Time to Upgrade?

[Bluesman1952]

Hi,
This is my first post here and am in need of advice. I currently use a D70s. I have a few different lenses but my favorite is the 18 - 70mm. I fool around with the ISO and stuff, but I am no pro by any means. I want to upgrade my camera but I am confused about megapixels and all the different Nikon's out there. Some say the 300s would be a great upgrade for the money. I heard a lot about the 700s and the D3X but both of those are out of budget at the time. Is the 300s a suitable upgrade? What am I getting that the D70s isn't giving me?
Thanks for the help!

[Axle]

I would go for a D300s, as a former D70s photographer myself, I have since upgraded to the D300. It's a great camera, and it will be very easy for you to transition over to the new body.

What do you get?
- Better noise handling at higher ISO, even photos snapped at 1600 looks good!
- Better range of ISO, from 100 (with boost) all the way up to 6400 (with boost), native is 200-3200
- CMOS Sensor with dust reduction
- Video Mode
- Weather Sealing,

[Bluesman1952]

I would go for a D300s, as a former D70s photographer myself, I have since upgraded to the D300. It's a great camera, and it will be very easy for you to transition over to the new body.

What do you get?
- Better noise handling at higher ISO, even photos snapped at 1600 looks good!
- Better range of ISO, from 100 (with boost) all the way up to 6400 (with boost), native is 200-3200
- CMOS Sensor with dust reduction
- Video Mode
- Weather Sealing,

Sounds good to me Axle!
I have been pondering this long enough. I found this forum and it's time to buy.
Thanks a million!

[Grandpaw]

Welcome to Photography Review! When you figure out what you want the next step is to decide where you will make your purchase. I would highly suggest reading the link at he bottom of my post before buying anything, Jeff

[Bluesman1952]

Welcome to Photography Review! When you figure out what you want the next step is to decide where you will make your purchase. I would highly suggest reading the link at he bottom of my post before buying anything, Jeff

Hi Jeff...I intend to buy direct from a retail store. I see BestBuy is on your not suggested list? Is that BestBuy.com, or the store in general??
If I buy online I would use Amazon.com. Not used....New. Very good price!

[Axle]

Hi Jeff...I intend to buy direct from a retail store. I see BestBuy is on your not suggested list? Is that BestBuy.com, or the store in general??
If I buy online I would use Amazon.com. Not used....New. Very good price!

Go to a store, pick up the camera first! And go to a dedicated Camera retailer, that would be my other suggestion.

[Grandpaw]

Best Buy store and BestBuy.com both have very bad reviews. I would not buy from either one. Amazon is a great place if you make sure you are actually dealing with Amazon and not a bad third party that is selling through the Amazon site. Read all the information in the link at the bottom of my post and it willl help you, Jeff

[Bluesman1952]

Best Buy store and BestBuy.com both have very bad reviews. I would not buy from either one. Amazon is a great place if you make sure you are actually dealing with Amazon and not a bad third party that is selling through the Amazon site. Read all the information in the link at the bottom of my post and it willl help you, Jeff

Thanks Jeff and Axle.
I did a lot of looking. I have done business before with B&H, Adorama and OneCall and they were great, but unfortunately, they are all out of stock.
Amazon.com is the only one that can overnight it and it is cheaper than the other places. I always had good luck with Amazon.com, but I always buy new. I wouldn't trust used from them. I'll let you know what goes down and I'll post some pics when I get settled.
Thanks! In the meantime, I'll keep looking at that link Jeff. I haven't ordered yet.

[Frog]

Welcome and do come back to let us know how it is going. Maybe the passion will be kindled.
You might also want to consider the D90 which gets rave reviews and not as expensive.
Either way, I think you'll be very pleased with the results.

[Bluesman1952]

Welcome and do come back to let us know how it is going. Maybe the passion will be kindled.
You might also want to consider the D90 which gets rave reviews and not as expensive.
Either way, I think you'll be very pleased with the results.

Thanks, I will check the D90...I just want to see what the 300s has that the D90 doesn't. If it's needless features, then maybe I can save me some money.

[Bluesman1952]

Welcome and do come back to let us know how it is going. Maybe the passion will be kindled.
You might also want to consider the D90 which gets rave reviews and not as expensive.
Either way, I think you'll be very pleased with the results.

Well, I did some checking between the D90 and D300s, and yes I can save a lot, but I am not professional enough to really see what the real differences are. I get .3 additional megapixels with the D90, better auto focus in video with the 300s, which most likely I am not going to use...I am torn between the 2. The 300s is obviously Nikon's prize for the year, so I may as well break the bank, unless somebody can talk me out of it within the next hour :-) Just kidding! One other thing. I did check and it is Amazon selling the camera, not a 3rd party. If I buy the 300s, they are suggesting an 8 gig memory flash card and an extra battery??? Should I go for it?

[Singletracklovr]

Hi Bluesman,
Welcome to the site.
Based on the additional info you have in your profile.
Photography main hobby even over music. Hiking, camping, hunting, family outings, etc.
I would recommend the 300s over the 90 if you don't mine the price difference.

[Bluesman1952]

Hi Bluesman,
Welcome to the site.
Based on the additional info you have in your profile.
Photography main hobby even over music. Hiking, camping, hunting, family outings, etc.
I would recommend the 300s over the 90 if you don't mine the price difference.

Thanks for the input.
Music will always be a part of me. I intend to use photography along with my music in that I will be shooting bands across the East Coast. Dark night clubs, wierd lighting, etc.
Plus my love of the outdoors.
All this taken into consideration, my 300s Camera will be here tomorrow :-)
I went ahead and had it overnighted through Amazon.com.
I added an 8 gig flash memory card and an extra battery.It will most likely take me a while to get used to it....Cloudy skies expected for a while here in Va., so for now, i'll be taking photos indoors of mainly my granddaughter. Talk later!

[Singletracklovr]

I think you made the right choice. The 300 will kick butt in those dark night clubs.

PM sent check your inbox

[Bluesman1952]

I think you made the right choice. The 300 will kick butt in those dark night clubs.

PM sent check your inbox

I hope so...
I have one other question. Since I bought from amazon.com and it says body only, I am not sure what I am getting?
If it doesn't come with the battery charger, can I use my D70s quick charger with the 300s battery. From what I hear, batteries are backwards compaitible, so the 300s battery will go in the D70s, but the D70s battery will not go in the 300s. I am more concerned with the charger in case I don't get one. How would I charge the battery :-)

[Frog]

You should get the charger, battery, cables, manual, warranty papers/registration. Everything to use the camera except the lens should be there.
Most sites have an 'included in order or box' tab but couldn't find one at Amazon.

[Singletracklovr]

You should get the charger, battery, cables, manual, warranty papers/registration. Everything to use the camera except the lens should be there.
Most sites have an 'included in order or box' tab but couldn't find one at Amazon.

Everything except a memory card.
If your D70 uses a EN-EL3e battery that will also work in the 300s

[Bluesman1952]

Everything except a memory card.
If your D70 uses a EN-EL3e battery that will also work in the 300s

I called a local camera store here and he said the D70s uses a different battery, but the 300s battery would work in the 70s. Backwards compatible. I am more concerned with the charger. I just checked, and the 70s uses an En-EL3A, not E. I have to wait till tomorrow. I called Amazon and they couldn't verify what's in the box....As long as I can use the charger I have so I can get the camera up and running, I don't care if a charger comes with the new one. The price was low...I suspect it may not come with anything but the body and manuals, battery and memory card.
I am adding this on: I looked at the battery charger for the D70s. It is an MH-18a, and when I check it on amazon, it says for use with D300 also. I guess they are universal

[Frog]

If it is new and a usa product everything should be in the box except a memory card.
That's the way Nikon sells them. I don't think Amazon sells gray market.
Let us know either way and show us what it does.

[Franglais]

I've had the D70, D200 and D300. The battery chargers are interchangable (I think the D300 one is smaller). I don't even remember which one I gave away with the D70.

D70 batteries will only work in the D70 but D200/D300 batteries work in any of them. There is an extra terminal to signal the battery state to the D200/D300

[Bluesman1952]

I've had the D70, D200 and D300. The battery chargers are interchangable (I think the D300 one is smaller). I don't even remember which one I gave away with the D70.

D70 batteries will only work in the D70 but D200/D300 batteries work in any of them. There is an extra terminal to signal the battery state to the D200/D300

Thanks my friend.
Well, the camera is on it's way. I get it today and it is pouring rain, so no photos for a while.
I'll keep everybody posted. You all are very kind!

Joe

[Franglais]

Thanks my friend.
Well, the camera is on it's way. I get it today and it is pouring rain, so no photos for a while...

It's Show season in Paris. This weekend I have one or two events that happen indoors. With 3200 ISO (even 6400 ISO) and a prime lens, I'm laughing.

Unfortunately as these events are private, I can't show most of what I shoot on the forum. But I have fun.

[Bluesman1952]

It's Show season in Paris. This weekend I have one or two events that happen indoors. With 3200 ISO (even 6400 ISO) and a prime lens, I'm laughing.

Unfortunately as these events are private, I can't show most of what I shoot on the forum. But I have fun.

Having fun is what it is all about Charles. I have my grandchild here today. If the camers comes early enough I can experiment with some portraits.
Enjoy your show!

[Bluesman1952]

I have also D70, D200 and D300 so far it still good.

Glad to hear that. Still waiting for mine to get here. We get delivery about 2;30 pm EST...

[Frog]

Hey it past that time.......where's our report:wink5: