D50 vs D70s - DPChallenge Forums

Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha

04/15/2006 04:33:32 PM · #1

Uh oh....it may be happening and soon...I have accumlated $x00.00 in Best Buy cards and more may be on the way...I have weedled the choice down to the either D50 with 18-55mm and 55-200 ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lenses or the D70s with 18-70mm ED-IF AF-S DX Xoom-Nikkor Lense. Ultimately, I'd like to go to the D200 but I want something more entry level for now to see if I will be making the move in the not so distant future and have the D50 or D70s as a back up. I have never touched a D70s but I have tried a D70 and as the old story goes, the Ritz Store had to call an EMF unit with a jaws of life to pry it out of my hands...LOL! Not really but almost. Is the D70s different in size? My next door neighbor has the D50 and I held that last week and it feels a bit better, I think. It is larger but somewhat close in size to my S7000 so it would not be a big jump. My other concern is media. The D50 only takes SD cards...I have smart media, Xd and CF cards, so I would have start a new collection. This does not bother so much because SD cards are fairly affordable and on sale all the time. I know from reading around and here, that the 18-70mm is a very sweet lense. What about the two lense kit with the D50? Are those OK. Also, would the change to the D200 if it happens, be easier from the D50 or from the D70s...I suspect the latter and the media problem would not exist. But then I have to get a longer lense for the D70s and definitely a macro lense for either.

Any advice would be appreciated, even from the Canon owners. Thanks!

kiwinick

Sony DSLR-A550

04/15/2006 04:47:31 PM · #2

Just to muddy the waters , I recently upgraded from the S7000 to the Minolta 5D with a 28-75 F2.8 lens and what a swwet combo, the built in antishake on the minolta make hand holding a 75-300 a breeze Great camersa I got the body and they threw in the kit lens for free.
BTW the 7D is $1199.NZ +gst@12.5%at the moment

ElGordo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

04/15/2006 04:48:00 PM · #3

I found the D50's kit lens (18-55mm) to be a decent quality lens but inadequate for many shooting situations. I supplemented with a Tamron 28-300mm and I am very pleased with the combination. Newegg had the best price for a reliable dealer for both the D50 and the SD cards. Bought the Tamron from B&H and use it more often than the kit lens as it covers the majority of shooting situations. A good friend has the D70s and it is a better build quality than my D50 and has one feature I would really like: dof preview!

talmy

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

04/15/2006 04:49:00 PM · #4

I've owned a D70. The D70s has a slightly larger LCD display and provisions for a wired remote control. The D50 apparently does better for JPEG but the two cameras are equivalent for RAW shooting. We considered a D50 for my wife but got a second D70 instead. It has lots of little features that wouldn't matter for a snapshot shooter but are more of use to advanced amateurs (flash commander, DOF preview, two control wheels, light in top LCD for night shooting...) and is slightly larger to give the camera a bit more heft and control.

The 18-70 is a much better lens, optically and in features, than the 18-55.

If you were to go to the D200, the D70 makes a better backup because they both use CF cards and have controls that are more alike.

DelRioPhoto

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

04/15/2006 04:49:56 PM · #5

Well, I have used both the D50 and D70s. The D50 is a steal at the price. (about $520) on line. At Bestbuy, I'm sure you'll be paying more for it, but if you have gift cards, "smoke 'em if you've got'em".

The D70s has a depth of field preview switch that the D50 does not. This is about the only major issue for me between the D50 and 70s. Also, if you plan to purchase a D200 in the near future, the memory cards you would use in the D70s are compatible with the D200, whereas the memory cards in the D50 are SD cards, not CF cards. My last advice is to go for the 18-70mm lens. It is far far better than either of the two that come with the D50.

All in all, I wouldn't think twice about getting a D50, but if you want a better lens and an easier transition into the D200, the D70s kit is the way to go. Good luck.

Cheers,
-jeremy

DjFenzl

04/15/2006 05:00:25 PM · #6

I could be wrong, but I don't think the D50 does spot metering either where as the d70 does.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

04/15/2006 05:03:45 PM · #7

d70s vs d70 vs d50

FWIW I say D70s but I am biased! :-)

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-120 f/4 S

04/15/2006 05:19:35 PM · #8

Originally posted by Megatherian:

I could be wrong, but I don't think the D50 does spot metering either where as the d70 does.

A review I read said the D50 has 3d Matrix, Center-Weighted and Spot metering options.

Azrifel

Fujifilm X100VI

04/15/2006 05:31:47 PM · #9

D50 + 18-200 VR

DjFenzl

04/15/2006 05:31:53 PM · #10

yep, I was wrong it can spot meter.

One thing I'm sure of though is it can't work as a commander for Nikon's CLS flashes (sb800, sb600 and R1 flashes)

Zigomar

Fujifilm X100T

Lensbaby 2.0

04/15/2006 05:50:31 PM · #11

You can also check this out :-)

ericwoo

Nikon Z7II

04/15/2006 05:51:07 PM · #12

Funny, you are following my footsteps. I started out with the S7000 and made the jump to the D70. Exvellent camera, and I fully recommend it. From there, I used a student loan check (my last) and went with the D2X. As was menitioned earlier, if you are planning on the D200 later, go with the D70s. It is not as entry-level as the D50, but I think that you'll be happier in the end.

pawdrix

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D IF

04/15/2006 06:10:18 PM · #13

Since you're already thinking Body upgrade why not start with the least expensive of the two if cash is a thought. Get acclimated to the DSLR and take the few dollars you saved and put it into the glass.

I bet you'll outgrow either one you choose within 6 months and be ready for the D200 when the price has already gone down.

bmartuch

Nikon D7200

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

04/15/2006 06:24:28 PM · #14

I recently purchased the D50 and I am very happy with it. I read reviews on both of them and the features that the D70 has over the D50 are ones that I wouldn't be that interested in other than DOF preview. According to "Popular Photography", The D50 rated better in color, resolution, and action photography than the D70. They said that the sensor is updated from the D70. For my use, the price difference was too much to justify the D70.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

04/15/2006 11:33:13 PM · #15

Originally posted by Azrifel:

D50 + 18-200 VR

A very intriguing idea, Sander!

fatLouie

Nikon D70s

04/19/2006 04:41:20 PM · #16

Originally posted by banmorn:

Originally posted by Azrifel:
D50 + 18-200 VR

A very intriguing idea, Sander!

But take into consideration it's distortion throughout. I don't know about you, but I like to avoid correcting distortion in PS...

Message edited by author 2006-04-19 16:42:06.

bigfish

Nikon D80

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

04/19/2006 04:51:52 PM · #17

I would go with the D50 and spend the extra whatever $'s on a 55-200 or a all around 28-80. the D50 gives you more than enough controll and is lighter (a good thing if you are backpacking of doing any traveling) also if you don't like it after a year there is always ebay and you can keep the lenses.

thats my view (you may want to note that I have the D50 so I am biased)

good luck with your new camera.

Rafi.

p.s. the last camera I had before the D50 was the s7000, its a natural step to take.

Message edited by author 2006-04-19 16:53:35.

04/19/2006 11:01:29 PM · #18

Originally posted by fatLouie:

Originally posted by banmorn:

Originally posted by Azrifel:
D50 + 18-200 VR

A very intriguing idea, Sander!

But take into consideration it's distortion throughout. I don't know about you, but I like to avoid correcting distortion in PS...

While I would appreciate not having to avoid correcting distortion in PS, I'm so used to it with the cameras I've been using the process is almost second nature to me now.

04/19/2006 11:03:12 PM · #19

D70s definately.

04/19/2006 11:18:27 PM · #20

Originally posted by crayon:

D70s definately.

yep....prolly, won't know for certain until the end of the month. Tentatively the S70z with 18-70mm kit lens and a Nikon 50 mm 1.8. So then I need a 70-200/300 zoom telephoto and a macro lens. Like to keep the combined cost of those to about $500-$700....any ideas?

04/19/2006 11:31:46 PM · #21

Originally posted by banmorn:

Originally posted by crayon:
D70s definately.

yep....prolly, won't know for certain until the end of the month. Tentatively the S70z with 18-70mm kit lens and a Nikon 50 mm 1.8. So then I need a 70-200/300 zoom telephoto and a macro lens. Like to keep the combined cost of those to about $500-$700....any ideas?

personally, I'd avoid the kit lens - it's not sharp and you'll probably keep it in the dry box pretty soon.
If budget is a limitation, I think you made a good choice on the 50mm 1.8 lens. I have heard good reviews of it.

04/19/2006 11:49:56 PM · #22

Originally posted by crayon:

Originally posted by banmorn:

Originally posted by crayon:
D70s definately.

yep....prolly, won't know for certain until the end of the month. Tentatively the S70z with 18-70mm kit lens and a Nikon 50 mm 1.8. So then I need a 70-200/300 zoom telephoto and a macro lens. Like to keep the combined cost of those to about $500-$700....any ideas?

personally, I'd avoid the kit lens - it's not sharp and you'll probably keep it in the dry box pretty soon.
If budget is a limitation, I think you made a good choice on the 50mm 1.8 lens. I have heard good reviews of it.

Interesting about the 18-70mm lens, it was the kit for the d70 when it first came out and I read a review saying the the it was worth getting the camera just for the lens. Hmmmm.

04/20/2006 12:31:35 AM · #23

Originally posted by banmorn:

Interesting about the 18-70mm lens, it was the kit for the d70 when it first came out and I read a review saying the the it was worth getting the camera just for the lens. Hmmmm.

Hmm, maybe you could get a used one. It doesn't appear that bad afterall, but I think it depends on how much extra are you paying for the kit.