Nikon D80

Reviewed October 2006

Introduction

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 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:

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.

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:

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).

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.