The curve is not that steep. You will be getting very good images in a relative short time, if you were proficient with you film SLR the DSLR will seem very natural to you. As you may know I too just purchased the D70 after a lifetime of film and a brief interlude with a Fuji S602Z. I was just like you a lurker here at PR and learned a lot over a couple of years before making the leap to a contributor. I hope that you will do the same and share some of your D70 images. We look forward to new blood and different styles. I am planning my first major trip with the D70 next week. We are headed to Texas to visit my son and I hope to give the D70 a real work out on some new scenery. Looking forward to your future post.

Larry