Nikon D70
Manufacturer: Nikon Type: Camera (DSLR) Year introduced: 2004
Overview
The Nikon D70 was the affordable DSLR that democratized underwater digital photography in 2004. Where the Nikon D100 had established the DSLR as the standard for serious UW photographers, the D70 brought DSLR capability to a much broader audience at a significantly lower price point. It quickly became the most popular camera in the underwater photography community, a dominance dramatically demonstrated at the Antibes Festival 2004 where it was the most frequently seen camera ([1]).
Housing announcements for the D70 came from nearly every major manufacturer, often within weeks of the camera’s announcement in January 2004. Sea & Sea announced the DX-D70 at approximately $1,870 USD ([2]). Nexus showed a production model at the Long Beach Show priced at $2,552 ([3]). Aquatica showed a prototype in March 2004 ([4]). Ikelite showed a prototype with a smaller form factor at $1,200 ([5]). Subal, Sealux, Hugyfot, and others followed.
The D70s, announced in April 2005, was confirmed compatible with existing D70 housings, extending the platform’s lifespan ([6]).
Housings
- Sea & Sea DX-D70 — Announced January 2004, ~$1,870. Reviewed by Rich Todd in the Galapagos. ([7], [8])
- Subal ND70 — Reviewed by Alex Mustard; designed by Arnold Stepanek on his laptop. ([9])
- Nexus D70 — Production model shown at Long Beach Show, $2,552. ([10], [11])
- Aquatica A70 — Shipping September 2004 at $1,689; shown at DEMA 2004. ([12], [13])
- Ikelite D70 — Smaller form factor prototype shown March 2004, $1,200. ([14])
- Sealux CD70 — German housing, reviewed by Colin Gans. ([15])
- Hugyfot D70 — CNC machined aluminum with Heinrichs-Weikamp iTTL chip; expected late 2004, reviewed by Timo in 2005. ([16], [17])
- Fantasea FD-70 — Budget option at $999 with flat port and flood insurance. ([18])
Reviews & Discussion
- [19] — Field review from Galapagos
- [20] — Alex Mustard review
- [21] — Colin Gans review
- [22] — Timo review with iTTL chip details
- [23] — D70 confirmed as most popular camera
Timeline
- 2004-01: Nikon D70 announced; Sea & Sea DX-D70 housing announced ([24])
- 2004-03: Aquatica and Ikelite prototypes shown ([25], [26])
- 2004-04: Nexus production model shown at Long Beach Show ([27])
- 2004-07: Sea & Sea DX-D70 reviewed by Rich Todd ([28])
- 2004-08: Subal ND70 reviewed by Alex Mustard ([29])
- 2004-09: Aquatica A70 shipping ([30])
- 2004-10: Sealux CD70 reviewed; D70 most popular camera at Antibes Festival 2004 ([31], [32])
- 2004-11: Hugyfot D70 housing expected ([33])
- 2005-02: Fantasea FD-70 budget housing announced at $999 ([34])
- 2005-04: Nikon D70s announced, confirmed compatible with D70 housings ([35])
- 2005-05: D70 firmware 2.0 update released ([36])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2004: Antibes Festival 2004 Report1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2004: Sea Sea Dx D70 Housing Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2004: Nexus D70 Housing Prototype Images ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2004: Aquatica D70 Housing Prototype ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2004: Ikelite D70 Housing Prototype ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 29, 2005: Nikon D70s Compatible With D70 Housings ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2004: Sea Sea Dx D70 Housing Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2004: Sea And Sea Dx D70 A Review By Rich Todd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2004: Subal Subal D70 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2004: Nexus D70 Housing Prototype Images ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 27, 2004: Nexus D70 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 23, 2004: Aquaticas A70 Housing Shipping Soon ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2004: Dema Show 2004 Report ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2004: Ikelite D70 Housing Prototype ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2004: Sealux Cd70 Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 29, 2004: Hugyfot Nikon D70 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 2, 2005: Hugy D70 Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 2, 2005: Fantasea Line Fd 70 Waterproof Housing ↩
- Sea & Sea DX-D70: A Review by Rich Todd (article) ↩
- Subal ND70 Review (article) ↩
- Sealux CD70 Housing Review (article) ↩
- Hugyfot D70 Review (article) ↩
- Antibes Festival 2004 Report (article) ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 29, 2004: Sea Sea Dx D70 Housing Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2004: Aquatica D70 Housing Prototype ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 26, 2004: Ikelite D70 Housing Prototype ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2004: Nexus D70 Housing Prototype Images ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2004: Sea And Sea Dx D70 A Review By Rich Todd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 20, 2004: Subal Subal D70 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 23, 2004: Aquaticas A70 Housing Shipping Soon ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2004: Sealux Cd70 Housing Review ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2004: Antibes Festival 2004 Report1 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 29, 2004: Hugyfot Nikon D70 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 2, 2005: Fantasea Line Fd 70 Waterproof Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 29, 2005: Nikon D70s Compatible With D70 Housings ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 16, 2005: Nikon D70 Firmware 20 Update ↩
- Sea & Sea DX-D70 Announced (article) ↩
- Sea & Sea DX-D70 Review (article) ↩
- Subal ND70 Review (article) ↩
- Aquatica A70 Shipping (article) ↩
- DEMA 2004 Report (article) ↩
- Antibes Festival 2004 (article) ↩
- Hugyfot D70 Housing (article) ↩
- Fantasea FD-70 (article) ↩
- Nikon D70s Compatibility (article) ↩