View Full Version : Fuji S7000 V Canon 300D V Nikon D70 questions UPDATE bought a D70
I currently have a Fuji S7000 6MP with 6X optical zoom, previous to that I had a S602 which is basically the same camera but 3MP
I haven't really used the 7000 as i've only had it a few weeks but am getting itchy feet for a SLR again.
I have a Minolta 700Si with about £900 worth of assorted lenses from 18mm to 400mm that hasn't seen the light of day in 3 years due to the cost of developing film compared to digital
My question is should I go for the 300D, D70 or the new Minolta Dynax 7 digital when it comes out in september, this seems the most obvious choice as I already have all the equipment so would just need the body.
However i'm tempted to sell the lot on ebay and get either of the other 2, the Nikon looks favourite ATM.
The S7000 takes excellent pictures I just think i'm missing out by not having a fast 50mm lens for low light and a bigger telephoto.
I don't know what to do :shrug:
I have a 300d which I love, but I bought it when it first appeared. Now I think I'd go for the new Nikon digital slr or a Canon 10d. More cash, but how often are you thinking of changing it!
You wouldn't get anywhere near your moneys worth selling your kit. IMO sit tight until the Minolta D-SLR is available, then sell/trade-in your 35mm body but keep your lenses. The Nikon and Canon are very closely matched. depending on which review you read depends on which camera edges it. Picture wise there is nothing in it, on many review the Nikon edges it as its metal bodied whereas the Canon 300D is plastic. However, for me thats not an issue and I've always used canon so when the 300D was released as I had a few lenses already it was a no-brainer. You're in a similar position with the Minolta. I'd wait and see what reviews the Minolta gets - you can always flog your gear then if necessary.
Highlander
13-08-2004, 20:16
I'm currently in the same position, but unfortunately my film SLR is a Minolta Dynax 7000i (must be about 14-15yrs old now), which takes Pentax K mount lenses. The new Minolta dSLR takes Minolta A mount lenses, so my 4 lenses are going to be useless :cry: (unless anyone knows otherwise). I'm leaning more toward the Canon because of price/quality - I don't think the Nikon takes £200 better pictures than the Canon (if they are better at all!!). I'm no expert, but judging from all the 300D photos I've seen on here and elswhere, I'd be over the moon to achieve similar results. The only problem I've got is convincing the wife I need a new camera, after having the S7000 for just over 3 months :help:
Sprout Crumble
13-08-2004, 21:48
The Minolta Dynax 7000i has a Minolta 'A' series bayonet fitting and most definitely NOT a Pentax 'K' series mount.
You wouldn't get anywhere near your moneys worth selling your kit. IMO sit tight until the Minolta D-SLR is available
Oh waiting for a new toy, I don't know if I can do that :D
The guy in Jessops told me they're expecting the Minolta to have a RRP of around £1000 which puts it up against the nikon, given my previous wait for minolta to go digital i'm not sure I want to invest heavily in more minolta equipment if I find the lenses I have don't come up to scratch.
decisions decisions :shrug:
Highlander
13-08-2004, 22:59
The Minolta Dynax 7000i has a Minolta 'A' series bayonet fitting and most definitely NOT a Pentax 'K' series mount.
That's great news. Have you got one? I really must get out the cupboard and have a look at it. It must be about 5 years since I used it last!!
I not doubting you, but I been looking on the Net for ages trying to confirm this, but can't find anything.
That's great news. Have you got one? I really must get out the cupboard and have a look at it. It must be about 5 years since I used it last!!
I not doubting you, but I been looking on the Net for ages trying to confirm this, but can't find anything.
Have a look here: http://www.minoltaeurope.com/pe/photographic_equipment.html (under digital cameras > Dynax 7 Digital)
Hold out till the Minolta D-SLR is released. Even if at that point you decide to go for a Canon or Nikon, Your Minolta lenses will be worth a lot more second hand as all the new owners of the Minolta D-SLR will be on the lookout for compatible lenses :thumbs:
DeadKenny
14-08-2004, 21:34
By Nikon S70, I assume you mean D70 ;)
However, I'd say go for the D70. Better all round kit if you get the 18-70DX lens kit (if you can find it, they sell like hot cakes!), but then I am biased being a D70 owner :D
If I was to get a 300D I'd got for the black version. I'm not sure where you can find those though. Silver is :gag:.
Whichever way, it's a world of difference between DSLRs and the SLR-like digital compacts. Well worth it. It's a lot more than just picture quality difference (which with SLRs is all down to the lens ultimately).
If you want some reviews of the 300D and D70 try these...
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos300d/
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond70/
Sold the fuji, Nikon D70 being delivered tomorrow :clap:
What do you think of this,
The information on the dixons website for the Nikon D70 £799.49
# 6.1 million pixels
# 2.9x optical zoom
# 1.8" LCD screen
# Memory type Compact Flash /MIRCODRIVE
# 4 Resolution Settings
# 2.9 x SLR Optical zoom
# USB Connection
# LCD Screen
# Aperture/Shutter priority
# Video Output
The photo shows the camera with a lens attached, I phoned customer services :oh-hum: for confirmation that it came with a lens, I could tell the guy on the other end didn't have a clue :brickwall he didn't have any more information than was on the website, then he looked at the nikon site and said yes it comes with a 18mm-70mm zoom :suspect:
I ordered it anyway, if it comes with the zoom it's a bargain if it doesn't i'll be arguing that their website says 2.9X optical zoom, how can it have an optical zoom without a lens :shrug: and the CS dept told me it has one.
If I still lose out they'll be getting it back :razz:
Highlander
18-08-2004, 20:08
How much did you get for the S7000, if you don't mind me asking?
Odds on it's the kit with the cheaper 28-80mm lens as opposed to the MUCH better 18-70mm one.
Yep, 80/28 = 2.857 ~ 2.9x :(
Still not the worst price, but that 18-70 is a goodun.
-- Jon
DeadKenny
19-08-2004, 10:30
:thumbs: on the D70. Good choice :clap:
Though I'm fairly sure Dixons don't do the 18-70DX lens. Maybe it's different online, but I tried all the stores and they were totally clueless. They just said it's a D70 and what you see is what you get (the lens on it was a 28-80G and I had to tell them that!). They seem to be unaware it could even use another lens :oh-hum:
Still, you've got plenty of options. The 28-80 will get you going to start with, or you could flog it on ebay and pick up an 18-70DX, though you may have to go 2nd hand to get it the same price as you'd got it new in the kit. Or, forget the 18-70 and think about a set of even better lenses.
Tough to suggest lenses as it depends on your needs and budget, but you might want to look into a wide-angle zoom, a standard "prime" (35mm or 50mm perhaps), and a telephoto zoom. Do some research first though, but having owned that Minolta and those lenses you should know a bit about what to look for in lenses.
I wouldn't worry too much about DX lenses or standard lenses, unless you are worried about future cameras moving to full-size sensors (no sign of that at the moment).
stormywhether
19-08-2004, 10:58
the D70 - it doesn't have any of that stupid software with it does it, that means that you couldn't download your images to a portable hard drive like the iRiver?
What I'm saying is - could I patch it to the iRiver and download all the images?
still average joe
19-08-2004, 11:01
[QUOTE=DeadKenny]:thumbs: on the D70. Good choice :clap:
Though I'm fairly sure Dixons don't do the 18-70DX lens. Maybe it's different online, but I tried all the stores and they were totally clueless. They just said it's a D70 and what you see is what you get (the lens on it was a 28-80G and I had to tell them that!). They seem to be unaware it could even use another lens :oh-hum:
QUOTE]
I got 18-70 kit from Dixons in Edinburgh a couple of week ago.
the D70 - it doesn't have any of that stupid software with it does it, that means that you couldn't download your images to a portable hard drive like the iRiver?
What I'm saying is - could I patch it to the iRiver and download all the images?
Should be fine (Canon are worse for this :suspect: ) even if it doesn't work you can pick up a generic USB CF reader for about a pound and use that to transfer from the card (assuming it's one of the new iRivers that support this of course ;) ).
-- Jon
DeadKenny
19-08-2004, 11:45
Not sure what you mean about software, but the D70 works in two modes:
One is as a standard USB2 mass-storage device, and you don't need any additional software to use it. i.e. Windows will see it automatically (those versions of Windows that do support it at least), and you don't need to install the Nikon software. Any portable devices that support USB mass-storage devices should work fine too.
The other mode is a control mode where through USB, the Nikon supplied control software can control the camera itself.
However, Nikon Capture Editor is an extremly valueable piece of software. This is the raw NEF file editor. For info, the raw NEF files are your digital negatives. With the editor you can tweak all the settings without changing the original data and then save as TIFF or JPEG, export to Photoshop, or just print from the NEFs. It's easier to use than Photoshop's NEF plugin and more powerful, and it's quicker to use than Photoshop for tweaking curves&levels etc.
Unfortunately NCE is not free. What you get is a 30day trial version. It's well worth doing everything in NEF format though.
You don't need to install any drivers to use it or the camera though.
Alternatively, you can get a card reader instead and just plug in the CF card into the reader. Doing that may save on the camera's batteries anyway. You can still use all the Nikon software with a card reader, except the control software (which needs a direct link to the camera).
stormywhether
19-08-2004, 13:39
I'm finding it increasingly hard to resist, however I just bought the KodakGear lens for the Canon we have here at work (budget cuts, had to buy it myself if I wanted to use it, etc) and it would be a waste not to stick to Canon now.
still average joe
19-08-2004, 13:43
Unfortunately NCE is not free. What you get is a 30day trial version. It's well worth doing everything in NEF format though.
Do you know how much it is to buy after the trial?
How much did you get for the S7000, if you don't mind me asking?
I put it in the Loot for £325, sold it for £300 with a 128mb CF card
The camera arrived this morning, not bad CS for dixons, ordered sunday del thurs, it has the 28-80 with it
DeadKenny
19-08-2004, 18:53
Do you know how much it is to buy after the trial?
I'm not sure as there doesn't appear to be a list price on Nikon's site. Jessops have it for £119 :eek:.
Don't know if that's Jessops inflated price or normal price, but if it's normal price, it's "rip-off Britain" as usual as it's about $100 in US$ (aprox £50-£60, even if you take the Candian price of CA$160).
There's a review of it here...
http://www.digitalreview.ca/cams/NikonCapture4.shtml
Don't know if that's Jessops inflated price or normal price, but if it's normal price, it's "rip-off Britain" as usual as it's about $100 in US$ (aprox £50-£60, even if you take the Candian price of CA$160).
Would there be a problem buying the software from Canada and using it here?
Not sure why I'm asking, i don't even have a D70.....
Yet. :n0rty:
DeadKenny
24-08-2004, 10:23
Should be the same software, so I doubt it's a problem. Might be more of a problem getting someone to ship it to the UK, plus there's VAT & Duty to deal with.
Decided the 28-80 lens that came with it was:gag: so I bought a 24-85 lens with a lot of letters on the box, more letters is good right :wave:
It's a Nikon F AFg-sED
When i'm out with it I can see people will be admiring all the letters on my lens:D
I could tell it was much better as soon as I picked it up, it weighs about 5x the 28-80 :)
Just need to find some time when it's not raining to go out with it now :shrug:
vBulletin® v3.8.5, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.