiet, is high quality Made in Japan-stiffer plastic, and can meter the most awesome collection of maual lenses on the planet.
Admittedly, you have to preplan some things, because you will forget all the adjustments needed when the opportunity exists like metering for low light shooting- spot focus with manual adjustments. If you know what you are doing (amateur+) then you can use this camera for best effect, otherwise N80,N90,F100 may not help you any more than a decent point and shoot with Royal Gold 400. Those who trade in N90s for N80s are not getting more pro quality, just more features. Upgrading to an N90s will lose you the super convenient flash. Of course, we all want the F100, which satisfies on quality and features- none of which will make you a better photographer.

Similar Products Used:

None

Useful user-interface.
Good grip. Good AF. Good flash( I get unexpected great result.) Liked the dial control. It's a good value for the dollars.

No backlight for LCD.
Expensive, expensive shutter release.
Batteries are not that common to find.

It's a great beginner AF camera. I been using manual Pentax K1000 for long time and decided to
upgrade to AF camera. I choose Nikon for it's price and ease of use. And serve me extremelly well.

But LCD has no backlight which is a hassle because sometime I forgot to bring flash light.

And shutter release is a big negative. Expensive. I prefer to use cable release. (cheaper) If you plan to use remote cable, be prepared to spend quite a bit of money to get one.

But all in all, I never regretted purchasing N70.

Customer Service

Never needed one. I never had any problem.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K1000

Very reliable.
Good value for money especially now that the F80 is on the market.
Provides almost all the features that a beginner would need.
Quiet operation for times when quiet is needed.
Useful program modes
Great lens and assessory range available.

No depth of field preview.
Difficult to operate in the controls in dim light.

Great camera for its current price. Don't be worried by the apparently complicated LCD display. You'll get used to it. I did and thats saying a lot. Great camera for beginners who are looking to move into more challenging forms of photography.

Customer Service

Had no need to find out yet.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 300si
Olympus OM10

Excellent metering system, virtually foolproof. Fairly rugged construction. TTL flash exposure a real plus

Vari-program system useless. Confusing and time-consuming settings with buttons and wheels and the lcd screen.

A quality top-of-the-line amateur camera. If seldom used, however, you WILL forget how the controls work. [the new N80 fixes this problem]. Once very familiar and quick with all the control funtions, you can expect this camera to provide accurately exposed and sharp images equivalent to the F100 every time. Not as rugged as the N90 or F100, but lighter and less tiring to use.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

N8008

-Very good in Auto (P) modes.
-The TTL flash
-Aperature priority works well for the old Nikon lenses--(I love Nikon because my 30 year old lenses work on my brand new camera)
-Seems to meter very accurately and always gives quality images
-Very durable (It has survived very well after several drops)
-Nikon quality!!!

-No Depth of Field Preview!!!
-No Multiple exposure!
-Time consuming and confusing when changing settings on the LCD with the dial

This camera has the basic features that the N60 missed, but does not compare to the N80. It seems to be more comparable to the Canon Rebel G. It takes great pictures, for the novice amatuer; the N70 may also make a great backup body.

Customer Service

Never had to deal with them

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FE, Canon Rebel G, Canon A2E

- quick auto focus
- 3.7 fps and 3.3 with focus tracking
- durable and fairly weatherproof
- nikon f lens mount compatibility
- good auto focus in the dark
- powerful flash
- fairly quiet motor
- price is decent
- able to use older lenses
- 3D matrix metering works wonderfully
- 8 program modes that aparently work well

- no depth of preview
- no film rewind snag
- a little heavy
- no indiglo lcd
- no multiple exposures
- no mirror lock up (you don't get that until the f5 so not something to complain about)

This was my first real auto focus camera and it introduced me to photojournalism extremely well. Proir to using the n70 i used rebel x and g's and basically i was blown out of the water by everything about this camera.

Though i would say that the controls are slightly confusing at first, they work fine as long as you aren't changing things quickly.

If you don't need the multiple exposure and few other features on the n80, i recomend this camera emensly. I feel that it is better built and will last you longer.

I use this camera for both personal and school newspaper application and it has worked wonderfully at both.

The autofocus and metering are generally right on. I have shot many of sporting events in the pouring rain without problems to the camera or the pictures.

You might think, it only have 8 segments rather than 10 for metering. I have found that this camera take essentially the same pictures as my f100. This is easily seen because i use the exact same lenses on both. Moreover the center weighted metering is exactly the same as the f100, 75/25, which means that you'll get the same aperature/shutter speeds on both cameras.

This camera worked great for as a step before getting an f100. I still have the n70 and use it in conjunction with the f100. It is an excellent body for under 400 dollars now.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

n60, n80, f100 and canon rebel 2000, a2(e), elan (II), eos 3

Fast focus, durable body, powerful flash, features functionality most casual photographers rarely use.

No DOF preview, although in reality not necessary. Relatively complicated interface as opposed to the dials seen on N60, N80 etc

Stong features complicated interface. Would not necessarily recommend as first SLR for beginner but definitely more than advanced enough for casual photographer.

Similar Products Used:

Own N60
Rebel 2000

A load of options in a durable and capable camera.

Confusing interface. Not easy to change quickly or on the fly. Forget about making too many changes without taking your eye away and looking at the interface screen, then remembering which combo of buttons does what.

I gonna get a N80 as soon as I can. I love thereults I get from my N70 I just do not like the limits of on the fly changes. It just does not feel the camera is a part of me when I use it and I need that. I have held and fooled with the N80 and somehow it's buttons in various places on the camera where my hands and fingers are anyway is better than having the commands and functions buried in menus like Microsoft Windows folders!

Similar Products Used:

N60
FE2
FM2

* Access to Nikon lenses
* Priority Programs are great
* Price isn't too bad
* Well Built (in my mind it's even better built that the new N80)
* Not too loud

* No DOF preview
* Controls are tricky
* Some features take too many steps to get to

I purchased the N70 after loosing my 6006 and learning on a FM2. The AF is fast and the meetering is fantistic. The variable programs (something only the N60 now has) is actually not too bad once you get used to them. I will say, though, the layout of the controls look really nice, but are tricky and hard to learn. You really need to read the manual, once you get it though - everything is easy. As noted above, some steps take too long to get to. The N80, from my research, shows that Nikon fixed this. Overall, I'd say this is great intermediate unit. Oooh, one big plus. I'm still using the same lens I bought back w/ my FM2 in 1990. Nikon has done a fantistic job of making sure their units can continue to use the same lens mounts. The same can't be said about other companies.

Customer Service

Haven't had to use it in the 3 years I've had it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2
Nikon 6006

Nikon Lenses
Price (not cheap, but affordable)
The flash system is excelent, and the built-in speedlight supports all the camera features, with a very decent range
The autoexposure is also excelent, works for 99% of the shooting situations, and the variprograms are very useful
It includes bracketing, ISO override, timer, red eye reduction, slow sync, rear curtain sync, exposure compensation, quick recall function, ...
Nikon Lenses (I already mention them, I know)

DOF (of course)
The Gameboy interface is innovative, but not the best. The standard interface is faster and more intuitive (that's why the pro models don't have this feature)
The lack of backlight in the LCD panel forces you to have a flashlight in your gadget bag, since every setting has to be checked there
The batteries are not very easy to find, and they are expensive
The aperture is selected from the lens ring, but for auto aperture, the ring needs to be on the smallest aperture. This is easy to forget and miss a shot
No multiple exposure
No partial film unload

This is a good camera. Of course there is some room for impovements, but I haven't heard of a camera that everybody likes.
Bottom line, buy the best camera you can afford. If this is the one and you don't need what it doesn't have (DOF, multiple exposure, ...) you won't regret!

Customer Service

Don't know

Similar Products Used:

N5005, F100