Nikon D70S as a beginner/amateur camera?

[Yello]

Hey soooo I want to get a dslr for super cheap because, not gonna lie - I just want to take some cool pictures on trip and of my friends.
So I found a nikon D70S https://cameravs.com/Nikon-D70, after 55k photos, with the rubbers a bit worn out, with a gratis nikkor 18-55 that has sometimes a bit of a slow zoom apparently + CF 2 GB Card.
55$ converting from middle european potato currency.
Do you think it's a good deal?

 

[Designer]

Can you increase your budget a bit?

The rubber contact surfaces are of little concern, but with 55K shutter actuations, this camera may be very close to being worn out. Also, the slow focus on the lens indicates a very short useful life ahead. And a 2GB card hints that the seller may have assembled all his old castoffs into something he could sell.

I'd keep looking.

 

[photoflyer]

I think depends of whether it is $55 you can afford to lose given the advice in the previous reply. If so, go for it but you may find yourself looking for another camera and/or lens.

 

[pendennis]

Hey soooo I want to get a dslr for super cheap because, not gonna lie - I just want to take some cool pictures on trip and of my friends.
So I found a nikon D70S, after 55k photos, with the rubbers a bit worn out, with a gratis nikkor 18-55 that has sometimes a bit of a slow zoom apparently + CF 2 GB Card.
55$ converting from middle european potato currency.
Do you think it's a good deal?

I'm in agreement with the others. Too many wear/performance issues for my tastes. And the price @ $55 is a bit too cheap. Spidey sensors are up!

Besides, "cool" is way overrated when it comes to gear. Get a camera that's easy to use, that will function reliably, and travels well.

 

[tirediron]

The D70 was a great camera, and 55K on the shutter wouldn't bother me; mine had many, many hundreds of thousands on it when it finally died, but the "slow" zoom comment is concerning. I would think by doubling your budget, you could probably pick up a D300 & 18-70 which is a far superior combination. That said, a used high-end P&S like a Canon G10 or similar would like meet your needs and be much more compact & easy to travel with, especially if you're not used to toting camera gear around everywhere; the novelty wears off quickly.

 

[Designer]

In my eBay search, I found a D70 (no lens) for $37 (US). Only 14K shutter actuations and sold by a well-known reputable firm here in the US.

Nikon D70 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Body #002 18208252145 | eBay

A 18-55mm lens usually goes for around $60-$70 (US), used in good condition. A 8 or 16 gig SD card should cost around $25 (US) I don't know where you would even find a 2 gig card these days.

Take a few days and look for some alternative deals in your area.

 

[Derrel]

I still have my old D 70 from around 2004, and it still works. A 2 GB card
It's not so limiting when the capture size is only around six megapixels. The price seems reasonable for an old camera, and the 55,000 clicks is not that many, in my opinion. If there is one thing that is bad about this camera model it is that the viewfinder is kind of squinty

 

[ac12]

Hey soooo I want to get a dslr for super cheap because, not gonna lie - I just want to take some cool pictures on trip and of my friends.
So I found a nikon D70S, after 55k photos, with the rubbers a bit worn out, with a gratis nikkor 18-55 that has sometimes a bit of a slow zoom apparently + CF 2 GB Card.
55$ converting from middle european potato currency.
Do you think it's a good deal?

What do you mean specifically by "nikkor 18-55 that has sometimes a bit of a slow zoom apparently ?"
The zoom is manual so I don't see how it can be "sometimes a bit of a slow zoom."
Or do you mean the aperture is small/slow?

You NEED to test that the camera WORKS reliably.
The D70 series is known for a CHR error, which is fatal. I have a D70S that died with that error.

While 2GB is a bit small today, I think it is OK for that 6MP camera.
If you don't have one, you need to get a CF card reader for your computer.

Check that it comes with a NIKON battery and charger.
The battery, if original, is about 14 years old, so you may/probably need to buy a replacement. So budget to replace the battery.
The NIKON battery on Amazon is $45, 3rd party batteries about $15

I don't know about it being a GOOD deal, but it is OK.

 

[Derrel]

I understand your desire for an inexpensive Digital single lens reflex camera, but I really think you would be better off with a newer used camera,possibly one that costs $100 or so on the used market. The D70 was Nikon's first sub-$1000 dslr camera, and while it was a pretty good picture taker ,I think you would be better off with something newersuch as the Nikon D3100, or even the Nikon D40

In terms of good but low-priced cameras from Nikon, the D90 and the D300 were produced in large quantities and are readily available at low prices