After way too much time infront of a PC reading reviews or a camera store counter (damn I was sick of it), this D80 is what I chose. Bought it 2 weeks ago and then went on a 10 day trip West. After draging it everywhere I has not let me down. For the price its perfect. I'm still working out exactly how to make it work to its potential aswell as fighting understanding of other manufacturers camera layouts in my head) At work I have a Rebel Xt I bought last year as I need its compact casing. My Brother has the Canon D30 after he progressed from the XT and a friend on the west coast has the D200. Having experience both I still love what I chose. My biggest reason however for going again with Nikon was that I already have a N6006 film camera with a lens and my hope was I could use its Nikkor AF 35-105mm with this camera and give myself more options. After reading lots of reviews as to whether this was possible and finally taking the lens to a shop I found it worked fine. Experience in the field in the last 10 days has shown it does not work seemlessly buy that may well be me not the lens. The 2.5 inch LCD is sooo much easier to read than the Rebel XT. The info read out on top is much better placed than the one above the LCD on the XT (if obstructed in an architectural model shoot and I can't see through the viewfinder myself, I certainly can't see the info screen if its below it). I didn't go with the 18-135 in the end for a lens as there is a vinyetting issue at the high end which bothered me. I got a great deal for the same price at Cameraland in New Hampshire for the D80 and the (D70s) 18-70mm tried and trusted lens. Fab. Now need to save up and wait for the release of the 80-300 VR lens thats coming out. Would love the 80-400 Vr but its 3 times the price.
My hardest time was finiding someone with it in stock, at a price I wanted to pay, the set up I wanted and who wasn't trying to make a dodgie deal (like some of those cheap web based places in NYC).It really was the hardest part of the purchase in the end. I was surprised. Many people were almost reluctant to make a sale. It was wierd. Parts are hard to get too apparently like a spare battery and very few places have the 18-135 lens instock either.
Anyway enjoy your purchase if you choose this camera. I hope it takes many great pictures for you.

I've been looking at Digital SLRs ever since Canon came out with its 10D. Since then, there have been so many by so many companies. I've always been a Canon user. I have had 2 EOS bodies-the Elan IIE and the 7E. And also the Canon IX, its APS camera which I still have (its small viewfinder was a major disappointment).

Anyhow the 30D came along, and its viewfinder was small too. The camera was still too large for me, and I just wasn't sold. Now the Nikon D80. It is narrower than the Canon 30D, and what is breathtaking is the panoramically big viewfinder. Such a delight to use. The 2.5" LCD seems to fit perfectly in the back: nothing bigger or smaller would be right.

The pictures are fabulous. I bought a 2 GB Sandisk Ultra II card, which I thought would be fast. It takes about a half second for the picture to come on the LCD, but I'm not complaining. 2 GB is a big card. It can hold 500 photos using the Normal JPEG, large image. I'm sure the 1 GB would be faster. On the Canons, the onboard flashes never would use the advanced metering that the external flashes provided, but with the Nikon D80, I see such perfectly illuminated photos with the onboard flash.

The 18-135 lens is something I jumped for. 28-200 in 35 mm size is quite a huge range, and yet the lens is not massive. I thought hard about the Image stablization you could get with the Canon 18-85 IS lens, but naaah, the 30D just does not measure up so I dropped that idea. There are always such things called tripods!! The entire camera, lens and battery feel just right, and not too heavy. The lens is excellent. The kit fits nicely into a relatively small Lowepro bag.

This truly has been a camera worth waiting years for. 12 or 14 MP models are sure to come along in a couple of years, but I doubt that they can make the bodies any more compact; the file size is large enough as it is with 10 mega-pixel. The D80 is so perfect in shape I doubt Nikon can do much better. This is one fantastic digital SLR.

Raja

First of all I do not consider myself anything more than a very beginning photographer !!! So I will not go into anything technical. I will leave that to people who know more than I do. But what I am is an international traveler. I simply got tired of coming home from fantastic trips with "snapshots". I wanted someting much better, and boy did I get it with this camera. I looked at the D70s and since I have very small hands, I could never feel comfortable holding it. This camera is smaller without being small. I have only taken photos locally, but at this time of the year with the leaves changing it makes a good start. The built in editing features (filters etc.) are wonderful to work with. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who wants something more than "point and shoot" snap shots.

Hey there friends SiNMiN here with just a short word about this fantastic camera. I have been shooting cameras one way or another now for a living for nearly 15 years. I remember the days when we all dreamed of digital cameras and once we had them we dreamed of days like these! First let me say that I come from the uniqe perspective of having shot and worked on nearly every barnd and type of camera available at one time or another! So I have no Brand loyalty to speak of! I'm loyal to my pictures not cameras.At the time of writing this my D80 is on the way to me, I am making these remarks based on some tests I ran using a D80 and my D200.
I have to say right off that the D200 is just about the closest thing to the perfect digital SLR I have ever found, that is until I got hold of the D80, now there are 2!Sensor wise both cameras are identical as is shot to shot and start up time. The D200 is faster (5FPS) and has a bit more image control by way of the ability to change sharpness levels, contrast, and saturation. On this note the D80 simplfies the process with giving you the ability to photoshop your images within the camera. ( I really liked that!) You can bring out detail in shadows, add filter effects, the list goes on and on. But the important thing is the ability to change all the other aspects like in the D200 are there as well, making this one hell of a versitile camera. ISO performance is on par with Cannons 20 or 30D (Sorry Cannon)and quite frankly shuts the XT down all together. ( I used to use both these cameras so take my word for it!)I don't know about the XTi. ISO noise is controlled by Nikon in a different manner than Cannon, and wich method you will like better will depend on you. I feel that Nikon images clean up easier with better results, and thier software is better. Both cameras are built extremely well, The D80 is built to last as long as you can when treated right, the D200 however lets you hammer nails all day and take pictures till dawn. At 1/500 flash sync is slower on the D80 but unless you know what that is don't worry about it, even then its no big deal. The other downside...SD cards...but I love the camera so I'll just have to get over it. And, the battery life is much better than the D200, (Speed needs juice folks)Low light photos are better with the D200, mainly because of a little better setting control, shot to shot both cameras perform about the same. The LCD and view finder are the same as the D200 and are both clear and bright as well as a joy to work with. The control layout is placed perfectly so much so that once you learn your way around you will find yourself changing things without looking!I love Sigma lenses and both Nikons work like a charm with all my glass, in fact the response on both was so good I was able to shoot hand held with a Sigma 50-500mm at ISO 400 in the late afternoon. And both cameras nailed each picture tack sharp! Cannons do not work well with any lenses other than Cannons.. Trust me!! I will write more in depth once my camera arrives. Then I can really get into it and see what makes it tick. But let me leave you with this thought...In my opinion Olympus, Pentax, Samsung, Pannasonic, Sony, and now Cannon are all in what I call the gimmick camera business ( another Sony Invention) Relying on gimmicks rather than improving the basic function of the product. They all are guilty save Nikon who has maintained it level of performance and even improved upon it. In ALL respected circles the D200 is considered to be the finest camera available under $2000...it is. The D80 is the finest camera for $1000 and under. Like I said I have no brand loyalty, if Cannon or even Maytag could deliver a camera that could beat this I'd switch in a heartbeat, but I can tell you folks they have a long, long, way to go. Nikon just took it out a whole new door! I'll let you know when I have more. Thanks for your time and as always happy shooting!!

SiNMiN

Since this camera just hit the streets less than 2 weeks ago, I obviously haven't had this for a super long time, but I moved to the D80 as an upgrade from the terrific D50, and the D80 takes care of every single minor nitpick I had with the D50, and then takes it even beyond that. Moreover, since I moved from the D50 and not a D70-series, I was thrilled that the D80 uses Secure Digital (SD) flash cards, which I used for not only my D50, but for my Casio EX-Z750 point and shoot as well.

As with the D50, the D80 just feels terrific in my hand. I was concerned initially because the ergonomics of the grip have been ever so slightly modified (more like that of the D70s than the D50), and I really liked the feel of the D50. However, once I got the D80 and actually started using it and shooting with it, the concern evaporated quickly. The D80 is a complete success ergonomically... it feels solid and substantial without being excessively heavy. Nikon has really always excelled in this niche, which isn't something that shows up in most reviews or on any test charts. Moreover, the controls are very logically placed, easy to identify and use in real-world photography, and the menus are intuitive and highly functional.

This camera is FAST. It's senseless to really even try to quantify it because the numbers (less than 0.1 second to start up) just don't convey how instantaneous shooting with this camera is. There's no discernible shutter lag, and shot-to-shot time is as fast as you need it to be. The D80 can fire up to 3 frames per second, up to 100 JPGs deep. Amazing for a sub-$1,000 camera.

The things missing from the D50 that the D80 addresses? Backlit LCD, superimposable gridlines in the finder, depth of field preview, one-button bracketing, bright and large viewfinder, one-touch zooming on picture playback, ISO equivalency down to 100, and a snap-on clear plastic cover for the monitor.

As a bonus, some of the in-camera retouching options are fantastic. You can take a color shot, then convert it to B&W with a red filter (still preserving your original image). You can utilize red-eye reduction (in the uncommon instances when it occurs at all), and Nikon's D-lighting is the digital equivalent of dodging and burning, and I love it. There is even a color balance shift function which is fun to play with.

The autofocusing on the camera is staggeringly fast when coupled with the right lens. (I recommend the Nikon 18-70mm DX lens; I'm not a fan of the kit lenses offered with the D80. They're very good optically, but the build quality is lacking for my personal tastes.) Like other Nikon dSLRs, the D80 has an independent AF-assist light (some other cameras rely on the flash unit for this). For AF lenses utilizing the screw-driven focusing mechanism, there is a noticeable increase in focusing speed over the D50. You can also employ an 11-segment dynamic AF grid and select which segment will be used for the point of focus.

A word about the pop-up flash: It's brilliant. Rarely does a camera with a built-in flash get it right so often with such consistency. I took numerous flash photos in sometimes varying and difficult lighting situations, and the D80 nailed it every single time.

The LCD is the best I've seen to date on any camera. Plenty of cameras have 2.5" monitors now, but this one has 230,000 pixels and is gorgeously sharp and detailed. You can view it from any angle in a 170-degree arc. Similarly, the viewfinder is a major improvement over both the D50 and the D70 series. Rather than utilizing a cheaper pentamirror like some of the competition, Nikon elects to use a genuine pentaprism which allows the finder to be nice and bright. Additionally, the diopter control knob with detents for each setting is a welcome change from the slider on the D50.

Image quality is superb, as one would expect from a 10.2 MP dSLR. I like sharp, vivid pictures, and the D80 delivers. Different processing algorithms can be selected in the menu to yield different degrees of sharpness and saturation. I haven't had any of my photos from the D80 printed out yet; only viewed them on a 19" monitor, but they look terrific. The D80 can also shoot NEF (RAW) files simultaneously with JPGs in one of three compression modes. Very nice.

Battery life is exceptional. It's fantastic on the D50, even better on the D80. A six-segment display on the top LCD panel shows you how much life remains, or you can go to the menu and see how many shots have been fired since the battery was recharged, an exact percentage (to 1%) of life remaining, and the battery's "charge life" remaining (since any rechargeable battery has a finite number of charge cycles in it).

I bought the 2-lens package from Cameta Camera (available through Amazon, though you can call the camera store directly and get the same package for $40 less than Amazon charges). For my needs, the Tamron 28-80mm lens is, quite frankly, virtually worthless, so it immediately went on eBay, and I bought a new Nikon 18-70mm DX lens in its place (a vastly superior lens). However, the Tamron 70-300mm Di LD Macro lens that's included is a surprisingly good piece of glass. I've shot nature and architectural-type photos with the D80 and the Tamron 70-300mm and was very pleasantly surprised at the results. The lens seems to be quite clear and sharp, it focuses quickly with no "hunting," and the 1:2 macro ratio is terrific. The short end of the zoom range on the 70-300mm is excellent for portrait work; this is enhanced by the foreshortening effect of the long lens. Coupled with the excellent Nikon 18-70mm lens, I have essentially the entire range of useful focal lengths covered (although those 12-24mm super wides do make me drool a bit!). Like many Nikon users, I'd love to have the 18-200mm VR lens, but I'm unwilling to pay a $200-300 premium over its list price simply because it's hard to find anywhere in stock nearly a year after its release. I'll wait.

As for the D80, though, if you have any interest in owning a serious dSLR, buy this camera and don't even think twice about it. For 2006 and likely for 2007, it's the right choice. The D80 is highly recommended as the perfect camera for the advanced amateur or enthusiast photographer. It bridges the gap between the D50 and the D200 perfectly. Pair this camera up with a high-quality lens, and a good photographer will have a tool with which stunning images can be made.

I recently test drove a D200 and was impressed with the useabiity of the camera. It is almost perfect. When buying I opted for the D80 because it has a very similar feature-set for less cash. Which meant additional money for lenses. OK, it doesn't shoot 5fps or have the alloy body with weather seals, but it does have the sensor and useability. It is light, quick and a joy to use. Changing settings such as ISO, WB and flash is almost as easy as the D200. This is a fine camera. And it uses SD cards - much more preferable than CF in my opinion. Worth every penny.

I just purchased this camera and lens (with another lens in a different set) and it has blown me away so far. The pictures have been just incredible. The focus, metering, exposure, flash, color balance... Everything is perfect so far.

I have mainly used the camera in full automatic mode and it really shines. Its as simple as a point and shoot in this mode. I have used the camera in difficult lighting situations and the photos have been incredible. There is no noticeable shutter lag, which is very important to me. I have a 6 yo son who goes from smiling one moment to looking away the next. I have missed so many photos in the past due to shutter lag, but that is not a problem with this camera. Another feature that helps is the continuous mode. I can take 3 pics a second for up to 100 pics and then select the best. Generally I find I can get a good pic in like 10-15 photos.

I used to be a serious photo hobbist during the days of film, but always had problems finding a darkroom to develop my film. The darkroom issue and the shear cost of film and paying for processing made me abandon the hobby. But this camera is really bringing back the excitement of this hobby again without the trials and expense of the darkroom.

The only downside in this camera is the price, but in this instance, you get what you pay for. You might be able to save a buck or two with another camera, but I wouldn't even try. I can't imagine a camera taking a better picture.

By the way, I love this lens. The 18 to 55 mm focal length is a nice every day lens. Its much wider angle then you find on the point and shoot cameras, yet you can still get close. I have a 55-200 mm lens as well, but I find I use the 18-55 lens more. The shorter lens is great in confined spaces, where you can't easily back away from the subject, and its always better to move closer to your subject than use a long lens (unless you can't for safety reasons).

My only regret is waiting so long to get a DSLR camera of this quality. It has really opened up a old hobby for me.

I started with a D50 and have loved it from the very begining. I felt ready to step up to the next level, but didn't think I was ready for the d200. When I heard about the d80, I read everything I could. The biggest selling point was the fact that it was the same internal workings as the d200 in the more consumer friendly d50 body. I don't use all of the mode setting and find myself in Shutter and Aperture Priority most of the time, but it's nice to have the others there when I don't want to think about or have time to fiddle with settings.

The in camera image enhancements are amazing--but a word of caution. Vivid +2 will definitely give you vivid shots--if not too much so.

I've had this baby for about 2 weeks and imagine it will be my camera for the next couple years.

Compared to the Canon 30d (which I was thinking about) or even the new 400d (I haven't actually held one yet), this is the Nikon to have.

On batter life, I had a recent shoot where I took over 800 shots in a 3 hour period. The battery was at about half and that's with quite a bit of LCD viewing.

At this level both Canon and Nikon offer great equipment--you can't go wrong with either. Just get one of each in your hands, snap a few shots, and go with the one that feels the best for you.

This camera is awesome! I upgraded from my D50 for the better sensor and more MP. Wow - am I amazed at the increase in quality. Say goodbye to that digital look. The extras are a lot of fun and I've only begun to play. B/W with various filters to name one. Very worth the money.

Obviously, I am enamored with the Nikon D80. As one who has extensively used the D100, D70s, and D200, I was curious as to how the D80 would "shake out" in comparison with these fine cameras. The answer is that it does very well indeed.

The most obvious improvement in D80 over the D70s and D100 is the upgrade from 6.1 to 10.2 Megapixels--the same as its "Big Brother," the D200 This is not a major issue for many users, as a 6.1 MP image (uncropped) looks essentially exactly the same as a 10.2 MP image. However, if the user intends to crop images in post-processing, the larger amount of resolution becomes important--the more megapixels the more detail when images are cropped. Shooters of wildlife, for example, will appreciate the additional resolution of the D80, as it is often necessary to photograph wildlife at a distance and then crop the image to cause the subject to dominate the frame.

The other very obvious D80 improvements are the larger viewfinder and larger rear-LCD. These are very welcome improvements, also borrowed from the D200. The viewfinder is wide, bright, and a literal joy to use. Combined with the 11-point autofocus system (basically the same as that of the D200 although with some differences in options) the viewfinder makes the D80 a powerhouse camera for moving subjects, or for framing the subject in places other than the center of the image.
The autofocus is fast and sure. I literally never use manual focus with the D80--the autofocus is just too good not to use for almost every conceivable situation.

The 2.5 inch rear LCD is bright and vivid--a joy to use. This too, as mentioned above, is borrowed from the D200. The menu selections in the D80 closely track those of the D200 and are largely pretty intuitive for anyone who is somewhat familiar with the Nikon system.

A few nits. First of all, the D80 does not have a selection for focus-priority continuous focus mode. This is unfortunate, as such an option (present on the D200) allows fast action shots using continuous-focus with surety that the subject is, in fact, in focus. Happily, this absence (which I predict and hope Nikon will correct in a later firmware revision) is not a huge loss. I have shot hundreds of images of fast-flying birds using continuous focus with the D80 and the images are almost all perfectly focused. The user can trust the D80 in continuous focus mode, focus priority or no.

Nikon chose to equip the D80 with SD cards rather than CF cards. Why Nikon did this is a mystery to many of us as the D80 clearly is an upgrade to the wonderful D70s, which uses CF cards. Further, the D80 is a fantastic backup camera for D200 users, and the D200, of course, also uses CF cards rather than SD cards. CF cards would have been a more logical choice in my opinion for the D80. Fortunately, the cost of these media is dropping so fast that this is less of an issue than it would have been a few years ago.

The D80 sucks up power a lot faster than the D70s. That 2.5 inch LCD entails higher power use as a price. Most users will want to own a spare battery.

As to ergonomics, the D80 is terrific! I have just finished an 8 day stay on Maui, Hawaii, during which my D80 was literally always with me. The weight of the camera is low, and its bulk, reasonable. There is no digital SLR I would rather carry for an extended period than the compact D80. The placement of the various controls is excellent, and pretty intuitive. The quality of the D80 body construction is standard Nikon-Prosumer grade, which is to say, excellent albeit not as heavy-duty as the metal-body D200.

Overall, the D80 is destined to become one of the great Nikon cameras that will find a place with users all over the world.

It doesn't get any better at this price point. Excellent build quality, very easy to use, and intuitive. The optics are simply brilliant for a kit lense (135MM).

Went from a Canon Rebel film SLR which I loved, but when I tried to move into the XTi, there was just no comparison between the XTi and the D80. You could immediately feel the difference in quality and functionality. And the auto-clean feature is absolute marketing crap from Canon. THe CMOS shakes off the dust, but then where does the dust go? Bologna feature, not to mention the Flash nearly knocks your eye out when it pops up on the Canon XTi.

The D80 blows it away, and for it's price there is nothing out there better. If your in the market at this price point, or relatively close, just go for it. You WILL NOT regret this purchase.

You are reading a non technical review from your average fun photographer. So don't expect a lot of technical stuff. I finally stepped up from a Fuji S9000. I have loved my Fuji cameras ease of use and the colors they produce. I was a little reluctant to spend the kind of money it takes to get into the D80. I am thrilled I did. I finally have a digital camera that when the kids do something I catch it as opposed to the camera taking the shot after they have left the room. Super fast. A few Saturdays ago I was outside in our wooded back yard taking pictures of the changing colors in the trees.
When I went to take a shot the flash popped up. I said this isn't right the sun in filtering though the trees but I took the shot anyway. Wow the camera new what to do. Unbelievable photos. Easy to handle even with the pistol
grip MB D80. I also sprung for the SB600 flash and a great two dvd training program on Ebay. So don't be afraid to spend a couple of grand for the D80 and accesories. You will be glad you did. Happy in Alabama

I tried using the Canon XTI, then the D80, I was so amazed with the D80 I wouldn't ever recommend the XTI. I took two photos of my girlfriend, one with the XTI and one with the D80, the one taken with the Canon looked like a photo taken with a 5.0 MP Point-and-shoot lil' digital camera, the one I took with the D80 looked like a photo ready to use for a magazine cover, not even exagerating. Nikon D80 felt better in my hands and the extra LCD on top just works for me! Awesome camera, I would recommend it to ANYONE. It's my new favorite toy =]

There is not much of a practicle difference in the D70 and the D80. I had used the D70 for two years and nine thousand captures before jumping on the bandwagon with the D80. The view finder is larger in the D80, the viewing screen is much larger then in the D70, and some of the controls have their own buttons for more convenient adjustments.

But when push comes to shove the D70 pictures are in most recognizable respects just as good as the D80. The extra pixels don't get you better pictures. The D80 makes getting better pictures a little easier. The D80 has a bigger viewfinder and bigger viewing screen which is real nice, but the extra money is not going to get you better pictures.

For most picture that we take the d70s will do the job and get very good high quality results under most circumstances. The d50 might do the job just as well.

I like the d80 but all things considered it does not out perform the d70. The exra money would be better spent on a good lens.

First, note that most of the reviews for Nikon D80 here are before Pentax
K10D was out. Since both are similarly priced, I think that it should be
reviewed relatively. And in my experience with both cameras, I think that
Pentax K10D is (almost) everyway better than Nikon D80.
Nikon D80 is a very good camera. If I didn't get Pentax K10D, I would have
given 5 stars. But if I have to give Pentax 5 stars, I can't give Nikon
D80 the same.

I ordered Nikon D80 and 18-200mm lens in August from Amazon. They were
all out of stock, and were expected to arrive in the beginning of Nov.
But only the camera arrived in early October. Without any lens, I just
left it for a while, and eventually borrowed a Nikon 50mm F1.4 prime lens
from a friend. It was pretty nice, and I satisfied with the result.
But 18-200mm lens never arrived in Nov. It was in fact pushed further
back to next year. So, I simply returned D80, and ordered Pentax K10D
with the kit lens.

I immediately felt the D80 and K10D are in different level. K10D feels
heavier, bigger, and more professional. K10D's shake reduction really
worked very well. And there are tons of more functionalities than D80.
From my eyes, images qualities are almost the same. K10D slightly
more vibrant. But all these things can be altered by post-processing,
and just comparing the image results, I don't think that there is any
quality difference.

K10D are comapred with Nikon D200 or Canon 30D. It is not same as
in D80 level, but only in price.

I bought the D80 a week ago and have been experimenting with all the features the camera has to offer. I went to my local store and tried Rebel XTi, A100, and D80 and hands down the D80 was the best. From the menu layout to the feel of the camera in my hands it just seemed like a solid piece of equipment. It was a little more expensive then the competition but If I am going to spend a lot of money on a camera lenses etc.. It should be what I wanted and the D80 by far hands down took the best pictures and was the most pleasing to use. Although I am not a pro photographer by any means I am technically savy and I would highly recommend this camera to anyone who wants consistently great results with relative ease of use.

I've owned a Nikon D80 for over two months and made 1200+ shots with the D80 so far. My experience with the image performance of the D80 reveals that: Pros of this camera (most important in my opinions):

1. Nearly instant start up.
2. 10.2 MP sensor offering better possibilities with it comes to cropping
3. Prism view finder with grids
4. Excellent usability
5. Most default setting are very liable
6. Bright LCD monitor on the back
7. It is small and light enough so that the middle finger of my right hand don't hurt after 200 shots in an afternoon without a tripod. Highly recommended to anyone has small hands like mine.

and on and on

Cons:

1. Metering. The D80 has a very strong tendency of over exposure and its over exposure behaviour is not consistent. I was constantly turning the exposure compensation up and down from 0 EV to -2 (!!!) EV when doing landscape or street shots. On D80 it is very easy to adjust the compensation but still you need at least 10 seconds to press the +/- button, test shoot, looking at the monitor, if not right, execute the action loop again....it has been very frustrating to me sometimes. In a time-critical shooting like a sudden event on the street, the need of twiddling the exposure compensation all the time might make you miss the most interesting moment. I really really really wish Nikon could fix this problem in the next version of the firmware for D80.

2. The diffraction is easily visible when the aperture is smaller than f/13. However for "tact sharp" landscape shoots, f/22+ is usually desirable.

These are the only two things which have been bothered me. I would like to give it a 4.5 star, rounded to 5.

When I am on the run, I use the automatic/default setting a lot. The most impressive automatic setting on the D80 is "night scene (landscape)" mode. The over exposure in daytime is a failure of D80, but it turned out such a nice feature at night. All my night shoots using the automatic night mode look brilliant and fabulous. D80 not only outperforms other DSLRs on the automatic night scene (landscape) mode, but also beats my manual settings most of the time when shooting city lights.

I resisted "going digital" until now, but my wife got me a D80 for Christmas. I've worked in photography but for many years it has been a hobby (which I prefer), and I've owned Nikon F2, F3HP, Bronica 6x6, and various 4x5 view cameras. One thing I've always struggled with in using the highly convenient 35mm SLR format is enlargement capability with such small format images. Once you've used 4x5 it's hard to settle for the graininess and low resolution of most 35mm films (Kodachrome excepted). But the 10 megapixel D80 may finally solve this for me.

The D80 + 18-135mm ED lens is an amazing package, and I salute Nikon for offering the new digital SLR this way. The capabilities of the D80 with this lens are impressive--and far beyond my rudimentary digital knowledge at this point. But learning how it all works is going to be a whole heck of a lot of fun.

Most of my reluctance over "going digital" evaporated the first time I plugged the D80's USB cord into my computer and watched the images I'd just taken load automatically into Adobe Photoshop Elements. Literally a few moments later I watched a beautiful slide show of my images--with music to boot--play across the computer screen with incredible clarity and resolution. Wistful memories of Kodachrome? Well yes, but I think I'll get over them with this camera.

One worry I had as an eyeglass wearer was whether the D80's viewfinder and eyepiece would allow me to see the entire image plus the exposure info while shooting---other digital SLRs I've tried were problematic in this. But I find the view through the D80 eyepiece is nearly as good as my F3 High Eyepoint body. This is significant and telling to me, since the D80 is decidedly an amateur camera while the F3 was Nikon's flagship pro SLR in its day.

Criticisms: not many at this point. The camera feels too light to me, but I'm used to the F3/MD3 motor drive combo, which most photographers today would think a punishment to carry and use. I'm inclined to say that the array of options in programming, exposure adjustment, autofocus, etc. is dizzying to me, and I'm not sure how much of it is really necessary. But, again, I think it will be fun playing with all the obscure settings.

An amazing machine, highly recommended--even for old guys like me.

I have been amazed at how easy to use the D80 is, while also creating unbelievably clear and crisp shots. It is easy enough for the novice photographer, yet advanced enough for the pros.

I used this with the 18-200mm VR lens and found the combo heavy. So I sent it back and got the D40 which I prefer (because it is lighter). After trying various menu interfaces, I prefer the type used by Panasonic - a four way circular button which give you direct access to Exposure Compensation, flash exposure compensation, ISO, WB, etc. But this is a matter of personal preference, and so some people might prefer the Nikon approach.

Some of settings could be better designed. For instance the ISO settings are placed in Custom settings and in other menus. You need to make changes to both to get the settings you want. It would make more sense if they were in the same place. I also found that some of the custom selections were things that should be available in the shooting menu.

Other than these minor quibbles, this is a great camera.

This is a very comfortable camera (with 18-135 lens). The 11 focus areas are a great help to accurately focus, color is excellent. Progaming is intuitive and has very good features. A great camera for starters in the SLR world!

I was about to drop all "big" reflex cameras for a pocket camera
Now I have both and I am astonished by Nikon's masterpiece
A bit complicated for my age but worth every penny

My wife and I owned a Nikon N70 35mm film camera prior to purchasing the D80 and we have been very impressed so far with the D80. We've taken about 400 pictures so far. When you're not buying film you tend to get carried away! The 18-135mm lens that comes with the Nikon equates to about the 28-200mm lens that we had with with our 35mm format camera because of the digital format conversion. This lens is versatile enough that you probably will not need to buy a second zoom lens. Most of the other digital SLR camera kits only come with an 18-55mm lens and in my opinion you would need to either purchase a more versatile lens or purchase a second zoom lens (55mm and up). I also like the feel of the Nikon SLR's. They are heavier than other SLR's but they feel solidly built. We are using a 2GB SD card with the camera and it will hold about 400+ pictures on the high quality setting which is what we have it set on most of the time. My wife scrapbooks and loves the ability to shoot pictures and then printout the ones she wants to keep for scrapbooking.

I only made two additional purchases in addition to the kit. The SD card (a 2GB Sandisk Extreme III which is one of the recommended cards for this camera)and an SB-800 flash. The flash was somewhat expensive at about $300 but it does a good job and came with a diffusor in addition to some other accessories. The flash also has a wireless capability that can be used with the D80. The built-in flash on the camera is very capable as well.

To date, in my opinion this DSLR is by far the best Camera for the money. The image quality is outstanding. I upgrade to the D80 just last week, moving up from my D70s, and I can say that after 10 minuets of shooting, it was worth every penny, in face it should be worth more than its going for. It has the feel of my D70s but better, I always found the D70s to be a little bit too bulky. The D80 is a little smaller, and a lot easier on my hands (I have large hands too), I did however find it to be a little short from top to bottom.

I also purchased the MB-D80 Battery Grip, this fixed my fitment issue. Not only does this allow you to add another battery (Or 6AA which is great for a pinch with two dead Li-ions), vertical shutter release, Aperture, shutter setting scroll knob,and AE-l AF-L Lock button. It also makes the whole camera more steady and a little bit more heavy, which is a good thing, this means less lens blur especially for zoom lens (like the 18-135). Look at the $4,000 Nikon D2X and the D80 with MB-D80 Battery grip side by side, this gives you an idea of the professionalism, simply in the camera size and layout.

Getting back to the D80, This is basically a D200 mini, if you will. Other than the smaller body, and the slightly different auto exposure metering system, you are holding a D200 for $700 less. In short, if you are looking to upgrade from a D50, D70(s) Cannon Rebel Xt, or would like a worthy back up, or even your first DSLR. This is it, a professional grade camera, with easy to use features, and even better all around quality.Its great for anyone really.

Nikkor lens are amazing quality as well, I have always preferred them to Cannon's. If you are thinking about getting the 18-135mm with the D80, I would recommend it. Overall, the lens is sharp and clear, with a great range that does not sacrifice too much considering the range. I would however recommend getting the Nikkor 18-200mm VR over this lens if you can afford the extra money. I have used both(and own the 18-135) and they are both great lenses, but if you are Serious the 18-200 VR will be the only lens you would ever need in that range, the Vibration Reduction (VR) will remove blur for up to four stops higher than what you would normally be able to shoot at.This is great for low light, and considering how great the D80 performs in low light anyways with its built in Noise Reduction and wonderful ISO quality, even at 1600. Its a perfect combination for anyone who is half way serious about pictures. I am a Photography Student, and even my professor is astonished with the resolution and quality.

I hope this helps a little bit!

My complaint is not with the camera but with the company. As a strategy to maximize profits, the company sells for different prices in different countries. Entrepreneurs then import those units and sell them here sometimes at a discount.

I paid full price for my Nikon D80 and discovered when I went to upload a firmware update that my unit was not supported. No software updates. No firmware updates and most importantly no Nikon warranty.

What amazes me is that when I wrote Nikon to explain the problem, they made it my problem and accepted no responsibility for the problem that they create. I always thought Nikon was a great brand but when they make the customer responsible for policing their attempt at maximizing profits, it's a company that I have no respect for. I even called Nikon before the purchase and no one even bothered to warn me about this so called gray market!

I suggest that you look at Canon as a more customer-centric company.

What's not to like? It ups the ante considerably from my D70. Just the improved viewfinder and low noise at high ISO were enough to justify the purchase.

I have had this camera a few weeks and it is very good. The 18-135 lens has one or two nits but overall I am very satisfied. I have been in Spain the last week and have taken hundreds of photos. The clarity is good and the night noise reduction works excellent. The camera feels better than my old D-70 and the quality in the photos is better. The only downside to the whole kit that I have angst with is using filters on the lens. The filters are very hard to attach and the screw adapter on the lens seems to be a bit small. I can attach the filters but it is not as easy as it should be. I would recommend this camer to any Nikon user upgrading or to someone new entering the DSLR game. Obviously if You are a Canon user or similar your mileage will vary.

This camera is, in my opinion, the best Nikon compromise just now between high performance and price. It is not a professional camera, but has on-board electronics that are virtually of professional level. The quality of the pictures is superb, and the camera is extremely versatile: one can just aim and shoot, without any worry for complicated settings, but one can also fully personalize the camera to his or her own wishes if one likes.
The lens is also very good, and covers most of the everyday needs of an amateur photographer.
I am very satisfied indeed with it!

this is a great camera! i'll be honest, i did alot of research and did find that certain comparable models made by cannon have a little more crispness when all the way zoomed in on the digital image, but personally, i trust nikon as a brand more than cannon. mostly its because the nikon uses the standard F-mount, so even my nearly 30 year old pro lenses that were originally purchased to work on a nikon f2 WORK with this camera! yes, they dont auto-focus or use all the built-in features of the newer computerized lenses, but they work manually as they did on my f2. cannon is only apparently compatible with the newer computerized AF lenses.

in the end, i hightly recommend this camera. however, if you have a bunch of AF cannon lenses already, you're probably not reading this. :D

The camera came with a problem and I tried to solve the issue with Adorama (seller) and had a horrible experience. I am now dealing with Nikon and their customer service is extremely better.

This camera perfect for the advanced enthusiast. SLR flexibility, sharp lens, and wonderful image quality are what you can expect. I recommend it highly.

The Nikon D80 is an excellent camera. How infrequent a product thrills so much after buying it. Bra-frakking-vo Nikon!
I have been taking photographs all my life and wanted a top quality near-pro digital SLR. I considered the D200, but liked that the D80 shares the most critical features and core imaging system with the D200 *and* adds in the automatic features for when I want to shoot more rapid spontaneous shots. It really is the best of both worlds.
I have used this for a month now and only found a few flaws.
Pros:
-too numerous to mention. -Battery life is incredible
-Color capture is terrific
-Sharpness of image terrific
-Speed of the system to turn on and be ready to capture is lightning fast
-3 shots per second capability. Not the 5 fps of the D200, but c'mon, I am not a war photojournalist. 3fps is fine for me.
Cons
-First, when using the onboard built in flash, its default setting is for TTL-BL, meaning that it tries to match the overall scene-results in some underexposure that needs correcting in photoshop.
-The only other flaw I can find is the availability of some Nikon components. I wanted to add a SB600 flash, this took a few weeks to find in stock. The same is true of some of the Nikon lenses. THis seems to be a problem of Nikon being too popular or a messed up manufacturing system back at HQ. Actually to put on my cynical hat for a moment, my suspicion is that Nikon is restricting some of their new VR lenses to kit lenses for the D200 to keep it from being completely cannibalized by the awesome D80.
You will not regret buying this awesome camera.
As far as D80 vs D200, here is my advice. Go with D80. You cannot hand the D200 to a non-pro and expect them to take decent photos with it, but with the D80 you really could set it to auto and anyone can take great shots. Also, the optics and performance will rival the D200 for much less price. Better to spend the difference in filters and lenses. Bottom line is, D200 is heavier and has less ease of use features. THe extra features it has, you won't use unless you do photography for a living. If thats the case, you probably need the D2X anyway.

Years ago, I had been shooting with SLR cameras for a long time, using my old Canon AE1 for scenics and portraits. In those days there were no way to do multiple exposures in the camera, only in the darkroom. But then Canon came out with the (black)Canon A1 with it's multiple exposures control 'slip' lever and I was in heaven!!

But, That was 'a long time ago...in a galaxy far,far away.

Since the arrival of the DSLR, I could not find a multiple exposures digicam. So, I settle for photoshop software to do it. BUT now that's changed. Nikon is truely a smart company. FINALLY! a Multiple Exposure DSLR-The Nikon D80 10.2MP has arrived. Man that's GREAT!!! a DSLR that can do IN CAMERA multiples. I'm in heaven again. These shots are amazing!!

With all the great features and Multiple Exposure too, that alone would cause me to buy this camera.

Portraits here I come!!!

This is a great camera that is very versatile and it is good for almost any kind of situation, especially when it is combine with the Nikor 18-135mm lens. Only limitation is the built-in flash. Need exterior flash if you do a lot of indoor shooting. The battery life is superior compare to other digital cameras that I owned. Only complaint is that the body looks cheap with mostly plastic.

I love this camera. The Menu is easy to understand and use. It does not take long to become familiar with the features. Picture quality is great. It has a good ergonomical grip and body weight. Great SLR camera for beginners and professionals alike.

This camera arrived and I was amazed at how friendly it is. Previously I shot film with a Nikon N70 as a serious amateur occasionally making some money with it. All I had to do was charge the battery, easily set the time and date and it was ready to go. The controls for even the more complicated features are very intuitive if you just spend a little time glancing through the manual. Because it's winter in Minnesota, I haven't had any time yet to use it outside but the shots I've taken with just the on camera flash have came out well. I'm still not sure what I'm going to use for an everyday lens for this camera but in the meantime, my AF 35 to 80 lens from my N70 works very well. The 2gb card that I bought for it has plenty of capacity even if I shoot in RAW. I still have plenty to learn especially about some of the on-camera editing features but everything has been so easy to learn so far so I expect that to come quickly as well.

I bought this camera around 4 months ago and have used it almost every day since then. I spent about 2 months researching cameras online, in stores, and talking to photographers. After all of my research the D80 fit my needs best, and overall I have been extremely happy with it. As someone who has shot with an SLR before, and spent a good but of time in the dark room doing processing and printing, this camera has been a lot of fun. I had gotten out of photography as a hobby due to the time constraints of working in a dark room, but with Photoshop and a digital SLR you can do pretty much anything you want at home in a fraction of the time.

To start with, the ergonomics of this camera are amazing. It feels extremely comfortable in my hands. I would suggest going and handling a few camera to get an idea of what is comfortable before you buy something. All of the controls are very intuitive, making it easy to switch from shooting with a film camera.

The image quality is great. Much of this depends on your lens, but the sensor on this camera does a tremendous job rendering images that you shoot. If you get a kit, start off with the 18-55mm lens kit, it is a great lens at a low cost. Then research lenses and find out what is best going to fit your needs.

As for quality, the camera is built great. It is not weatherproofed, and has a plastic housing, but unless you are a professional photographer this probably won't matter to you. Just take care of it and it will last you.

So if you are looking to step up to an SLR, this is a great place to start. When you buy this camera, learn how to use it, and you will be very happy with it. If you are looking at something to keep on auto the whole time, stick to a point and shoot because this will not make you a better photographer, although it will make you look like one...

I bought my Nikon D80 early November and am having a blast with it.
The rapid burst mode is perfect for my high action soccer and softball shots. I am able to get incredible high resolution, in focus, in frame pictures of my kids. I LOVE this camera. I still have a lot to learn however, and am fairly new to digital photography. I was able to pick this up and use before reading the manual. I am still working through the functionality, and am pleasantly surprised everytime I figure out a new feature I did not know I had.

I purchased this for my wife and I in an attempt to capture better pictures of our young 1 year old boy.
The camera is very easy to use and coupled with research on sites such as [...] we are learning more and more.
the 18-135 lens has a great range and is very good for our day to day photography. Of course I already have a couple more lens in mind that I would love to get next!
We also purchased an sb-600 flash which makes a huge difference indoors.
This camera kit is great and very useful and I am happy I got this one over the 18-55 kit.

We recently purchased a Nikon D50 and liked it very
much. However, this D80 exceeds the D50 in many
ways and takes great photos. This is probably not
the camera for the point-and-shoot person, but
actually the automatic operation of the camera makes
high-quality quick shots quite easily.

There is some question about the quality of the lenses
supplied with these kits. This particular lens is
very flexible and takes excellent photos, so we don't
have a gripe with it. We have purchased separate macro
lenses (made by a 3rd party manufacturer) and are
quite happy with them. Note that many Nikon lenses
are expensive, because they have extremely high
standards for their product. We are satisfied with
some 3rd party lenses.

Like any pro/am digital camera, there are a jillion
settings and options. We are still learning them.
We took part in a local photo class with a professional,
and he strongly suggested using the manual settings
only. If we have time, we do that, but using the
shutter or aperture priority options works very
well indeed.

If you buy this camera, get lots of SD chips!

There is a raging controversy between the Nikon
users and the Canon Rebel (etc) users. We have not
actually used the Canon, but we know people who do,
and they swear by that manufacturer. We are very
happy with the Nikon.

Great camera. Great replacement for my N75. Shutter delay is fast enough to catch my one year old.

Awesome Awesome Awesome. Super fast shutter speed. A++ picture quality. The first digital camera that I've owned that actually acts like a 35mm. This one is worth the money!

D80 is a feature laden camera for sure, however, it has the worst owner manual with really cheap print to go with it. I remember my Nikon FA's owner manual which has a concise ilustration and a quality glossy print. This manual is like someon stapled it from a copier! This camera has a wealth of features but the illustrations were poorly organized, jump back and forth makes it hard to follow, definitely not user friendly. No wonder there are a lot of DVD/books on the operations of D80. You have to buy another software from Nikon to do some advanced work, why? Why can't Nikon provide us a well organized manual with a DVD. Why do we have to BUY from another source. Do you buy another car manual from else where to supplement the owner manual? Do you buy a manual for your plasma TV or receiver to augment the manual from the mfg? Why can't Nikon do it right! Nikon should know that it sells a QUALITY camera, you need to have a quality MANUAL to go with it, not as an after thought. This leaves a bad taste in the mouth for a, otherwise well made product.

I am an Amazon customer and they make my life easier. It is easy and fast to buy in Amazon, whereas in other companies you find a lot obstacles: "We do not accept foreigners credit cards" "We do not ship goods to credit card different address" "It takes two month to ship you your good because we are out stocks" and so on.
Congratulation Amazon. You're the best.

I consider myself an amateur, but this camera, and the help of the Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VR, makes me look like a pro.
I, like a few others, started by purchasing the D50, and quickly realized that the D80 is more of what I need. By the way, [...] allowed me to purchase and "try out" the D50 for a month, until I traded it for the D80. Nice people, those [...] people. The D80 is a perfect camera for someone at my level (family, floral and fun shots), and want a little more. The D80 can be a complex digital camera, but Nikon has made it easy to use until you learn it's potential. Thanks Nikon!

Though I have not learned how to use all the amazing features this camera has to offer, I am very pleased with the results so far! It is a GREAT camera!! So far I have taken some amazing professional like photos even though I am only an amature. I have two small children and with my previous digital (point and shoot) camera, most of the 'action' photos came out blurry and it was very frustrating. With this camera I have caught my children doing all kinds of things in action without the blurriness. I could not be any happier with this camera!

So much has already been said about the D80 that i will not go into too much detail...

This is by far my best camera. (i have owned many cannons, sonys, other nikons, etc.) it has so many awesome features and i have been able to take many great action shots that always came out blurry before. it is also GREAT in low light, and long shutter speeds.

it may take some time to learn all the different features, but definitely worth the time investment.

the only disadvantage i would say about this camera is the poorly written owners manual. i would recommmend getting the magic lantern dvd. it goes into detail about how to use the camera without going into too much detail about photography that most users of the D80 will already know.

with all that being said, i hope you all enjoy your D80's it truely is a great camera.

I won't write much about this digital camera, as so much has been said already and I simply echo those sentiments.

I have never owned a camera and I have many, which so clearly captures action far afield! If you're a nature photographer and don't like hauling a tri-pod, this kit is it for you. The image clarity and functions are not matched by any other camera I've used.

I teach Art and Design for Business and my students walk in with many different makes and models of digital camera.... the Nikon D80 is hands down, the best tool if you can have only one!

That's it... I have no reserves about recommending this kit.

First of all I was going to buy the sony alpha because it was named camera of the year. But after doing my research, I decided to get this one. Best damn 10.2 pixel camera.....period. Put it in Auto, and snap away. Even my night pictures of Times square came out perfect,without a tripod. If you got the loot,buy this camera. But dont just take my word for it, do your own research.

I tried the Rebel XTi and the Sony A100. The Nikon felt the best in my hand, I thought the viewfinder was significantly superior to the other and the camera was very quick (and quiet) to autofocus. I think the Rebel would have been a good choice as well, but I am very pleased with the Nikon.

I bought this camera for my family's special Disney World vacation and took about 1,300 pictures with it over an eight days period and was utterly stunned by the results. It was really easy to use, performance was lightning quick and the zoom lens on digital SLR feels so natural. I can take pictures pretty much as fast as I can press the shutter which is really great. I shot mostly in Auto or Potrait mode and the picture quality especially of potraits were breath-taking. People's skin and complexion were exceptionally sharp, soft and natural looking not washed out like my other point-and-shoot camera. And I absolutely love the wide angle composition that I was able to get from my 18-70mm lens so I get the people and the landscape at the same time.

It's a significant premium over my Canon Powershot S3 point-and-shoot camera but well worth it. I am starting to learn to use it's more advance feature for creative photography and loving it even more.