Nikon D80 (with 18-135mm lens)
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"Best Camera I've ever owned by far..." on by Derrickb1974
Pros: Versatility, Easy to Use, Fantastic Image Quality, plus tons of other features not mentioned
Cons: Still trying to find one. Simply a great camera
Summary: I was looking at this camera for several months debating to buy this or a Canon EOS. I have owned previous Canon camera products and thought I would only ever own a Canon camera. Once I tried out the Nikon D80 in my local camera store I knew then I was hooked. I tried the Nikon D40 (Too small for me) and a comparable Canon EOS. The D80 has the perfect balance and is ergonomically perfect in my opinion. Sure it is slightly larger and heavier than the EOS, but it feels the most solid. All the buttons are well thought out. I purchased the Nikkor 18-135mm which is actually a 18-144mm when tested and Nikon could have easily sold this lens as a 18-145mm if they wanted to but they didn't. This is a very nice, but rare situation where the lens actually has more zoom than listed. I have absolutely no complaints about this kit lens. I use a 67m screw-on circular polarized filter with the 18-135mm and it works fantastic with it. The 18-135mm lens has actually been indicated to be sharper than the 18-200mm VR which is about 2x-3x more expensive, but the VR is a very nice feature to have. I also recommend the 70-300mm also for more zoom power. With the 18-135mm, any distortion of any kind if any is so minimum it is hard to see, at least with my lens anyway. I highly recommend this camera and lens to start with. The 18-55mm just isn't strong enough to satisfy my zoom needs for everyday shooting, but the 18-135mm covers it plus a little extra as a everyday lens.
This IS the BEST camera I've ever owned hands down. -
"The best DSLR for around $1,000." on by best4less
Pros: Quick focus/instant on/excellent picture quality/smart design
Cons: Basic software and user manual/few accessories available.
Summary: The Good:
a). Excellent picture quality;
b). Can focus quickly in almost any light situation (and I love the instant startup);
c). Buttons and menu access are always in the places they should be (except the AE-L/AF-L button I wish it was in somewhere my left hand can easily access to);
d). The camera (w/ the 18-135mm lens) is heavy, but you can hold it very omfortably.
e). Long lasting rechargeable battery. Though I don’t believe it will give you 2,700 shots per charge. But, unless you are a professional photographer, I doubt you ever need a backup battery for this camera.
The Bad:
a). Few accessories available for this camera; also, I wish I can find a better case than the Nikon CD-D80 Semi-Soft Case.
b). The user manual and included software (PictureProject) are pretty basic. I wish Nikon provides a more in depth reference book and a better piece of software.
I ran through close to a dozen of digital cameras from Epson, Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Toshiba, and Kodak etc. since they were introduced. It looks like D80 will be the one I am going to keep for a while. -
"Spend just a little extra for the best on the shelf." on by firerader
Pros: Easy to use, full auto is great then there are so many extras.
Cons: Slow flash reaction but that's about it so far.
Summary: I choose this camera and lens package as a single lens set up and it's perfect for that application. The numerous features are easy to find and just as easy to use and really make you feel like a pro. The lens comes with a sun shade which looks really cool but you have to remember to remove it when using the flash or it casts a shadow. I just can't believe I own this camera. I have used the Canon xti and it’s just not up to this camera. If you can muster the money you will know where it went when you use this camera. I never rate anything a 10 because nothing is perfect to me but god this camera and lens package is really close.
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"Nikon Quality Build & Image Capture" on by cdr_computers
Pros: Superb Construction & Excellent Resolution
Cons: Good RAW Support Requires Nikon Capture NX
Summary: Back on August 21, 2006, I purchased the Nikon D50 18-55mm DX Lens Kit and was not dissatisfied at all. I purchased the 55-200mm DX lens to complement the 18-55mm DX lens to give a wider range of focal length. Shortly after I purchased the Nikon D50, the Nikon D80 was announced. Based on the quality of pictures I was getting from the Nikon D50, I thought I would splurge and purchase the Nikon D80 even though I really did not need it. I purchased the Nikon D80 from Best Buy last Thursday, and I must say that I am more than satisfied with the construction and image quality of the camera. The start-up time is so quick that it is not noticeable at all, and the continuous shot mode is fabulous. The larger viewfinder on the Nikon D80, compared to the Nikon D50, is a substantial upgrade and makes framing and composing shots a less difficult task under certain conditions (both indoor and outdoor). The pictures that I have taken were recorded in the RAW+JPEG Fine format so that I would be able to compare the two sets of images. The JPEG images were very clean with little, or no, artifacts when taking pictures in outdoor environments, but I did notice some artifacts when taking pictures indoors in low-light instances. Regardless of this minor issue, the pictures were easily cleaned up using Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 and came out pristine. The controls on the unit are easily accessible, and the camera is very similar in use to the Nikon D50, so the learning curve was not steep at all. Using the full manual controls was a snap, and the bracketing feature is excellent. In short, the Nikon D80 is an excellent digital SLR and should be considered above the Canon Rebel XTi, Sony Alpha, and others in the class. As I summarized in a short phrase regarding “cons”, the only pitfall is the limited availability of RAW support from non-Nikon software vendors. But, as most of you already know, it will take such vendors no time at all to provide a nice plug-in that will be more than adequate to provide full RAW (NEF) support for the Nikon D80. In closing, although the RAW support is limited from other vendors, Nikon is providing a 30-day trial of Capture NX (full version) which will process the Nikon D80 RAW (NEF) files, so it’s really not an issue. The bottom line here is that anyone purchasing this unit will not be dissatisfied in the least!
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"It's A Class Of It's Own" on by 8oz
Pros: Superb pictures, Lower noise.
Cons: No ISO rating below 100.
Summary: I was on a pro-sumer (Sony Cybershot F-828) before I switched over to a DSLR. And I am glad the D80 was first very own DSLR camera, as it has never failed me after using it for several days. Taking a superb resolution of 10Mpixel, is really a plus point for a Graphic Designer like me.
To be able to alter my colours in the camera itself, it's ability to take multiple shots, just like film! (I mean, this is something some people could only dream about), also not fogetting super imposing in the camera. What more could I ask for? These are superb features as it saves me time on the computer.
The colours are good, though I think a lower ISO than 100 could have done good, as it will increase colour saturation and details.
Never the less, this is a superb product and I have no regrets purchasing it. I will probably use it for a number of good years to come. Thank you Nikon.
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