I use the D70s. I have two of them and ordered a third yesterday. Why you ask.....because they are cheap......camera body only costs around $600. You can get a refurb for even less.
These cameras were made for the average consumer. They are not pro level cameras. The shutter is only rated to about 100,000 exposures. When the shutter wears out its time to throw the camera away as this can not be repaired....well the whole mechanisim can be replaced but what for....just get a new one.
I am not surprised at all to hear your focus button fell off....LOL. It is impossible to find a NON grey market camera. Atleast in the US. All the camera suppliers carry grey market models because they can offer very cheap prices that beat the brick and morter stores. These companies will say "it comes with a US warrenty". Well that doesnt mean its not grey market. All it means is they are selling a warranty with the price. A NON grey market will say "Made in Japan" and not "Made in Thailand". IF you find one made in Japan it will prob cost over a thousand dollars.
Which brings me to another point. ALL nikon service points are private businesses contracted to do Nikon work. A lot of them are less than professional. Thats why they say one cost and then charge you higher on the bill. They are in it for the money not customer service.
I have already worn out the first one I bought. It went to about 90,000 exposures before the shutter began to fail. I serviced it and that didnt help. It still locks up.
I have a very busy photography business. One D70 generates thousands and thousands of dollars in profit. I use them sort of as disposable cameras. I have the CCD cleaned a couple times and by then its time to throw it away and get a new one. They last me about 8 months before this happens. But it only cost $600....or less
If you want something on the pro level that should last years you should probably get a magnesium body Canon. Among other great things Canon is well known for the robustness of their cameras. Nearly all adventure/combat photojournalists use canon for this reason. The grey market problem is not near as bad and you can actually find a non grey market canon.
I have canon 5d on order now. This will be my still camera that I will use for high quality print work in advertising. I will continue to use the throw away D70s for pano work. I find myself in all kinds of locations....hicking on golf courses, crawling around pool decks, climbing flights and flights of stairs....its only a matter of time before the camera is bumbed, dropped or suffers some kind of "environmental accident". So I figure why invest a lot of money into a camera that is very likly to become disabled at some point. I am on my Third D70s in only 18 months. But that is becasue of the volume and kind of work I do.
Otherwise the D70s is a great camera. I am teaching my 12 year old daughter to use one of the disabled ones now. IF she drops is or whatever no worries. It has lived its useful life.
Besides where can you get a good DSLR for $600 bucks. Remember this IS NOT A PRO LEVEL CAMERA. If you need pro level get a canon.
General Lee
|