| To
begin with, the Nikon D80 has obviously inherited some
of the best features from the other top-end cameras of
the line - namely the processing engine of the Nikon
D2X, and the Nikon
D200’s Multi CAM 1000 AF system, CCD, rear LCD
and its viewfinder! |
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We're
seeing the fruits of Nikon's intent to consolidate parts -
almost everything you see on the camera shares some commonality
with other models. Besides the legacy from the Nikon D200
and up, the camera also shares the 420-segment meter from
the Nikon D50, and a complete line of accessories which draws
from both the Nikon
D50 and Nikon
D70 systems.
| The
EN-EL3e battery introduced with the Nikon D200 is clearly
here to stay, and shooters will benefit from seeing more
accurate reflection of remaining power supply and from
a longer time between recharges in the Nikon D80. |
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| The
fact that it will be using SD memory cards tells us Nikon
could be setting up the bottom end of the family for SD
to capture more of the "upsell" market switching
from compact cameras. But it is also able to support the
new generation of Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC)
providing, in due time, capacities of 4GB and up to 32GB. |
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This
however will probably be a disappointment for Nikon D70 owners
with a significant investment in CF media hoping to "move
up" without going for the Nikon D200. Also, SD users
will have to wait as the market is still catching up to CF
in terms of larger media capacities.
The
JPEG buffer is big but it still seems to feel like a Nikon
D50 to me, although 3 FPS (frames per second) puts it right
in the Nikon D70 zone. The compressed RAW may be a deal breaker
for those who have sophisticated post-process requirements
and live and die in RAW.
No
AI/AI-S lenses metering is not a surprise for a mid-range
camera, and the fact that the flash synch speed has dropped
to 1/200 is not necessarily a deal breaker since AutoFP at
any speed is fully supported on Nikon Speedlights.
It features ISO range exactly like the Nikon D200, so ISO
100 is now available to the masses. Huzzah! On the top end,
it can actually be cranked up to HI-1 (equivalent of ISO3200)
with 0.3EV steps. It shares the same three custom NR (Noise
Reduction) settings of the Nikon D200, so high-ISO shooting
can be done with confidence.
| The
body is the same size as that of the Nikon D50 (with a
.1mm variance on height and width), making it a smaller
camera appealing to beginners; that is helped by the announcement
of the MB-D80 vertical grip with shutter release for those
with larger lenses or hands and/or wanting a more hefty
feel. |
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The
MB-D80 specs sound like an updated MB-D100 - it's not
clear that both command dials will be replicated, but
one and everything else is there, combined AE-L/AF-L
button, and shutter release.
This
addresses many shooter requests that Nikon match Canon
at the lower end in providing a vertical shutter/grip
system. |
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The
AF system includes "refinements" - the new AF button
on the top deck will tell us more in a review, but it still
has the new mode that links all 11 points into a 7-point center
"Wide-Area" AF for faster lock-on.
The
shutter lag, slightly slower than on the Nikon D200, is still
more than respectable for a DSLR.
The
shutter release shares the ML-3 wireless and MC-DC1 wired
remotes that the Nikon D70s uses, which means no more complaints
about having to contort your hands to take a vibration-free
shot from behind the camera.
Another
great feature will be the viewfinder with 0.94X magnification
and 19.5mm eyepoint. That should silence a few D70/D50 viewfinder
critics for sure.
The
new 2.5" LCD, sized like that in the pro bodies,
will be welcomed by all - featuring the 170 degree angle
and the much more useful RGB histogram versus luminance
histories on legacy cameras. Also,
the ability to set custom color schemes and font sizes
in the menus is new and will be a very popular ergonomic
feature.
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This
camera includes features drawn from the Coolpix series. It's
the first Nikon DSLR we've seen with built-in D-Lighting and
Redeye removal capabilities. The Pictmotion is also new; it
will be a unique feature to display slideshows and background
music using LCD or TV using hook-up cables.
A
new Retouch Menu allow for in-camera image enhancements, reducing
post-processing time.
The
Black & White modes have been enhanced - with Sepia and
Cyanotype additional options - again, oriented to beginners
and point & shooters.
Out
of all the Vari-Programs - Night Landscape is the only new
setting. Flash control includes the 2-group Commander Mode
(A/B) just like the Nikon D200, which will probably encourage
system sales of multiple Speedlights.
It
looks like firmware updates will be supported by SD cards,
which means the days of having to send in your camera for
improvements may finally really be over.
In
short - it's a mixed bag of goodies. A lot will appeal to
the prosumer, and a lot will also appeal to the first-time
DSLR buyer or upsell customer.
One
thing is certain - the selection of SD only will become an
issue for some potential Nikon D70s converts until better
card adapters hit the market. Otherwise, Nikon has again raised
the bar for DSLRs in this range.
