D70 and software/firmware?

[roncgizmo]

Am I going to need any type of Nikon software in order to get them on to my PC? I already have Lightroom 4 and Photshop 6

and is it worth upgrading the firmware in the camera?
did you have any issues with it

[Jeff Perry]

Ron, Is the camera coming with the original Nikon PictureProject CD? If not, by registering the camera, you should be able to D/L either PictureProject or similar offering from Nikon. They have a new replacement program call ViewNX and Nikon Transfer, both of which should work with D70 images.

You can of course use other apps like Photoshop or Lightroom to D/L photos from the camera when tethered to the PC. You can also get a card reader and extract the CF card from the body and transfer the images that way.

Just make sure you do not erase the images or try to format the CF card with the computer. Always, always, always, delete images and format the memory card with the camera, and always after you have made a backup of the images once copied to the computer. I hav an external hard drive that immediately gets copies of my photos once copied to the computer from the camera. Once I have at least two copies of every image, I then reformat the memory card. I typically do not us the "delete" or "delete all" functions to clear the card, I rather reformat the card after every use.

Check the firmware when you get the body, then go on-line to Nikon and check to see if it is the latest. If not D/L and install the latest firmware,

Jeff

[cyclohexane]

The latest firmware for the D70 is version 2.0. It makes the menus much easier to read.

You don't need any of Nikon's software to get the images onto the computer. I would just get a card reader (~$20 or less) and ingest the photos using Lightroom. Even a slow card reader will be faster than plugging the camera into your computer.

[roncgizmo]

Thank you both..

If that's the case Michael I already have a card reader for my Multitrack Mixer.. Unless the software lets you see the photo on the PC as you take it, That might come in handy once in a blue moon but I don't think the 70 can do that.

Jeff, I'm don't know about the CD I didn't even think about it. I'm running Vista and had so many other software issues (thank you Bill Gates) that I didn't ask.. If I remember right I was told he has everything but the box.."BUT" I was looking at about 100 cameras over the past week and sent out at least 15 or 20 emails asking questions
so I don't want to put words in his mouth..I'll find out for sure around Thursday

[cyclohexane]

The CD that came with the D70 is pretty much useless. It has Picture Project, which stinks mightly, and that's about it. Picture Project was replaced by ViewNX, which is a free download online.

Unless the software lets you see the photo on the PC as you take it, That might come in handy once in a blue moon but I don't think the 70 can do that.

Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 will let you see the photo on the computer as you take it when you tether the camera to the computer with a USB cable, but you have to buy it.

[roncgizmo]

Thanks Again Michael, I'll look into Nikon Camera Control Pro 2 after posting my last post I thought about it and it might come in handy. I'm going to take some product photo and it's all jewelry.

[thebeing]

i have a d70.
what i used from nikon (i'm reffering to the software) is the capture nx. i use a card reader to copy the images to my pc with lightroom (i just love the way i can import them in folders).
As for the firmware....well, pay attention! there are 2 files which you'll need to upgrade. i can't tell you if there's a major difference between firmware 1.0 and 2.0, as i got my camera with firmware 2.0 installed (well, only one part was 2.0, but i installed the other one the same day i got the camera).

cheers!

edit: i've read that the firmware upgrade enables the camera to focus more precisely (or faster) on closer subjects. it doesn't only "upgrade" the look of the menus....or at least that's what they say.

[cyclohexane]

or at least that's what they say.

I didn't notice any difference in focusing ability with the firmware update.

[roncgizmo]

Oh, I got lucky BTW.. It had 2.0 on it already so it saved me the time of adding it.