Look out CANON, Here comes NIKON with the D70

12/11/2003 10:37:37 PM · #1

NIKONÂ® ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT OF D70â�¢ DIGITAL SLR CAMERA
New Nikon D70 Poised to Expand Digital SLR Camera Market by Delivering Excellent Performance and Superb Image Quality at an Attractive Price

MELVILLE, NY, DECEMBER 03, 2003 - Nikon (www.nikonusa.com), the world leader in photography, today announced development of the D70, a new interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera designed to deliver superb image quality and hallmark Nikon SLR performance at an attractive price that a broad range of consumers will find within reach. A new DX Zoom-Nikkor lens is being developed concurrently to match the D70, and both products are scheduled to go on sale in the spring of 2004.

Designed for a wide range of customers, from novices to serious and experienced photo enthusiasts, the D70 will enable photographers to easily adopt digital technology into their existing camera system. The new model will offer an exclusive selection of new features and exciting Nikon SLR technology that will surpass products within the evolving digital SLR market, and provide exceptional value at an estimated retail price of $999.00 for the camera body.

"The D70 represents Nikon's next step in expanding the digital SLR camera market. Ever since the introduction of the revolutionary D1 in 1999, Nikon has been in constant pursuit of the highest image quality and performance in digital SLRs.

This has led to the introduction of the D1X, the D1H, and most recently the groundbreaking D2H. The D100, introduced in June 2002, marked Nikon's efforts in bringing digital SLR technology into the hands of enthusiast photographers, and has since become a flagship camera for this audience," said Richard LoPinto, vice president for SLR camera systems, Nikon Inc. "With the development of the D70, Nikon is responding to a growing interest among a broad range of photo enthusiasts who are looking for a full featured digital SLR camera that fits within their personal budgets, and also the expanding interest among amateurs who enjoy great pictures and want the high level of performance that a Nikon digital SLR can provide."

The D70 joins Nikon's current selection of digital SLR models and employs the popular Nikon DX format sensor and Nikon F lens mount. This design will allow photographers to use high quality DX Nikkor lenses, and also maintain seamless compatibility with all AF Nikkor lenses and the D70. Designed exclusively for Nikon's D-series digital SLR cameras, DX Nikkor lenses are optimized to achieve outstanding center-to-edge-to-corner image quality, when used with any of Nikon's digital SLR cameras including the D1, D1X, D1H, D100, the new high-speed D2H, and the forthcoming D70.

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

12/11/2003 10:41:35 PM · #2

NIKON D70 Digital SLR

Koriyama

Nikon D200

12/11/2003 10:45:00 PM · #3

This is great news.

It was bound to happen to compete with Canon's hold on that market segment after the release of their Kiss Digital. I only hope that Nikon don't follow Canon's practice of disabling key features, even though I suspect that they must to keep the market for the D100, D1x and so on, viable.

f-32

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

12/11/2003 10:59:12 PM · #4

Wow! A Nikon Digital Rebel! What WILL they think of next???

12/11/2003 11:01:04 PM · #5

Originally posted by f-32:

Wow! A Nikon Digital Rebel! What WILL they think of next???

Actually, I understand that the new Nikon D70 is very different from the Digital Rebel - it works!

Message edited by author 2003-12-11 23:01:25.

Glacierwolf

Canon EOS-10D

12/11/2003 11:01:56 PM · #6

Morgan,

Why the 'Look Out'?

The only reason I bought a Canon EOS 10D is so I can also use the $14,000 in lenses that go with my Canon EOS 35mm SLR on it. To think a Canon user is going to ditch all their lenses and accessories for the latest and greatest another firm offers is quite niave of you. (you certainly wouldn't kick your P-4 2.8Ghz computer to the curb just to get a 2.9Ghz???)

This is great news to Nikon 35mm SLR users looking to get into digital without paying an arm and a leg. Extremely good news.

It's the skill of the photographer that makes the picture, not the camera.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/11/2003 11:15:53 PM · #7

Originally posted by Glacierwolf:

Your reaction is far too serious. This post is nothing near as important as a MAC versus WinTel debate!

My intent with this post is to simply share the news, nothing more.

Both brands are admirable and serve their customers well. We Nikon followers [aka nuts] have had to weather the rampage and onset of the many new Canon products for the past 18 months. But, as history has shown us before, the marketplace leadership tide changes about every two years.

So, it is soon to be our time to shine again. That is until Canon shifts gears again in about 2006. And so on, and so on, and so on...

[PS: I would definitely change out that old computer too! What if somebody saw you with that prehistoric beast of burden - Yikes!]

Glacierwolf

Canon EOS-10D

12/12/2003 03:31:51 PM · #8

See, I like prehistoric beasts. I'm a high tech guru. I took personal and professional pride that my Pentium 200mhz computer at home still perform up until the other month. I adopted the Canon EOS equpment 'cause my beloved 23 year old 35mm Fujica STX-1n died during a photog session of Ice Art and Sculptures at -38F this past March. (found a few camera bodies on ebay and a gifted photo techncian to bring my 'precious' back to life) Hell, I've traded in two wives and married #3 in the time I've been using that camera.

As much as I like my new Canon 35mm and the 10D ........ I am VERY quick with that Fujica. In a pinch, I can pull a great action shot or two out of my @ss in 1 second ......... too many buttons on these new fangled cameras to do that in 10 seconds.

Jacko

Canon EOS-20D

12/12/2003 03:38:10 PM · #9

It's about time! I was considering Nikon for a while, but they seemed to be falling behind so I decided to stay with Canon (I still have my Canon Powershot G2). Good to see the Nikon Heads will have a "affordable" DSLR for all their glass.

12/12/2003 10:00:27 PM · #10

Originally posted by Jacko:

Jacques,

I caught the first whispers of the new Nikon to replace my D1x cameras, all I can say is oh la la. I gave a verbal order for it today and expect to hear more when it is formally announced in February at the PMA show. OH LA LA... I am considering going to the PMA again in Feb to see it firsthand. And, evade a bit of the great white north.

12/12/2003 10:13:24 PM · #11

Originally posted by Glacierwolf:

Kevin, I looked up North Pole, Alaska today after I saw your post. At first, I thought that you were kidding about the North Pole part as everyone knows that Santa Claus is Canadian! He does not live in Alaska, I have heard him say, "eh", so he must be one of us.

But, there it was, a city called North Pole. It is not actually at the North Pole. But, it is dam near close enough that I will not argue with you.

I had my Nikon D1x out in Regina, Saskatchewan at -46Â° C earlier this year, which is much farther south compared to your location. The LCD did not perform at all, but the images turned out OK. Temperature is a real challenge for the new digital stuff.

My original Nikon F (circa 1968) has never, ever let me down and it has been to "Polaris" (80Â° N by 80Â° W) and back. Polaris is 60 miles from the real North Pole where the grey hair fat guy lives. In Iqulait, it also performed perfectly. So, I agree that the older film stuff still has a high value in some situations.

Actually, now that I think about it, I too have grey hair and I too am fat. Often I am confused with St. Nick. So, I suppose that the North Pole can be anywhere you want it to be, even in Alaska.

Michael

Message edited by author 2003-12-13 09:18:26.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

12/13/2003 09:20:14 AM · #12

bump

ronners

Nikon D100

12/13/2003 01:27:46 PM · #13

Originally posted by Morgan:

as everyone knows that Santa Claus is Canadian! He does not live in Alaska, I have heard him say, "eh", so he must be one of us.

Oops, not a photographic input at all, but for your information Santa Claus (aka St. Nicholas) hails from Lapland in northern Finland...

I feel another tangential thread coming on...;)

Merry Christmas to all the believers...

Flash

Nikon D700

12/13/2003 02:42:24 PM · #14

Having conversed with Morgan on Nikon's, I feel quite confident that he is a die hard Nikon Loyalist. What surprised me was how many he has and to what extent he could name the pro's and con's of each, preferring the D1X for the time being over the others.

As a Nikon patron myself, but obviously with a much differnt budget allocation for camera gear, I am truly excited about the D70.

Morgan....thanks for the update.

Spork99

OM System OM-1

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

12/13/2003 02:57:08 PM · #15

I made my living with Nikons a few years ago. It was a big thing for me to buy a Canon digital, but the pics from my dad's S50 were just too nice. That and when I tried them, the Nikon compact digitals seemed less well thought out.

I hope that sometime next year, I will be in the market for a DSLR. Anything that gives me more options is better, especially if it is a Nikon. If I were buying today, I would buy a D100.

12/13/2003 06:28:44 PM · #16

Originally posted by ronners:

Originally posted by Morgan:
as everyone knows that Santa Claus is Canadian! He does not live in Alaska, I have heard him say, "eh", so he must be one of us.

Oops, not a photographic input at all, but for your information Santa Claus (aka St. Nicholas) hails from Lapland in northern Finland...

I feel another tangential thread coming on...;)

Merry Christmas to all the believers...