Nikon D80
Those moving up from the D70 for the resolution boost from 6 to 10 megapixels will immediately notice a larger and brighter viewfinder and screen, as well as the smaller and lighter body. There are two downsides to the svelte body: shorter battery life from the smaller battery, and lighter plastic. The latter means, for example, that buttons seem less responsive and sometimes almost seem stuck in place.
Overall handling is very comfortable and responsive. The D200-based processing engine provides excellent image quality up to ISO 400 but then becomes noisy. In-camera image retouching (e.g., filter effects, monochrome conversion, red-eye reduction) may be of interest to some users. Accepts SD memory cards.
The Nikon D80 is a fairly inexpensive digital SLR that packs spectacular performance and excellent image quality into a well-built, solid camera.
The new Nikon D80’s combination of high-end features and its 18-135mm DX kits lens make a killer photographic tool for the amateur and intermediate photographer.
It’s one of those cameras which just feels ‘right and sorted’ from the moment you pick it up. Things just get better the more you use the camera.
The D80 is a surprise because, on the surface, the specification is quite close to the D200 which Nikon market as an advanced amateur to professional level camera.
The Nikon D80 DSLR camera is aimed squarely at the enthusiast user. This new 10 megapixel model replaces the highly rated Nikon D70s and D70 and fits into the lower end of Nikon’s DSLR product hierarchy, above the D50 and below the D200 and other professional camera bodies like the D2Xs.
If all that was required to sell a camera were first impressions, the answer would be an unequivocal “yes”. Although in terms of size and weight the D80 is closer to the D50, in terms of specification, performance and overall feel it is closer to the D200, something that will be welcomed by enthusiasts.
With this newest revision, Nikon has put the camera more in line with its expected audience, which spans lower-end enthusiasts, all the way down to SLR newbies who crave more power than they can get with the company’s entry-level dSLR, the D50.
The D80 is pitched into the mix above that price point, but still cheap enough that someone looking for their first digital SLR might be tempted if the package is strong enough.
Moving inside the camera; this is where the D80 really blows away the competition. Borrowing much of the professional & applauded D200’s features, everything is as good as you’d hoped for.
Both the Nikon D80 & Canon EOS 400D feature the same resolution, replace popular models and are aimed at entry to mid-level buyers. In these respects they’re similar, but in terms of design, build quality, features and handling there are noticeable differences.