| Product: |
Nikon D80 |
| Date: |
30/06/08 (82 review reads) |
| Rating: |
 |
Advantages: small, light, inexpensive, very good image quality
Disadvantages: Can't use lens aperture ring
I have updated this review, now there are a couple of new cameras in the Nikon line-up. The D90 is the replacement for the D80, but the D80 is still available and at a reduced price, it is still a great camera and better value than ever. The D700 has also bee added between the D300 and the D3.
I have been using Nikons for many years and the D80 camera is quite light and compact compared to some earlier Nikon film cameras although not as small as the less expensive D40, D50 and D60 models. It fits nicely in the hand despite being small (I actually prefer cameras to be bigger than this, but I am probably quite old fashioned and in a minority) and all of the important functions are easily accessible even while looking through the view-finder. In fact the main functions are in exactly the same place they have always been on F series film cameras for the last few decades. The D80 is very well made when you consider the price and the lens-mount feels solid and robust when changing lenses. It also seems to be nicely sealed from the elements with rubber seals covering the important connectors etc.
My only complaint is that is doesn't allow me to use the aperture ring on my old lenses. It's not a big problem as the aperture is now set using a very useful finger-wheel which seems to have become the new standard for all SLRs. The old lenses work very well with the D80 body. I just need to remember to lock the aperture ring to minimum aperture setting. Also of course the sensor is smaller than a 35mm slide, so wide angle lenses are a bit less wide-angle than they would have been on a film camera and telephoto lenses a bit more telephoto, but that too appears to be the new standard except for very expensive professional cameras such as the Nikon D3 and now the new D700 "prosumer" model, which both have a full-frame sensor.
As for the photographic results, I certainly can't complain. The metering and focusing are excellent and colours appear very vibrant and images very sharp.
Overall this is a very good mid-priced DSLR sitting between the inexpensive new D60 and the more expensive "prosumer" D300, in terms of price, functionality and robustness. It is a widely available product and very popular. The built-in auto-focus motor allows it to be used with a very wide variety of lenses from Nikor/Nikon and several other manufacturers (The D40, D50 and D60 do not have an auto-focus motor and can only be used with the latest lenses with internal motors)
Summary: Good inexpensive alternative to the Nikon D300
| Processing/Quality: |
|
 |
| Reliability: |
|
|
| Ease of use: |
|
|
| Features: |
|
 |
| Picture quality: |
|
|
|
|
