This can't be right can it ? D70+ 18-70mm for $999 USD, or about 540 quid.

A&M photoworld (http://www.amphotoworld.com/product.asp?id=nkd70)

Edited to say: a colleague did some digging and found it this is grey market gear - buyer beware.

US prices for cameras and accessories are frequently the same in dollars as the UK pays in pounds.

Of course you've got the worry of import duty on that although it will still be cheaper and there maybe warranty issues.

On top of that the other worry you've got is buying it from the most evil country on earth that most of SN hates with a passion until it comes to saving themselves some cash of course ;)

Regards,

tiggers.

Daryl, thanks for the info - I'm finding a couple of people I know with a 10D and 300D so will be giving them a nudge...

The reviews I've seen tend to prefer the D70 over the 300D but I was leaning towards a 10D anyway to keep my existing glass. I might have to replace my 100-300, would love a 100-400 IS L lens but it's a bit on the pricey end :(

From the rumours kicking around, I'm probably going to be waiting to see what Canon comes up with but the Photokina trade show in Cologne is in September AFAIR so that's when things might start to happen... :)

3 months :eek: - I don't use 35mm much at the moment but that's a heck of a long time for a tweak... :(
Andy.

You rememer that I've got a lot of Canon stuff mate? :D

Well, I just added to the weight of it all by getting an EOS 300D body, digi lens, and a USM 20-35mm for the EOS3. Ha! ;)

Have a look if you fancy.

Cheers, HB.

I can get the Canon np with lens kit (18 - 55) for £629 from the 7 Day Shop, hmmmm. Do I, as a complete newb really want/need a D70???

Some one advise me as I reallly want a decent camera for my holiday to Rome this year and it looks like D70's are like rocking horse sh*t.

jye - choices, choices :(

How much is import duty from the good ol US btw?

jye - slave to the dollar if it saves him ££££'s :D

I can get the Canon np with lens kit (18 - 55) for £629 from the 7 Day Shop, hmmmm. Do I, as a complete newb really want/need a D70???

Some one advise me as I reallly want a decent camera for my holiday to Rome this year and it looks like D70's are like rocking horse sh*t.

jye - choices, choices :(
Well mate - I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the EOS300D. :D

Okay, it's a bit lightweight compared to my EOS3. But there again, it's certainly more substantial than my EOS300 35mm back-up body. ;)

Cheers Harry, it's just that I have read every review available on the D70, and now I'm having to look something else. Does the E300D suffer from the lack of manual metering? As this and a faster start up time seem to be where the D70 really scores.

Its a shame that the D70 cannot keep up with demand (or are Nikon strangling supply to create a frenzie?)

The shortage is NOT the Camera, its the 18-70 lens that everyone wants!

I have held the D70 offered to me with the poorer lens, buy Jessops at £1099 - another jessops has said that they get about 2 in each and every week (they get sold quickly) BUT, its the 18-70 lens thats hard to come by!

I wouldn't get an inferior camera (the Canon EOS300D) just because its available now at around £599 with lens! Unless cost is the main consideration - and if cost is important then you can get an excellent DigiCam for £300 or less!

When the demand has been satisfied with the D70's you will see them all over the place ....... THEN, the price will tumble on the run up to Xmas!

Pete

Cheers Harry, it's just that I have read every review available on the D70, and now I'm having to look something else. Does the E300D suffer from the lack of manual metering? As this and a faster start up time seem to be where the D70 really scores.
Hi Mate - don't take any notice of Pete's comments above... LOL!!:D:D:D

The D70 may have the edge, but backward compatibility with my existing (and somewhat costly) kit was a major consideration for me.

In practice, I tend to use the EOS300D either on full auto (it's not far off the capability of the EOS3 in that respect, which is saying something) or in aperture priority. You'll not notice any issues with it. It was a great machine before the D70 came out, and it's STILL a great machine.

As for boot up. Well, it takes a couple of secs. Barely slower than my EOS3. And it's very rare that you'll need anything faster....

For the price that you're quoting, it's a steal..... Get it! ;)

Pete, this is the problem deffo, the lens. I'm going to go with Ebay and hope for the best as I want it for my 2 weeks in Rome but will do without if needs must. Ordering now from the link below. I've never seen such a problem with any item, I mean 800 on a back order. Will keep you posted.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30020&item=3827501746&tc=photo

Cheers Harry, gonna give the D70 ordering farce one more chance, thenn it's Canon all the way ;)

All I am saying is that the Nikon D70 has made the Canon EOS300D look like an 'Also-Ran'. It WAS a very good prospect (as was a box brownie!)

But, right here - right now, it can't make the grade.

I am NO Nikon fan, I loved my Canon A1 - and Canon WILL respond with a BETTER camera than the D70 (and at the SAME price) ...... but, sadly, at the moment the advice would be NOT to buy an inferior camera.

Have you SEEN the Nikon D70 pictures???? STUNNING!! and thats what you want a camera for - to take the BEST pictures you can. If it made the coffee too, then I might say something like, "Buy the Canon cause it makes better cofee" .... but, it doesn't, so BUY THE NIKON!!

Pete

so BUY THE NIKON!! (http://so%20BUY%20THE%20NIKON%21%21)

Where? Where? Lemme at em :D

How much is import duty from the good ol US btw?

jye - slave to the dollar if it saves him ££££'s :D
Just 17.5% VAT, no duty on digital cameras, and I'm sure if you buy the lens as part of the package you won't get charged duty on that either.

Some parcel couriers collect duty and VAT for HM Customs automatically (plus a handling fee), but I don't think UPS do ;)

Pete,
You say don't buy the inferior camera, but where do you draw the line.
it really does come down to an individuals budget.
The D70 is better than the EOS 300D, but it costs more.
Likewise the the EOS 10D is better than the D70, but it costs more.
And so on up to the £5k EOS 1DS

But do we really need all those features, as you say Jye you will probably be more than happy with the 300.
My 35mm SLR is a semi-pro camera, and I've never used it to it's full capacity. Don't know how to and certainly can't remember without reading the 2 manuals all the time.

Having said that, I'm still looking at the EOS 10D, it's a bit more expensive than the others, but that's what my budget will be about. It's back to cost.

I do think the 10D will suit my purposes better than the others though. I've checked them all out at various dealers in my area, and I think it has a quicker AF and no noticable shutter lag.

Great links to all the reviews earlier in the thread though, spent a good part of the weekend going through them.




David

I go away on Thursday morning, and am takling my Dimage 7i, yet again. Sigh. :(:

Guess I'll just have to get the batteries charged night after night.

When I get back, though, hopefully, Nikon will have sorted the supply probs, and I'll finally get a camera I can play with again.

Alcazar

Thanks Daryl m8, that helps me understand the costs a bit more :)

I have ordered it as stated so hoping for the best regarding tax etc, if it arrives in time it arrives, if not I have something to look forward to on my return, if I get hammered with VAT then I guess it's still gonna be cheaper than Jessops etc anyhow :)

Daryl, does that mean this link specifies the full and total UK price?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=30020&item=3827501746&tc=photo

Pete,
You say don't buy the inferior camera, but where do you draw the line.
it really does come down to an individuals budget.
The D70 is better than the EOS 300D, but it costs more.
Likewise the the EOS 10D is better than the D70, but it costs more.
And so on up to the £5k EOS 1DS
David

David

What I mean is, a cameras only function is to take photos - that is its purpose in life.

To consider buying a Canon EOS300D and saving 20% is complete folly when we are talking expensive cameras - and people who are looking to spend £950 on a camera can afford the extra 20% for the best.

Now, you may not use all the features (certainly the immediate ON of the Nikon would make me pay 20% over the Canon, in any event) BUT a picture taken by the Canon is poorer than the same picture taken by the Nikon (same place, same settings, same person) so, WHY would you take the inferior camera?

Now, people loyal to Canon may not like the facts - but thats what they are - FACTS!

Wait for the Nikon my lad or buy a secondhand Canon EOS300D from someone upgrading to the Nikon D70 (the camera shop reckons you should be able to pick a nice one up for £200) - now, THATS probably the best buy in the whole pot! At £200 you can accept a lower standard.

See my point?

Pete

Jye, that's certainly the impression given, although they don't explain the procedure for refunding the VAT if you get charged. Also, in the shipping options, it says that the buyer pays any Customs charges. I would e-mail them and request clarification.

a picture taken by the Canon is poorer than the same picture taken by the Nikon

Not necessarily true, the Canon is said to have better picture quality in some respects ;)

Anyway, I think that the quality of the lens has more impact on the picture quality than the differences between the two sensors.

Then there are the differences between shooting in RAW or JPEG and how you post-process.

Finally, what you use to make your prints, including both the printer and paper will have a huge effect.

I accept that the Nikon is excellent (and flavour of the month), but don't dismiss the Canon!

This statement makes the difference to me:-

The Canon EOS300D:-

"From the camera in the "Off" condition to the first exposure takes a minimum of 3.5s. This is with the lens in manual focus mode. The time will be longer if the lens has to first achieve focus, so a realistic estimate of camera-on to first-expose time would be 4 seconds."

The Nikon D70:-

"One of the biggest issues with digital cameras has been the various delays and lags the camera imposes on a photographer, resulting more often than not in the loss of a fleeting photo opportunity. The D70 poses no such limitations. It handles as fast as any nikon 35mm SLR camera, in terms of autofocus performance, shutter lag, and cycle time."

For £200 more AND better pictures?? Come on, its a no-brainer!

Pete

It's true - the D70 is VERY impressive in the startup respect...

The OFF to ON time is measured as 0.0s!

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond70/page10.asp

Cheers Daryl.

My D70 arrives tommorow with the 18-70mm lenses. I am also after a decent longer lense for.....photos of things further away!

any recomendations for a cost effective choice?

My D70 arrives tommorow with the 18-70mm lenses. I am also after a decent longer lense for.....photos of things further away!

any recomendations for a cost effective choice?

Sigma AF 50-500mm f4-6.3 RF APO, about £700.

With one of those, you'll never need anything else!

You should pick your camera based on what kind of lenses you would like to buy, since that's where you money goes the most. I went for the 10D by Canon and haven't regretted it ever! The lenses you will keep, the camera you will have to change from time to time (maybe every 3-4 years?).
Examples are here:

http://www.danielsaredi.fotopic.net/

Cheers,
Daniel

"Sigma AF 50-500mm f4-6.3 RF APO, about £700."

nice but way over budget

Tiggs, where did you buy it from btw?

DO NOT BUY GREY.

I cannot emphasise this enough. You might need the warranty.

My D70 had to be recalibrated as the focusing was off. Quite badly off. Have a google for D70 backfocus and you'll see it's not an isolated incident. It can be fixed simply, but needs to go to Nikon to be sorted.

I don't want to scaremonger, as mine was the first one affected that the store sold out of about 50, but you want the security of knowing that your 900 quid investment will be looked after. They also had another phonecall whilst I was in the shop with mine...

I would not consider buying this sort of precision device, which can need calibration, from ebay - that's all.

Try letsgodigital, as apparently they have stock and at 900 quid the price is fair. I can vouch for their service, as that's where I got my video camera from. Fixationuk.com, where I got the D70 from, are truly brilliant but are currently out of stock.

If you've made your mind up on the D70, don't go for the Canon otherwise you will kick yourself in the future. On the other hand, when Canon announce the 10D replacement (real soon if you believe rumours) then you've got an upgrade path if you're interested in spending out more. I personally still feel that Canon has better glass - but I couldn't justify spending for it, so it wasn't a factor for me in the real world :D

Daryl, you'll never need another lens??? Wide angle? How about low-light? If there was a perfect lens, people would only make one lens and the rest wouldn't bother ;)

I've got the Sigma 70-300 Super APO II macro, and it's good for the money. I wouldn't bother with the Nikon 70-300G, as it's cheap and feels like it is. The Tamron 70-300 LD at 90 quid is a good buy, and is apparently the same lens as the Nikon 70-300D ED which is around 250 quid!

Finally, if you do go for the 300D you will not be disappointed in the images you can get. I personally feel that image quality off both of the cameras is stunning; differences are minor IMHO, compared to handling and feature set.

Cheers,
Nick.