Overall Product Rating:

Pros: Solid build, Nikon pro quality, excellent design
Cons: relatively expensive for consumers, VERY addicting...

Recommended: Yes
Has Owned Product: 2 Month(s)

Comments:
After two months of use and over 2400 pictures I can honestly say that this is the best camera I've ever used. As with anything, you get what you pay for, and you pay for a heck of a camera in the D70. 15 years out of college I've finally found the bug again since this camera finally offers me the creativity that's missing from most digital cameras. I'm now almost never without my D70.

The 18-70mm 1:3.5-4.5G lens is fast, quiet, and flexible, and the wide variety of available lenses means that the sky (or your wallet) is the limit to your creativity. I've found that the quality of the photos taken improves with time, proving that the person behind the lens really is in control of the shot, and that this camera really does open the doors to creativity, instead of keeping the photographer within a pre-programmed box of settings. As the photographer becomes accustumed to the camera through use, the features will become second nature and instinct will take over.

The battery life is incredible. After 2400 pictures I've only had to charge the battery 5 times (think two months of frequent shooting--I've often left the camera on for hours on end). The included exposure options (on the program dial) are nice but seldom used since I almost always shoot using aperature or shutter priority. The built in flash is excellent, although, as with any SLR, an additional flash will become a necessity for anyone getting serious with this camera. Nikon has taken an exceptional step with the inclusion of a clear LCD cover which does an excellent job of keeping skin oils, dust, and fingerprints off of the LCD display while at the same time offering an unrestricted view and protecting the display from potential damage. The multitude of features this camera offers take some getting used to but that's hardly a drawback since the automatic exposure settings on the dial help mask the options for newbies, giving them time to develop a relationship with the camera over time, while those familiar with previous Nikon SLRs will hardly skip a beat.

I do wish that Nikon would have allowed the use of a remote manual shutter release. While many beginners may wonder what I'm talking about, this missing feature hampers this camera's use in the studio to some degree, although the electronic release is a nice and inexpensive option. Also, the included image processing software does not offer much functionality. A good graphics program (I recommend Paint Shop Pro for PC users) is a must if shooting in RAW mode. The only real drawbacks are price (remember, you get what you pay for); the fact that Nikon did not include a memory card; and that the addictive nature of a good camera means the pocketbook continues getting lighter after the initial purchase due to the additional lenses and other gadgets that every photographer finds sooner or later are absolute necessities! :-) Good shooting!