Latest Update - Nikon D80 Review by Digital Camera Review (updated 07 June ’07)

Nikon’s D80 Review Roundup includes summaries from all main digital camera expert reviewers as they become available, company specification sheet, owners manual, videos, Digital Camera Tracker’s unique review conclusion thermometer, and sample photos taken with the Nikon D80.

Features Include:

• 10.2 megapixel
• 2.5 inch LCD
• Lithium-ion battery delivers up to 2,700* images on a single charge
• Red-eye correction
• 0.18 seconds power-up
• 80-millisecond shutter time lag
• ISO 100 -1600
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II
• 11-area AF system
• Configurable high ISO Noise Reduction
• In-camera retouching

DCT Conclusion Thermometer - Nikon D80

Digital Camera Review
Photoxels
CameraLabs Video Tour
GoodGearGuide
ThinkCamera
DPExpert
ByTom
PCAuthority
DigitalCameraInfo
T3
ComputerActive
ThinkCamera
PCPhoto
Shutterbug
Digital-Lifestyles
PhotographyBlog
BusinessWeekOnline
DCViews Nikon D80 Sony A100 Faceoff
Pocket-lint
Imaging Resource
Sample Nikon D80 Photos at Flickr
PopPhoto
* Sample Photos at Digital Camera Tracker
Megapixel
HardwareZone Nikon D80 Sony A100 Faceoff
PCMag
CNET Asia
Localviewfinder
DPReview
Camera Labs
Ken Rockwell
DCResource
HardwareZone
Imaging Resource
CNET
Ephotozine
Nikonians
Nikon D80 Press Release

Nikon D80 Spec Sheet

[Nikon D80 Spec Sheet at Nikon]

Nikon D80 Owners Manual

[Nikon D80 Owners Manual]

Nikon D80 Sample Photos

[Sample Photos at Photoxels]
[Sample Photos at DPEpert]
[Sample Photos at PhotographyBlog]
[Sample Photos at Flickr]
[Sample Photos at Megapixel]
[Sample Photos at Hardware Zone]
[Sample Photos at DPReview]
[Sample Photos at Camera Labs]
[Sample Photos at Ken Rockwell]
[Sample Photos at DCResource]
[Resolution Test Photos at HardwareZone]

[ISO Test Photos at HardwareZone]
[Sample Photos at DC Resource]
[Sample Photos at Imaging Resource]

Read More Nikon D80 Reviews

Digital Camera Review - 6/7/2007 - has a new user review of the Nikon D80 and here’s the conclusion, “The D80 is definitely a great entry DSLR that still provides future growth. It allows the use of any Nikon compatible lens as it had a AF motor unlike the D40x. The kit lens is above the alternatives at this price level (XTi or D40x). Overall performance is great, ergonomics is superb and it’s really a joy to use. The dedicated buttons and high level of customizability are definitely an area the camera shines. Some have complained about the metering but I find it to be fine and the i-TTL flash throttles its power effectively.”

Photoxels - 3/19/2007 - reviews the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and writes, “The Nikon D80 DSLR has lots of exposure flexibility and gives excellent image quality to ISO 800. An advanced and knowledgeable photographer will be able to use RAW file format and noise reduction software to tweak out the best of higher ISO images. The Nikon D80 is a dream come true for the enthusiast: excellent image quality with low noise at high ISOs, instant response, and excellent handling — at an affordable price.”

CameraLabs - 2/24/2007 - has a video tour of the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and writes,

Good points

• Images with high detail and low noise
• Superior build quality and handling to rivals
• Best viewfinder experience in its class
• Superb metering, flash and AF performance

Bad points

• Higher price than rival 10Mpixel DSLRs
• No physical anti-dust feature
• No anti-shake in standard kit
• RAW adjustment software not included

GoodGearGuide - 2/21/2007 - reviews the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and writes, “Design wise, the D80 is quite an improvement over the D70s. The D70s was a huge camera; even when it was released it was considered to be quite big. Nikon has done a good job in this regard, slimming the D80 down and compacting it, without loosing any of the comfort or feel. We absolutely love how this unit sits in the hand and it is a joy to use. Everything from the front-heavy weighting, to the larger 2.5in screen (adopted from the D200) is well designed. We also like the fact that the D80 retains the top LCD screen, rather than using the main LCD to display current settings. There are however quite a few buttons, and while we didn’t have much trouble operating it, the D80 may prove confusing to novice users for the first few hours.”

ThinkCamera - 2/15/2007 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and writes, “The D80 is a dream of a camera, packed with features and bursting with technology. It’s a bit like a pup - responsive, fun to be with and eager to please. But like most pets you’ll get more out of it, the more you put in. There’s a lot of technology wrapped up inside and you’ll have to put in the homework to maximize its (and your) potential but if you do, it will be worth it. I’ve only had it a few days but I’ve already grown very attached to the D80 and I don’t think I’m going to like handing it back, or perhaps that’s me just being petty.”

DPExpert - 2/8/2007 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and writes, “This camera is a worthy successor to the D70 and no doubt Nikon have another winner. It’s a pity that once again we have been disappointed by a kit lens. This is the one area where most makers are cutting costs. It is false economy.”

ByTom - 2/7/2007 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and writes, ” I’ll repeat what I said earlier: we now have four 10mp DSLRs in basically the same class, with similar feature sets. All of them perform well, and the differences between them in terms of image quality are almost non-existent at ISO 100. At higher ISO values, the image quality differences start to become more obvious (note that I haven’t yet tested the K10D using my usual test suite, so I won’t comment on its image quality). To my eye, the D80 is at the top of the heap with the Canon close behind (the Canon tends to sacrifice shadow areas and lose color saturation at the highest ISO values). The Sony falls clearly behind the others at high ISO values. But even with the differences, I’m not sure they’re enough to base a buying decision on. If you’re nitpicking pixels so much that you can see these differences, you probably should be shopping for the next better class of camera.”

PCAuthority - 1/17/2007 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and notes that the D80 is more expensive than its competition, but it’s advanced features make it money well spent. they continue to write, “Some may argue that the price, being around $400 higher body-only than the new 400D and about $700 more for the kit, means that Canon still rules the roost. But for sheer picture-taking power, Nikon’s designers have thought of nearly everything. The significant advances over the previous generation of DSLRs is enough to knock Canon off its long-held A-List perch.”

KenRockwell - 1/2/2007 - has published a plain English guide to how he uses his 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s an excerpt - “Seeing how poor the matrix meter has become in the D80 (it requires constantly varying levels of compensation) I intend to try center weighted metering. With my intimate knowledge of the Zone System, it might let me nail the correct exposures more quickly. That would be a big step backwards; center weighting went obsolete in the mid 1980s then the Matrix meter was invented.”

DigitalCameraInfo - 12/13/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s their verdict - “The 10-megapixel Nikon D80 is a success in a conservative way. Nikon didn’t add the dust reduction system or stabilization that many competitors are introducing this year. Still, it has most of what the D200 has for hundreds of dollars less, and adds features to woo snapshooters. It’s a solid DSLR that’s easy to use and a strong performer. It should appeal to casual shooters who aren’t price-sensitive, and some professionals who are.”

T3 - 12/7/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s their verdict - “Picture quality is essentially the same on all three of the 10MP DSLRs out now, so it boils down to features versus cost. If you’re after a step-up from an entry-level model, then its build quality and nifty features is definitely worth the extra. But if you want built-in anti-shake or the best value, you’ll be better off with the Sony A100 or Canon 400D.”

ComputerActive - 12/6/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s their verdict - “A solid camera in every sense of the word, yet at the same time relatively compact, the D80 marries a wide array of features to a user-friendly layout. If you want crisp, vivid digital images without spending a king’s ransom, and don’t mind a camera that won’t slip into your pocket, Nikon’s flagship budget D-SLR is worth serious consideration.”

ThinkCamera - 12/5/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s their verdict - “Although Nikon D80 is supposed to be an entry level SLR you’re actually getting a camera that is better than, or equal to, some more expensive SLRs. It’s got some of the same features as the Nikon D200, like the same quality settings, 11 autofocus zones with an auto-select mode and some features that the D200 doesn’t have like the seven scene modes and a customizable menu. If you are new to SLRs then this is an ideal first camera.”

PCPhoto - 12/4/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s their verdict - “More importantly, however, the D80 provides the features and controls that I really need to consistently produce sharp photographs with accurate exposures, even under the most demanding shooting conditions.”

Shutterbug - 12/4/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “All in all the D80 is an excellent traveling companion. It has a solid feel and strong body build, yet is not a drag on your shoulder or pack. Just about everything you need for field work is accessible right from the body, with the menu offering other layers of goodies. At 10+ megapixels it certainly delivers enough resolution for large-scale prints, and the color rendition and sharpness out of the box is excellent. The camera is built to appeal to both the step-up and advanced amateur, what with its Digital Vari-Program modes along with as many overrides and rendition options as even the most demanding photographer could require. And the enhanced battery life is certainly a boon for those taking this camera on a hike or a long weekend’s shoot.”

Digital-Lifestyles - 11/24/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “Overall, we were very impressed with the D80. It feels like a significant step up from the D70, punching above its weight in features, usability and performance. Nikon D80 Review (95%)The camera is easy to use, feels right in the hand with all the main controls falling easily to hand, and looks like it could take the occasional knock.”

PhotographyBlog - 11/13/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “The Nikon D80 is not the cheapest model on the market and when you add the price of the RAW conversion software on top, this becomes even more apparent. But the camera body follows the highly rated D70s model, which has built up a large, loyal following. Existing Nikon users won’t be disappointed with this new model as the company have more than met the challenge of producing a camera with suitable features coupled with fantastic image quality for the enthusiast and beginner DSLR user.”

BusinessWeekOnline - 11/11/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “Recently, I checked out the Nikon D80, a pricey 10.2-megapixel model that comes with tons of advanced features, seven different automatic preset modes, a custom program mode, and the manual control settings. It retails for about $1,000, and lenses are sold separately (the company supplied me with a Nikon AF-S DX 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens, which sells for about $500). To sum it up: The D80 is a near-perfect choice for an amateur photographer who wants to dive headfirst into the hobby and teach himself advanced photography, as long as he doesn’t mind the stratospheric price tag.”

DCViews - 10/29/2006 - has published a review where they compare the Nikon D80 to the Sony Alpha A100 DSLR’s and they write - “You will buy and use a d-SLR to get the best possible combination of control, flexibility, speed and image quality. The Canon EOS Rebel XTi and the Nikon D80 both live up to that expectation. Even the most demanding amateur photographer will not be disappointed by those cameras. Both cameras can be operated automatically, but offer full manual control for high levels of accuracy in exposure, focusing and color. The Nikon D80 has more features, but the Canon EOS Rebel XTi is easier to operate. Due to the exchangeability of lenses all subjects can be captured with great ease from super wide angle to super tele and for special subjects like macro to tilt&shift. Canon offers a broader line-up of lenses , often with image stabilization.

The speed of the cameras is almost equal. No noticeable start up or shutter delay, fast and accurate AF and a ‘motor drive’ of 3 frames per second up to 40 or more JPEGs (about 10 RAWs). Image quality of these 10 Mp cameras is very high. Resolution is fabulous and noise levels are moderate even at ISO 1600. In RAW format mode with a fixed focus lens you will get the highest image quality, in which case the EOS Rebel XTi performs a bit better than the D80. Image quality seems no longer restricted by the sensor, but by the JPEG-settings and the applied zoom lens. Every zoom lens below $750 dollar reduces the 100% quality of the images. Because of the fact that high levels of sharpening in combination with noise reduction and JPEG compression tend to significantly reduce the image quality, the default in-camera sharpening of both camera is very modest and may lead to ‘ soft’ images is some cases. JPEGs are suitable for high quality prints up to 16×12″ and for prints up to 40 to 26 inch RAW is the best image format.”

Pocket-lint - 10/24/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “The D80 reveals and unusual level of attention to detail from Nikon, 32 customisable options mean the camera can be tailored to almost any user’s proclivities. Excellent handling and build, superb performance from the metering and the focus set up add to the confidence the camera builds as you lift it from its box. The enhanced menus and the great Menu Help system that can be invoked to discover what any given menu is/does/means further boosts this confidence, as does the superb pentaprism viewfinder, which is clear, bright and crisp to use. As an owner of a D70 and knowing what that camera is capable of, I can vouch for the improvements over that model and latterly the D70s.”

Imaging Resource - 10/24/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “Having now thoroughly tested a production sample of the Nikon D80, all our initial impressions have been confirmed, and we can give it our wholehearted endorsement. By any measure, the Nikon D80 is a superb photographic tool, offering value well beyond its relatively modest price point. It delivers a huge step up in virtually every parameter relative to the earlier D70/D70S, and even the D100 owner on a budget may want to consider it over the the higher-priced D200. It’s solidly built, well-balanced in the hand, highly responsive, and delivers excellent image quality. It’s not a cheap camera, selling in “kit” form for a good $200 or so above its nearest rival, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi. Even taking the $200 differential into account though, the Nikon D80’s combination of build quality, image quality, extensive configurability, rich post-capture processing features, and excellent kit lens make it a genuine bargain. This is a camera that’s quite approachable for complete novices, thanks to a very capable fully automated “Green” zone and handful of Scene modes, yet offers the serious amateur a range of creative control and sophisticated operating features unparalleled in its price class.”

PopPhoto - 10/21/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “Perhaps you’re thinking this is One Complicated Camera. Absolutely not. Pick it up, put it on Program, choose a resolution, and shoot. When you need advanced controls or after-shooting tweaks, they’re there, but they don’t intrude on the shooting experience.

If you’re into the Nikon system, and want to move up from a D70 or D70s, absolutely. If you’re a D200 owner and want a backup that can do it all, absolutely. If you’re a first-time DSLR buyer, it gets murkier. The D80 is $100-150 more expensive than 10MP DSLRs from Canon, Sony, and now Pentax — and the Sony Alpha 100 and Pentax K10D have in-camera image stabilization. Nikon still makes you pay extra for its good RAW converter software.”

Megapixel - 10/17/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “Ergonomically, the D80 is close to perfection. Controls and buttons are well-spaced and intelligently positioned, making the in-hand feel of the camera that much better, a feeling augmented by the lightness of the body itself.

In addition, the composition grid that can be superimposed on the viewfinder’s image is an excellent Nikon feature, which is absent on competitive cameras.”

PCMag - 10/9/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “In general, the flash still-life shots were decent but slightly underexposed. Also, the D80’s color was a tad more vibrant in the flash shot than the Rebel XTi’s was. Like the XTi, the D80’s resolution averaged 1,900 lines, which is right on target for a 10MP camera. And also like the XTi, the camera’s boot-up time of 0.6 seconds and 0.6-second recycle time are extraordinary. There’s virtually no shutter lag. I did notice some pincushion distortion, although not much, along with the usual barrel distortion. The results were still impressive for a 18 to 135mm lens.”

CNET Asia - 10/9/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “Overall, we were impressed with the D80, from the build quality to the user interface, to performance and image quality. The D80 is very customizable to suit each individual’s preferences as the user “grows” with the camera. And to give it that oomph, the Image Overlay and multiple exposure features allow the photographer to explore alternative shooting experiences. Even nitty-gritty handling issues like the double press of the Delete button was enough to make the whole user experience more enjoyable.”

Localviewfinder - 10/3/2006 - has previewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “It’s hard to find any fault with the D80. Only the mere existence of the D200 does it remind us what the D80 strives to be. The upgrade path from both D50 and D70 is clearly the D80 with its advanced features and SD memory requirements. The only downside is that early adopters who have established workflow or enjoy working with NEF will need to wait for 3rd party vendors to support the D80 among other accessories that will trickle in over the next few months.. but it’s well worth the wait.”

DPReview - 9/23/2006 - has previewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “So we’ve established that the D80 is a great ‘photographers camera’, but how good are the images? The answer is, really very good, Nikon appear to have shaken off the soft-image demons of the past and are also using a slightly stronger (more consumer friendly) default sharpening level than the D200. Resolution is as good as other ten megapixel digital SLRs, color response is vibrant, yet accurate, images are more contrasty than some other manufacturers but of course if you prefer a slightly flatter response you can always create your own custom parameter set.”

Camera Labs - 9/20/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and concludes - “If however you value the D80’s superior build quality and accurate metering and would also exploit its more powerful flash and customisation options, it’s worth spending the extra. The D80’s a step above the 400D / XTi and A100 in terms of build, metering and flash capabilities, not to mention its superb viewfinder. As such, even without physical anti-dust or an anti-shake kit lens, we can whole-heartedly recommend it.”

Ken Rockwell - 9/19/2006 - has a side-by-side comparison of the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200 and writes - “Get the D80 if you have any concerns about cost or size or weight. Spend your limited funds on a great lens and don’t waste it on a fancy body. Lenses last for years while digital bodies go obsolete every 12 - 18 months. I’d get a D80 and the 18-200mm Nikon lens and never look back. Lenses stay current for 5 - 10 years and Nikon warrants them for 5 years in the USA, while bodies only have a year warranty.”

DCResource - 9/13/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and indicate this is a heck of a camera, and one that should be at the top of your list if you’re buying your first D-SLR - “Camera performance is very impressive. The D80 starts instantly, focuses without delay — even in low light — and shutter lag is not a problem. Shot-to-shot delays are practically nil, and with a fast memory card you can take up to 100 full size JPEGs or 6 RAW images in a row at 3 frames/second. Battery life is very good, and Nikon includes a handy “battery meter” that allows you to keep tabs on the battery, including how much life it has left before it needs to be recycled. As you’d expect, the D80 supports the USB 2.0 High Speed standard, for fast data transfer to a Mac or PC.”

HardwareZone - 9/9/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and rate it 4.5 out 5 - “At this price point, no camera is perfect and the rants noted above should be viewed objectively. In fact, professionals prefer an anti-handshake mechanism built on the lens rather than the body. With that said, we are actually overall very pleased of the photo imaging capabilities of the D80 and its excellent build quality. These two qualities alone should dictate most of the necessities of DSLR cameras and the D80 is endowed with them. So in all essence, the D80 actually presents itself as an excellent value for money DSLR if you don’t mind investing a little more than the D70s, while giving the D200 a run for its money (though the latter is intended for more demanding users altogether).”

Imaging Resource - 9/1/2006 - has previewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “Until we can test the image quality of the Nikon D80, we can form only preliminary conclusions about its value and position in the marketplace. Given that it uses a close variant of the CCD sensor employed in the D200 though, it seems safe to assume that it’s basic imaging characteristics will be at least roughly comparable. Taking that as a given, we’re confident in predicting that the Nikon D80 will be an enormous hit. It delivers a huge step up in virtually every parameter relative to the earlier D70/D70S, and even the D100 owner on a budget may want to consider it over the the higher-priced D200. In our limited time with it thus far, it impressed us with its solid feel and responsive handling, as well as for just how much of the D200’s capabilities it incorporates. In the back-and-forth battle between the two giants, Nikon has once again thrown down the gauntlet to Canon, with an exceptionally capable camera (sporting an unusually capable kit lens as well), at a very aggressive price. We’ll have a complete set of test photos and performance details as soon as we can get our hands on a full production sample, but it seems safe to say that the Nikon D80 is going to be one of the more significant camera announcements of 2006. Stay tuned for more information on this remarkable camera in the near future.”

CNET - 8/31/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and rate it 8 out 10 - “With the D80, Nikon has proven that it is very much still pushing ahead strongly. With 10.2 megapixels, lightning-fast performance, high-quality images with very low noise, and a heaping pile of convenience features, Nikon’s D80 will not disappoint. We’re just eager to see how it stacks up to Canon’s Rebel XTi, which is due to hit stores just weeks from now. But, if you already own some Nikon lenses and have been waiting for an affordable 10.2-megapixel dSLR, this one is a sure winner.”

Ephotozine - 8/30/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s the verdict - “Like the D100-200 upgrade before it, this upgrade from the D70 to D80 is a worthwhile step up, both in ability and performance. The jump in pixel count and autofocus ability alone warrants the change, but there are literally dozens of other tweaks as you delve further into the menus. The price also seems to be pitched about right, although market forces will soon see it settle into a slightly lower slot, which is all good news. Highly recommended.”

Nikonians - 8/28/2006 - has reviewed the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here’s their verdict - “We’re seeing the fruits of Nikon’s intent to consolidate parts - almost everything you see on the camera shares some commonality with other models. Besides the legacy from the Nikon D200 and up, the camera also shares the 420-segment meter from the Nikon D50, and a complete line of accessories which draws from both the Nikon D50 and Nikon D70 systems.”

DPReview - 8/9/2006 - has previewed the new 10.2 megapixel Nikon D80 and here are their conclusions - “The D80 slots nicely between the entry-level D50 and the semi-professional / professional D200, clearly based on the D70 design but also different enough to be seen as a completely new model. It features a ten megapixel DX format CCD (the same we presume as used by Sony in the DSLR-A100), the metering sensor from the D50 and numerous other items taken or modified from the D200.”

Nikon D80 Initial Press Release

MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ — Building on the extraordinary success of the D70 and D70s, Nikon(R) (http://www.nikondigital.com) today introduced the new D80(TM) digital SLR camera — an impressively featured, high performance camera that incorporates Nikon’s latest digital and photographic technologies, and offers advanced features as well as automated operation to satisfy any photographer with the passion to create beautiful photographs and preserve special moments. With a new 10.2 effective megapixel DX Format CCD image sensor and an exclusive high-resolution color processing engine inherited from Nikon’s latest professional digital SLR cameras, the D80 can render images with incredible resolution, sharp detail and vibrant color that is unmatched in this class of cameras. And it can shoot these images fast - at speeds of up to 3 frames per second, for up to 100 consecutive shots (in JPEG Normal mode), ensuring that the camera’s always ready for the next fleeting moment.

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