Customer Reviews
A Great Step Up SLR at a Great Price. 
2004-10-09
As a serious student photographer who worked with old metal bodied all manual SLRs I thought the transition to an automatic camera would be difficult. Too many cameras on the market are made of cheap, lightweight plastic that feels like it's going to crumble in my hands. I like a camera that has weight to it, but won't require a visit to the chiropractor after a day of shooting. The N80 is great for this. It has a very solid construction, and a comfortable, weighted feel in my hands. The grips on both sides are well sized and well placed and I feel that I have optimal control at all times.
The thing that sold me on this camera over similar models was its ease of use. As someone who never wants to read an instruction manaul, but still wants to use the bells and whistles, this was a great camera. The controls are the most intuitive I've seen on any camera of its kind, whether you're on your way to becoming a professional, or you're just starting out, the combination of versatility and ease of use is perfect.
It's extemely self explanatory to change from automatic/program mode, to aperture priority, to shutter priority. Its also easy to use the timer and the multiple exposure controls. bracketing, similarly is easier. I've had the camera ofr 6 months and enver needed to consult the instruction book, hopwever there are many features I can explore in the book if I so choose.
The focusing is about the same as you get for most cameras in this price range. The focus lock works very well, as do the zones. The on;y problem is focusing in low light conditions, but this is typical of these cameras.
Overall, I've found this camera to be a perfect blend of great price, great variety of accessories, utter ease of use, and bells and whistles for the serious student or amateur or aspiring professional.
Good, but...... 
2004-02-12
I've used Nikon equipment for well over 20 years and this is my fourth Nikon body. It's also my first Nikon auto focus/auto exposure body.
Frankly, the only reason that I bought this camera is my deteriorating middle-aged eyesight. Focusing with my FM series bodies has become dfficult in all but the brightest situations.
The features that this camera offers are excellent. The auto focus works well enough although it hunts in situations where the lighting isn't optimal. Like many owners, I've turned off the annoying auto focus aid light so I really can't complain much.
By the way, the weakest auto focus performance is with the very lenses that Nikon pushes with this model....the variable aperture zooms. I have no difficulty with my primes but with my 28-105 zoom the N80 hunts for focus quite a bit.
Speaking of lenses. Don't fall into the trap of getting an N80 as a "kit" with the Nikkor 28-80 zoom (or, worse yet, some other brand). Not that the Nikkor 28-80 is all that bad, but if you're serious enough about photography to want the N80 you're probably better off putting the money towards a better piece of glass.
I won't suggest getting the "pro" Nikkor zooms. They cost a fortune and weigh a ton. However, you won't go wrong with either the 28-105 or the new 28-85 AF-S.
My favorite lenses (and the reason why I've used Nikons for all these years) are the primes. Put together a kit consisting of the 24mm 2.8, 50mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.8 and you'll be ready for most anything. If you need something longer, there are a load of options from primes to the really great (and expensive) Nikkor 80-200 zoom.
The exposure modes are versatile and metering is as accurate as you can get short of spending [...]on an F5. In other words, more than sufficient for all but the most demanding user.
The rinky-dink onboard flash works better than it has any right to. Very accurate as a fill flash. As with all on-camera flashes, one risks red eye. Still, for a built-in, it's a pleasant surprise.
I have to take exception with Nikon for printing a manual that's mostly gibberish. No worse than its competition I suppose but can't they explain the auto-focus options in less than a million words? I figured it all out...no thanks to the manual.
Maybe I'm old fashioned about these things, but why are today's SLR's so complicated? Who really needs all these different modes and overides and compensations and.......well you get the idea.
Although I knew this when I bought the N80, I'm very disappointed in not being able to meter with any of my Nikkor manual focus lenses. Would it really have brought the price up that much to add such a feature? Like many Nikon users, I have/had a collection of older lenses that I'd like to be able to use. I've sold quite a few and replaced them with AF models but it's like having ones pocket picked.
Many have complained about the polycarbonate bodies of todays cameras and the poor construction of the lenses. Having cut my teeth on metal cameras, I really have no complaint about the build quality of the N80. I can't imagine anyone but a pro actually wearing one out. [...]
Handling is excellent (as I've come to expect from Nikon) and battery life is pretty good as well. I'm not a big flash user
so YMMV.
The bottom line is that I'm pretty much satisfied with all aspects of this camera. I just wish that Nikon had taken its existing customer base into account and designed the camera to meter with the AI and AIS lenses. I guess that customer loyalty means very little to companies these days.
EDITED: Sorry to say I just sold this camera and the 28-105 Nikkor zoom lens. They simply don't suit my style of photography. Having to re-set several controls and check the cheat sheet each time I want to make a small adjustment is just ridiculous....at least for me.
I just bought a used Leica M6 and 50mm Summicron that are much simpler to use and give me better results under most conditions. These old eyes of mine love the bright viewfinder and I'm getting perfect focusing under much dimmer lighting than I ever could with an SLR.
Nothing against the N80 (I'm keeping my other Nikon gear) but it's just not for me.
The perfect camera for the serious amateur 2003-12-01
Photography has been a hobby of mine for nearly ten years now. Having shot on a lot of Minolta and Canon I can say that Nikon equipment is sufficiently superior to its competition unless you are in need of fast auto focus (i.e. for sports) where Canon tends to rule. However, in nearly every other arena in the 35mm SLR world Nikon is at the top of the list. From build and lens quality, to controls and light meters Nikon beats out the competition. So if you are already sold on buying a Nikon (which you should be) the N80 is a great pick for the serious amateur or beginner, but probably a little bit too high on the food chain for the casual photographer.
The N80 fits nicely between the N55, N65, N75 cameras and the F100, F1 cameras. The F100 and F1 (as well as the D100 and D1) are geared for the professional photographer and provide quality and features only an experienced amateur or pro could notice. Those cameras are definitely not appropriate as first cameras unless you are serious and just have money to burn. The N55 and N65 are geared toward the casual consumer that wants more quality than a point and shoot offers, but likely doesn't really know or care much about photography. These cameras provide "easy" to use features including some that are simply annoying for the serious photographer. The N80 operates in a very similar manner to the F100, F1, D100 and D1 and it makes the transition to these cameras down the road much easier when the time is right. The N80 also provides 10 segment metering, selectable auto focus regions, composition guides (awesome!) and it opens up features of the more advanced Nikon lenses. Overall the N80's build quality feels better than its smaller counter parts as well.
Who is this camera for:
The serious amateur and student photographer, especially those wishing to move up in the Nikon line in the future.
Also, make sure you get a great lens too, I'd highly recommend the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S Zoom as a first lens.
Nikon N80 all the camera most people need... 2003-11-06
In the world of traditional film SLRs most amature photographers either underbuy or more likely overbuy. The N80 as Goldylocks once said is just right! The sophisticated features and performance will please all but the working professional photog. The simplicicty of design and ease of use make it a perfect SLR for those who seek an upgrade to point and shoot. The vast array of Nikon and and other lens makers offerings for this body make it enormously attractive as skills and or needs expand. Should the point come that the N80 owner sees value in moving to a semi-pro F100 or a full pro F5 the lens that have been bought will make the transition happily. All a point to be made for those who see a digital SLR in their future. The Nikon AF lenses fully apply to the well reviewed D100, D1x, and newest D1H.
As a performer the camera is a gem. The focusing and metering systems are very effective and well exceed the performance of pro cameras made just whithin the last few years. Auto focus is fast and well aided by the built in low light feature. The built in speedlight works very effectively for most indoor applications and reasonably well as an outdoor fill light.
All considered there are few offerings in the market today that will please the user as well as the N80.
very very good.......... 2003-10-28
I was using a minolta X300, and decided it was time for an upgrade, after trying out some camera's in the shop, i decided on the Nikon N80...now i have only ran 3 films through it but am finding the autofocus a little tedious, once focused on something i only have to move it slightly and it focuses on something else in the viewfinder, although it does have another focus mode as yet untried and autofocus lock which i havn't tried out yet, if this fails then i will be shooting in manual focus mode. The other gripe i have with it is some of the controls are small and difficult to use, and virtually impossible with gloves on. i am using Tamron lenses with the body and am getting very sharp pictures.
The autofilm loading is a blessing compared to doing it myself and autorewind which is really fast, because of the autofilm advance i am finding i am using film really quickly, and thats without the autowinder at 2.5 frames per second, i just don't realise how many pictures i am taking as it winds on automatically.
I guess to sum this body up i would say if you are looking for an autofocus camera with a few bells and whistles to play with, then this is a very good choice, i am an amateur with NO experience with autofocus, so i have a lot to learn as yet, but am very happy with my choice and looking forward to finding out all it has to offer, bear in mind i have just come from a camera with which i had to do everything myself and i think i'm just a little confused at all the automated features now available to me
I got a different camera. 2007-10-03
I receifed a F 80. The company had some computer problems. I got the lens and was told that the order was completed. I emailed them and asked where was my camera. They corrected the error. Offered me a full refund or a different camera.
I took the silver body F80.
It is a very nice camera. I am happy with it.
A Wonderful Film Camera 2006-11-15
I have been a Nikon user for nearly ten years. My first Nikon was a used N70 and I loved it. It wasn't until after I read a review that I learned it was supposed to be confusing, somewhat difficult to master, and not quite up to Nikon's standards. I loved the results and loved my Nikon camera. When the N70 needed repairs and the cost was prohibitive, I purchased its replacement, the Nikon N80 which in all likelihood will be my last film camera (I've just purchased the Nikon D70S).
The N80 has the best features of the N70: an automatic mode and programs for portrait, landscape, night shots, action shots, and close up, settings that allow for manual focus and the ability to set specific apertures and shutter speeds, bracketing, and red eye reduction. It has more features than the N60, but works in a similar manner omitting some of the dials of the N70 that seemed to confuse many people who were used to earlier Nikon models. It's a light weight camera with an excellent. The features are easy too master and it allows a person to take sophisticated and creative photographs. It's also sturdy and I hope to use it for many years to come.
My guess is that some people reading this review may be asking should I invest $300 for a film camera when I could also purchase a digital SLR camera for just a bit more. Digital is the wave of the future and the future is now, there's no question about that, and as I mentioned I own a digital camera. I believe that a film camera teaches a person to be a more careful photographer. I see a lot of people take lousy digital shots figuring they can be erased and miss great shots. While it is true that with digital the results can be seen, the screen is awfully small and until the images are downloaded and viewed on eth computer, what appears to be a great shot may in fact be junk. Film cameras teach the photographer to carefully frame a photograph if for no other reason than film costs money. Photography is also supposed to be fun, and seeing the results of film whether it be prints or slides can be fun. Also even though Photoshop can create a black and white portrait for a digital shot, nothing will ever beat the darkroom experience. Most serious amateurs and professionals I know use both digital and film and I'm assuming that for the foreseeable future I'll be using digital for candid shots and film for scenics, landscapes, and nature shots. If you are serious about taking good photographs and are looking for a film camera, the Nikon N80 is an excellent choice. It is reasonably priced for what it offers, is easy to use, and allows for the opportunity to take great photographs. To me, it's well worth the investment.
About the best SLR I've ever owned 2006-05-28
I've been a serious amateur and occassional professional photographer for over 40 years. My experience spans the early SLR entries up to the present.
I've also been a long-time Nikon groupie. In my opinion, they manufacture the best equipment of this type available, though in recent years the quality provided by a few of the tops seems to be closing the gap. By that I mean Canon specifically.
That having been said, I'm the type of photographer that drags around a select few lenses and a couple of bodies so I can mix and match lenses and films.
Speaking of which (films): I am not technology-averse. I love the idea of digital. I shoot home movies direct to DVD on Sony equipment. I also scan my 35MM negs/prints using the Canon 9950F (an excellent print scanner) or Nikon 5000ED Coolscan (the best slide/neg scanner)to digital files for further action in Photoshop.
HOWEVER, that being said, I still shoot my stills in 35MM film.
Several reasons: Current digital camera bodies simply do not afford the flexibility in speed, sensitivity, or versatility that film does.
I HATE the fact that the CMOS sensors effectively double the focal length of all my lenses (with currently only one exception, by Canon, I think).
I'm recording my images to the only currently available archival medium: film. Yes, I know bytes and bits are supposedly archival. But 50 years from now, is your DVD still going to be readable by any then-current technology? Remember Beta? Or 8 track tapes?
However, Daguerre's and Matthew Brady's prints
(both from the 19th Century) still will be. As will mine -- and yours if you shoot in film.
That having been said, a few years back, as I decided my eyes no longer afforded me the luxury of manual focus and I decided to go for the auto-focus capabilities now available, I stuck with Nikon and bought my first N-80.
I am so happy I did! This camera is simply outstanding in every way, affording you the ability to use it as a simple point-and-shoot if you wish (due to its extremely fast and sharp system coupled with the Matrix Metering system, and on-board pop-up flash), as well as the option to take direct control over every aspect of the creative photo process with intuitive and easy-to-use systems.
I liked it so much that a couple of years later I bought a second as a backup and system enhancer (meaning two loaded bodies with different lens/film combinations).
An additional benefit is that as the current fad seems to be toward digital bodies, N-80 prices have gone down significantly.
An interesting phenomenon that merits a quick observation: in order to get the same quality of resolution available with a good film/camera body/lens combination as far as cropping or enlargment capability goes, you have to spend in the neighborhood of $3000 to $4000 for a body-only camera, and you're STILL limited as to the duplication of film sensitivity. Try duplicating a 3000ASA film speed on a digital camera. Good luck! You'll be blasted by "noise" on the image; what we used to call "grain" for film, i.e. a loss of resolution and sharpness.
I'm finally making the move up to my next big camera purchase. Guess what? It's a Nikon F-5. Another film body. What does that tell you?
Buy this camera! It's great!
Great Camera 2005-01-24
I bought this camera almost a year ago before I went on a trip to Italy... I was kind of worried about it because I had never had an SLR before, but I really wanted one, and I wanted to make sure I didn't have cheap looking pictures from my trip which I often had before.
It worked perfectly! I only got a chance to use one roll of film on it before I went, but ALL of the pictures came out great! I just love this camera, I still use it all of the time. I am learning all of the features, like how to use the bulb setting. I used it for 4th of July fireworks, and they also came out wonderfully.
I would highly recommend this camera!
Back From Digital 2004-12-01
I have had several digital cameras, including the Nikon 8700, I feel that digital is still got a way to go, they are wonderful, yet can be very tiring, printing gobs of prints for friends and family is tiring , tedious and expensive.
The cameras unless using some exotic means still cannot focus well in low light, also dont like taking pictures at a place and the whole world standing over my shoulder.
Soooo, happily back to film with the N80 and a Nikon 28-100 Nikon that I bought in a kit.
Its so great to be back in film, now I can get some control back.
As far as the N 80, it really is beautiful done and highly intuitive to use, well made, features are wonderful, a joy to own and use. I made the right move, know that now, shot a few roles of Kodak Color 200, results were so good, if I still want to get lazy, can have the photo processor put the shots on a disc, havnt done it yet, enjoying the prints too much, think I,ll run out and get some Echtekchrome. Photography is an important component for me in my life, the N80 is bringing it all back in a slick very competent manner and I completely enjoy it.
