The dying Nikon D70s was returned to the dealer who agreed to a refund. Meanwhile, I researched the 6MP CCD Sony sensor which Nikon were using at that time (2004 - 08) and observed it was also fitted to the Nikon D40 of that period. And so I found a nearly-new D40 at a different dealer which is teamed up here with the Nikkor 18-70mm lens which was contemporaneous. I tried the D40 with a much more recent Tamron 35mm prime lens as well, but curiously it performed nowhere near as well as the venerable 18-70mm.
ISO 200; focal length 70mm (105mm FF field of view); 1/100th; f/4.5.