Outstanding performance, ease of operation, versatile personal control and exciting in-camera effects make digital SLR photography more rewarding for all. The D80 features a new 10.2 effective megapixel DX Format CCD image sensor, bringing a new level of high resolution and sharp detail to the class while also providing plenty of freedom to crop creatively and print impressive enlargements. Nikon's DX Format sensor and Nikon F bayonet lens mount design assure unprecedented compatibility across the comprehensive assortment of AF Nikkor lenses and DX Nikkor lenses designed exclusively for Nikon digital SLR cameras. The Nikon D80 beautifully combines the best of latest advances in digital technology with ease of operation and quick and efficient camera handling. Add to this the advantages of Nikon's Total Imaging System and every aspiring photographer is certain to enjoy the Nikon digital SLR experience as much as the superb pictures produced with the D80.
Price Range: $640 - $800
Amazon Rating: 
(238 Reviews)
Epinions Rating: 
(53 Reviews)
One of the key advances developed for the D80 is its high-resolution image-processing engine, a dedicated new high-performance processing chip that greatly accelerates performance. ISO AUTO mode automatically adjusts sensitivity between ISO 100 to 1600, maximizing available light to help achieve optimal exposure 7 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 optimization options Near-instant response with 0.18 sec. power-up 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 Multiple Exposure modes Large 2.5-inch LCD monitor with ultra-wide 170-degree viewing angle for clear image preview and easy access to settings and information; Slideshow function (Standard or Pictmotion) SD memory card storage, SDHC compatible High-energy EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivers the power to shoot up to 2,700 pictures on a single charge Supports more than 43 AF NIKKOR lenses in addition to the growing family of DX NIKKOR lenses Built-in Flash with i-TTL flash control Includes Nikon's PictureProject software Unit Dimensions WHD - 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 inch; 1.3 lbs Supplied Accessories - EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, MH-18a Quick Charger, EG-D2 Audio Video Cable, UC-E4 USB Cable, Strap, Body cap, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, DK-21 Rubber Eyecup, BM-7 LCD monitor cover, Accessory shoe cover, PictureProject CD-ROM Body only - Requires optional lens for use.
MPN: 9405
Family Line: Nikon D
Weight: 1.31 lb.
Image Sensor Type: CCD
Resolution: 10.75 Megapixel
Camera Type: SLR/Professional
Interchangeable Lens: Interchangeable Lenses
Camera Resolution: 10.75 Megapixel
Shutter Speed: 30 - 1/4000 sec
White Balance: Auto, Manual, Colour Temperature Adjust
Frames Per Second: 3 Frames
Memory Type: SD Card
Compression Modes: Fine, Normal, Uncompressed, Basic
Compression Type: JPEG, Raw Image, EXIF 2.1, DCF, DPOF
File Size (High Res.): 17.2 MB (7 images on 128MB card)
File Size (Low Res.): 0.3 MB (about 427 images on 128MB card)
ISO Speeds: 100, 1600
Flash Type: Built-In&External
Flash Functions: Flash Off, Auto Flash, Rear Sync Flash, Fill-in Flash, Red-eye Reduction Flash, Slow Sync, Manual
Viewfinder: Optical
LCD Panel: With LCD Panel
LCD Panel Size: 2.5 in.
LCD Screen Resolution: 230,000 pixels
LCD Protected Position: Without LCD Protected Position
Interface Type: USB 2.0
Video Interface: Video Out
Battery Type: Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery
Self Timer: 2 Sec., 5 Sec., 10 Sec., 20 Sec.
Tripod Mount: With Tripod Mount
Width: 5.2 in.
Depth: 3 in.
Height: 4.1 in.
Weight: 1.31 lb.
Included Accessories: Software, USB Cable, Video Cable, Lithium Battery, Battery Charger, Lens Cap, Strap
Release Date: August, 2006
Product ID: 35770534
New D80
Author's Rating:
The Nikon D80 is an excellent camera, with more features than other SLR cameras in its price range. My only disappointment is that the D90 was announced one month after I purchased the D80. From what I can see, the D90 is a better camera for the same price.
Aug 30, 2008
Nikon D80
Author's Rating:
Excellent! Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm ED AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens
Aug 27, 2008
Finest Camera in the Competition!!!!!!!!
Author's Rating:
I'm going to make this clear right off the bat, i love this camera and the following review will tell you why.
I started off as a complete novice, as innocent as a baby when it comes to photography, I recieved a Sony Cybershot W55 for Christmas in 2007, which was similar to my mothers P150 Cybershot, which basically packed all the same features as the p150 except one critical feature that lead me to the D80, the Sony Cybershot lacked a manual mode, the W55 was completely automatic.
So I began to look into DSLR's as a suitable replacement for a completely automatic Sony Cybershot W55, which i could not take manual pictures, sports shots, or slow exposures with.
I considered the major players first, Canon, Sony and Nikon on my dad's recommendation. I found that Sony's SlR, the Alpha line, pretty much sucked in terms of their performance in low light, the only attraction was the live view, which basically defeats the purpose of an slr anyway.
So now the only two competitors were Canon and Nikon, and by this time, my budget jumped from the initial 400 to 750 dollars which was the starting price for slr's. I read some reviews for the Canon D-Rebel line of slrs, this is the thing about Canon THEY PUNCH OUT THE SAME STUFF W/DIFFERENT NAMES AND COLORS WITH ALL THE SAME FEATURES INCLUDED!!!!!!!!!!!!! the XT and XTi were no different to me and by the time i had purchased the D80, the Xsi had just come out.
I was turned off of the Canon line for two reasons, 1) were negative reviews about the crappy performance and durability of the Rebels, the former of which I noticed myself. Plus, the Rebel's felt cheap in my hands and too delacate; and 2) after doing a lot of spec grazing and review watching on CNET i turned finally to Nikon.
At that point, the competition was going to be between the D60 and the D80, both of which were in my budget.
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO:
D60's matrix metering was flawed, while the same system in the D80 worked like a charm, that was the main reason i wanted it, along with modest aperture settings, that stretch from 3.5-22 and 5.6-36 with the 18-55 VR Nikkor, (3.5-22 is at the minimum focal length of 18mm while 5.6-36 happens at the max focal length of 55mm) the final thing that sold me on it were the large number of great reviews from people who loved this camera coupled with some fantastic customer images submitted by people owning this camera.
While the d60 does have a higher ISO index, up to 3200, I find the Nikon D80's ISO 1600 to be pretty good unless the light around me requires it.
The PRO's of the D80
1. Excellent color reproduction in all three color modes, saturation and hue is very good.
2. Sharpness and contrast (buyers should change the default settings to the highest sharpness and normal contrast in CUSTOM mode to acheive the best pictures) are spot on.
3. Lightning fast: powers up in an instant with very quick shutter response, i don't miss a single shot with this camera.
4. Matrix (multi) metering system: very good unless the subject is sillhoetted by a bright sky in which case you should switch to center or spot weighted metering.
5. Intuitive: i barely read the manual for this thing, the buttons are easy to use and manipulate.
6. Speed: I don't usually use the built in flash because i normally shoot in M,A,S or P modes and i can adjust the ISO to the perfect setting.
7. 1/4000 of a second to 30 seconds is a modest gift, and allows me to almost never employ alternative means of lighting WHICH MEANS I SAVE MONEY TOO!!!!!!!!!!
Who should buy this camera?
-Anyone looking to upgrade from a point and shoot with a budget of $1000 or less.
-Anybody looking to grow as a photographer, by using this camera I HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!!!!! AND I'M STILL LEARNING.
-Anyone looking to buy something worth their money!!!!!!!!
NOTES:
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN WRITING NEGATIVE REVIEWS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURS WITH THIS CAMERA.
to those who wrote such reviews, listen to this:
take advantage of the manual, aperture, and shutter priority modes, often times i use those over P mode and always over all that other crap like "Landscape" and "Portrait" which don't do anything, if you want good looking pictures, take advantage of the manual opportunities presented with this camera, IF YOU ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT UNDEREXPOSED OR OVEREXPOSED PICTURES, YOU ARE PROBABLY USING THE AUTOMATIC MODES AND WOULD GET ALONG FINE WITH A POINT AND SHOOT
Aug 24, 2008
Finest Camera in the Competition!!!!!!!!
Author's Rating:
I'm going to make this clear right off the bat, i love this camera and the following review will tell you why.
I started off as a complete novice, as innocent as a baby when it comes to photography, I recieved a Sony Cybershot W55 for Christmas in 2007, which was similar to my mothers P150 Cybershot, which basically packed all the same features as the p150 except one critical feature that lead me to the D80, the Sony Cybershot lacked a manual mode, the W55 was completely automatic.
So I began to look into DSLR's as a suitable replacement for a completely automatic Sony Cybershot W55, which i could not take manual pictures, sports shots, or slow exposures with.
More …
All around great camera!
Author's Rating:
I am a student Photographer and I recently upgraded to the D80 from a D50 and have been very impressed. This camera was purchased refurbished from Adorama for $600 (Body) and paired with a Nikon 18-55dx lens.
Wonderful Updates
1) This camera can shoot in RAW + JPG Fine
2) This camera supports SDHC Cards
3) The Image quality is much better than the D50 or new D40
4) No lens limitations and works well with my sunpak flash.
5) On camera flash works great. A huge improvement over the D50.
6) Very good auto focus!
Nice Extras
1) Big screen and onboard editing capability
2) High ISO
Downsides
1) Cost (the D40x can be purchased refurbished for $400 with less features)
Overall I am pleased that I went with the D80 over the D40x and it is miles more advanced than the D50. The auto focus system in the D80 is great and with one wedding the camera will more than pay for itself.
Aug 22, 2008
All around great camera!
Author's Rating:
I am a student Photographer and I recently upgraded to the D80 from a D50 and have been very impressed. This camera was purchased refurbished from Adorama for $600 (Body) and paired with a Nikon 18-55dx lens.
Wonderful Updates
1) This camera can shoot in RAW + JPG Fine
2) This camera supports SDHC Cards
3) The Image quality is much better than the D50 or new D40
4) No lens limitations and works well with my sunpak flash.
5) On camera flash works great. A huge improvement over the D50.
6) Very good auto focus!
Nice Extras
1) Big screen and onboard editing capability
2) High ISO
Downsides
1) Cost (the D40x can be purchased refurbished for $400 with less features)
More …
Nikon D80 w/ 18-135 lens
Author's Rating:
My third Nikon digital SLR (D50 & D40x). I purchased the D80 as an upgrade when the prices fell. The camera performs great in most situations but there is a tendency for photos to be soft compared to the ones taken D40x. I also experience focus problems when there is a slight fall off in lighting. This is also something I didn't encounter with the other cameras. Overall I am pleased with the results.
Aug 21, 2008
Excellent camera
Author's Rating:
I am quite happy with this camera, but if you are looking to get your first professional camera go a step higher to the D200 AT LEAST. The function buttons on the D80 are extremely useful when you are trying to change settings on the fly. This is helpful if you are a photographer that shoots on different locations (outdoors, indoors, different lighting) during a single shoot. The camera is quite light and the battery consumptions is fantastic. The camera has quite a number of settings that allow you to choose the metering system (center weight with different diameters, matrix), focus area (if not in the center, thank God), sharpness, tonal differences, etc. It can be a point and shoot camera, but it would not be used to its full potential. Great starter camera for the future professional.
The D80 uses a SD memory card. I use a professional SD 4GB by Lexar and it renders me about 300+ RAW images. If that is not enough get the 8GB Professional SD also by Lexar.
Aug 12, 2008
Nikon Quality Rocks!
Author's Rating:
I purchased my D80 a few months ago and was initially pleased with the camera. After buying a Nikon 18-200 VR lens to use with it, I took it to Russia on a mission trip in late July. I shot 2,000 or so pics with it, and the quality is fantastic! Initially I was pleased with this camera, now I am thrilled with it.
A few days after getting the camera and changing lenses quite often, I noticed dust spots on my shots. Blowing the dust from the sensor was easy -- I just followed the instructions in the user's manual. I haven't had a dust problem again, and if I do I know how to fix it.
The camera interface is easy to follow. A person unfamiliar with DSLRs will find the point-and-shoot capacity of the camera comforting. When that same person however wants to venture into manual settings, there is a full range of options available.
If you want a streamlined DSLR only, the best value is the D40 or D60. If you want a full-featured DSLR, then the best value is the D80. The Nikon quality in this camera simply rocks!
Aug 07, 2008
Nikon Quality Rocks!
Author's Rating:
I purchased my D80 a few months ago and was initially pleased with the camera. After buying a Nikon 18-200 VR lens to use with it, I took it to Russia on a mission trip in late July. I shot 2,000 or so pics with it, and the quality is fantastic! Initially I was pleased with this camera, now I am thrilled with it.
A few days after getting the camera and changing lenses quite often, I noticed dust spots on my shots. Blowing the dust from the sensor was easy -- I just followed the instructions in the user's manual. I haven't had a dust problem again, and if I do I know how to fix it.
The camera interface is easy to follow. A person unfamiliar with DSLRs will find the point-and-shoot capacity of the camera comforting. When that same person however wants to venture into manual settings, there is a full range of options available.
If you want a streamlined DSLR only, the best value is the D40 or D60. If you want a full-featured DSLR, then the best value is the D80. The Nikon quality in this camera simply rocks!
More …
Nikon D80 Review
Author's Rating:
The Nikon D80 is an excellent mid range camera that works well with previously purchased lens for the Nikon system. The metering functions are great, and the processing power is awesome. This is a great travel camera with good weight and it feels good in the hand. I have no disappointments with the camera. The supplied software suite was easy to install and the interface with the camera worked well the first time I used it. I recommend this camera if one does not want to make the jump to the D300. Most individuals will be unable to detect the difference in 10 megapixels verses 12 megapixels. This camera should produce some great photo enlargements.
Jul 10, 2008
One of the best digital SLR deals on the market
Author's Rating:
The D80 is my first digital SLR, and my fourth Nikon camera. I've owned 35mm SLR cameras since 1975 or so. The D80 is already my favorite of them all. It packs a lot of features, Nikon reliability, and a good form factor into one well-priced package.
I had first intended to purchase the D60, but after doing a side-by-side feature comparison, I decided that the D80 provided more bang for the buck. One feature the D80 has that was critical to me is a depth of field preview -- an important feature for macro photography, and not one you will find on the D40 or D60 cameras.
People with small hands may find the D40/D60 easier to handle, but the D80 feels great in my average sized hands.
I purchased the 16-85mm and 70-300mm VR lenses at the same time and I am very happy with my choices.
Jun 24, 2008
Great camera, but overexposes a lot in automatic mode
Author's Rating:
Nikon D80 is my first Digital SLR(In fact, first serious camera I bought), my previous camera was canon SD1000 point and shoot. Overall I am pleased with the picture quality. But I don't like the fact that Nikon D80 overexposes photos a lot in automatic mode. Many of the photos I took in bright sunlight is washed out. After reading and experimenting a lot, I learned to take pictures in manual model, with different metering(SPOT and CENTER WEIGHTED) to avoid this issue. But after spending about 1299 $, I don't like the performance of the camera in automatic mode at all. I hope Nikon will release a firmware update to fix the metering. If you are a novice DSLR person like me, and is considering buying a system, I suggest you go with Canon EOS 40D, I haven't used it, but after researching a lot online, I haven't come across major issues with EOS 40D. Experts can correct me if I am wrong.
Jun 23, 2008
