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The Nikon D80 Digital SLR
camera is aimed at aspiring photographers
 The
typical Nikon D80 customer would be one who already owns a Nikon D50 or
D70 (or maybe even a low end Canon DSLR) and is starting to get serious
about his photography. He wants to buy into some expensive lenses (I
don't like the new term glass) but feels funny about putting thousands
of dollars worth of lenses on a "low end" camera. He also wants his
photographer friends to know that he is getting serious, so he has to
buy up to make the next step. The question is, should he spend roughly
a thousand dollars on a Nikon D80, or roughly one and a half thousand
dollars on a Nikon D200.
Since he is not totally committed yet, Nikon is betting that he will go
for the Nikon D80 next and use the roughly five hundred dollars he has
left over to buy another Nikkor lens or Nikon Speedlight flash
equipment. Nikon is probably right and in another year or so, when he
can no longer stand to look at the automated
Digital Vari-Program settings (Auto,
Portrait, Landscape, Close Up, Sports, Night Landscape and Night
Portrait), on his one thousand dollar (almost
professional level) camera, will be able to
sell him the Nikon D200.
I am actually surprised at how well Nikon is now playing the
psychological mindsets of photographers, as they graduate them from
complete novice level, to amateur, to enthusiast, to semi-pro and
knowledgeable enthusiast, and even to the high end enthusiast and
professional levels.
When you know nothing, anything will work. As you start to gain
knowledge you become embarrassed by your equipment and buy up. When you
start to know a lot more, you buy up again because you can now purchase
more intelligently. And when you know everything there is to know about
cameras, you realize that a lot of it is just smoke and mirrors, so you
are then able to use everything and anything to produce good images.
But sometimes you use only the most advanced and most expensive
equipment available because, 1. you have the equipment, so why not, 2.
you have an assistant to carry it for you, so why not, or 3. your
clients require you to use the highest end equipment (sadly this is
often the case for professionals), so you have to.
There are of course special circumstances that require special
equipment (high speed, high sensitivity, high resolution, etc.) but in
most instances a great image is the product of experience, preparation,
luck, the right lens (and correct lens settings), the right sensor
(which used to be the right film and filters), and the correct exposure
(for the image you are trying to create).
One thing that is indisputable though, is that a good photographer can
create a better image with a camera that he is comfortable with, than a
camera he does not like or trust. Aside from that it would probably be
hard to distinguish (quality wise) between a picture taken with any
current Nikon Digital SLR, when using the same lens (and lens
settings). The images would of course look slightly different (because
of the different sensors used) and have to be processed differently,
but within certain resolution limits, the images would be equally
useful in both a professional and/or aesthetic sense.
So what am I trying to say? Do I think the Nikon D80 is a good camera
to buy?
Yes I do, if you want both the high resolution (10.2 megapixels) and
the ease of use that the Nikon D80 offers.
If you are ready for a "more manual" (and slightly heavier) type of
camera and don't mind spending the extra bucks, I would recommend the
Nikon D200. Everyone will think you're a pro though, so forget about
sneaking those bikini pictures on the beach.
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 George
Mann
Digital Photo Workflow
dpmac.com
and George
Mann are producing a series of eBooks and online support websites on
digital photography workflow and digital SLR cameras.
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Main Features of the Nikon D80 Digital SLR
- 10.2 effective
megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor
- High-speed continuous
shooting: 3 frames per second
(fps) in bursts of up to 100 consecutive JPEG (FINE M-size or smaller)
or 6 RAW (NEF) images
- Advanced
high-precision, high-performance imaging processing engine with
color-independent pre-conditioning
- 3D-Color Matrix
Metering II with 420-pixel RGB
sensor delivers consistent and dependable automatic exposure for ideal
results in most lighting conditions
- Refined 11-area AF
system with new Auto-area AF
mode and center sensor that can be switched to wide-frame operation for
broader coverage
- ISO AUTO mode
automatically adjusts sensitivity
between ISO 100 to 1600, maximizing available light to help achieve
optimal exposure
- Seven automated
Digital Vari-Programs (Auto,
Portrait, Landscape, Close Up, Sports, Night Landscape and Night
Portrait) optimize white balance, sharpening, tone, color, saturation
and hue to match the scene.
- User-selectable
choice of Normal, Softer, Vivid, More vivid, Portrait, Custom and
Black-and-white image optimization options
- Near-instant response
with 0.18 sec. power-up and approx. 80-millisecond shutter release time
lag promotes fast handling
- Top shutter speed of
1/4,000 second and flash sync speeds up to 1/200 second
- Fast image transfer
via USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface and SD memory card
- Creative in-camera
effects and editing functions
consolidated under the new Retouch menu, including D-Lighting, Red-eye
correction, Trim, Image Overlay, Monochrome settings (Black-and-white,
Sepia, Cyanotype) and Filter Effects (Skylight, Warm filter, Color
balance)
- Multiple Exposure
shooting option automatically produces an effect that resembles
multiple exposure techniques used with film
- Large 2.5-inch LCD
monitor with ultra-wide
170-degree viewing angle for clear image preview and easy access to
settings and information, including RGB Histograms
- Selectable Slideshow
function (Standard or Pictmotion)
- SD memory card
storage, SDHC compatible
- Lightweight, compact
body
- High-energy EN-EL3e
rechargeable lithium-ion
battery delivers the power to shoot up to 2,700 pictures on a single
charge and provides detailed battery status information. (Battery life
figure determined by in-house test parameters)
- Built-in Flash with
i-TTL flash control and full support for Nikon's Creative Lighting
System
- The D80 supports more
than 43 AF Nikkor lenses in addition to the growing family of DX Nikkor
lenses
- Includes Nikon’s
PictureProject software for easy control over image adjustment and
management
- Support for Nikon's
new Capture NX software, which
provides easier access to powerful and visually intuitive enhancement
tools that help tap the full potential of NEF images
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| dpmac digital lifestyle store • digital cameras - computers - software - video games |
Specifications
of the Nikon D80 Digital SLR
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Effective pixels
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10.2 million |
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Image sensor
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RGB CCD, 23.6 x 15.8
mm, 10.75 million total pixels |
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Image size
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L (3,872 x 2,592) /
M (2,896 x 1,944) / S (1,936 x 1,296) |
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Sensitivity
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100 to 1600 (ISO
equivalent) in steps of 1/3 EV, plus HI-0.3, HI-0.7 and HI-1 |
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Storage media
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SD memory card, SDHC
compatible |
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LCD monitor
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2.5-in.,
230,000-dot, low-temp. polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment |
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Exposure
metering
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3D Color Matrix
Metering II, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering |
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Exposure modes
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Digital
Vari-Program (Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Macro Close up, Sports, Night
Landscape, Night Portrait), Programmed Auto [P] with flexible program;
Shutter-Priority Auto [S]; Aperture Priority Auto [A]; Manual [M] |
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Interface
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USB 2.0 (Hi-speed)
(mini-B connector); SD card slot |
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Power sources
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Rechargeable Li-ion
Battery EN-EL3e, MB-D80 battery pack (optional), AC Adapter EH-5
(optional) |
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Dimensions (W x
H x D)
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Approx. 132 x 103 x
77mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.) |
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Weight
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Approx. 585g (1lb
5oz) without battery, memory card, or body cap or monitor cover |
Specifications are subject to change
without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
August 2006
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