Coolpix 8700 VS D70

[Gary B.]

I am in the market for a new digital camera and was looking at both the Nikon Coolpix 8700 (8mp w/ 35-280 35mm equivalent) and the Nikon D70. Obviously the D70 has a larger chip but is it really better than the RAW image of the 8700 at a full 8mp?
I currently own a N80 with a 28-200 Tamron lens and If I wen't with the D70 I would like to use this lens initially (to keep cost down). I'm not sure if it's compatible with the D70 or how much that (Tamron lens) hurts my image in this comparison.
I'm getting different info from different scources so I need help .PLEASE!!!!

Gary
I

[Photo-John]

Gary-
The image quality of the D70 will blow away the image quality of the Coolpix 8700 RAW files. I believe even JPEGs from the D70 will be better than RAW files from the 8700. The pixels on the Coolpix 8700 sensor are soooooo tiny compared to the pixels on the D70 sensor. It's apples to oranges.

[ustein]

The 8700 has a nice image quality but I did not like tha handling at all. If you use raw you wait forever that the camera writes the raw file. The Minolta A2 handles way better.

The main difference between a D70 and 8700 is the high ISO (that starts actually for the 8700 at ISO 200 and the way better viewfinder. But you can make nice pictures with the 8700 (but the get the A2).

Uwe