Nikon D80 SLR Review - Features
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The D80 comes loaded with features that the beginner or intermediate SLR photographer is looking for. One of the really cool functions is the retouch menu, which is new in the D80. This menu allows for various editing of pictures that can help the user accomplish the look they may be going for in their shot. Some of the options in the retouch menu are resize, crop, red-eye reduction, and filter effects. The user also has an overlay option, where they can lay an image on top of another image and blend them to perfection. These options allow for a substantial amount of picture editing in-camera, although these features do not fully replace the abilities of Photoshop. Nevertheless, the D80 has an impressive editing capability that will suffice for most of its users.
As far as memory goes, the D80 uses both SD and the new SDHC memory cards. The SDHC cards allow for up to 32 gigabytes of memory, which is more than enough memory for the average photographer who will use this type of camera.
Also, a new feature of the D80 is the option to buy additional battery space on the camera for longer battery life. The MB-D80 is an add-on feature that will hold an additional battery and is designed to act as a hand grip on the side of the camera. This feature is not included with the camera. It is convenient if you desire the extended battery life that it will bring, but it does add additional bulk to the camera which some may not desire.
It is recommended that you purchase the D80 with the optional lens kit if this will be your first digital SLR. The D80 may be purchased with or without this lens, but the lens is very convenient to have, especially if you don't currently have any lenses that have been used on other cameras. The lens that is included with the kit version of the D80 extends from 18mm-135mm. The lens offers fast, quiet focusing in auto or manual mode, and uses Extraordinary Dispersion glass which controls distortion of the image and allows for better optical performance. Overall, the lens included in the kit is more than sufficient for most users, and it is nice to have a lens that is fully compatible with the camera. Not all lenses are compatible with this camera. Here is a list of lenses that are not compatible with the Nikon D80.
TC-16A AF Teleconverter
Non-AI lenses
Lenses that require the AU- 1 focusing unit (400 mm f/4 5, 600 mm f/5.6, 800 mm f/8, 1200 mm f/l1)
Fisheye (6 mm f/5,6, 8 mm f/8, OP 10 mm f/5 ~6)
Old-model 21 mm f/4
K2 rings
ED 180-600mm f/8 (serial numbers 174041-174180)
ED 360-1200 mm f/I I (serial numbers 174031-174127)
200-600 mm f/9.5 (serial numbers 280001 300490)
Lenses for the F3AF (80 mm f/2-8, 200 mm f/3.5, TC- 16 Teleconverter)
PC 28mm f/4 (serial number 180900 or earlier)
PC 35mm f/2.8 (serial numbers 851001906200)
Old-model PC 35 mm f/3.5
Old-model 1000 mm f/6.3 Reflex
1000mm f/11 Reflex (serial numbers 142361-143000)
2000mm f/11 Reflex (serial numbers 200111-200310)
The lens supplied with the kit version of the D80 is great quality and will save you hundreds of dollars on buying more expensive alternatives. There are other lenses available that are compatible with the D80 if you're looking for even greater magnification, although these lenses can get rather expensive. For the average digital SLR user, the lens included in the D80's kit will give the user plenty of lens power at a minimal price. The kit version of the D80 includes the following straight from the box:
Nikon D80 body with body cap, eyepiece cap, eye cup, and LCD monitor cover.
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IF ED lens
Neck strap.
USB cable.
Video cable.
Battery and quick charger.
Nikon Picture Project CD-ROM.
User guide.
Registration kit.
Consumers do have the option to buy the D80 without the lens included in the kit, and they would save a few hundred dollars on average. If that few hundred dollars is not an issue for you, it is recommended that you purchase the lens kit version of the D80; it's well worth the additional cost.
All of this ability to zoom in on images would all but go to waste without the high resolution that the D80 boasts. With 10.2 megapixel resolution, the D80 has more than enough juice to give the highest quality digital photos possible. The high resolution of this camera allows for a maximum image resolution of 3,872 x 2,592 pixels. This allows the user to make crystal clear 8x10 prints or larger, which gives the photographer great flexibility in regards to print size.
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