The Nikon D80 is the
replacement for the D70/D70s, positioned between the D50 —
Nikon's entry-level digital SLR — and the D200, which
is much more complex.
This new SLR offers a DX type CCD with a 10.2 megapixel
resolution.
In comparison to the D70/D70s,
the improvements that the D80 offers are numerous and go beyond
resolution, extending to the auto focus, the buffer memory,
the white balance, the noise reduction system, the viewfinder,
the monitor, etc.
The external controls of the
D80 are arranged in a way that is typical for Nikon dSLRs.
At the top of the grip is the Sub-command dial, which
serves to modify a number of camera settings, or even navigate
the menus.
On top of the grip is the chromed two-stage shutter release,
surrounded by the On/Off Switch, which can also be
used to illuminate the Control Panel(see further)
when pulled to ,
springing back to the On position.
Immediately behind the shutter
release are two buttons that operate in conjunction with the
Main Command Dial, which is located on the upper back
of the grip:
The button on the left
controls the Metering mode, offering the following
options:
3D Matrix: a type of metering that uses
a 420-pixel CCD, which takes into account both colour
and distance while evaluating the exposure. This metering
pattern only operates with G and D type
lenses.
Centre-Weighted: evaluates the entire scene,
but gives greater importance to the reading obtained
at the centre of the frame, in a circle whose size
can be selected in the menu to be 6, 8 or 10 mm. The
default setting is 8 mm, and is shown in the viewfinder.
Spot: measures a small area, approximately
2% of the image, in an area that can be linked to
the active AF point.
On the right is a button that serves to set Exposure
Compensation over a range of ± 5 EV in 1/3
or 1/2 EV increments.
The Control Panel occupies a large part of the camera's
top right. To its right are two buttons that are operated
by pressing them repeatedly:
The Shooting Mode
button selects:
Single.
Continuous: captures up to 6 images in RAW
format, and 110 images in JPEG with a top speed of
3 frames per second.
Self-Timer: offers a selectable delay (2,
5, 10 or 20 seconds) before releasing the shutter.
While the other button controls
the Autofocus Mode:
AF-A: lets the camera automatically select
the single-servo autofocus when the subject is stationary,
and continuous-servo autofocus when the subject is
moving. The shutter can only be released when the
camera is able to focus.
AF-S: is for use with stationary subjects.
The focus locks when the shutter release is pressed
halfway, and will only be released when the "in-focus"
indicator is displayed.
AF-C: is for use with moving subjects. The
camera focuses continuously while the shutter release
is pressed halfway, and the shutter can be released
even if the "in-focus" indicator is not
displayed.
An additional function for the AF button is
indicated by a green dot :
if the button is pressed simultaneously with the Exposure
Compensation button, which also has a green dot,
the camera can be Reset and all settings, with
the exception of Custom settings, return to to their
factory defaults.
The settings indicated by the
Control Panel are very detailed, and make it possible
to check most critical settings at a glance. It is worth noting
that the panel is always active, either showing the remaining
number of photos that can be captured, or
(empty) when there is no memory card in the camera.
The Control Panel is backlit, and
the length of time the panel remains lit when the On/Off switch
is pulled to
is determined by the setting selected for Auto Meter-Off,
one of the Custom settings (see the Characteristics
section of the review for more information about the Custom
settings and other menu options).
Still on top of the camera, but to the left of the viewfinder
housing, the Mode Dial offers 11 positions, each dedicated
to a capture mode:
P
Program Mode
lets the camera set both aperture and shutter speed.
The selected combination, however, can be changed to
another combination that can favour either depth of
field or speed by rotating the Main Command Dial.
S
Shutter Priority provides
control over the selection of the shutter speed while
the camera selects the aperture. A shutter speed range
that covers from 1/4000 second to 30 seconds is available,
and the shutter speed is selected using the Main Command
Dial.
A
Aperture Priority
allows selecting the aperture, and through it the depth
of field that will be imaged while the camera matches
the selection to a shutter speed. The aperture range varies
according to the lens used, but the apertures are selected
using the Main Command Dial as well.
M
Manual Mode provides
complete control over the exposure by selecting both aperture
and shutter speed. In this mode the shutter speed range
is augmented by a B (Bulb) mode that allows an
exposure time as long as 8 minutes. By default when the
Manual mode is used, the apertures are selected using
the Sub-Command Dial while the shutter speed is set using
the Main Command Dial; it is however, possible to inverse
this setting in the Custom menu.
Next is the green mode:
The Auto Mode leaves
complete control over all camera settings to the D80,
but the user can still select ISO sensitivity, AF Mode,
Flash Mode, Continuous Mode and image quality.
Next are 6 Scene Modes that set the camera optimally
in function of the subject to be photographed:
Portrait blurs the
background behind the subject by using a large aperture
and enhances skin tones. The flash opens automatically
if required.
Landscape accentuates
sharpness, colours and contrast. The built-in flash and
the AF assist lamp are turned off.
Close-up is designed
to capture small subjects such as insects, flowers, etc.
Focus takes place at the centre of the frame. A macro
lens gives best results, but other lenses can be used
at their minimum focus distance. The flash opens automatically
if required.
Sports optimizes the
shutter speed to freeze movement. Focus is continuous
as long as the shutter release is held at the halfway
point. Both the built-in flash and the AF assist lamp
are turned off.
Night Landscape uses
a slow shutter speed to capture images in a dark environment.
The built-in flash and the AF assist lamp are turned off.
Night Portrait is designed
to capture a subject with the flash and still capture
a faintly lit background. The flash opens automatically
and operates in Slow Synch with red-eye reduction.
A few other buttons are positioned around the lens mount
of the D80:
At the top is the AF Assist
lamp, which also serves as the Self-timer indicator.
Two unlabelled buttons are positioned below:
The upper one is the Function button, and it can
be customized in the Custom menu. However, by default, when
pressed it indicates the current ISO sensitivity setting
in the viewfinder.
The lower button serves as a Depth of Field Preview
closing down the diaphragm to the selected aperture so the
zone that will be in focus in the image can be checked.
Three other buttons and a selector
are organized on the other side of the lens mount, two of which
function in conjunction with the Main and Sub Command dials:
The top button, positioned
near the IR sensor window (used by the optional ML-L3
remote control), serves to select the Flash Mode
in conjunction with the Main Command Dial. When the
camera is set to P, S, A or M, the available
modes are: Fill-in, Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync with
Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync, and Slow Sync with rear
curtain. While when the camera is set to Auto or any
of the Scene modes, when available, the modes are limited
to Auto and Red-eye Reduction.
Serves to adjust Flash
Compensation over a range of -3 EV to +1 EV, in 1/3
or 1/2 EV increments, using the Sub Command Dial.
BKT
Controls Bracketing
either for Exposure or White Balance,
depending on which Command Dial is used:
The Main Command Dial selects the type of
Exposure Bracketing:
Over 3 frames, with one overexposed by
the selected amount, one at the metered exposure,
and one underexposed by the selected amount.
Or over 2 frames, with either one frame
overexposed and one at the metered exposure, or
one frame at the metered exposure and one underexposed.
The Sub Command controls the Bracketing
increment:
Over ± 2 EV for exposure compensation.
Over 2 or 3 levels for White Balance Bracketing.
Next comes the Lens Release followed by the Focus
Mode Selector, which serves to switch between autofocus
(AF) and Manual Focus (MF).
All the remaining controls are on the back of the D80, starting
with those positioned on either side of the TTL viewfinder's
exit pupil:
On the left is the Delete
button. Pressing the button once displays a confirmation
message, and a second press deletes the image currently
on the monitor.
As a secondary function, the
Delete button, in combination with the metering mode button,
can be used to Format a memory card if both are
held pressed simultaneously for more than 2 seconds.
AE-L
AF-L
By default, the
button on the right side of the viewfinder serves to maintain
both the focus and exposure calculated by the camera,
making it possible to adjust the framing of a shot without
having the camera re-evaluate it. However, the way the
button behaves can be customized in the Custom menu (see
the Characteristics section of the review more
information).
The viewfinder of the D80 is
fitted with a removable rubber eyecup that can be replaced
by a cap — supplied with the D80 — to prevent
stray light from entering the camera during long exposures.
At the top right of the exit pupil, the viewfinder has a dioptre
correction that serves to adjust its image to one's eyesight.
As with the D70/D70s, the viewfinder of the D80 offers detailed
indications about the camera's current settings. Eleven AF
points are superimposed on the viewfinder's image, the active
AF point being surrounded by a frame. Similarly, a composition
grid is available, as are indications for "no memory
card" in the camera, or "low battery", or B&W,
all controlled by options of the Custom Menu.
These indicators light up briefly
when the shutter release is pressed. Below the image most
camera settings are shown in green; and, as with the Control
Panel, the length of time the display stays lit is linked
to the metering time, set in the Custom menu.
Five buttons are stacked on the left side of the 2.5-inch,
230,000 pixel monitor. Three of these buttons have
a dual function, one when the camera is set to a capture mode,
one when it is set to the Playback mode:
Starts the Playback mode.
Menu displays the menu,
which is composed of 4 sections: Playback, Capture,
Custom and Setup(the first three sections
of the menu are detailed in the Characteristics
section of the review, while the fourth is covered in
the Interface and Software section).
WB
Serves to set the White
Balance, in combination with the Main Command Dial:Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight,
Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Choose Colour Temperature (in
°K) and White Balance Preset (set to ambient light).
Moreover, using the Sub Command Dial, the white balance
can be Fine-tuned (± 3 steps in increments
of 1 step between 2500 and 9900°K).
With the menu on-screen,
the button can be used to display a short text description
of the currently highlighted option.
While with the camera in playback mode,it
can be used to Protect one or more images, preventing
their accidental erasure.
ISO
Serves to set the ISO
sensitivity when used in conjunction with the Main
Command Dial: Auto, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400,
500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250, 1600, HI 0.3 (equivalent to
2000 ISO), HI 0.7 (equivalent to 2500) and HI 1.0 (equivalent
to 3200 ISO).
And with the camera in Playback
mode, the button displays an Index view with at first
4 images per screen, then 9 when pressed a second time,
and the last used view is recalled even after the camera
has been turned off. In addition, when the image has been
magnified on screen, the button can be used to zoom out
gradually.
QUAL
Serves to select the Image
Quality when the camera is set to a capture mode and
the Main Command Dial is used, or set the Image Size
when the Sub command dial is used.
In the Playback mode, the
button serves to zoom into a part of an image (up to 25X);
and when going from one image to the next, the magnification
factor, as well as the area magnified, are applied to
each image.
On the other side of the monitor,
the D80 has a 4-direction control that Nikon has termed the
Multi-Selector. The Multi-Selector serves to navigate
the menus, select the AF point, as well as what information
is superimposed on the image in Playback. Directly below is
a Lock that can be used, for instance, to stop any
movement of the Multi-Selector and avoid accidentally changing
the selected AF point.
At the bottom, the OK button serves to confirm choices
and selections made in the various menus. To its right, a
small LED glows red when the memory card is accessed.
When an image is under review, the up and down arrows of the
Multi-Selector serve to control the quantity of information
displayed on the monitor:
Image + basic image data shown at the bottom.
Image + more detailed shooting data page 1.
Image + detailed shooting data page 2.
Retouch History (only if the image has been retouched
with the camera)
Image showing potentially overexposed areas as blinking.
Image + R, G, B and all channel histogram.
The D80 is equipped with a built-in
pop-up flash that has a Guide Number (GN) of 13/42 (m/ft)
at 100 ISO. When in use the Matrix metering system takes into
account the distance to the subject and adjusts the flash
output as required. The synchronization speed is 1/200 second.
The D80 is also equipped with an accessory shoe that allows
it to receive and be fully compatible with Nikon Speedlights
SB-800, 600, 80DX, 28DX, 28, 27 and 22s.
The D80 is not equipped with an X-Synch connector to allow
use of third party flash units.
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.
Compare Prices for Zeikos Professional Power Grip For Nikon D90/D80
Introduction
,
springing back to the On position.
:
if the button is pressed simultaneously with the Exposure
Compensation button, which also has a green dot,
the camera can be Reset and all settings, with
the exception of Custom settings, return to to their
factory defaults.
(empty) when there is no memory card in the camera.
