After some cleaning and firmware upgrade, it turns out that camera looked good, and was perfectly working. 
And you know what? It still takes photos.
It is easy to use, AF works as it is supposed to work, not the fastest but accurate, exposure is OK, and noise, that wasn't really an issue at the time compared to the other digital cameras, is even less of an issue today with DxO Prime noise reduction.
Of course, resolution is only 6MP, and cropping is not much of an option here, but that is more than enough for publishing on the web, or print some very nice 10x8 prints or even 13x19 prints.
If you expose your photos correctly, there is no need for crazy highlights / shadows recovery.
I enjoy shooting mostly any camera (I'm actually having fun these days with an "antique" HP 5MP point and shoot), but I really like that D70, and for the price of a little more than two packs of cigarettes, it is a great camera to have and shoot, compatible with almost all Nikon F glass.

You may also like

Shooting the Nikon D2Xs in 2022
2020
During summer 2005, after a very long wait, the Nikon D2X was released. At the time my go to camera was the Minolta 7D that replaced my Nikon film cameras for my digital needs. I also shot the Nikon D70 but I prefered the Minolta. Both cameras were quite slow, and 6MP only. I wasn't really convinced by the Nikon D1/x/h/d2h. Soon after buying the D70, the D2X was announced, making me question that early GAS compulsive buy.
Can you take any photo with an outdated crappy camera?
2019
A short essay I wrote back in 2019.
Sony RX100 m3: all you need from 24 to 70mm
2022
I got this little camera for $200 a couple years ago and didn't write about it yet.
Improving cheap flatbed scans
2023
I still shoot film from time to time, not enough to invest in am excellent neg scanner or bother trying to shoot my negs with a camera. I tried that, don't like it. I love the scanning - editing process.
Shooting the Sony A77 in 2022
2021
If you have some A-mount lenses and want an APSC DSLR that can take them natively, you don’t have many options. Especially if you can’t / don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Shooting the Sony Alpha 700 in 2022
2021
I really never was really interested in Sony after they bought Minolta and started their "own" line of DSLRs. 15 years later, I buy a pristine Alpha A700 for peanuts and I quite like the Minolta DNA.
Tokina 12-24 DX adapted on Micro 4/3
2023
Some sample photos taken with the Tokina SD ATX pro 12-24 F/4 IF DX ASP Nikon F-Mount on the Olympus EM1.
Shooting the Nikon D200 in 2022
2019
The D200 is a camera I always loved. At the time it came out, it was a hell of a camera for the price Nikon asked. Shooting it in 2019 is still a pleasant experience. 2005 specs? that's outdated, nobody wants that. Photos taken with that camera will be ugly, especially compared to the Sony A9 ($4500), the Nikon D850 ($3000) or the Canon 5D mark whatever ($2700). Or will it not?
Sony alpha A200: a Nikon D80 with IBIS
2019
After Sony bought the Minolta photography department, they released the A100 in mid 2006, the A700 in mid 2007, and the A200/A300/A350 in early 2008. Two years after the Nikon D80, we find the same SONY ICX493AQA CCD sensor (wich is basically a slower ICX483AQA that was in the Nikon D200 released 3 years earlier) in what is basically a Minolta body with Sony branding imitating a Nikon D80..
Shooting the Minolta Maxxum / Dynax 7D in 2022
2019
The short lived most advanced Minolta DSLR was released in late 2004. It became later the foundation for Sony's A-mount cameras. It featured the first in body stabilization in a DSLR, a 6MP CCD sensor and loads of controls. This camera is a photographer's delight. The body feels right, the controls are great and natural: coming from a film SLR, you just feel at home with the Minolta 7D. And You can use all the now often cheap quality Minolta lenses, as well as the more expensive Sony A-Mount lenses.
Back to Top