Nikon D50 vs Nikon D70S

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D50 compared with D70S

	NikonD50	NikonD70S
Overview
Released
Released	2005	April 2005
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CCD	CCD
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.7 × 15.6 mm	23.7 × 15.6 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	6.1 MP	6.1 MP
Largest image
Largest image	3008 × 2000	3008 × 2000
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	200–1600	200–1600
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	Nikon DX CCD with 6.1 million effective and 6.24 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; Image Dust Off reference data for optional Nikon Capture correction	6.24 million total pixels; Nikon DX-format primary-colour CCD
Image formats
Image formats	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus Basic JPEG; maximum 3008 × 2000 pixels; Image Optimisation settings	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus Basic JPEG; no in-camera TIFF recording
ISO detail
ISO detail	ISO 200–1600 in whole stops	ISO 200–1600 in one-third-stop increments; Auto ISO
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	2.5 fps	3 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Body autofocus motor supports compatible AF NIKKOR lenses, including type G and D; AF-S lenses also supported. Other AF NIKKOR lenses lose 3D matrix metering; non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported; E-type lenses incompatible according to current Nikon USA specification	AF coupling drives compatible screw-drive AF lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses work in manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Autofocus	Multi-CAM 900 phase-detection module; five selectable focus areas; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A and manual focus, single-area, dynamic-area and closest-subject-priority modes; AF-assist illuminator. Current US page lists Face-Priority AF, absent from the original manual specification; no face-detection capability inferred	Multi-CAM 900 phase detection with five focus areas; single-area, dynamic-area and closest-subject-priority modes; AF assist lamp
Shutter
Shutter	Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in half or one-third stops, Bulb and remote long exposures; flash synchronisation up to 1/500 second	Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter; 1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync up to 1/500 second
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 2.5 fps; US launch specifies up to 137 Normal Large JPEG frames on SanDisk UltraII 256 MB SD card. Original manual buffer table separately lists four RAW or nine Fine Large JPEG frames with long-exposure noise reduction off; card-dependent sustained shooting differs from buffer capacity	Approximately 3 fps; four RAW frames. Nikon claims up to 144 Large Normal JPEGs using specified fast CompactFlash cards; buffer capacity depends on image settings and card
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation. Pictured original AF-S DX 18–55 mm ED kit lens has no VR	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
Flash	Built-in pop-up i-TTL flash; original manual guide number approximately 15 m at ISO 200 (17 manual) or 11 m at ISO 100 (12 manual); accessory shoe	Pop-up i-TTL flash covering an 18mm lens; guide number approximately 11 at ISO 100 in metres, 12 at full manual output; commander support and hot shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M, Auto and six scene modes; 420-segment RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation in half or one-third stops; exposure/flash and white-balance bracketing	P/S/A/M and seven automatic scene programmes; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering; ±5 EV compensation
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	2″	2″
Screen dots
Screen dots	130,000	130,000
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	–
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	No	No
Display detail
Display detail	Fixed 2-inch low-temperature-polysilicon TFT with 130000 dots; top status LCD; contextual help and playback magnification; dots count subpixels	Fixed 2-inch TFT with approximately 130000 dots; removable monitor cover
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage and 0.75× magnification; original manual specifies 18 mm eyepoint, conflicting with 8 mm on current US page	Pentamirror, approximately 95% coverage and 0.75× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 18 mm eyepoint; selectable grid
Connections and design
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	–	No
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	400 photographs	500 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	540 g (better)	600 g
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon USA original announcement dated 20 April 2005 states June US availability as a prospective schedule; actual first-sale month is unconfirmed, so year precision is retained	Nikon Japan records 27 April 2005 retail availability; Nikon's original US announcement specifies early May. Main uses the earlier documented Japanese date. The announcement explicitly calls D70 its predecessor
Recording media
Recording media	One Secure Digital card slot; no SDHC compatibility inferred	One CompactFlash Type I/II slot; Microdrive supported
Ports
Ports	USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, NTSC/PAL video output and DC input; optional ML-L3 infrared remote	USB 2.0 Full Speed; NTSC/PAL analogue video output; dedicated MC-DC1 cable-release port. No HDMI
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	–	Optional ML-L3 infrared shutter remote; no built-in Wi-Fi
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL3 lithium-ion battery; main 400 shots is original manual single-frame test with 18–55 mm ED lens, Normal Large JPEG and flash every other exposure, not labelled CIPA. Separate 2000-shot continuous test uses Basic Medium JPEG and limited monitor use; the launch announcement promotes that continuous figure	Supplied EN-EL3a. Manual claims approximately 500 shots in Nikon's single-frame test with AF-S DX 18–70mm f/3.5–4.5G IF-ED and full flash on alternate exposures; this is not labelled CIPA. Separate continuous test claims approximately 2500 shots. EN-EL3 or three CR2 cells with optional MS-D70 holder also supported
Charging
Charging	External MH-18a quick charger; optional EH-5 mains adapter	MH-18a external charger; optional EH-5 AC adapter
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 133 × 102 × 76 mm	Approximately 140 × 111 × 78 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 540 g excluding battery, memory card and body cap	Approximately 600 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor cover
Colours
Colours	Black or silver	–
Video
Video detail
Video detail	No movie recording or live-view composition; NTSC/PAL output is for playback, despite the current US page labelling it Movie File Format	No movie recording or live view