Digital Rebel XT at Fry's!

[D70FAN]

Ok... I finally got the D70. I thought I'd read enough and if I were to wait more and keep reading comments from others, I could never decide and could never start the actual digital shooting... Also I thought D70 has already received many good reviews and should be more than enough for me for at least a few years and most important of all fits in my tight budget. In fact I thouht any new D70 replacement would most probably be outside my budget limit at least for a few months after its arrival. My allowance was $1200 maximum and with the following package, I think I managed to stay within limits and get all I needed for now:

1- Nikon D70 + 18-70 Kit from buydig.com: $1082 (prior to $200 rebate)
2- Nikon SB-600 Flash from buydig.com: $186
3- Total Shipping charge for 3-5 bday from buydig.com: $21.92
4- Nikon Ml-L3 Wireless Remote from B&H: $16.95
5- Hoya Haze UV(0) Multi-Coated 67mm Filter from B&H: $29.95
6- Total B&H Shipping: $4.95
7- SanDisk Ultra II 256MB CF from newegg.com plus shipping: $26.95
8- MediaGear 8-in-4 USB 2.0 Card Reader from Fry's: $14

Total Cost: $1382.75 - $200 MIR = $1182.75

I have not received any of these yet (except for the card reader obviously ). I may post my experience with all these on-line retailers later. Other things I am thinking of getting in the near future are an extra bettery plus a case/bag, and then sometime later (when the new budget is approved ) a telephoto lense. Any comments on these would be appreciated.

I recommend that you get the case when you get the camera.

The best day-to-day case I have found is the Loewpro TLZ Mini. You shoud be able to fit the D70 with 18-70 kit lens (in my case the 18-125 Sigma), 2 spare batteries (1 EN-EL3 + filled 3 CR2 adapter), ML-L3 remote, 4-6 memory cards, and the video cable. For a reasonably priced long lens you might want to look at the Sigma 70-300 APO for $199. And for a good all around fixed focus lens the Nikkor 50mm F1.8 for around $110.

Have fun.

[kshoari]

I recommend that you get the case when you get the camera.

The best day-to-day case I have found is the Loewpro TLZ Mini. You shoud be able to fit the D70 with 18-70 kit lens (in my case the 18-125 Sigma), 2 spare batteries (1 EN-EL3 + filled 3 CR2 adapter), ML-L3 remote, 4-6 memory cards, and the video cable. For a reasonably priced long lens you might want to look at the Sigma 70-300 APO for $199. And for a good all around fixed focus lens the Nikkor 50mm F1.8 for around $110.

Have fun.

Thanks a lot George for all your recommendations. A couple of questions though...

First on the bag... Do you know which bag would be the most compact bag that could comfotably fit D70, SB-600, and say Sigma 70-300 APO and other small accessories? I checked (http://www.asvd07.dsl.pipex.com/d70bags.htm) and all such bags seem too large to me. I wonder if it is possible to have a relatively compact bag and still avoid having two separate day-to-day and gadget bags. It would also help if the bag does not scream that there is a camera inside Anyway, I am waiting to receive the camera and I'll then take it to a camera store and decide on the bag. In the meantime, I would greatly appreciate any advice/suggestions you may have.

As for the lense... I've indeed decided on Sigma 70-300 APO based on the reviews I've seen and the valuable comments I received on D70 forum right here. I just need to wait a bit on that as my budget allowance for now is over. It would be hard to convince my wife at this point

But about the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lense...I know that all older film SLR's (including my own Yashica) used to come standard with fixed focus 50mm lenses. But I wonder in what situations would I use it instead of my 18-70 kit lense? OK.. It may at times produce sharper and brighter pictures. But what other advantages would I have if I have a fixed focus 50mm lense around?

Thanks again...

[D70FAN]

Thanks a lot George for all your recommendations. A couple of questions though...

First on the bag... Do you know which bag would be the most compact bag that could comfotably fit D70, SB-600, and say Sigma 70-300 APO and other small accessories? I checked (http://www.asvd07.dsl.pipex.com/d70bags.htm) and all such bags seem too large to me. I wonder if it is possible to have a relatively compact bag and still avoid having two separate day-to-day and gadget bags. It would also help if the bag does not scream that there is a camera inside Anyway, I am waiting to receive the camera and I'll then take it to a camera store and decide on the bag. In the meantime, I would greatly appreciate any advice/suggestions you may have.

As for the lense... I've indeed decided on Sigma 70-300 APO based on the reviews I've seen and the valuable comments I received on D70 forum right here. I just need to wait a bit on that as my budget allowance for now is over. It would be hard to convince my wife at this point

But about the Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D lense...I know that all older film SLR's (including my own Yashica) used to come standard with fixed focus 50mm lenses. But I wonder in what situations would I use it instead of my 18-70 kit lense? OK.. It may at times produce sharper and brighter pictures. But what other advantages would I have if I have a fixed focus 50mm lense around?

Thanks again...

I typically carry the extra accessories in a standard, non-camera type, backpack. The Lewpro TLZ Mini says SLR, but most people don't even know dSLR's exist, so it really doesn't generate any more interest than a film SLR, which is to say almost none. There is a also a TLZ Mini that can accomodate a longer zoom.

The primary reason that I bought the Sigma 18-125 DC is to have a very wide range lens in a small package. I rarely use the 70-300 except for specific trips where I know that I will need the extra range, like nature shots. I am hoping that the new 18-200's coming from Sigma and Tamron will be good enough to make the 70-300 irrelevant, although I realize that this is probably wishful thinking.

My QAF6600 flash (I'm waiting tor the SB800 to arrive) is usually in the backpack as I find that in day-to-day shooting I don't need an external flash. If I do need it I just leave it on the camera, or carry it in a belt pack.

The 50mm f1.8 is really handy in low light situations where you are already at ISO 1600 and still need a stop or two under the f3.5 of the 18-70 (or again in my case the 18-125). Also for portraiture and center focused landscapes you can get very shallow depth of field to highlight the main subject and softly blurr the immediate background (this is the effect known as Bokeh). I plan to replace the 50mm with a Tamron 28-75 f2.8, as soon as finances allow.