Nikon D80

Review Date
October 2, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Nandoacha , Intermediate

Price Paid
$1000.00 at Miami

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
I used the Nikon D80 for a couple of years. Mostly outdoor photographs, no studio photos. I think this is an incredible camera for someone new in photography because has enough features so you do not get overwhelm and gives you time to focus more in other areas, such as the understanding of composition and natural-light. Even the disadvanteges can be turn into advantages. I used to take soccer and surf photos and the speed of the D80 is rather slow (2.5) so that gives you the opportunity to train your eye, your timming, to read your environment properly. I used this camera for about 3 years and i learned a lot about photography with it, now i upgrade to a Nikon D300, another whole new world. In short, if you are new to phtography, you are looking for your first DSRL, go for it.

Strengths

Easy to use and understand.

Low weight.

Reliable.

Weaknesses

Plastic construction.

Lots of noise in 400 ISO.

Low speed.

Similar Products Used


Nikon D50

Review Date
September 6, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
al reyes , Professional

Price Paid
$1200.00 at B&H

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
The D80 from Nikon is a small marvel of computer science married to well engineered optics. Relatively easy to use, it has programmed modes for the uses that prefer that the camera adjust itself to suit their shooting needs, apart from the usual manual and semi-auto modes. The automatic focus, when used with both classic and modern Nikon lenses, works well and works quickly. it does help if the user practices using the half pressed shutter button to get the cam to pre focus.

I prefer to shoot with manual exposure and manual focus, but thats just me.

Apparently the camera does a multitude of things internally before it finishes shooting, including looking up focus and exposure tables and other things, and I am of very little patience, so I keep it in manual and bypass the six computers in it. I trained on a seagull 120 film TLR For years and can set the assorted dials by intuition, but for some people it might be a reasonable way to start.

the images from the D80 are very crisp. The color tones change according to the glass you use on it, Nikon glass is a bit warmer and softer than my Zeiss lens. the Zeiss has a touch more blue in it and saturates less, gives a clearer photo than the stock nikon.

Nikon will not support third party lenses. shame.

The D80 is a sturdy camera, designed for a clean intuitive usage.

Coming from the medium format world, the viewfinder for ALL DSLRS are abortions, every one - all are too small and they should be optically tiltable built on the camera on at least a two inch optical viewfinder [ no video plz!], that for the D80 no exception. I have yet to figure out how to clean that viewfinder, it traps everything in there.

Featurewise, its a deep deep machine. depending on your usage for the camera, its loaded.

it has outstanding command of both wired and wireless systems of flash, and with my sb600 and a circular diffuseer on that, it takes insanely gorgeous photos.

it comes really close to the 120film photos from my Kiev 88e medium format camera.

that's what it needs, a nice viewfinder like this or a Hassyblad has! that would be so nice.

other than that, its a wonderful camera and I would replace it with the same model if I lost it into a volcano or something like that.

it does have a steep learning curve to really do a great job, but I was able to use it ten minutes after opening the box. then I read the 300 page manual. and bought the training video sold on it. and read a book or two about how to use all those features.

its like the english language, just because the dictionary has 20 million words doesn't mean we use all of them each day, some people live off a vocabulary of ten. sure I can do things with just ten features on the D80, but learning the rest is fun and there's a LOT you can learn to do with this nice concoction of technology.

Strengths
1. solid body construction

2. can accept vintage and new lenses

3. can accept third party lenses; i.e., zeiss, tokina, etc.

4. easy to hold

5. good low light photography

6. great remote flash operation

7. well balanced

Weaknesses
1. viewfinder too small

2. not waterproof nor splashproof

3. needs automatic internal dust removal and cleaning.

Customer Service
great web site, has a traveling school that tours the country.

Review Date
May 31, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.50 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
Cross-Eyed Mary , Beginner

Price Paid
$0.00 at gifted

Photography Experience
0-1 years , Other

Summary
I'm a total newbie so bear with me.

I received this camera as a gift from my boyfriend.The first thing that comes to mind is that this camera is very light, feels good in my small hands.Easy to use, it takes great photographs.

As I am a beginner,I would say this is a great entry level digital camera.

Strengths
Automatic mode
Fast focusing
Light weight, feels good
Good photographs
Vivid colors reproduction
Viewfinder has that grid thingy, that helps me level my photos

Weaknesses
Must purchase more expensive lenses for different shooting styles.

Similar Products Used
None

Customer Service
not needed

Review Date
June 16, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 7 votes

Reviewed by
Sivakumar Rajamanickam , Intermediate

Price Paid
$737.00 at Edinburgh, U.K.

Photography Experience
11-20 years , Outdoor

Summary
Nikon D80 is one great piece of DSLR. It takes great pictures at all occasions. I have used this camera for more than a year now and its awesome product. Iam not boosting for Nikon, as i have used Canon, Konica Minolta and Olympus before going for Nikon D80 and i find the D80 has lots of user friendly menus and operations. Its Great Camera for its Price. I would strongly recomend this camera.

Strengths
Good shots and quick response time. Noise free till ISO 800 and after that its usable.
Exposure compensation faults were fixed from the old firmware 1.01 by the latest one 1.10.

Weaknesses
None, as far iam concerned. Iam too personal for Nikon Cameras, as i own D80, L3, L12.

Similar Products Used
Olympus E500, Konica Minolta Dimage Z3, Canon EOS 3000N

Customer Service
Good

Review Date
April 16, 2008

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.71 of 5, 7 votes

Reviewed by
photobyjewell@yahoo.com , Expert

Price Paid
$900.00 at Amazon

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
This Camera the Nikon D80 SLR is a amazing camera with great features heads down that you can't find else were great camera handle great and great picture quality

Strengths
Speed,Handle great, overall great camera If you want to see what the camera can do check out my website at http://visionsofmemories.ifp3.com to see what the camera can do and the great picture quality you can't beat

Weaknesses
Done

Similar Products Used
Nikon D40X Nikon D 40 nikon D 70 all great but the nikon D80 is a must have camera and for the price you can't beat

Customer Service
great