Product reviewsNikon 254122176 D80 Digital SLR Body Only Camera - Black

Great DSLR for the price

The Nikon D80 was first announc by Nikon back in 2006 as one of more advanced Dxx series camera. The only more advanced of the Dxx series is the D90 with video and few more features.

I've seen the Nikon D80 described (comparatively to other DSLRs) as a good entry level DSLR with many Semi-Pro features borrowed from the D200 and D300.

The last SLR camera I owned was a Nikon F2 from back in the 1970s. So I can't really compare the D80 to any other DSLR as this is my first. Personally for my self it's a great DSLR camera. The perfect choice for someone who hasn't been into DSLR photography and also for those who have, as it's a sophisticated DSLR that performs and takes great digital photographs.

10.2 megapixel Nikon DX format CCD imaging sensor: Effectively optimized by Nikon to deliver a wide, dynamic range, producing outstanding images with high resolution and vivid detail yielding 3,872 x 2,592-pixel files.

Instant 0.18 sec. start-up with fast 80ms shutter response: With a power-up time of a mere 0.18 seconds and a shutter release time lag of only 80ms, responsiveness is extraordinary.

Up to 2,700 images per battery charge:

In-camera image editing with retouching menu:

2.5" LCD color monitor with 170-degree, wide-angle viewing: Playback images can be viewed easily from all angles with extraordinary color and clarity.

Seven digital vari-programs plus programmed auto with flexible program, shutter-priority auto and manual: Digital vari-programs include: auto portrait, landscape, macro, close-up, sports, night landscape and night portrait, each of which adjust for optimal results under varied conditions—automatically.

Large, bright 0.94x viewfinder: Optical glass viewfinder features large (0.94x) magnification making composing frames easier while overall viewfinder brightness makes low-light photography possible.

New high-resolution Nikon image-processing engine: New 12-bit image processing engine combines color independent analog pre-conditioning with improved image processing algorithms.

Continuous shooting at up to 3 frames per second and up to 100 consecutive JPEG images: Fast framing rates contribute to the ability to capture moments in time instantly. Sophisticated

Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II plus variable center-weighted and spot metering: Substantially more sophisticated than traditional multi-pattern metering systems, Nikon's 3D Color Matrix Metering II instantly and accurately evaluates brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area and subject-to-camera distance information, referencing the results against an onboard database of 30,000 scenes from actual photography. Vary the size of the center-weighted area reading and the spot meter readings correspond to 11 focusing points.

Built-in Speedlight with Nikon i-TTL flash metering and two-group wireless commander: Nikon’s acclaimed i-TTL flash control evaluates flash exposure with greater precision to achieve better automatic flash balance and deliver outstanding results with SB-600, SB-800 or SB-R200 Speedlights.

11-area AF system with wide-area center segment and auto-area AF functions: Nikon’s multi-CAM 1000 provides maximum flexibility and optimum performance under varied shooting situations. 11-area auto focus system features a cross-type sensor in the center, broad frame coverage, as well as class-leading low light detection and convenient AF-assist illuminator to aid in low-light conditions. New wide-area AF option gives greater compositional freedom when shooting sports and action.

Image optimization mode: Optimize color, contrast, sharpening as well as other image settings according to the type of scene or output desired. Options include: normal, softer, vivid, more vivid, portrait, custom, black and white.

Built-in slideshow function with Pictmotion: Select a range of images, pick a style and add music for beautiful picture presentations delivered directly from the D80 and viewable on either on the camera’s 2.5" LCD display or direct to your television. Effects include: slide-in, slide-out, fade-in, and fade-out.

2006/2007 - Price: ESP $899.95* D80 Digital SLR Camera Outfit with AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF Lens Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: shaffy40

Great camera if you can find one without the ERR problem.

This is a fine camera. Too bad that most of them are cursed with the deadly ERR problem. If you can find one without the ERR problem, you will be able to get an advance camera at a bargain price. Most people will avoid this camera due to the ERR problem which keeps the price low. However, if you can find one without the ERR problem, it will last almost forever.Read full review...

Very good for what it is.

The D80 isn't as rugged as one of Nikon's bigger/badder models such as the D200 or D300 line. But it's certainly a capable camera in the upper consumer range.

Even though it has a modest 10.2 MP sensor, it still produces high-quality prints up to 11x14 or 16x20 with no problem whatsoever.

For amateurs, it offers a good jpeg machine, while advanced hobbyists or pros can use the RAW images for even better results. And the camera, being a Nikon, gets to use some of the world's best lenses and accessories.

All in all, it's a great camera for relatively little money.

On the down side, it has a bunch of settings that frankly don't do much for anybody who's serious about taking good photos. They're holdovers from the point-and-shoot cameras, and some amateurs may love them. But hobbyists or even pros using this as a second body will soon realize those modes are junk and to be avoided.

The menu system has the requisite Nikon quirks, and putting the WB, quality and ISO buttons in line with the menu makes little to no sense. But that's just another Nikon quirk.

Once you get used to it, you can do some great things using the manual settings, or let the "brain" do tricks for you such as backlight flash fill for portraits. It's hard to fool the camera.

Dynamic range is good for this level of camera, far better than point-and-shoot cams. But it falls significantly short of the Fuji line or some of the newer Nikons.

Noise level is OK, and high-ISO performance is reasonable.

All in all, it's a capable little camera that will get somebody introduced to top-level digital photography for a very reasonable price.Read full review...

Great intermediate-level camera

This is a really great piece of equipment for someone with photography experience, but who's more on the amateur side of the fence. It is very easy to use and has an intuitive feel to it (although doing some research and reading up on how to use it can be helpful, too!).

There are a few things to note, however: One (and this is a big one) is that the D80 has a tendency to produce a reddish tint in a lot of its shots, especially those captured in low light. The tint can be corrected by applying a green filter in a photo editing program, but it's unlikely that you'll be getting any pure whites against a black background by doing this (at least that I've found). Another thing to note is that, although this is a DIGITAL SLR, not all lenses allow the camera to function at its maximum ability. I've used a Nikkor 60mm 2.8D, a Sigma 18-200mm, and a Sigma 28mm 1.8D, and I can't use any of these lenses to their maximum ability (i.e., the camera locks occasionally locks onto one aperture setting for that lens, especially with the wide-angle Sigma).

But all in all this camera does what I need it to. If you can, I'd probably go with the D90 or D100 instead, but for the price, D80s are worth it.Read full review...

The Nikon D80 offers great features and image quality

Overall this camera is one of the best dslr's available. I has a large expanse of features that will allow for easy shooting but also many hours of exploring captivating features(no pun intended). As far as price to its feature set, I feel that it is lacking in respect to the Canon 20 and 30D. Its three frames per second do not shine very brightly next to Canon's five fps. But on a bright side you can purchase a much broader spectrum of lenses if you enjoy using older manual focus lenses because of the fact that the D80 employes the F mount that has been used since the middle of the century.
This is a camera that should definitely be compared alongside the others that are in its $700 price range.
Happy shopping, take your pick: Nikon or Canon for best in class image quality! Also consider Olympus and Sony if you are looking for much cheaper image stabilization and lots of useful features with only a small sacrifice in image qualityRead full review...

the D80, one of Nikon's best ideas

Great camera, it has toggle wheels for both aperture and shutter speed controls, a huge bonus. Most of the consumer level cameras make it difficult to shoot in anything other than auto mode. This camera has an internal focusing motor also so it is compatible with more of the old film lenses than the 3000 and 5000 series NikonsRead full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: akira-style2017

An Excellent DSLR for the Masses

In short: The Nikon D80 is an excellent high-end consumer-grade digital SLR that should satisfy the needs of most amateur and aspiring professions. I'll focus my review on my likes and dislikes of this particular body, and will leave out the endless comparisons to other cameras on the market.

Like most Nikon products, the D80 feels excellent in hand, with controls that fall naturally at my fingertips. This is important to me, since I find the camera that's most comfortable gets used most often. In true Nikon fashion, the build quality is excellent, and I haven't found the plastic construction of this camera to be a problem. I'm especially sensitive to this, having shot with many classic metal-bodied film Nikons in the past.

What I found most remarkable about this camera is the long battery life. If you don't use the on-camera flash much, you can easily get 600 to 700 shots on a single charge. There's a two-battery adapter, but I find the duty cycle of the single battery more than adequate for my needs.

The use of SD flash memory may offend some geeks and purists, but it's both convenient and extremely inexpensive, as SD has become a pervasive standard.

The picture-taking abilities of this camera are predictable and linear. I have found the tone and color to be very "flat" - and that's a compliment. The 10.2 megapixel sensor isn't the fastest on the market, but it does the job. Keep an eye out for dust on the sensor, though.

Nikon's software is intuitive, and the menu-driven screens only take a few minutes to learn. Most people will only shoot with this camera in the green "AUTO" mode, and that's a shame - the various programs that this camera comes with work fairly well. There are also the usual program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual modes that will keep the purists and tinkerers happy.

All in all, I am not disappointed in this purchase at all. The only things that keep it from getting the coveted "EXCELLENT" rating is the inability to permanently suppress the flash in "AUTO" mode, and the lack of a PC connector for an external flash. These are nit-picks, though, and will not significantly detract from an otherwise excellent camera experience that the Nikon D80 provides.Read full review...

Good value for older camera

Nikon D80 and D200 were the last CCD sensor semi-pro bodies available. Easy to use as a newer DSLR but images have a special look from the CCD. The D80 is also light, quiet and fast focusing. If you find one for a good price, it’s never out of date. Just get one.Read full review...

Great camera. Great Features.

This camera is a great camera, though increasingly harder to find. I was told at a camera shop that they had to send all of their stock of the d80 back to Nikon because Nikon was longer selling them. The salesman theorized this was due to the d90's much higher price without a vast difference between the two. Honestly I do not know for sure but at this point that seems reasonable. In comparison to other brands it performs at or exceeds over the Sony or the Canon. Many features seem to be quite standard with the ability to take Black and White photos, the camera adjusts the pictures automatically based on the cameras orientation when the photo was shot, very high resolution capabilities, the ability to quickly change color values on screen, and many other features used most often that are accessible through the menu(the long way) or with quick buttons. With the right SD card(Extreme 3) this camera can fire off perhaps two shots every second without the flash, but with flash it will take a couple seconds in between.

The only qualm is that the auto focus does not always work with the included lens. This is a fairly common problem but if someone is just getting into photography I think it is good for you to have to go the manual route. However, if sometime in the future you buy another lens I have heard they will work, it has something to do with the contacts with the included lens.

All in all if you're considering a camera in this price range I have found that in my research the d80 is a great buy and now is the time to get one. They originally sold for around 679.00 I believe. I recommend that you do your research and do no just take my word or someone else s on this camera or any other. But if you have researched you know that there are differences and what really makes someone buy a professional camera is what brand it is and the model is what features they have. The Nikon d80 is a great camera and has many features and is very intuitive. By no means are you required to read through the manual to figure out how to use the camera effectively, though it would help you use it more efficiently. Beginners and veterans of photography who use SLR can all agree that this a good camera despite their brand biases.Read full review...

Camera is so underrated

I have been using a D80 since 2009 when my D3 broke shooting professional baseball and I needed something quick with only mall stores to shop in. The quality was amazing. I now have 5 of them and won't upgrade. This camera is a workhorse to say the least. They say it is rated for 50,000 actuation's, that is crap. All 4 of mine are over 150,000 actuation's with one almost at 300,000 None of them having been serviced yet! Too many shots to be believed. Imaging shooting 200 baseball games a year, 100 Pro Hockey games, and 16+ New york Giant games taking over 1000 photos at ea since 2009. And then there are the modeling shots that I do with 800 shots per model on average in a 5 hour shoot and 7-9 models a week during the summer months This camera has the best ccd Nikon ever made which the entire industry will agree with. People are amazed at the colors I capture before any photoshopping gets done which, I rarely have to use with this camera. I wish they would take this and convert to a higher megapixel because this is the camera to buy as it out performs cameras much newer that it is!Read full review...

Verified purchase: No

D80

This is my second D80. My first was unfortunately dropped after many years of use. I loved the camera. I had all the lenses so I looked on eBay for a replacement. This replacement provides the greatest image like the first one I had. Is easy to use. I am so grateful I was able to find one with a low shutter count. Excellent camera! Highly recommend it!Read full review...