- Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 27 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
-
8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
5.0 stars
"Nikon Quality Build & Image Capture"
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!
Where to buy
Nikon D80 (with 18-135mm lens):
$1,929.95
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Amazon.com Marketplace
|
$1,929.95 | Yes |
|
%20user%20review%20and%20rating%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/nikon-d80-with-18/4864-6501_7-32010306-4.html){kind=small}