Instruction Manuals (English and French):
Quick Start Guide, Guide to Digital Photography
Software CDs: Picture Project 1.7, 1-2-3
of Digital Imaging 3.5
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 G IF-ED
Lens w/lens hood, lens cap, rear cap, and travelling
bag
I also received the SB-600 Speedlight
Having previously reviewed the Nikon
D200 and Nikon
D40, I thought there was nothing much to be
gained in reviewing the D80. Boy, was I wrong!
If I had to choose between the Nikon D200, D80
and D40, the Nikon D80 DSLR is my hands-down
favourite.
Each of the three Nikon digital cameras mentioned
above addresses a different audience: the D200
mainly targets the pro who wants a cheaper second
body as a backup camera; the D80 has absolutely
everything an enthusiast needs; the D40 is a "Family"
camera used mostly in point-and-shoot situations.
Not that a pro cannot use a D40 or an enthusiast
a D200, etc. It's also not just marketing: the
D200 is simply overkill for an enthusiast, the
D80 is way overkill for a P&S photographer,
and the D40 is lacking a couple of features important
to the enthusiast.
I like the D80. Very much. As soon as I pick
up the D80, I know I am going to enjoy using this
digtial SLR. All fingers curl comfortably around
the deep handgrip; no pinkie hanging below the
handgrip as in many of the more compact DSLRs.
The optical viewfinder is very large, very bright
and a pleasure to use. The camera's response is
instant with no practical shutter lag.
You can display a Framing Grid in the viewfinder
and, when I reviewed the D200, I found it difficult
to see the fine lines clearly and did not quite
like the red colour (I always associate red with
alarm). This time around, I actually like the
fine lines of the D80's viewfinder and do not
mind the red colours one bit. Are the lines subtly
different? I'm not sure. Or maybe I am just getting
more used to the Nikon way of doing things?
There seems to be just the right amount of control
buttons on the D80. Unlike the "mushy feeling"
of the controls on the D200, the controls on the
D80 have a better tactile feel. And because there
is free space for your thumb and index finger
to rest on, I do not find it as easy to inadvertently
rotate the Main command dial and the Sub-command
dial.
As in the D200, the self-timer can be set to
release after 2, 5, 10 (default) or 20 sec. and
you choose the delay via a Custom Setting in the
Menu. Unfortunately only the one selected setting
is then available when you switch to self-timer
mode. It would have been nice to be able to use
the Main command dial to simply dial in a desired
delay time.
PictureProject 1.7
The supplied software, PictureProject 1.7, is
relatively easy to use and provides basic editing
functions. It can convert a RAW picture into JPEG
but unfortunately you cannot tweak any conversion
parameters. For that, you'll need to purchase
the optional Nikon Capture 4.4.
The Nikon D80 DSLR has lots of exposure
flexibility and gives excellent image quality
to ISO 800. An advanced and knowledgeable photographer
will be able to use RAW file format and noise
reduction software to tweak out the best of higher
ISO images. The Nikon D80 is a dream come true
for the enthusiast: excellent image quality with
low noise at high ISOs, instant response, and
excellent handling -- at an affordable price.
