Nikon D70The Nikon D70 is an "entry-level" SLR loaded with features at a sub-$1,000 price.<<Intro and Highlights :(Previous) | (Next): Executive Overview>> Page 2:Comparison with other modelsReview First Posted: 04/14/2004 |
Comparison with other models
Given all that's new and improved with the D70, I thought it would be helpful to readers to compare its features against those of the earlier D100, as well as against Canon's Digital Rebel and EOS-10D models. Here's the results of my poring through the spec sheets for the various cameras, as well as my own previous tests and reviews:
| Nikon D70 vs. D100 and Canon Digital Rebel, EOS-10D | |||||
| |
D70 | D100 | |
|
|
| Imaging System |
Imaging Element/Effective Pixels | CCD, 6.24 Megapixels 6.1 effective |
CCD, 6.31 Megapixels 6.1 effective |
CMOS 6.5 Megapixels 6.3 effective |
|
| Effective Sensor Size | 15.6 x 23.7mm | 15.1 x 22.7mm | |||
| Picture angle reduction, vs 35mm frame | Approx 1.5x | Approx. 1.6x | |||
| Image Processor | Not stated | |
|||
| Viewfinder | Type | Eye-level pentamirror | Eye-level pentaprism | Eye-level pentamirror | Eye-level pentaprism |
| Coverage | 95% horizontally and vertically | ||||
| Magnification (-1 diopter with 50mm lens at infinity) | 0.75x | 0.8x | 0.8x | 0.88x | |
| Eyepoint | 18mm | 20mm | 21mm | 20mm | |
| Dioptric Adjustment Range | -1.6 to +0.5 diopter | -2.0 to +1.0 diopter | -3.0 to +1.0 diopter | ||
| Focusing Screen | B-type BriteView clear matte screen, with on-demand grid lines | Fixed, all-matte screen | Fixed, new laser matte screen | ||
| Viewfinder Info Display |
AF information (AF points, focus confirmtation, AF area mode, AE/AF lock indicator), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE/AF lock indicator, exposure level, flash exposure, exposure compensation indicator), flash-ready indicator, shots remaining, battery level | AF information (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure information (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE lock, exposure level), flash information (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock), shots remaining, CF card information | AF (AF points, focus confirmation light), exposure (shutter speed, aperture value, manual exposure, AE lock, exposure compensation amount, AEB level, partial metering area), flash (flash ready, red-eye reduction lamp on, high-speed sync, FE lock, flash exposure compensation amount), warnings (exposure warning, improper FE lock warning, CF card full warning, CF card error warning, no CF card warning, busy), maximum burst for continuous shooting, shots remaining | ||
| Depth of Field Preview | Enabled with depth-of-field preview button | ||||
| Recording System |
Recording Media/Quantity/Slot Type | CF card/1 slot/Type I or II | |||
| Compatible File Formats | FAT 16/32 |
||||
| Recording Formats | RAW (NEF), JPEG | RAW (CRW), JPEG | |||
| Maximum Resolution | 3,008 x 2,000 | 3,072 x 2,048 | |||
| Reduced Resolutions (JPEG only) | 2,240 x 1,488; 1,504 x 1,000 | 2,048 x 1,360; 1,356 x 1,024 | |||
| RAW + JPEG Recording | Yes/Basic JPEG only | No | Yes/Middle
Fine JPEG only, embedded in RAW |
Yes/Selectable
JPEG resolution/compression |
|
| Color
Space & White Balance |
User-Selectable Color Space | Yes sRGB (two variants) + Adobe RGB |
sRGB + Adobe RGB |
||
| Processing Parameters (Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Color Tone)/# of Increments |
6 options each for sharpness and contrast, 3 options for saturation. 7-step hue adjustment. Digital vari-programs preset various processing parameters as well, and color space III boosts saturation somewhat. | 5 options for sharpening, 6 for contrast, 7 for hue, none for saturation. Second sRGB color space boosts saturation somewhat. | (Same as 10D, but new is default sets: one mimics 10D settings and one boosts contrast, saturation, and sharpening for snappier prints. This is the factory default setting) |
|
|
| Preset WB settings | 6 (Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash) | ||||
| Manual Color Temperature Setting Range | (No Kelvin option, but very broad Preset WB range) | None | 2,800 ~ 10,000K in 100K increments |
||
| WB Adjustment Range | ±3 steps in 1-step increments 10 mireds per ste |
±3 steps in 1-step increments 5 mireds per step |
|||
| Autofocus System |
Type | TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module | TTL-CT-SIR with a CMOS sensor (TTL secondary image registration, phase detection) |
||
| # of Focusing Points (Focusing Point Type) / Superimposed Display | 5 points / Yes | 7 points (1 cross-type, 2 horizontal-type, 4 vertical-type) / Yes | |||
| AF Working Range | EV -1 ~ 19 | EV 0.5 ~ 18 | |||
| AF-assist Beam | Bright incandescent lamp, (Range approx. 3.0 m, 9.8 ft, depending on lens.) Not dependent on flash setting. | Yes, stroboscopic flash (Range: Approx. 4.0m / 13.1ft. at center, approx. 3.5m/11.5ft. off-center) Note: Only available when flash is enabled. | |||
| One-shot AF | Available in all modes | Enabled in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes. | Enabled
in Portrait, Landscape, Close-up (Macro), Night Portrait, and A-DEP modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
||
| AI Servo (Tracking) AF | Available in all modes | Enabled in Sports mode only. | Enabled in Sports mode. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual modes. |
||
| AI Focus AF | Slightly different, but closest-subject focus priority available in all modes | Enabled in Full Auto, Flash Off, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. | Enabled in Full Auto and Flash
Off modes. Selectable in Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes. |
||
| Exposure Control |
Shooting Modes | 11 - Program, shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, Manual, Auto, Portrait, Landcape, Close up, Sports, Night Landscape, Night Portrait. | 4 - Program, shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, manual mode. | 12 - Program AE (Full Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait, Flash Off, Program), shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, depth-of-field AE, manual exposure, ETTL autoflash | |
| Metering Zones | 1,005 | 10 | 35 | ||
| Metering Modes | 1) 3D color matrix metering with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor(2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% (8mm dia. circle) given to 6, 8, 10, or 13 mm dia. circle in center of frame, or weighting based on average of entire frame(3) Spot: Meters 2.3 mm dia. circle (about 1% of frame) centered on active focus area | 1) 3D Matrix Metering with 10-segment SPD, 2) Center-Weighted, 3) Spot Metering | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted average (set automatically in manual mode), 9% partial | Evaluative (linked to any AF point), center weighted, 9% partial | |
| Metering System Working Range | 1) EV 0 to 20 (3D color matrix or center-weighted metering)2) EV 2 to 20 (spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F) | 1) Matrix Metering: EV 0-21; 2) Center-Weighted Metering: EV 0-21; 3) Spot Metering: EV 3-21 (at normal temperature, ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens) | EV 1 ~ 20 | ||
| ISO Range / Extended | 200-1600 | 200-1600 / 3200 | 100 ~ 1600 / -- | 100 ~ 1600 / 3200 | |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 5EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments (can be combined with AEB) | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments (can be combined with AEB) | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments (can be combined with AEB) | ||
| Automatic Exposure Bracketing | 2 or 3 shots, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps | 2 or 3 shots, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV steps | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV increments | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | |
| Shutter
Speeds, Frame Rate, Shutter Lag |
Shutter Type | Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter | Electronically controlled mechanical | Mechanical, all speeds electronically controlled | |
| Shutter Speed Range | 30 to 1/8000 sec. in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV, bulb | 30 to 1/4000 sec. and Bulb | 30 to 1/4000 sec. (1/3EV increments) and bulb | 30 to 1/4000 sec. (1/2 or 1/3EV increments) and bulb | |
| Maximum Frames Per Second/Buffer depth | 2.92 fps / unlimited (In JPEG large/normal, with fast card) | 2.88 fps / 9 frames | 2.5 fps / 4 frames | 2.94 fps / 9 frames | |
| Shutter lag, full AF | 0.34-0.49 | 0.15 | 0.25-0.28 | 0.146 | |
| Shutter lag, prefocus | 0.124 | 0.100 | 0.142 | 0.146 | |
| Startup time | ~ Zero | 0.63 sec | 3.09 sec | 2.32 sec | |
| Flash | Built-in Flash / Guide Number at ISO 100. | Yes (12 meters / 39 feet) | Yes (13 meters / 43 feet) | ||
| Max flash x-sync speed. | 1/500 (!) | 1/180 | 1/200 | 1/200 | |
| Flash Exposure Compensation | -3 to +1 EV, 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps | No | +/- 2EV in 1/2 or 1/3EV increments | ||
| Slow-sync flash | 1st or 2nd curtain | 1st curtain only | 1st or 2nd curtain | ||
| i-TTL flash | Yes | No | n/a | n/a | |
| D-TTL flash | No | Yes | n/a | n/a | |
| PC Sync Terminal | Hot shoe only | Hot shoe only | Yes | ||
| Playback System |
LCD Size / Pixel Count | 1.8 in LCD / 130,000 pixels | 1.8 in LCD / 118,000 pixels | 1.8 in. LCD / 118,000 pixels | |
| Enlarged Playback / Scroll | 1.1 - 4x in 10 steps / Yes | 1.5~10x in 15 steps / Yes | |||
| LCD Monitor Brightness Adjustment Range | 5 steps | ||||
| Automatic Rotation for Vertical Shots | Yes | No | Yes | ||
| Other Features | USB Connection | Yes, PTP-compliant (v2.0 standard, v1.1 speed) | Yes, USB 1.1 | Yes, PTP-compliant, USB v 1.1 | |
| Direct Printing (PictBridge-compliant printers) | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (Not PictBridge, select Canon models only.) | |
| Menu Languages | 11 (Japanese, German, English, Spanish, French, Korean (?), Italian, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, Swedish) | 12 (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese.) | |||
| Camera Default Reset | Yes | ||||
| Custom Functions (Quantity / Settings) | Yes (9 or 25) | Yes (24) | No | Yes (17) | |
| Remote Control | Optional IR | Optional, 10-pin remote terminal available in optional Multi Function Battery Pack | Optional, Compatible with Remote Switch RS-60E3, Remote Controller RC-5 / RC-1 | Optional, N3-type remote control | |
| LCD Panel Illumination | Yes (dedicated button) | ||||
| Text Comments | Yes, stored in EXIF headers | No | |||
| Body Structure | Body Cover/Chassis | Largely Plastic | Metal | Largely Plastic | Magnesium Alloy/Stainless Steel |
| Power System | Battery Compatibility | EN-EL3, CR2 pack (3 cells) |
EN-EL3 | Main: BP-511 / BP-512 Backup: CR2016 |
Main: BP-511 / BP-512 Backup: CR2025 |
| Rated Shooting Capacity at 20C/68F | 100% AE: 2000 50% Flash: 400 |
100% AE: 1600 50% Flash: 370 |
100% AE: 600 50% Flash: 400 |
100% AE: 650 50% Flash: 500 |
|
| Dimensions & Weight | Dimensions (WxHxD,mm) | 140 x 111 x 78 | 144 x 116 x 80.5 | 142 x 99 x 72.9 | 149.7 x 107.5 x 75 |
| Weight | 595g/21 oz (body only) | 700g /24.7 oz (body only) | 560g/19.7 oz. (body only) 653g/23.0 oz (with battery & card) | 790g/27.9 oz. (body only) | |
| Lens Compatibility | Lens Mount / Compatibility |
|
EF / All EOS lenses, plus Digital Rebel specific EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 lens | EF / All EOS lenses | |
Reader Comments! --> Visit our discussion forum for the Nikon D70!
Follow Imaging Resource: