Equipment TestDrive: Nikon D70

At the annual PMA show in Las Vegas this year, Nikon introduced a new interchangeable-lens digital SLR, the D70. The camera had been rumored for some months, but the trade show offered the first up-close look at the new model. Unlike many PMA introductions, the D70 was shown to the press as a final production and completely functional camera. Typically, we’re shown mock-ups or we see the camera in a glass case (don’t touch, please) rather than actual production models.

The D70 is aimed at the photography enthusiast. In the same vein as the Canon EOS Digital Rebel, the D70 is priced at less than $1,000. For its price, the camera offers an impressive collection of features and digital advancements.

At that price, you naturally might expect the camera to be stripped down and laden with dated technology. In fact, the D70 was designed as an all-new camera from the ground up. At its core is a new 6.1-megapixel CCD image sensor, billed as “next-generation,” thanks to some unique advancements. A system of “micro-optics” on the sensor ensures compatibility with the full line of Nikon AF lenses. As a digital SLR, the camera is compatible with the full collection of Nikon DX lenses, as well.