PBase

The D70 will have a polycarb body - and it's not an el cheapo plastic. Spot-welded polycarb attached to a metal frame....the technology pioneered with the 300D and D70 will ultimately arrive on all cameras, probably even the top pro cameras (though that's a good ways off yet).

While I like my d300 and do not regret trading over from Nikon to Canon for the move to digital ,the fussier nature of the technology and the number of holes in the camera body as compared to film bodies would make me dubious of using it on long hikes or rough backback travel. In dusty windy environments I think i would prefer something without a CMOS or the closed body style that non SLR types use.