I’d prefer to have the Nikon D70 over the Nikon D100 or the Canon 300D (EOS Digital Rebel). Although I’ll miss the ability to have a vertical grip with this particular camera, it’s price and features are well worth the difference.
Additionally, while I was, at first, uninterested in the Nikon AF-S DX 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G that is being bundled with it, in some cases. I’ve decided that the lens is most likely a worthy purchase. While I’d like a bit more than f3.5, getting down to 18mm (about 28mm after multiplier) is essential and I can’t seem to find another lens that goes that wide for that price (+$300). I can get a Sigma 2 lens package deal (the 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 and the 70-300mm f/4-5.6) for a little more (+$450). But that’s not nearly as wide and the optics are Sigma (which isn’t bad… but, not as good). 28mm, however, would be sufficent, most likely, and would also work with my film camera (the DX lenses do not). This part is still a toss up… but at least I now realize that the new Nikon lens is worth considering.
I’ve seen some “sample images”:http://www.digitalreview.ca/cams/NikonD70samples.shtml and I must say that I am *very* impressed. Even the ISO 1000 images look sharp.
The only problems right now are, of course, coughing up $1,000 (body only) and, secondly, finding someone that will actually sell you one. Lots of people claim to have them… but finding someone who will hand you one right now is pretty hard to do.
A Ritz Camera near me claims that they have *NO* back orders for them and that customers ordering today should receive them as early as tomorrow. The warehouse has them, they claimed, and they are running an ad for them starting tomorrow. This is good news.