Any fans of the Nikon N70 or the N70QD?

[IpseLux]

Been doing a bit of shopping for a family member…. She’s having a baby, both her and her husband are the kindest, gentlest most positive and decent people I know.
So I’ve decided to gift them a camera I learned photography on when I came back from the Peace Corps: a mint, modest but quite capable N6006.
Shopping for lenses, I came across another which peaked my interest: a sticky mess, but quite interesting, a N70QD.
A $20 for batteries, and it fired up fine. Flash even worked. Asking price was a fraction of its $800 cost in 1994….
But what most intrigued me: a panoramic feature, along with a dedicated film back. The back won’t reset to 2026, stops at 2020. But by setting the year to 1998, and the month to May, one can get a second function to imprint, the day’s date, and time the photo was taken.
Useless? Let’s call it nostalgic. And somewhat of a collection thing.
Now, the panorama feature just reduces the 35mm image to a panoramic section. The viewfinder shows you that rather clearly.
Another interesting thing about these cameras, they are obviously designed for amateur photographers, their feature selection is graphic, rather than technical. And many of the same features carried unto future DSLRs and JPEG settings, like hyper focal program, night shooting, portraits, and blurred motion, are there, in program settings at the touch of a button.
I don’t use them on my D7100. But I will on this film camera. Why not?
I post this, in hope of seeing if anyone else has a fond or positive view of this rather odd little jewel of a camera.
The body is ergonomic and comfortable. Very clean lines. Minimal buttons. Even the shutter button lacks the cable release thread. It’s just a button.
Focusing is fast and quiet. Like other Nikon SLRs, it accepts Ai, and AiS lenses, but forgoes matrix, program, shutter speed priority.
Lens of choice, a 28mm Tamron Adaptall, small, smooth, sharper than my Tokina 28 and slightly faster.
I imagine the lens will complement the N70’s panoramic feauture.
One last thing, in a previous post some members called the N70 a bastard camera, I think….
If a camera has manual settings, can be focused, and shoot various 35mm films, why insult it?
Anything else it does is extra, icing on the cake, right?
Oh, and about it being sticky…. It sure was. A bit of elbow grease clears it up fine.
Any fans of this unique and often hated Nikon camera?

 

[IpseLux]

Been doing a bit of shopping for a family member…. She’s having a baby, both her and her husband are the kindest, gentlest most positive and decent people I know.
So I’ve decided to gift them a camera I learned photography on when I came back from the Peace Corps: a mint, modest but quite capable N6006.
Shopping for lenses, I came across another which peaked my interest: a sticky mess, but quite interesting, a N70QD.
A $20 for batteries, and it fired up fine. Flash even worked. Asking price was a fraction of its $800 cost in 1994….
But what most intrigued me: a panoramic feature, along with a dedicated film back. The back won’t reset to 2026, stops at 2020. But by setting the year to 1998, and the month to May, one can get a second function to imprint, the day’s date, and time the photo was taken.
Useless? Let’s call it nostalgic. And somewhat of a collection thing.
Now, the panorama feature just reduces the 35mm image to a panoramic section. The viewfinder shows you that rather clearly.
Another interesting thing about these cameras, they are obviously designed for amateur photographers, their feature selection is graphic, rather than technical. And many of the same features carried unto future DSLRs and JPEG settings, like hyper focal program, night shooting, portraits, and blurred motion, are there, in program settings at the touch of a button.
I don’t use them on my D7100. But I will on this film camera. Why not?
I post this, in hope of seeing if anyone else has a fond or positive view of this rather odd little jewel of a camera.
The body is ergonomic and comfortable. Very clean lines. Minimal buttons. Even the shutter button lacks the cable release thread. It’s just a button.
Focusing is fast and quiet. Like other Nikon SLRs, it accepts Ai, and AiS lenses, but forgoes matrix, program, shutter speed priority.
Lens of choice, a 28mm Tamron Adaptall, small, smooth, sharper than my Tokina 28 and slightly faster.
I imagine the lens will complement the N70’s panoramic feauture.
One last thing, in a previous post some members called the N70 a bastard camera, I think….
If a camera has manual settings, can be focused, and shoot various 35mm films, why insult it?
Anything else it does is extra, icing on the cake, right?
Oh, and about it being sticky…. It sure was. A bit of elbow grease clears it up fine.
Any fans of this unique and often hated Nikon camera?

Maybe the term is not film back, but data back.
I guess film back is more the Polaroid kind ….
Data back.

 

[ic-racer]

Yes, N70 is kind of the older version of what became the N80. I have 4 N80, but no N70. The N75, is similar, I have five of those.

 

[IpseLux]

Yes, N70 is kind of the older version of what became the N80. I have 4 N80, but no N70. The N75, is similar, I have five of those.

A true photography devotee? I admire that. 13 35mm cameras for me, between film and DSLRs. One I’m giving away.
12 is my limit!
Thanks for chiming in IC. Kind regards.

 

[Nitroplait]

The D70/N70 was the last of the lower Nikon entusiast camera segment with the ability to meter with AI/AIS lenses. Than alone is good reason to love them - that, and the "almost free" price tag.

The UI is often what divides the waters. It is actually easy to use, but very different from what came before and what followed.

I wonder when these polycarbonate AF cameras of the 80/90's gets the attention of the influencer crowd so we all can cash in?

 

[IpseLux]

Some images for context. The N6006 physicality resembles more the angular build of the FTn. Especially at the prism/pop up flash housing, it slants down a bit.
The N70’s reminds me of Nikon F3s, especially fro the back. It’s is robust, at least spatially.
Another thing, notice the ergo of the N70. Japanese assimetry for sure, but see how the body contour follows the natural position of the hands holding the camera, particularly the left hand?
The front and back are scooped somewhat continuing the theme.
Lastly the back, minus most of the sticky rubber mess common to these. The button at the bottom is the panoramic setting.
Often while taking landscapes with a 50mm lens, one ends with too much sky and boring foreground. This feature edits it out, mechanically.
Can photoshops print it inexpensively? I guess I’ll find out.

 

[George Mann]

The N70 was my first autofocus camera. As with every other electronic Nikon camera, I shot it in center weighted aperature priority.

I had no complaints with its performance.

 

[IpseLux]

The N70 was my first autofocus camera. As with every other electronic Nikon camera, I shot it in center weighted aperature priority.

I had no complaints with its performance.

Thanks G. I’m liking it a lot. In a way, I find the symbolic controls refreshing, from having to go thru computer menus on the back screen of some of my other cameras.
Now, by no means is the joy that is the FM2n, with just focusing, aperture and shutter speed adjustments easily accomplished while shooting, but in aperture priority is easy enough.
I’m currently shooting it with a manual Ai lens, but with a AF, it should be even easier to get acceptable images with the various preprogrammed settings too.
There are times when a point and shoot is just perfect.
Do I trust the camera to make good decisions? Absolutely. No camera is perfect. But as one of the old Nikon ads once stated, Nikon has two reputations to uphold, theirs and yours.
As a Nikon fan, I’m of the opinion that they have and do.
Great cameras!
Kind regards.

 

[Besk]

Yes, N70 is kind of the older version of what became the N80. I have 4 N80, but no N70. The N75, is similar, I have five of those.

I only have four N75's. Had one N70 - it died. The N75 is easier to use and just as cheap if you can find one.

 

[AnselMortensen]

I've had a few N90s's, but no N70.
The screen interface on top of the N70 was off-putting to me.
The N90s is a more capable camera...an "F4s-Lite" with menus instead of dials...now available inexpensively.
Unfortunately, the weak spots on Nikon cameras of that era were the body coatings that became sticky, and fragile battery holders.