Nikon D80

Nikon D80
Entry-level DSLR Entry-level DSLR
August, 2006

Summary Nikon D80

Prices Price
Body only $700 Kit Unknown
all D80 prices
Score Snapsort rank
Within its price range #n/a of 12 Among similar cameras #n/a of 22
details details
Specifications Key specs
Sensor size Help APS-C 23.6x15.8mm Screen resolution Help 230k dots
Megapixels Help 10 MP Movie format Help None
Screen size Help 2.5" Light sensitivity Help 1,600 ISO
see all specifications
Lenses Lenses
Browse all Nikon D80 lenses at LensHero
Nikon D80Nikon D80

Pros

The Nikon D80 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Lens availability More lenses available Help
169 lenses
Viewfinder Doesn't use battery, see more detail Help
Pentaprism
Viewfinder size Large viewfinder Help
0.62x
Sensor size Slightly larger than average sensor Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm

Cons

The Nikon D80 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

Dynamic range Narrower dynamic range Help
11.2 EV
Screen resolution Very low resolution screen Help
230k dots
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
3 fps
Screen flips out Fixed screen Help
Less flexible
Autofocus Manual focus only Help
None
Autofocus contrast detection autofocus Help
slower focusing
Announced Old Help
August, 2006
Light sensitivity (boost) Low boost light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Sensor type Sensor type Help
CCD
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Weight Heavy Help
668 g
Fastest shutter speed Slow shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Low light performance Noisy at high ISO Help
524 ISO
Overall image quality Low overall image quality Help
61.0
Movie format No movies Help
None
Color depth Less color depth Help
22.1 bits
Screen size Very small screen Help
2.5"
True resolution Lower true resolution Help
10 MP
Light sensitivity Very poor maximum light sensitivity Help
1,600 ISO
Weather sealed No weather sealing Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Live view No live view Help
Preview with viewfinder
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Doesn't take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
95%

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Appearance

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Discussion What do you think about the Nikon D80?

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Showing 2 comments

Andrew (6:02 PM, May 14, 2012)
you are absolutely right about this. I just picked up a D90 and peope told me it is too old, not enough mp etc...
I love it, and feel that I can learn so much about all this camera can do for years to come. Agree with the point
about good lenses too.
 
Avatar for Carl Ahner Carl Ahner (3:39 PM, January 26, 2012)
Well, you easily see the cons listed on this page. But; this is a perfect example for: "The best camera is the one you have got" - it's true! I take photos since years and I always used different bodies, hired cameras just to try them or for a special shooting...what ever. And I know that a good lens is worth the money you have to pay and is way more important then the body. So in a way I care about the equipment I use, but the Nikon D80 from 2006 is still the body I use day by day. Of course, it feels like I can fly when I use a D7000 or even a D3s but it shows me at the same time what I learned by using the D80 for years. Because the person behind the camera still makes a good photo, not the camera itself. So if you have long-time experience with DSLR Cameras and Lenses you will know how to handle this body and how to get amazing results. I always wonder what is actually possible with the D80! And even for ambitious amateur photographers it's a great camera; it's simple and easy to use, has absolutely enough megapixels and functions and last but not least: as I said; there are amazing possibilities you wouldn't dream of with that camera and you can improve your abilities perfectly if you're motivated to do so ;)