Nikon D70SNikon updates its midrange SLR with improved focusing, larger LCD, a new menu interface, and more.<<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 5:DesignReview First Posted: 06/30/2005 |
Design
Sharing a body design that's almost identical to the original D70, the Nikon D70S' design feels reminiscent of earlier Nikon cameras such as the D2H and D100, but is simpler in appearance and smaller size than either. It is nonetheless quite attractive, built of a black polycarbonate body with red and gray accents. Anyone familiar with Nikon's film or digital cameras will appreciate the similarity of most controls on the D70S. The body's plastic body shell and smaller size are responsible for its low weight of 21.1 ounces, or 598 grams stripped of battery, lens, body cap, and monitor cover. With the battery installed (but no card or body cap), it weighs in at 23.8 ounces (674 grams), while fully loaded with the battery, a memory card, and the 18-70mm lens (with cap and hood) shipped with the "bundle," it weighs 39.3 ounces (1114 grams).
The D70S feels great to hold: Along with its predecessor, it's my absolute favorite of all the d-SLRs I've shot with, based on how well it fits my hand, and how wonderfully balanced it is when holding it. The grip and much of the body has a soft rubbery texture and the front grip itself is excellent. The sculpted CF door on the back serves as a great thumb hold, working well against the sharp angle on the front grip to provide a secure one-handed hold. With the 18-70mm lens attached, balance is superb. The handgrip is also long, allowing room for most users' pinkies to rest comfortably with room to spare. The index finger finds the shutter and power switch naturally, but the sub-command dial is a little low for my tastes. All that room I talked about for the pinkie is taken away as the index finger searches for the dial. I suppose the middle finger could stand in for the index finger when controlling the command dial, but that would significantly weaken your grip on the camera in the process.
The metal F-style lens mount is the D70S' most prominent feature, and certainly its most valuable, offering compatibility with a massive array of quality Nikkor lenses. A D-shaped button just left of the lens serves to release the lens lock. (All directions are noted as if reader were holding the camera face out.) Below this a switch facing off to the left chooses between AF and Manual focus modes. Above the lens release button is the flash pop-up button. Down and to the right is the Depth of Field Preview button. The AF assist light is above that, mounted almost flush with the camera's tumble-home taper. The Sub-command dial is also visible from here, right above the D70S' triangular red accent.
The right side of the camera has only the neck strap eyelet and a few screws to speak of. Despite its jutting angle, the eyelet does not jab into your hand at all.
The left side of the D70S has the other neckstrap eyelet and a rubber door covering DC in and Video Out ports. A separate rubber door below this covers the USB port; having this down low allows for fewer snags when uploading photos, as it keeps the cable close to whatever surface you have the camera resting on. A third rubber door at the top of the camera is a new addition, hiding the remote control port for the optional MC-DC1 electronic cable release, which allows you to take photos without touching the camera, reducing the risk of camera shake. Here you also get a better look at the AF/Manual focus selector switch and the Flash pop-up button.
On top we see the pop-up flash and hot shoe, both in-line with the lens. To the right of the flash gear is the Status LCD. Most of what's available through the viewfinder is available here, plus a few extras. Many features can be set here via button/dial combinations without having to enter the main menu, an excellent benefit as you become more familiar with the camera. Here we also have the shutter button, surrounded by the power switch. The Metering mode button is just behind that, and next to it is the exposure compensation button. The screen illumination button is just right of the status LCD. Both the Screen illumination button and the Metering mode button can be used in combination with the Continuous mode and Bracket buttons to either Format the CF card or Reset the device's settings to default when held down simultaneously for more than two seconds. (To finalize the card format, you have to release and press these buttons a second time; the same does not apply to resetting the camera's setup.) Left of the flash is the mode dial, which can be turned in any direction, without limit.
The back of the camera is actually the most changed area as compared to the original D70, although at a casual glance it looks almost identical. The change relates to the new LCD display which at 2.0" is slightly (0.2") larger on the diagonal. The smooth plastic area around the display has also been enlarged, meaning that it now covers almost all of the available area between the optical viewfinder, the bottom of the camera, and the controls on either side of the display. The arrangement of components on the back of the camera is fairly consumer friendly in appearance, but everything is still mostly in familiar places for pros who would choose the D70 as a secondary or tertiary camera. Eyeglass wearers will appreciate the reasonable standoff of the viewfinder, as well as its rubber eyecup, which now extends quite a bit to either side of the eyepiece itself, providing a better shield against glare. A sliding diopter correction control is nestled to the right of the viewfinder.
Just left of center is the 2.0 inch LCD that comes with a protective plastic cover to prevent scratches to the LCD (which, since the LCD is larger, is not interchangeable with the D70's cover and has a new part number). I find this cover a little annoying, for two reasons. Firstly, since it has been enlarged, it is now close enough to the Multi selector pad to make it awkward to press the left arrow on this pad, at least with my large hands. Secondly, my breath too often fogs the cover on the inside, and I cannot wipe it clean without first removing it. For these reasons, I often end up keeping the cover in the bag (but it is does offer some degree of protection for the LCD display when it is actually on the camera, it must be said). Upper left of the LCD is the Bracket button, which works in conjunction with the Main command dial on the right. The Continuous capture mode button is just right of the Bracket button. Down the left side of the screen are the Playback button, Menu button, ISO/Thumbnail button, White Balance / Protect / Help button, and Image Quality / Size / Enter / Zoom button. As with the D70, these last three buttons have integrated functions that on the D100 appeared on the Mode dial. Their presence here adds a little unnecessary complexity, but it also keeps truer to Nikon's Shot Priority philosophy. With items like ISO on the Mode dial, one couldn't just press the shutter button to enter capture mode, a major hindrance that I noted in my review of the D100.
Above right of the screen is the Auto Exposure / Auto Focus Lock button. Below that is the Multi selector navigator, then the focus point lock switch and the delete button. Finally, there's the CF door, which releases with a sideways press on the latch. The door is gently spring-loaded to open easily, and a small rubber bumper against the upper right of the door hinge softly stops the door when fully open. Inside the CF compartment is a big button that releases the CompactFlash card with ease.
The bottom panel has slightly raised ribs traversing it, to provide better friction when mounted on a tripod head. Otherwise, it's very flat, making for nice, level mounting on tripods. The metal tripod mount is aligned with the optical axis of the lens. (This will somewhat simplify parallax control on shots to be stitched into panoramas, but note that you'll still need to offset the axis of rotation slightly forward, to position it under the optical center of whatever lens you're using.) The battery compartment is on the right side of the body. A thumbnail-activated lock releases the battery door, and the battery falls free.- Note that there is no sub-latch to keep the battery in place in case the door opens accidentally. Opposite the battery compartment on the left side (when viewed from the back) is a very small rubber Reset button to be used as a last resort, when the camera cannot be reset by other means.
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