Hi Harry, I like how your callsign has the Hubble Space Telescope
initials in it!

I'm not really a new owner and infact I happen to own a Canon Rebel XT,
but I use my friends Nikon D70s a LOT because he has some really sweet
glass, and you're right it is a great camera.

To help with the learning curve, you may want to read some online info
about photography and the D70 - note the D70 and newer s-version are
almost identical, so most info you find about the D70 is also relevant).

There are several sources that carry some respect and are worth browsing
through - try these for starters:

http://www.clarkvision.com/
http://www.robgalbraith.com/
http://www.photo.net/
http://philip.greenspun.com/

Note that some of these may have biases toward certain brands and/or
ideals, but if you look beyond that and pick out universal information,
there is a lot of useful info to assimilate.

Whenever you want clarification or more specific questions, just fire
away.

I have a D70 now for a year and took it to China and it performed like a
charm in hot humid weather as well as colder areas. What I also liked was
the life of the battery. (held up like a charm). I was pleasantly surprised
as I only shot slides and prints before this camera. I was told the D70 is
similar to the D70s.

Enjoy the camera.....VE7IKF.

Also check out http://www.bythom.com/d70guide.htm

Thom Hogan produces a CD-based manual that is the "keys to the puzzle"
that is the D70/D70S manual.

Second, if you'll be doing anything beyond the most basic flash shooting,
get
either an SB600 or SB800 flash.  If you can pop for the extra $$ the SB800
is the way to go.  If you go the dedicated flash route, get some good
rechargeable
batteries, like the Maha PowerEx CH-204W charger kit, w/ 2700mAh batteries.
http://www.thomas-distributing.com/maha-powerex-mh-c204w-nimh-battery-charger-bu
y.php3

I agree w/ your comment on the steep learning curve.  I got my D70 in June
of
'05 and I'm just starting to feel comfortable w/ it.  Still haven't decided
which post
processing software to use.  Currently using RawShooter Essentials.
http://www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter_essentials.asp

Jeff

I've owned my D70s for just over one year.  It is a great camera with a
very long battery life.  The "Custom Tonal Curve" feature is very
useful for setting up the camera to give you great out of the camera
photos without any post processing.  The 50mm f/1.8 prime lens is the
best bang for the buck lens that you will find, for low light
photography without a flash.

----------------------

My only complaint is noise.  Other than that, it's an excellent camera.
I've had it for almost a year.  It's such a great camera that I can't
yet justify going to the D200 or to the upcoming D80.

The major menu settings that I found works best for my needs are: (1)
Adobe RGB; (2) Low sharpening, auto tone comp and moderate
saturatation.  Those I have set under the Custom setting under the
"Optimize image" menu.

Kevin

I have used my D70 for two years now. Thom Hogan's ebook is worth
getting. I have recently moved up to the D200, but I use the D70 with
another lens and for portrait work with the kit lens. The D70 and D70s
represent the first generation of truly practical and affordable
digital SLR cameras for the amateur. Nikon got it right with this
camera.