Nikon D80 review

At the moment Nikon D80 is an outdated camera, but many amateur and professional photographers continue to use it. The camera was released in the fall of 2006, but is still popular, this is due to the huge set of useful functions and its trouble-free operation. The camera usually comes with one of 3 lenses

  1. Nikkor AF-S DX 18-135 / 3.5-5.6 G IF-EDthat was announced with the camera
  2. Nikkor 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX, one of the best station wagons
  3. Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 F3.5-5.6G, a pretty whale lens.
Nikon D80 body

Nikon D80 body

Advantages of the device to which you should pay attention:

  1. An excellent viewfinder, more than its predecessors, but still does not provide 100% coverage.
  2. Optional liquid crystal display. This is not a relic of the past, but a convenient thing that allows you to quickly configure the necessary little things and save battery in contrast to the large main display. Also, there is a backlight mode, which is very easily turned on by the on / off button of the camera.
  3. Focusing drive. He is "engine"In common people or" screwdriver "- will work with all lenses from Nikon that have autofocus. This will significantly expand the range of possible optics and save some money. The motor turns focus pretty quickly on my Nikkor 50mm F1.8 D.
  4. Matrix in 10MP, type of CCD sensor, working with different cameras, I can say that CCD has sometimes more pleasant colors than CMOS. Also about 10MP - today it is not much and not a little. Don't chase megapixels at all, even professional full-frame cameras Nikon D3, Nikon D700, Nikon D3s have 12MP. I advise my article Battle of Megapixels.
  5. Many focus points (areas) (total 11 zones), as much as in the newer Nikon D90 or old semi-professional Nikon D200This is a really useful feature when taking pictures. After 3 focus points on Nikon D40, 11 points on the D80 are just a huge amount.
  6. The custom menu, it would seem a trifle, but you can customize the menu for yourself. I usually put out there ISO control functions, the built-in flash mode, battery power and shooting modes (portrait, standard).
  7. Great battery, same as in nikon d200, d300(s) D90, D700 making it easy to change batteries between cameras. On average, the battery can withstand 1000 to 1500 frames, depending on the lens and shooting method.
  8. FP Flash Sync Modeallowing you to shoot with an external flash with shutter speed up to 1/4000. An indispensable function, how to use, read in my article "how to take pictures with flash during the day»
  9. External flash control mode. An indispensable feature - allows you to remotely control external flash units at a distance in i-TTL mode. SB-600, SB-700, SB-800, SB-900 и SB-910 Ideal for such control. It is enough to switch the built-in flash to the control mode (C - Comand Mode) and set the synchronization settings.
  10. A programmable button on which you can hang a number of functions, I personally set it to focus modes - by point, auto, dynamic zone.
  11. A separate button for bracketing will always allow you to simplify the setup and selection of the frame with a successful exposure. By the way, there is an opportunity bracketing by BB and by flash.

Disadvantages:

  1. Joystick (multi selector) without central button - quite unusual for our time. This slightly reduces the ergonomics of the camera. Even on small Nikon D40 the joystick has a central OK button. In the D80, the "OK" button is taken out separately and to press it, you need to move your fingers from one place to another.
  2. Metering does not work exposure with manual lenses, a rather inconvenient thing if you, for example, use Soviet optics. And any manual optics from Nikon will work only in manual mode - this means that the camera cannot measure exposure with lenses that do not have a chip.
  3. The camera does not show as fast a reaction as we would like it to be (although this does not apply to the shooting process itself). There is no info button. The overall reaction speed (menu, switching modes) as in Nikon D40. But then, navigation on the secondary display is just great.
  4. Not necessary and not programmable button for viewing depth of field. On the cropped matrix, it does not really allow you to peer into the DOF (DOF). It would be better if the company spent on such a pleasant trifle as vibrational cleaning of the matrix or increased the shutter speed to 1/8000.
  5. On my copy, after 20.000 frames, the gum on the rear panel began to peel off - most Nikon's problem. It is solved by repeated gluing, and sometimes by complete removal from the camera. After 128.000 frames on the camera, the frame counter turns off and starts counting in the opposite direction. But the mileage of over 100.000 on my copy only says that the camera is really very high quality.

At the moment this is Nikon's cheapest and most practical DSLR APS-C camera, which will allow you to get almost all the necessary functions of a professional camera. At the moment, there are practically no new cameras on sale, but in the secondary market you can find a huge offer of Nikon D80. If the functionality is very important at work for minimal funds, then the Nikon D80 is the best option.

Nikon D80 rear view

Nikon D80 rear view

A brief comparison with a relative Nikon D90:

Nikon D80 has a basic ISO of 100, against Nikon D90 with his lo1. I Nikon D90 the maximum ISO is raised by one step, which is 6400. The Nikon D80 has a 2,5 inch screen with 230 thousand pixels, versus 3 inch with 920.000 pixels D90. And of course, D90 there is a Live View mode and video shooting. Nikon D90 also wins in terms of speed - 4.5 fps versus 3 fps. Otherwise, the cameras are very similar. I do not recommend upgrading from Nikon D80 to Nikon D90, D300, D300s without emergency. If you go already, then on Nikon D7000 or full frame Nikon D700 and others like that.

Here link to the archive with the originals - 586 MB, 73 photos in .NEF format (RAW) from the Nikon D80 camera.

Brief comparison with ancestor Nikon D200:

Nikon D80 same matrix as semi-professional camera Nikon D200. The only difference is the matrix kit, Nikon D200 it is double, which allows you to do 5 frames per second, while the Nikon D80 is single, which allows you to do only 3 frames per second. In general, they say that the matrices are different. The picture quality is very, very similar, I used a long time Nikon D200 and D80. Also, Nikon D200 has dust and moisture protection, it has more functionality, can work with manual lenses of the type AI-S, the shutter speed is half as fast as the Nikon D80 - 1/8000c versus 1/4000c. Also, the Nikon D200 has a 1,005 sensor, versus 420 for the Nikon D80. Nikon D80 uses SD cards, against big ones CF from Nikon D200. Well, the ergonomics are different. With Nikon D80 you will get the same picture as Nikon D200. When choosing between Nikon D80 and Nikon D200, the decisive factor was the battery life, which runs out very quickly on the two hundred. I do not recommend upgrading from Nikon D80 to Nikon D200.

Nikon D70(s), in my humble opinion, to compare is not practical due to the large difference in functionality. From D70 he took his classic design.

Sample photos on Nikon D80

All photos in this review without treatment. Size reduced to 2 or 3 MP and data from EXIF.

Features and recommendations for the use of Nikon D80:

The camera can very accurately show the number of spent frames for each battery and show the battery charge level with an accuracy of one percent. By the way, the battery is the same as the Nikon D90, D700, D200, D300, D300s, it’s convenient for me to change batteries between my D90 and D80 cameras.

Tips:

  • I advise you to program a function button to select the focus mode, this will help you quickly switch between automatic and spot focus mode. Also turn off high ISO and long shutter noise reduction functions, since they greatly reduce the number of frames in the buffer, there are about three of them. With disabled features you can achieve 6 frames in RAW in the buffer.
  • I use Nikon D80 and 32GB Class 10 without any problems SD HC memory card, this means that the camera works adequately with new memory cards, so you don’t have to worry about the age and compatibility of the camera.
  • Since this is still a DX camera, I do not advise buying expensive DX lenses for it, then you still have to switch to a full frame. Well, if the DX format is fine, then Nikon 35mm F1.8, Nikon 55-200 and classic Nikon 50mm f / 1.8D AF Nikkor will be a great addition to the camera for little money.

Prices for modern Nikon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

Conclusions:

Nikon D80 - an obsolete miracle of camera manufacturing with great functionality. Suitable for both amateurs and professionals. Recommended as a budget option for any need.

I advise you to look at the page recommendations for choosing an amateur Nikon camera.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 702, on the topic: Review of Nikon D80

  • Lexaovo

    Bought this body model today. Mileage is just over 26 thousand. I took it because of the attractive price (equivalent to $ 100). Before that, I have been using the D90 for more than a year (which I am still delighted with, but I compare it with different photos used sometimes), so I took this one as a supplement (there is very little difference, I thought it would be worse). Although 10 megapixels in the D80 is not enough for a good lens, the camera is still legendary ... PS recently worked with the D3100 for several days and did not show the feeling of a urazane model! And with the D80, you can work boldly and for a long time, although not at the professional level (still an old model, but nevertheless good)

  • Yaroslav

    There are 3200 in the arsenal, already about 3 years) last year in Klaipeda (Lithuania) I could not pass by at a flea market! 80 € mileage 8k hooked 35mm 1,8 I’m not overjoyed, I take with me on business trips, awesome things!

  • Yaroslav

    Storm

  • Nikita

    There is Nikon D5300 + 18-105

    Is it worth taking the D80 body as a second camera for portraits and af of old optics?
    Well, and test the color on the ssd matrix.

    • Oleg

      What's the point? Instead of a portrait AF lens + D80, it’s easier and in some cases even cheaper to take a motor lens for the 5300 and calmly shoot portraits, the more motor lenses are newer, designed for a number, not a film, so it’s often better. And if you want something more than 5300, then the D80 will not provide you with this, which means you need to save to the 7th series or a full frame.

      • Oleg

        For example, a non-motorized 50 1.8D costs 2000 UAH + D80 for 2500-3000 = 4500-5000 - just the cost of a motor 50 1.8G. The same is approximately the same difference - about 3000 hryvnia (cost D80), between a non-motorized 85 1.8D and a motorized 85 1.8G.

  • Sergei

    Guys tell me? I took pictures with Zenith, so adjusting with my hands is not a problem. The question is different. To work D80 (bought not long ago) with Soviet optics, is it necessary to cling to a dandelion, or is it not critical? Thanks a lot.

    • Michael

      not critical if you yourself will determine the exposure. but in general in such matters it is better than boots

  • andreymx

    Panova, tell me
    A mirrorless camera with warm tube pictures is no worse than that of your beloved D80.
    To make cheaper bucks

    • KalekseyG

      That is, you need a mirrorless with a CCD matrix? Or something similar doing in jpeg?

    • Alexey Shch

      Olympus or Panasonic Lumix (micro 4/3) would be the best choice. On Sony and Fujifilm, go broke with lenses, and Samsung NX is still not rich in optics.

      Get lamp processing by subsequent processing. It’s better to lean on it, rather than throwing it when choosing another box with a shutter.

      • zengarden

        Fujifilm X-T10 / E2s with a double whale just fit the budget; and then set up the camera and shoot directly in zhpeg, the lamp light just rolls over :)

      • Shrek

        Samsung NX is not rich in anything, not just optics. The system does not develop, new cameras and lenses are not available and they are not on sale.

        • Pokemon

          Samsung officially issued a statement about the freezing of the development of its photo system another 2 or 3 years ago, after the failure of the curious NX1 model, which at that time was one of the most expensive and advanced crop cameras, in fact, more video-tuned and interesting to video operators. This model also had the first crop matrix with backlight.

  • Andrei

    I tried different cameras, but came to the conclusion that my favorite is the d40. I bought D80 because of a similar matrix and ease of use. I am very pleased with the manual white balance setting. Conveniently. There is no need to sit in editors and achieve colors. I pressed the button and that's it - the frame is ready. I use it with 35mm. Tell me the only thing, I don't understand at work. For example, if you take a picture of the sky, then the frame turns out to be overexposed, regardless of the shutter speed and aperture (iso 100). There is no such thing in d40. And so a wonderful camera.

    • Sergei

      Set expoparara correctly, less than f11 on a sunny day
      not worth it.

    • Dima

      Is manual BB some kind of exotic?

  • Oleg

    I have been using this miracle, in a good way, for more than 9 years. Always happy. Now I’m looking for a budget used FF, as a second device. Tell me which way to look D600 or D700?

    • Jury

      D600 newer, D700 dinosaur

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I would recommend the D610, they are better treated psychologically, it costs almost like a d600, then it will be easier to sell, and the camera is considered to be newer.

      • Valentine

        Namely, the public is more loyal to the D610 because of the so-called “oil on the matrix” of the D600. That is why I have repeatedly observed that the 610 goes 20-30% more expensive than the 600, which sometimes the owner sadly sells with sadness and a decent discount. That is, you are not planning to sell, then the 600th can be found cheaper than the 610. In general, I like the D700 more - I used it several times, it was more convenient for me to use it than the D600. And the price for it is often adequate, it happens that it is cheaper than the second dime given in the best condition. But I still do not understand the general desire of all fans to transfer to FF. In my opinion, for an amateur, crop is more optimal in many respects.

      • Alim

        Tell me. When focusing on the focus, the focus points and the frame are highlighted in red, I forgot something, it seems it used to be green. This is normal?

        • Arkady Shapoval

          In d80, only the red highlighting of dots and frames.

  • Vladislav

    Good evening. Arkady, tell me, please, that's what. Also bought Nikon D80. When the shutter release button is pressed (after focusing) with the built-in flash raised in the A, S, M, P modes, no shooting occurs, but only when the button is released, that is, with a delay, the flash is in progress and the photo is taken. And in all other modes with a built-in flash - the shooting process goes immediately when the button is pressed. Without a flash, shooting is also carried out immediately after pressing the button in all modes.
    On Nikon D90, there is no such phenomenon - the delay in shooting with flash in modes A, S, M, P.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Turn off the flash mode against red-eye.

      • Vladislav

        Didn't find - where it turns off on d80

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Press the button for raising the built-in flash and rotate the front selector (under the thumb) until only one lightning bolt icon remains on the secondary display.

          • Vladislav

            Now I realized everything worked out.
            Thanks from the idler to consider the instruction in detail.

  • Freeloader

    Good afternoon Arkady!
    Please comment based on my own experience of owning d80. Is it possible on it with some kind of light fifty dollars like 50 / 1,8 or 35 / 2,0 to get a photo at the exit that is not noisy when shooting on a cloudy day or indoors without a flash with artificial + natural light from the window? I mean, do I have to raise the ISO values ​​above the workers 500? I am interested because I am tormented by the choice between d80 and d90. the difference on them is now about $ 150. This amount could be spent on the best lens ... or will he not save the situation for the conditions of filming given in the main question?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      With d80 it will be difficult. With d90 is much easier. In poor light, a bright lens may not save, especially if it is a room.

      • Freeloader

        Thank you Arkady for a lightning answer!

        • Pokekmon

          Take D90.
          ISO 800 is exactly working, ISO 1200 is conditionally working.

  • Sergei

    For shooting children's events indoors, I choose between d80 and d3100. Now I'm suffering with Canon cx20 (pseudo-mirror with ISO up to 1600 and 20x zoom) and there is not enough matrix + the ability to edit frames in RAW.

    d80 captivates with a color rendering matrix and a screwdriver. But is there enough room aperture?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The Nikon D80 is much louder than the Nikon D3100. Still, something newer is better for work.

      • Alexander

        My noise at ISO 400 is 2 times stronger than the D50 at ISO 800. It's sad

  • Vadim

    Today I became the owner of this "miracle". I have been working in journalism for the sixth year. 90% - reportage shooting. He worked all the time on the Canon technique - from 350 to 60D. And the soul wanted Nikon :-)))) I bought it for work. Mileage 7700 kopecks, price 3100 UAH carcass. Dear readers of this blog, respected by me - any your opinion will be important: a banal question (I just have a complete zero in optics from Nikon, I have never even held it in my hands) - I ask for practical advice on the first Nikon lens in life. The goal is a photo report in an online news publication. Focus 18-105 (by analogy with Canon) will be enough. What do you recommend in Nikon's plus-minus optics? Thanks for any advice.

    • Denis

      The focus is 18-105 ... maybe the focal range you mean?
      most profitable in terms of money - 18-105 in a state of new
      16-85 more iron, but also significantly more expensive
      pro 18-140 conflicting reviews

    • Valery A.

      On the lineup, you took 2 steps back, level 60d - d7000, I believe you were ready for this. CCD devices give a picture of a peculiar color - it is interesting, as a rule, they draw the color of the skin, and for the same reason they slightly misinterpret other colors - the color of greenery, sky (IMHO, of course, I did not conduct instrumental studies). In addition to the lenses mentioned above, you can also look at the H.18-70, it is in the same category with the 16-85, it will not hurt to get 18-55 EDII for a penny. Of course, all this is handy, it should be unkillable, clearly working (get into focus, etc.). Good luck.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Nikon D80 is too old and too noisy. For reporting there is something lighter, Tamron 17-50 2.8 VC, Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS will be just right. If something is longer, then 18-70, 18-135 and 18-105, 18-140, but they are much darker.

  • anonym

    Sorry, that's right, “range” :-) Thank you!

  • Vadim

    Sorry, so for sure, "range" :-) Thank you!

  • SashOK

    Used many cameras, especially Nikon.
    I can say without hesitation that this beautiful D80 has the coolest picture. As they say jpeg from camera. And right away, without any photo editors.

  • Sergey Khodykin

    Hello, artists painting with light. Tell me what to do or where to turn. The problem is as follows; D80 autofocus faded. Buttons clicked everything and Auto and Male mode. Fotik seems to be working out Auto but the lens does not work. The problem is not fully understood either by the camera or lens (Nikon AF-S DX 18-55 F3.5-5.6G). If someone is repairing, I’m ready to consider this option and would also like to clean the matrix. I'm afraid to do this myself. Thanks.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Good day. You need to contact the service cent. No one knows where you are or where you are ready to send equipment for repair, so it is extremely difficult to provide an answer to your request. Thanks.

      • Sergey Khodykin

        I am in the Sumy region. In Kiev I will be somewhere around 23-24.05. In absentia, knowing you Arkady, I can send where tell. It is only necessary to somehow get in touch and the thing is in the hat. How can you write in a personal?

        • Arkady Shapoval

          I'm not doing repairs, thanks. And the choice of a service center is already your business, they google at once :)

  • Alexander

    Hello! Please advise which zoom is better to get for this camera? I plan to take fifty dollars f 1,8 and still need a universal zoom. Thank you in advance.

    • Valentine

      Balanced in terms of price, result, versatility - 18-105. Used price tag 6-8 thousand

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Please voice the budget in such matters, otherwise I will recommend Nikon 17-55 / 2.8 or 18-300 for a lot of money and, in general, I will be right.
      From budget options - Nikon 18-70, 18-105, 18-135, Sigma 17-70, Sigma 18-125OS.

      • Alexander

        Thanks. Meant precisely budget (up to 3000 UAH.). It's too early to chase the tops)))

  • Artem

    Good afternoon, I came across this unit. I haven’t taken it for a long time and forgot a lot, so the question can be stupid. Tell me in Manual Mode M why the ISO is regulated by Automatics. In the settings it’s 100, and in the photo it’s 500 and so on. Am I doing something wrong, or in Manual mode, ISO comes to Sacrifice Everything?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Good day. In the menu, turn off Auto ISO

      • Artem

        So the very joke in the fact that AUTO ISO I can not even choose the camera itself does not allow. Although I may be doing something wrong. But in any case, I set the value to 100 and the machine goes out. Maybe there’s just a glitch in the firmware?

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Auto ISO is set in the camera menu, menu "CUSTOM SETTINGS" / "Custom Settings" (where the pencil is), item number 7 "AUTO ISO" / "ISO auto"

          • Artem

            Well thank you. In the evening after work, I will immediately check, most likely I did not study the settings well. Once again, I apologize for the possibly Dumb question.

          • Artem

            Good Morning, Thanks for the help, everything works now as it should :)

  • Daria

    Arkady, good evening.
    I'm new to filming. Tell me, please, I need a program on a laptop for remote control of subject shooting. I know for Canon in the kit they sell a disc with the EOS Utility program. What can you recommend for the Nikon B80?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Camera Control Pro 2 must control the camera

  • Alexander

    I would like to try this your vaunted CCD matrix. What is better to take as a SECOND SLR? D40 or D80? I’ll clarify that ergonomics, price, a screwdriver and other buns are not important. Interested in where on-camera jeep will be more interesting?

    • Valery A.

      I think d40. Besides, there is a “legend”. Set the setting to neutral, otherwise there will be oversaturation.

      • Valery A.

        Sorry, normal, not neutral. Or a portrait.

  • Alexf

    “I can say that CCD has sometimes more pleasant colors than CMOS” - not sometimes, but always. The difference is titanic in favor of CCD (CCD). Only film is better.
    For me, processing is not needed either. With a CCD, I don’t even think about editors. The main thing is to expose right away.
    Empty frames one fig nothing helps. Instead of editors, it is better to develop the ability to see and create meaningful compositional shots at a level such as Cartier-Bresson, William Eglston, Stiglitz there, Helmut Newton and many other masters.

    • Michael

      well, it happens ...

      • Olga

        Arkady, good evening! Again, your advice is urgently needed. There is Nikon 80, I take pictures of dogs in a shelter, they move constantly. Advise the most optimal optics. Today I tried 18-105, I was extremely dissatisfied. I shoot 50, 1,4. Indoors cats, excellent. Speed ​​is very important to me. It seems to be a good shot, clap, but in the photo the “client” turned around.

        • Michael

          Can not understand anything. Unhappy with what? By the fact that the “Client turned around”? Well, nobody canceled the shutter lag - this is achieved by practice, as far as I know.

          • Olga

            Michal, I have a lot of experience. I want to buy another lens for Nikon D80, I have a portrait. With the highest speed and maximum approximation. It’s more clear.

            • Basil

              Olga, I advise you to change the camera to d7100. Even 18-105 will focus faster.

              • Olga

                This is a shelter, friends! I would gladly change to 700 or 750 and the corresponding optics, but alas, this is not a profitable organization. 700 tried, felt, would love)

              • Denis

                alas, the shelter will have to be content with what is
                better, cheaper and faster zoom than 18-105, no

            • Michael

              The fastest speed of what? Autofocus? Then this is a very non-budget AF-S 70-200. Still fast focus at 18-70, but without "maximum zoom"

              • Olga

                Well, I have 50 1,4D, I think 18 -70 is not a big difference with it, in approximation) And on the bill 70-200, you need to look. Thanks!

              • Denis

                18-70 fast, but useless. and the design of it is that everything is plastic and hangs
                I liked 18-105 more, + there is a choice in good condition, + there is a stabilizer

              • Olga

                What can you say about 18 - 140?

              • Michael

                autofocus like 18-105 and all budget zoom lenses

  • Alexander

    Where is the best finished picture in a jeep: on the D80 or D3000? (By noise / dynamic range / color)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      + - they are the same, since the sensors are the same, but the d3000 is slightly better due to the presence of Active Day Lighting

  • Irina

    Hello. Thanks for the camera reviews. Now I am at a crossroads and choose between d-40 and d-80. Both boo. I need for subject shooting. And so the nature of the birds to shoot. Which is better to choose?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      D80 is much more functional, and take it

      • Irina

        Thanks to him the lens is selling AF 28-80. That is, only this one is not native.

        • Michael

          Native, in the sense of whale? Yes, and to hell with him. It may even be better with your tasks.

          • Irina

            No, not a whale. There is no cetacean, only this AF is not cetacean.

  • Irina

    Well, but I already refused d40 I am going to watch d80 today. I hope all the same I will make a good choice.

  • Irina

    Interestingly, he is very heavy. And then I'm not big))))

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