Nikon D80 Nikon D80 Review, September 2006, Phil Askey

Review based on a production Nikon D80Two and a half years ago Nikon announced the six megapixel D70, their first affordable enthusiasts digital SLR, it proved to be a very popular camera and strong competitor to the Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel). Just fifteen months later Nikon revealed the D70s which was essentially the same camera with a some subtle tweaks (improved AF, wider flash coverage, higher capacity battery, larger LCD monitor). And so just over fifteen months on from the D70s Nikon present the latest incarnation of their enthusiasts digital SLR line, the ten megapixel D80. The D80 slots nicely between the entry-level D50 and the semi-professional / professionalD200, clearly based on the D70 design but also different enough to be seen as a completely new model. It features a ten megapixel DX format CCD (the same we presume as used by Sony in the DSLR-A100), the metering sensor from the D50 and numerous other items taken or modified from the D200. UPDATE 18/Dec/06: In our original review a mistake was made in the measurement of the ISO sensitivity of the Canon EOS 400D as used for comparison, this has now been corrected and the releveant pages of this review updated.Key features10.2 megapixel DX format CCD (1.5x FOV crop)Image processing engine (similar to D200 / D2X)3D Color Matrix Metering II, 420 pixel sensor (same as D50)11-area AF system (new version of Multi-CAM 1000, similar to D200)Custom Auto ISO (selectable maximum ISO, minimum shutter speed)Configurable high ISO and long exposure noise reductionMechanical only shutter (maximum 1/4000 sec, flash sync to 1/200 sec)Quoted 80 ms shutter lag (short viewfinder blackout; 160 ms)Larger, brighter pentaprism viewfinder (x0.94 magnification)Support for SD-HC (SD cards over 2 GB in capacity)In-camera retouchingD-Lighting (shadow / highlight enhancement)Red-eye reductionTrimmingMonochromeFilter effectsSmall pictureImage overlayMultiple-exposuresCompact body (smaller, lighter than D70/D70s)Improved menu user interface (same as D200)Higher capacity EN-EL3e battery (provides detailed information, same as D200)Wireless flash integration (same as D200)Compared to the Nikon D70s, major feature and specification differences

 Nikon D80Nikon D70sSensorImage sizesAutofocusLens servoMeteringMetering rangeSensitivityAuto ISOShutterShutter speedFlash syncBuilt-in flashContinuousWhite balanceImage presetsHigh ISO NRMultiple exposuresExposure delayViewfinderLCD monitorHistogramUSBStorageBatteryBattery statusVertical gripDimensionsWeightImage processing engineProgrammable FUNC buttonIn-camera retouchingTop panel controlsWorld time

• 10.2 million effective pixels• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX format)	• 6.1 million effective pixel• 23.7 x 15.6 mm CCD (DX format)
• 3872 x 2592 (10.0 MP) • 2896 x 1944• 1936 x 1296	• 3008 x 2000 (6.0 MP) • 2240 x 1488• 1504 x 1000
• 11 area TTL• Nikon Multi-CAM1000	• 5 area TTL• Nikon Multi-CAM900
• Single-servo AF (AF-S)• Continuous-servo AF (AF-C)• Automatic AF-S/AF-C (AF-A)• Manual focus (M)	• Single-servo AF (AF-S)• Continuous-servo AF (AF-C)• Manual focus (M)
• 420 pixel RGB sensor• 3D color matrix metering II	• 1005 pixel RGB sensor• 3D color matrix metering
• EV 0 to 20 (3D color matrix/ CW)• EV 2 to 20 (Spot)	• EV 0 to 20 (3D color matrix/ CW)• EV 3 to 20 (Spot)
	ISO 200 - 1600
• Selectable maximum ISO• Selectable minimum shutter speed	On/Off
Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter	Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter
• 30 to 1/4000 sec• Bulb	• 30 to 1/8000 sec• Bulb
1/200 sec	1/500 sec
Guide number 13 (ISO 100)	Guide number 11 (ISO 100)
• 3 fps• 23 / 6 frames (JPEG / RAW)	• 3 fps• 12 / 4 frames (JPEG / RAW)
• Auto• 6 presets• Kelvin color temperature• Manual preset (immediate or from photo)	• Auto• 6 presets• Manual preset (immediate)
Normal, Softer, Vivid, More Vivid, Portrait, B&W	Normal, Vivid, Sharper, Softer, Direct Print, Portrait, Landscape
• Normal• Low• High• Off	Fixed
Yes	No
Yes, optional, 0.4 sec (mirror lock-up)	No
• Eyepoint: 19.5 mm (at -1.0 m-1)• Frame coverage 95% (approx.)• Magnification approx. 0.94x• B-type Bright View Clear Matte II	• Eyepoint: 18.0 mm (at -1.0 m-1)• Frame coverage 95% (approx.)• Magnification approx. 0.75x• B-type Bright View Clear Matte II
• 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 pixel TFT• 170 degree viewing angle• Removable protective cover	• 2.0" TFT LCD • 130,000 pixel TFT
Luminance & RGB histogram	Luminance histogram
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (480 Mbps max.)	USB 2.0 Full-Speed (12 Mbps max.)
SD / SD-HC card	Compact Flash Type I or II
Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh)	Lithium-Ion EN-EL3a (7.4 V, 1400 mAh)
• Remaining charge (%)• No. of shots taken since last charge• Battery life (5 stage)	3 level on LCD panel
MB-D80 (optional)	None (third party only)
132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in)	140 x 111 x 78 mm (5.5 x 4.4 x 3.1 in)
• No battery: 585 g (1.3 lb)• With battery: 668 g (1.5 lb)	• No battery: 595 g (1.3 lb)• With battery: 679 g (1.5 lb)
• New for D80• Based on D200 / D2X• 12-bit algorithms, 2-channel	Unknown
Yes	No
	No
• Metering mode• Exposure compensation• Shooting mode• AF mode	• Metering mode• Exposure compensation
Yes	No

Two new AF-S lenses In addition to the D80 Nikon has also announced two new lenses, the big zoom AF-S DX 18-135 mm (7.5x) is set to become the Kit Lens (for another $300) of choice and features ED glass and a fast, quiet SWM (Silent Wave Motor), it should be available in September with the D80. The AF-S 70-300 mm VR (4.3x) offers long telephoto reach with optical Vibration Reduction and a SWM (Silent Wave Motor), it should retail for $699 and be available in October.

AF-S 70 - 300 mm F4.5 - F5.6G VR(105 - 450 mm equiv. FOV, 4.3x zoom)

Nikon D80 Foreword / notes

Nikon D80 More INFO

Nikon D80 specifications

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