INTRODUCTION
I bought the Nikon F80 (Widely known as N80 in US) in July 2001, but sad to say, it failed to remain as my asset. I sold it recently in order to get a used professional Nikon F4.
Please do not misunderstand that the F80 is not a good camera, it is just that I am more impressed with the Nikon F4.
Nikon introduced the F80 back in 2000, as an upgrade from the Nikon N70. It is also sort of a scale down version of the Nikon F100. It comes in 3 versions, the standard F80, the dated F80D as well as the Data Imprinted F80S. I bought the standard F80 for $380, as I don’t actually like the idea of printing dates on my pictures. The F80S seems to be a very good option, having the capability to print data in between frames, but spending a few hundred more for such function seems too much to me.
BUILD
The Nikon F80 have a very solid feel body, although it weight much less than it seems, at just slightly over 500g. When compared to the cheaper brother, the Nikon N65, it feels much stronger and tougher.
The body is durable enough to withstand most sort of handling, without fear of breakage. It might not have the tank built of the professional Nikon N90S, Nikon F100 or the Nikon F4 & F5, but it should be durable enough to compete with others in the same price range.
The grip of the Nikon F80 is good. Shooting at both vertical and horizontal position prove to be easy and steady. No matter you have a big hand or a small hand, holding the camera will never be easier.
FOCUSING
The F80 offers both Auto focus and Manual focus to the user. It can be switched from one another easily at the turn of a tiny switch in front of the camera.
In the Manual Focus mode, focusing is done by turning the focusing ring on the lens till the image on the viewfinder look sharp.
In the Auto focus mode, it offers Single Servo AF and Continuous AF. As for AF Area mode, it has Single Area AF and Dynamic AF.
EXPOSURE
The F80 offers 3types of metering systems, namely,
1) 10 Segments 3D Matrix
2) Centre Weighted
3) Spot
It has an Exposure Metering Range of EV -1 to 19 at ISO 100, which mean it can meter in low light situation.
It offers 4 Advance mode, as in
1) Program
2) Shutter Priority
3) Aperture Priority
4) Manual
LENS
With the common Nikon F mount, the Nikon F80 readily accepts the whole range of Nikon AF lenses. It can also readily accept a good range of older Nikkor manual lenses in manual mode.
The F80 also third party lenses maker like the popular low cost Sigma, Tokina, Tamron... etc. To achieve high picture quality and most important sharpness, none of this cheap lenses maker is comparable to the original Nikkor lenses. I always believe that that extra cost spent on the optics is worthy. If you are willing to part with $400 on a SLR camera body, please do not try to save on the lenses. More should be spend on the lenses.
QUALITY TEST
How easy to use is the F80? Well… if you understand the language in the manual, as well as some basic photography knowledge, it is as simple as ABC. In fact, when I got the camera, I did not even need the manual to use it. The only time I refer to the manual is to get to know the 19 custom functions. Even the symbols used in the body are easy to understand. It is really that simple to use.
The F80 offer a shutter speed of 1/4000s to 30s, plus Bulb. It is an upgrade from the 1/2000s offered by the lower end N65. The extra speed of 1/4000s provides extra shooting possibility to any users, especially with fast films and fast actions. I have not used the F80 to such speed as I am never a fast action photographer.
A reasonable 2.5 fps is provided for continuous shooting. I have done this once in the children playground, and the effect is good. I was taking a picture of a boy on a slides, the 3 pictures taken continuously were all well focus and sharp, no sign of bad images. It will be useful for sports photography.
The F80 offers both manual focusing and auto focusing. Manual focusing is the same for all the Nikons as well as other cameras, nothing new. Using the Single Servo AF, focusing is smooth and accurate. Using it for normal and macro photography proved to be easy with this mode. Pictures came out to be very accurately focused. For moving objects, the Continuous Servo AF needs to be employed. Focusing is smooth as well, but some difficulty was faced with fast moving objects.
The key attraction of the Nikon F80 is the new 10 segments 3D Matrix metering. It is the same metering systems used in the higher end Nikon F100. With the large library installed in the camera, pictures exposed in this mode in every situation are accurate. I have used it in some tricky lighting situations, and it never seems to disappoint me. The centre-weighted and spot metering system is the same as the other camera. I seldom switched myself away from the good 10 segments 3D Matrix metering, as it always gives me the most accurate exposure reading.
The build in flash, with an ISO guide number of 39 (at ISO 100ft), is too weak for any good uses. As with all other camera, I would strongly recommend the use of an external unit to get better flash effects. There are a number of low cost flash units like the Nikon SB-22s or even the new Nikon SB-50, as well as any third party flash from Sigma, Sunpak… etc., which will provide better flashes options compared to the build it units. I used the F80 once with its built-in TTL flash, pictures turn out to be harsh and terrible. Changing the flash with the new Nikon SB-50 (borrowed from a friend), the effects is definitely much better.
As in its entire latest model, the F80 offers the capability of Multiple Exposure photography. I have done triple exposed picture with the F80. With a compensation of 2 stops under for each exposure, the pictures turn out great. But do take note, compensation need to be done for multiple exposure photography, and it need experience to tell how much is needed for each exposure. I do not take too much of multiple exposure pictures, and I am still learning this tricky skill.
A very interesting function provided by the F80 is the Grid Lines, which can be turn on in the custom function. It is useful for picture composition. I am not used to the lines in the viewfinders, but a lot of my friends like to have it ‘ON’ to facilitate composition.
SUMMARY
If you are looking for a ‘Idiot’ camera that offer lots and lots of automation programs, the Nikon F80 is definitely not worthy of your time. But if you are looking at a SLR camera that offers just what you need as a real photographer, you will not be disappointed.
Nikon has provided a very good competition to the likes of the Canon EOS Elan7 with the Nikon F80. I have seen and used the Canon EOS Elan7, and I would go for the Nikon F80. Simplicity is what I need to produce good pictures.
