17 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
Nikon sells a D200 for $700 less!
Date of Review: Sep 5, 2006
The Bottom Line: For most folks (they might not want to admit it!), the D80 is more camera than they'll ever need and then some.
This is my UPDATED review of the D80. Sadly, some members gave me a "somewhat helpful" rating which made this review only "somewhat viewable." This happened even though I clearly said it was a bit of a teaser until I could give a more comprehensive review. It seems that some folks on Epinions are "somewhat intelligent." Okay....on to the review:
Once again it's not possible to review a Nikon camera without constant comparison to other models. Nikon's D80 was designed to be a first time DSLR to some extent, but at 999.00 it's too expensive for many compared to a D50 for almost half the price. Clearly the D80 is designed to be an upgrade path for users of older models. That's what I wanted the D200 to be...but I was never really in love with my Nikon D200. Somehow it just never had the punch per dollar of the beloved D70 or D70s. It was better, but just a lousy value for 1700 dollars. I just sold it for the D80 and here's why:
The new Nikon D80 is a 10 megapixel DSLR that essentially packs the same image quality of the D200. In fact I think the D80 is better at handling noise and suppressing banding artifacts at higher ISO's. This camera gives Canon a run for the money at high ISO's...a first for Nikon in such a capable package. It's probably likely that a D200 can match the D80 high ISO performance in post processing. But the D80 gives you the ability to get very smooth results right out of camera. Or go RAW and tweak your stuff the way you want.
The upshot of this is that the D80, smaller than the D70 and D200 may be the best upgrade from a P&S camera ever built. It allows a new user to get excellent results without the heavy post processing required for a D70, D200 or D2H. Frankly, I think those models should also have the simple shooting modes of the D80, but that's another debate.
Essentially, the D80 is two cameras in one. As a photographer seeking to grow into the hobby, the D80 won't frustrate with flat images when shooting JPEGS. On the other hand, the D80 is also a high end enthusiast's camera that offers tremendous flexibility when slipped into full manual mode and shooting RAW files. Frankly, it's just as capable as the D200 EXCEPT for the lower frame rate.
Many buyers will be looking at the D50, D70s, D80 and D200. All are fantastic cameras. But you can really only compare the D80 to the D200, which incorporate (at last!) a properly large optical viewfinder. This single improvement is the BIGGEST reason to upgrade to a D80 or D200 as it allows for proper composition in all light and good manual focus.
A D200 offers a smattering of nice little convenient features, but the main REAL WORLD DIFFERENCE is the faster frame rate. IF you shoot a lot of sports or fast action, this is a serious advantage and worth paying for. In every other way the D80 is just as good and it produces better images with less fuss in JPEG mode. Since I shoot JPEG for event shooting, the D80 gives me much faster workflow than the D200.
Battery life: Important for many shooters who cover weddings and party/events, the D80 is the all time battery champ. I'm getting well over 1200 shots from a single battery charge! That's 3 times better than my D200, which really crippled me at times due to the power it needed.
Handling: The D80 is a smallish DSLR. As an experienced photographer I know that a bigger camera can bring steadier handling and sharper images. Adding the optional battery grip on the D80 does the trick nicely and I have no problems using the camera with my large and expensive 70-200 VR-AF-S lens. Larger models balance a bit better. On the other hand I actually prefer the D80 handling with smaller lenses, which is what's on my camera 80% of the time. Bottom line: The D80 handles great, yet everyone's hands are different. Go try one.
High ISO: Shooting in low light, the D80 will show it's stuff with a tweaked sensor. It produces some of the best high ISO shots ever with smooth, yet detailed images. Here's proof!
ISO 100 Shot
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l6/CaptainSmith181962/Watch100.jpg
ISO 800 Shot
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l6/CaptainSmith181962/watch800.jpg
As you can see, the noise handling is very good and a good deal of sharpness is retained. Results remain impressive all the way to ISO 3200!!!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l6/CaptainSmith181962/ExtremeISOcrop1.jpg
Remember that all 3 shots are 100% crops! The actual normal size shots are all quite good. It's probably best not to crop heavily at the higher ISO settings.
Sharpness: Well, some "pro" reviews have called the D80 soft, but it seems that when I study shots online and compare mine to those from Canon I'm getting excellent sharpness. The D80 is SHARP, but you need good technique and great glass to see it. Less capable glass will show softer images. This is the downside of higher megapixel cameras as they show greater softness with mediocre glass. Here's a sample of the D80 sharpness using the Tamron 90mm Macro DI. It happens to be one of the sharpest lenses ever built.
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l6/CaptainSmith181962/eyeweb.jpg
and a 200% crop of the same image with NO post sharpening!
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l6/CaptainSmith181962/eyecrop.jpg
Sharp enough for you? Tests from DPreview, for example, are using a lens that lacks ultimate sharpness for the Nikon/Sony sensor.
The hot pixel debate:
Make no mistake. Nikon is shipping D80's that have pixel issues. I've seen 4 units and they all had hot pixels. My D80 has 3. They show up easily at ISO 400 and can be spotted on a print if the area is dark. For most shooters this is a laughable defect, too small to be a worry. It takes about 5 seconds to remove the offending dots from an image. But for 1000 dollars I'd rather have a camera with no hot pixels, so in a few weeks I'll send mine in so the bad pixels can be mapped out. I had the exact same problem and cure on the D200.
OLD TIMERS TAKE NOTE: The D80 will not meter with manual lenses. You'll need a D200 for that!
So....I've spent some time comparing the D80 to the older D70/D50 and the new D200 aimed at a more professional market. But who's the D80 suited for? Frankly I think this is now Nikon's go-to camera and the pound for pound chanp. It has a truly pro-level finder, high pixel count, near pro level AF and fantastic ergonomics. It even has a set of program modes to get you started until you're ready to switch over to full manual mode. Newbies will enjoy this camera's Jpeg quality straight out of the camera (a weakness for all but the D50). While many will seek a higher end model for professional use, this is every bit as capable for many applications and will certainly sneak into some pro kits.
Some folks are complaining about the use of SD cards on the D80 instead of the larger CF cards. Well...get over it. CF no longer makes sense when SD cards are smaller with the same memory. It's really no huge expense to buy new cards these days. Sure, SD cards are small, but if you can operate the tiny buttons on a D80, I think you'll be able to deal with a few SD cards.
Build of the D80 is plastic and is on the consumer end of the scale. It lacks the weather sealing of some higher end models. But let's be honest. Most folks are upgrading their DSLRs 3 times faster than they did with film bodies. The D80 build and sealing is plenty tough for 99% of us until we buy the D90 or D9000 or whatever comes next.
The D80 is a great camera for the enthusiast, a capable model for pro applications (hindered a bit for action by a slower frame rate of 3 FPS compared to a D200 at 5 FPS or a D2H at close to 8 FPS). I find the body a bit on the small side for my large hands, but a grip will help with that. For many of us, this is the best Nikon DSLR at any price and I absolutely prefer it to my now sold D200. Those considering a D50 or D70s should certainly try for this unit. Those looking at Canon...well, what can I say? Canon makes great gear as well, but I prefer the handling of the Nikon stuff and the amazing glass. But EVERY DSLR on the market takes great pics once you practice.
I plan to add to this review over the coming months with more in-depth comments about the D80 as I use it more.
See my other camera reviews, which also includes the amazing 18-200VR lens!
Capt. RB
