My Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera
November 14, 2006
I just received my brand new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 digital camera!
I have been a loyal Nikon owner since I began photography starting with the Nikon N90 film camera and the Nikon D70 digital camera.
My 6.1 megapixel Nikon D70 is an excellent consumer grade camera but 2 years in the rapidly advancing digital camera market is like a decade.
Some of the improvements over the D70 are major so the Nikon D80 is a significant upgrade.
As I start using the D80 I will post my photos and thoughts about it in future blogs.
Besides the 10.2 megapixel image sensor the Nikon D80 has a fantastic larger and brighter view finder, a large 2.5-inch, 230,000-dot display with 170-degree viewing, ISO 100, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 transfer so a card reader is no longer necessary, 11 Focus Area auto focus, 3D Color Matrix Metering with spot meter (sorry Canon) and much more.
Just like there are cat and dog people there are Nikon and Canon people.
It is good to do a product research before a major purchase but the camera does not make the photographer any more than the brush makes the painter.
I never force the fantastic Nikon brand on anyone, I may talk about why I like Nikon but do not waste time with arguing about cats and dogs.
The reason I have chosen Nikon is because the brand name has quality, reliability, durability and impressive history behind it.
For more info about the Nikon D80 DSLR visit here: detailed review of the Nikon D80 by Digital Photography Review.
Nikon D80 product description by Nikon:
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.
New high-resolution Nikon image-processing engine: New 12- bit Image Processing Engine combines color independent analog pre-conditioning with improved image processing algorithms.
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.
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 systems throughout the D80, including high-speed buffer memory handling, fast image processing, high-speed memory card access and large system bus bandwidth help make this possible.
Up to 2,700 images per battery charge:* High-Efficiency power systems featuring reduced power consumption and Real-Time Fuel Gauge with Nikon’s EN-EL3e Lithium Ion rechargeable battery.
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 on board database of 30,000 scenes from actual photography. Vary the size of the center-weighted area reading and spot metering readings correspond to 11 focusing points.
In-Camera Image Editing with Retouching Menu: Highly versatile in-camera editing features include Nikon D-lighting, Red-eye Correction, Image Trimming, Image Overlay, Monochrome Black and White, Sepia and Cyanotype along with Skylight, Warm Tone and Custom Color filter effects.
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.
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.
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 autofocus 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.
Seven Digital Vari-Programs plus Programmed Auto with Flexible Program, Shutter-Priority Auto, Shutter-Priority Auto and Manual: Digital Vari-Programs include: Auto Portrait, Landscape, Macro Close up Sports, Night landscape, Night portrait each of which adjust automatically for optimal results under varied conditions automatically.
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
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.
Built-in Slideshow function with Pictmotion: Select a range of images, pick a style and add music for beautiful picture presentations delivered from the D80 to a television or simply view on the camera’s 2.5 inches LCD. Effects include: slide-in, slide-out, fade-in, and fade-out
Available: September 2006
$999.95 ESP1 Camera body only, lens sold separately2
$1299.95 ESP1 Packaged with 18-135mm DX Zoom Nikkor lens2
