. . . continued from Hot News Not insignificantly, one of the reasons for purchasing the D70 was that it looked most assuredly like a camera should look. Looking nothing like the small Point & Shoot models (film or digital) made by Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Fuji, Olympus and all the others, the D70 is still easily twice the size and three or four times the weight of those small fry despite the fact that the D70 is itself smaller and somewhat lighter than its categorical competition (except for the new 8 megapixel Canon digital Rebel and the very new Olympus eVolt) . There are points here, namely that physical stature has its beneficial effects, not the least of which in cameras has to do with taking steadier shots, being able to change physical lenses in order to shoot with exactly the right focal length, and providing the apparent feel of a photographic instrument that is meant to be used, hard, for a very long time. Did I mention the D70 is an SLR? As a tribute to American, German and Japanese industrial design, manufacturing methods and materials, let me qualify the foregoing paragraph by stating that most of the Point & Shoot (P&S) models I've tried have stood up extremely well against my callous treatment. Without qualification though, and with very few exceptions, at the end of the day almost all of the P&S models feel like toys. Their dinky little lenses inspire little confidence. The limited range of lighting conditions which satisfy the needs of the P&S digital sensors are difficult to augment, making such cameras a limited value for avid photographers (amateurs, hobbyists professionals and just plain avid photographers). I can hear the complaints already: "You're an elitist Howard" "You're being arrogant Howard" "You're devaluing my choices Howard" "You're repressing me Howard" "We can't all be Ansel Adams Howard" and I think they're all quite silly. Let me respond by stating that my Brother-in-law and his wife own a delightful Canon P&S with which they've taken some spectacular shots of their kids up at the cottage and the lakeshore. Everything from the kids soulfully silhouetted against waves lapping the shoreline at dusk to marvelous family candids of all the relatives mugging cheerfully have been captured faithfully, preserved on hard drive and CD, embedded subsequently in family calendars, on various and sundry refrigerator doors and so on.

Since purchasing the D70 in late February of this year, I have taken more photos than in the previous 18 months(!) with my Nikon F90X/N90X. That statistic alone is enough to convince me that digital photography is here to stay for a long time . . .

But I love my D70.

Since purchasing the D70 in late February of this year, I have taken more photos than in the previous 18 months(!) with my Nikon F90X/N90X. That statistic alone is enough to convince me that digital photography is here to stay for a very long time in one form or another. Nobody I know is going back to the expense and waiting which characterized film photography.

When I use the D70, people stop to ask me questions. If I use the little P&S my wife purchased, people think either that I'm just a dumb tourist or an annoying local. The D70 attracts conversation and questions about photography. The little P&S attracts comments such "Are you lost sir?"

All this is in defense of one thing: the purchase price of the D70. Aside from the crappy trade-in value of my old 35mm film gear, the D70 still cost me a fair stack of change. I kept one zoom from the F90X/N90X kit—the only autofocus lens in the lot. Then I purchased a stunningly sharp (used) Nikon f2.8 80-200mm autofocus zoom. Then I purchased an Nikon f2.8 17-55mm zoom. Then I purchased a new Lowepro backpack to hold everything safely and securely. I grow slightly faint thinking about the pile of money I just parted with.

But I love my D70 and I will do and say darn near anything to justify the money I spent on the thing.

At the end of the day, I'm a slightly better photographer because of the D70. I can frame and compose more accurately and effectively. Focus is sharper, depth of field easier to control, color and even Bokeh are beautifully rendered, startup and shutter response are almost instantaneous. I can take photos in every conceivable set of lighting conditions, change ISO on-the-fly and best of all, find out on the spot if my shots look good. I'm a believer.

Embrace the digital photography revolution with a P&S if you must because some of them are almost irresistible (the Canon A95 comes to mind). Try one of those overpriced so-called Prosumer models with all their aspirations to SLR-dom but without interchangeable lenses. Some people embrace the Prosumer models with all the fervor of a true photo pro and in all honesty those models boast some genuine stand-outs. But the substance and 'feel' of satisfying photography bears a weight of equipment and an air of intense creativity. I tried a Nikon D5700 and didn't like it, Prosumer lovely that it was.

There isn't a non-SLR camera out there whose designers don't aspire to create faster, more versatile and higher quality models. The extent to which they succeed is contrasted by the design and feature compromises which invariably have to be struck. Give me a digital SLR any time. Fewer compromises, greater versatility.

I love my D70.

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