A powerful and compelling novice SLR camera and intro to Nikon's SLR system. Has features not found in competing models at this price point. It's built-in flash matches features found in the N80.

May not be as durable as other Nikon novice SLRs. Was a bit sad that the DX setting couldn't be overridden (other than by the exposure compensation) as I normally shoot Velvia (ISO 50) at an exposure index of 40. However, most beginners rarely bias film speeds. Heck, most don't use slide film.

The N65 is Nikon's best beginner SLR ever. It includes the broadest range of features ever offered by Nikon including its "Vari Program" modes selected with a single dial on the top deck. Beginners can use this simple to use way to progress from rank novice on to more controlled modes. The Dynamic 3D focus capability with "close focus priority" or "focus tracking" are valuable features "trickled down" from its pro line.

The depth of field preview capability is a useful feature usually not found on cameras in this price range. A user adjustable diopter control is a nice addition for those with less than perfect eyesight.

The camera's built-in Speedlight has all the capability of that on the N80 including balanced 3D fill, slow synch, rear sync, and red eye reduction.

While this camera might not be up to the rigors of pro use, the camera is not overly built and its small size and light weight (around 14 ounces) are welcome attributes for a beginner.

While Nikon has detoured from its usual design philosophies in building the N65, it still retains details that make it a true Nikon. For instance, users will see plastic where Nikon usually uses steel in the film pressure plate, guides and rails. However, the pentaprism is still glass and the mount in the venerable steel Nikon F.

I don't believe there's a more valuable beginner SLR on the market.

Similar Products Used:

N6006s

ease of use

none yet

For an absolute beginner with no prior photography experience, the perfect camera. Travels well, sharp images, lots of features, lightweight, impressive. I would recommend this product to any beginner simply for ease of use and its ability to accentuate the users own level of experience.

Similar Products Used:

None

2.5 FPS
3D Matrix Metering
Lightweight & Right size

The lens (28~80mm)! Very poor quality. Nikon should not put its name on such lens.

The camera is perfect for a begginer,
It's good, solid and all features are easy to learn and apply.
It has Depth of field preview even thought I can not see any different when press the button.

Customer Service

not tryed yet

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel G
Canon Rebel 2000

2.5 FPS
3D Matrix Metering
Lightweight
Fits great for people with small hands

Certain settings aren't saved when camera is turned off, like Red Eye

No lock on the control wheel

I think this is a great entry level SLR. It works well for someone like me who hasn't done anything with a SLR in many many years and wants to get back into some photography. Loaded with features, great price, metal in places other cameras have plastic (hint hint Canon). An overall good camera.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel

Compact size and easy to use.

Setting dial can move without realizing.

This is a good camera for the bucks. It feels and works like a more expensive camera.

Customer Service

None needed to date.

Similar Products Used:

None

-Positioning of controls
-Speedlight
-3D Matrix Metering
-Lightweight
-Multiple focus areas
-Multiple exposure
-Full control or full automatic
-2.5 frames per sec.
-It gives you its opinion if it thinks the exposure is wrong (somewhat)

-The Minimum aperture lock lever on the Nikkor 28-80mm lens is flimsy
-A bit pricey, but what isn't?!?

I think this is a GREAT camera. Having started off with a Yashica that's at least 25 years old was very frustrating. This camera was easy to learn on and takes great pictures. It has the capability of being a point and shoot, or a semi-professional camera.
I've read complaints that this camera has a "cheap" feel to it. Nah. I've used others with cheaper feels to them. I would highly recommend this camera to pretty much anyone. Read through the entire instruction manual, and you'll get some real insight to it's full potential.
True, it's not an N80 or an F-100, but for those who aren't quite professional but still want to take great pictures, the N65 is your camera.

Customer Service

None yet (hopefully not for a very, very long time either)

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel 2000
Older Yashica SLR

Plus/Minus 2-stop manual meter! OK, it's in half-stop increments, but still ...

3-shot bracketing made easy.

DOF preview in a low-price Nikon body - what a concept.

Solid AF performance with typical lenses.

Incredibly light weight. My QD body weighs a mere 16 ounces with batteries and film loaded. That's lighter than an EM, and it includes a motor drive and flash.

Very good (but not "excellent") ergonomics. *Most* controls fall to hand readily (I have small hands), but some are oddly placed. The dof preview button seems high to me.

Minor quibbles: the textured plastic dateback is less grippy than the front - good thing there's a ridge for your thumb.

Still won't accept a standard cable release, although Rolland Elliott (do an internet search for his site) says he can drill and tap the shutter button to accept one.

Just plain quibbles: takes two wimpy CR2 batteries. When you find a good price, stock up!

Major quibbles: no AE lock button.

N65QD: I bought the QD version for its all-black finish (remember, you can turn the date imprinting off).

Exposure accuracy is good in all modes. Frame spacing is even. There were no light leaks.

Like the N60 that preceded it, the N65's AF seems slower in rotation but quicker in locking. The result is very quick overall AF performance, substantially better than my old N8008s and N50, slightly better than my N60QD, and almost matching my N90s with everything but big, heavy lenses where the N90s enjoys a decisive edge. The N65's AF-assist light makes it a confident performer in very low light. That light has amazing range, easily reaching the far end of a darkened 20-foot hallway with a light bright enough to read a newspaper by - no wonder the N65 is a battery hog. In an ordinary well-lit room, the AF-assist light usually stays off - but the threshold is unpredictable, especially with lower-contrast subjects, slower lenses, or wider changes in focusing distance. Thoughtful touch: a button cancels the AF-assist light on an as-needed basis. The five-point AF is surprisingly effective, locking confidently on off-center subjects. Selecting a single AF point requires cycling through each point in turn, which is slower than simply centering the subject, focusing, and re-composing.

There's no way to manually set the film ISO rating (I, for example, like to rate NPH at 250). However, in all modes except Auto (green) and Manual you can set exposure compensation +/- 2 stops in half-stop increments. I'd prefer it was 1/3-stop increments, to match standard film speeds, but the difference is only 1/6-stop either way. "But you can't shoot Velvia at 40!" Well, if you can consistently distinguish a 1/6-stop difference (and you may be a person who can), then the N65 may not be for you. Unlike the N60, the N65 can do exposure compensation in its Vari-Program modes. Compensation cancels if you change modes' in P, S, or A modes the exposure compensation stays. Between exposure compensation and bracketing, you can get plus/minus 3 stops.

As an all-purpose mode, P mode is better anyway. The only difference between P ("Auto Multi-Program") mode and Auto (green) mode is that P mode enables more features: exposure compensation, slow sync flash, and shifting the aperture/shutter speed combination in half-stop increments (this is NOT bracketing, because the exposure value remains the same). In aperture-priority mode, the control dial controls the aperture in half-stop increments. In shutter priority, the control dial controls the shutter speed, also in half-stop increments. The only mode that is a bit cumbersome is manual mode, in which the control dial controls shutter speed by itself and aperture in conjunction with the aperture button (which is the exposure compensation button doing double duty). Hallelujah File: the meter display shows +/- two stops in half-stop increments.

Exposure bracketing is a piece of cake, easier by far than on my N90s + MF-26.

The built-in flash pops up automatically in full-auto mode; other modes need you to press the little button. The button is an electronic servo (like the dof preview button), so the camera must be switched on before you can raise the flash. Maximum flash sync speed is 1/90 - about a half-stop slower than the previous N60. This is, in practical terms, not a problem. In fact, when the flash is the main light, I tend to prefer to drag the shutter speed down to 1/60 or even slower, to get some ambient exposure. Higher-speed flash sync is handy for daytime fill with fast films - but really, the N65's 1/90 is perfectly adequate for most uses. Flash coverage is fairly even to 35mm, and only marginally acceptable at 28mm. There is considerable flash fall-off at 24mm. I tried it with a Nikkor 24-85/2.8-4 AF-D, shooting a blank wall, without the lens shade, at about 2m and about 2 feet. There was a huge lens shadow at 24mm and 28mm, both at 2m and at 2 feet; at 35mm there is a slight shadow at 2m and a large shadow at 2 feet; at 50mm there is a slight shadow at 2 feet, and at 85mm there is no shadow. These results track almost exactly the recommendations in the N65 manual. Keep in mind that the 24-85, even without the lens shade, is a big lens (72mm front filter size), so this test is on the extreme end. On balance, the N60 had a more-powerful flash, but the N65's flash is still very handy.

The N65's ergonomics are excellent, but controls don't move with the solid sureness of the higher-end Nikons (nor do most of its competitors at this price point). The buttons are small, but well-spaced and have good tactile response.

Conclusion: A real upgrade from the N60 in almost every respect, with the notable exception of the built-in flash. It's worth it just for the easy bracketing, four-stop meter display, and dof preview alone. A sweet-handling camera and an outstanding value in the Nikon product line.

Customer Service

Never needed.

Similar Products Used:

N60, N50, N90s.

-Lightweight and compact
-Metering and focusing
-LCD
-Very easy to use, yet inventive
-Feels right
-Value for money
-And it's still Nikon quality
-Combo Lens (28-80 3.5-5.6) is quite sharp

-AF slow at times
-Flash sync time 1/90
-Manual focusing not handy

This camera fully met all my expectations.
note: I do not intent to change ASA settings-exposure compensation, although I mostly shoot slide film: the exposure metering performs wonderfully, even with (more demanding) slide film.
Comparing results between a Nikon FT3 with e.g.
a 50mm F1.8 lens I was surprised that the slides I got with the Nikon N/F65 with its entry level, but still sharp 28-80 zoom lens at 50mm were (almost) as good.
I read a lot of less favourable reports on the
28-80 Combo zoom. Yet I am still very pleased with it (moreover you almost get it "for free").
I have no doubt a Nikkor 28-105 3.5-4.5 is superior (as will Nikkor fixed focus lenses).
But the weight, size and range combination with the 28-80 is most important to me, which I will be using mostly as my travel companion (and keep the FT3 -bought 1978- with it's terrific lenses for creative photography at home).
Also, the N/F80 might be a better camera.
And, if you do prefer the F80 (because you NEED pro features) then I would suggest you get it with the more expensive 28-105 lens and Nikkor 50 F1.8 fixed lens.
Having chosen the Nikon entry level offering, I can't see anything I could have wished for that I did not get.
If you are a casual (travel/family) photographer like me, I consider the N/F65 a great pick.

Customer Service

Not used yet

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FT3 (manual)
Nikon (N)F80
Pentax SLR and compacts

Lightweight
Versatile
Timer
Affordable
Growth opportunity
Nikon name

Cannot set film speed

I am taking photography and this camera has really been great for the class. It gives me everything I need, and it is easy to use.
I just love it!

Similar Products Used:

None

Big and clear Viewfinder and LCD information display,
Effective red-eye reduction, Well-placed controls and holding area.

Very!! Weak flash.

I purchased the camera with the Nikon - Nikkor 28-80 mm D zoom lens(f3.5-5.6),
The indoor as well as the outdoor pictures (using ISO 200, 400 film)came out dark. Color resolution had a brownish tinge and was dark overall.
Although the flash fired on most instances - it is weak and not effective beyond a few feet. The autofocus was less effective indoors than outdoors. And none of the DOF, 3-D matrix and other features could properly expose the print! I had better results using a Kodak one-time use camera in terms of sharpness, color resolution and brightness than this SLR.
I would recommend buying a good point and shoot rather than wasting your time and money on this so-called SLR.

Customer Service

Not used

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Pentax p&s