A d70 price question [Archive] - Aquatic Photography Forum

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TIGRINUS4LIFE

10-07-2005, 1:11 AM

is this a good price for a nikon d70 body? http://www.expresscameras.com/prode...=102119&start=1 Also what kind of lens would I need? Do you have any links? I dont know too much about this stuff. Any help would be appreciated!

edit* http://www.expresscameras.com/prodetails.asp?prodid=102119&start=1

PhotoByMark

10-07-2005, 2:01 AM

Seems like a good price. I have never done business with this place so I know nothing on how reputable they are.

For lots of reviews go here: www.dpreview.com (http://www.dpreview.com)

As for lenses all depends what you want to do. I would just considering starting with the kit lens for starters.

Of course, if you want to spend more you can get the body and pick a different lens.

I started with the 24-105 VR lens. I like this lens very much.

Places I know of that are reputable are

www.bhphoto.com
www.adorama.com
www.keh.com
www.bergerbros.com ( I bought my camera here)

Sometimes some places will advertise lower (sometimes much lower) prices than the going rate. I would be cautious of these sites. If it looks to good to be true it well you know......

phishphorphun

10-07-2005, 2:04 AM

I couldn't get the page you posted to open. So I don't know what the price was. Are you looking for D70 or D70s. I just saw the D70s at Buydig.com body only for $898.

If you are looking for a lens for aquarium fish photography, I would reccommend starting with the Nikkor 50mm 1.8d AF lens. It's fast, lightweight, good for lowlight situations and cheap. About $100.

If you are looking for a sharper macro lens for fish photography, there are several to choose from. Nikon has the 60mm and 105mm macros. Tamron has a very nice 90mm macro and Sigma offers a good 105mm macro as well. They are around $400-$650.

There are also many choices for a good all-around zoom lens. My choice is the Tamron SP AF 28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di. It costs around $400.

Longer lenses for outdoor wildlife and sports photography are going to cost you more for the better ones.

There are many threads in the Photography Hardware forum folders to check out. Reviews and prices are included in the threads.

If you are interested in what I use to shoot fish photos, you can go here (http://www.phishphorphun.com/wst_page10.html) to check out my equipment.

TIGRINUS4LIFE

10-07-2005, 2:18 AM

The body was listed at $499. Thanks for the links! I am on a budget..18years old, no job, and i go to college full time. I have been wanting to upgrade my camera for a long time now to a digital Nikon d70? What is the difference between d70 and d70s? I want an affordable lens that is just good for all around photography use(fish, around city, night, scenery, landscapes, etc). Doesn't have to be the best, but I still want great quality photos that can beat the quality of my coolpix2100.

I will look up some more info on those lenses you recomended and probably ask you some more questions. Thanks for the replies!

PhotoByMark

10-07-2005, 2:27 AM

Here is the home page link->

http://www.expresscameras.com/welcome.asp

Hmmmm.... B&H D70 Body Only is $749.95 and this Express Camera Place is $499.99 -> I wonder why?

BuyDig does not seem to have the D70 anymore but does have the D70s. I think Bobby just quoted the price above.

BuyDig I believe is reputable too! I just have not used them yet.

PhotoByMark

10-07-2005, 2:36 AM

For comparison try here

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0504/05042003nikond70s.asp

In a nutshell:
D70s is newer.
Slightly bigger LCD screen.
Connection for cable release.
Better battery (more shots per charge)
Slightly faster focusing (I think FW fixed this for D70)
Slightly wider coverage using built-in flash
Better LCD cover
And so far that I know less problems that were reported with early version of the D70
Cannot think of anymore -> check above link for more.

TIGRINUS4LIFE

10-07-2005, 2:39 AM

PhotoByMark

10-07-2005, 2:48 AM

i see. thank you. Looks like I want that one rather than the d70 ;) . They have it for 599 on that express site...you guys dont trust it though?

Ummm sometimes you get good deals, sometimes they will get you on the extra's Sometimes they are selling Grey Market stuff or other. I just avoid places that are selling things "As New" and much cheaper than the reputable places. That is just me though.

Then there is always the question of service after the sale. Some of those places- good luck! Search around on the net for reviews and feedback before buying.

hir0

10-07-2005, 3:48 AM

NO. stay away from express cameras they are bad news. TRUST ME. i had a friend buy from them.
read this
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1805.html

TIGRINUS4LIFE

10-07-2005, 4:05 AM

NO. stay away from express cameras they are bad news. TRUST ME. i had a friend buy from them.
read this
http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1805.html

wow looks like that got some great reveiws!! Just kidding :-| . I will be searching the other links given to me.

PhotoByMark

10-07-2005, 9:37 AM

Wow! A .31 out of 10. That is just amazing. How do places like this stay in business?

And Just for fun -> For those who are thinking from buying places like this. Read Below as to why you should NOT!

Just one review that pertains to this thread.

Found an advertised price of $499.00 for a Nikon D70 body only at www.expresscameras.com (http://www.expresscameras.com). This is about $250.00 less than the competition. The item was not specifically described, but a general descripion says all there products are factory new with manufacturer's warranty. An email arrived requesting a verbal confirmation, and I talked to Jeff at extension 238 9/15/05 approx 8:00 AM PDT. After trying to sell me an overpriced extended warranty (more than half the price of the camera for 3 years, he says "I forgot to ask did you want the battery and charger, to which I replied "I assumed the battery and charger came in the box" I was told the box contains only the body, cables and software, and the battery would cost $69.00, and the charger $199.00. I told him to hold the order and I would get back to him. Telephone calls to the 3 next lowest priced dealers confirmed that they were selling the standard Nikon distribution pakcage for "body only" that does include a battery and charger, bringing their prices less than Exprss Cameras. I called Jeff back and told him what I had learned, and that Nikon does not distribute the D70 body only without the battery and charger, to which he replied that this is a "special package that they distribute to wholesalers not to retailers." Then he offered to sell me the D70s body with the battery and charger for about $40.00 more than the usual competitors' online prices. To which I replied, that I wanted to cancel the order, which he says has now been done. I hope I can believe him on that at least. A telephone call to Nikon USA confirms that there is no special package distributed without the battery and charger, and advice to visit this page.

phishphorphun

10-07-2005, 10:09 AM

First of all I doulbt if they are going to sell it that cheap anyway. Most of the low ball internet sites will try to sell you "a special offer" in addition to the D70s price. A reputable Nikon dealer cannot sell below the MAP prices (Manufacturers Advertised Price) if they want to continue being a "authorized Nikon dealer", imo. When I was buying my D70 I called three of the really cheap web dealers. After I said I wasn't interested in the special offers that went with the D70, two did not have it in stock. The third simply didn't have it and tried to sell me something different altogether.

I ended up buying from Buydig.com because they were having a legitimate sale on it at the time. I was ready to place the order with B & H Photo (who is probably the biggest Nikon reseller in the US) when I did one more google search. I have bought most of my camera equipment from B & H and Buydig since.

However, the last lens I bought was the Nikkor 60mm AF f/2.8d micro. I was anxious to get it and wanted to be sure it was the size macro I was comfortable with for fish photography. I called the most reputable local camera shop here in the Baltimore area, Coopers Camera Mart. When I told the owner I would rather buy from him than on the net, he asked who I was considering on the net. When I told him B & H, he said since they are the most reputable internet dealer, he would match the price. The difference between shipping and sales tax was only $9 more. The convenience of being able to return the lens to the local camera shop within thirty days was more valuable to me than the $9 savings...of course.

The bottom line is it is easy to sell cheap out of an empty basket. Beware of the internet reseller who quotes a ridiculous low price, takes your credit card and backorders the camera. Your money may be tied up for a long time and you will end up buying it at the legitimate price anyway.

MaxOverKill

10-07-2005, 6:26 PM

All excellent advice. I am in the same situation as far as looking to purchase a new camera. Another thing to keep in mind, and Phisphorphun touched on this a bit, is that convienence and customer service is another thing to consider.

I will most likely purchase my camera online since the local retailers around me aren't carrying the body for the D70s in stock. But as for the rest of the accessories I will most likely support the local shops unless I they can't provide me with what I'm looking for or I come across a smoking deal that they can't compete with (that's legitimate of course).

Just remember that if you are a regular in a shop that treats you well and helps you with questions and or any problems that you might be up against, you might just get that special treatment and get the perks of the regulars with pricing and bonus accessories.

Just my two cents. ;)

P.S. By the way if you do order from a company that is online and isn't from some of the ones that were listed here, just make sure that you are getting everything that it's supposed to come with that you were looking for.

I.E. Batteries, charger, cables, software.. etc.