Light weight, spot metering, depth of field preview, flexible program

Small size

This is an excellent camera for advanced amateurs and professionals alike who would not need to shoot in extreme environmental circumstances. Metering system of the camera is very precise. Cameras are simply boxes to hold films and allow correct amount of light to fall on the films. The correct amount of light is determined by (in automatic program modes) the camera's metering system. And, this camera does that very well. Initially, I was a bit confused when I heard that the F80 does not have mirror lock-up. But one of my professioal friend told me that I wouldn't need mirror lock-up in this camera because its mirror movement is very smooth (like F100). And he was true!

My only grudge is that if this camera were produced before, I could safely go without buying the expensive F5. I recommend N80/F80 to any serious photographer. If you are a casual photographer, probably N65 is better for you.

Customer Service

Not yet needed

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Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Olympus and Leica

I love this camera. As an intermediate user, I have had no problems with all of its functions.

I'm concerned with durablility only because of what I have read. I have not had any problems.

Performs to my expectations. Good price for an almost professional camera.

Customer Service

Havn't had the need.

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Did alot of research and played with other models. I've used a Yashica for the past couple of years.

Does a fine job for an automated camera - sets up a well-exposed and well-focussed shot nearly every time. Quality and ease-of-use wrapped up nicely in one package.

I'm not fond of plastic anythings - we'll see if this camera can withstand the years...

I spent a long time reading reviews on this website and just about anywhere else I could. I went into Canoga Cameras equipped with a battery of questions about this camera and several others, including similar models in the Canon line (Mike at Canoga is the guy to see). This is the camera that rung my bells right off the bat, the moment I picked it up and put my eye to the finder. It feels good in the hands, it has a great display in the finder, the controls are laid out in a manner that allows easy and intuitive operation (except that my fat finger keeps pushing the DOF field button when my hand is wrapped around the grip). I was looking for a camera that my other-half could pick up and shoot without any lessons in photography, but one that would also satisfy my desires for optical and mechanical quality, and the N80 does it in a big way. I purchased the camera along with the Nikon/Nikkor 28-105 zoom since it also seems to strike a nice balance between ease and quality. What I ended up with is a camera that's a lot of fun to use! Wow, I'm really diggin' it. I love my F2AS's (I've got a couple of them) and my FE2, and that's the kinda guy I am - I love the fine machinery and optics of those manual jewels and I'll probably be using them and my collection of lenses till my dying day - but this AF/AE camera is a real blast, a jewel in its own right. Not least of all, my other-half DID pick it up and start snapping off shots without hesitation! I'd say Nikon has hit the target right on the money with this one.

By the way, though I haven't really played with AF before and so I hardly know what to compare it to, I'm not sure that I see how anyone can complain about the speed of the auto-focus - hell, I can't MF that fast! I *LOVE* the feature that allows you to get focus by barely pressing the shutter release then, by holding the finger on the button, shift composition to where the main subject is now off center and then take the shot - focus lock without having to push any extra buttons, absolutely brilliant!

If this camera seems to have the features you're looking for, I think it can't be beat. Quality and ease-of-use, that's a great combination.

Customer Service

Haven't used it yet.

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Canon Elan

Feature rich. DOF preview. Small, light. Bright clear finder. Good metering.

Some selecters a bit small. No manual focus lens metering. Would like a stronger flash. Owners manual has all the info but conveys it poorly.

First foray into autofocus. Sold my FG to get the N80. I find small size a huge bonus. Big guy with big hands and can't imagine adding extra size and weight with battery pack. It is plastic but feels dense and strong to me. The plastic construction has been unfairly associated with fragility and lack of durability. In many cases plastic is stronger than metal and is often more resilliant. Time will tell. This camera pefectly fills the niche of a great family/sports/vacation camera that ALSO meets the requirements for the serious and discerning amatuer. I must agree with many other reviewers that it is unfair to compare this camera to the F100, N90, F5. It costs less than half of any of these. Compare apples to apples and this camera seems to be without rival. Maybe Canon's new Elan 7? I'm waiting patiently for the Magic Lantern N80 Guide to teach me all the features. I fault nikon only with a poor owner's manual. My overall rating is based how well this camera achieves its stated purpose, not in comparison to professional cameras. Even then it'd still be a 4.

Customer Service

Not needed. Durability issue seems to be over stated.

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None

Lightweight, DOF preview, vertical lines function (very useful)

Settings are very easily changed inadvertantly. That is to say, be d*m*ed sure to check every setting every time you pull it out of your camera bag.

I like the camera, but it find the controls system a little goofy and settings on the camera are easily changed. Maybe it is just me, but the N70 never gave me this type of problem.

Customer Service

Great, I dropped some Nikon binoculars from the second tier of a football stadium. Nikon fixed them perfectly.

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Nikon N70

Light weight, compact. Feature-rich!

Lacks the "feel" of a well-made camera. The N6006 and N70 have a better feel. I'd compare its "feel" to a slightly sturdier, Canon Rebel.

A lot of bang for the buck. With all of its features and its light weight, its an excellent camera for vacations. Coupled with the Nikon 24-120mm or 28-200mm, which provide a lot of versatility, it's not quite "light" anymore, but definitely manageable and probably the best option for a vacationer's camera outfit.

Customer Service

None yet!

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Nikon F, FA, N6006, N60, N70, N80, N90, N90s, F100, and F5. Canon Rebel G, Rebel 2000.

Everything seems to be in the right place. It's small and lightweight. I like using the gridlines. It's pretty quiet too.

The camera is cool because it's small. If you want to use AA batteries with the camera, you have to add to the small size with a battery pack. Whats the point? Too bad the battery pack doesn't also act as a vertical grip with the extra shutter button, then it might make it more worth it.

This is my first AF SLR. I guess I was one of those manual focus, manual exposure snobs. Heck, my old main camera was an old meterless Leica M2. I wanted to get something that I didn't have to think too much about to use. I went all out and bought a zoom lens too! Going from a do everything yourself camera, one 35mm summicron lens, and a hand held meter to an autoeverything, 28-105, and built-in flash camera can be exhilarating. It's a big change, but I liked it. I thought I wouldn't have to think much to use it. I was wrong. I just figured out how all the dynamic AF and single or continuous focus combinations work.. I think. Should I use the matrix metering, center weighted, or spot metering? Rear sync or normal? So many choices! Choices that I didn't have with the Leica, but I liked them. All I did before was make a light meter reading, set the camera, focus and press the shutter. If the light looked like it changed, I compensated.

Getting back to my bottom line, I like this camera a lot. It does everything I want it to do. The flash sync isn't as fast the pro cameras, but its a lot faster than the Leica's 1/50 sync. The autofocus is fast enough for me. It searches occasionally, but that's only when it is really dim in the room. The features are plentiful and useful. I was looking at the brochure for the F100 and they share a lot of the same feature. I think I even like the mode selector on the N80 better. By the way, none of the buttons have fallen off.

Customer Service

They seemed pretty nice, once I finally got a hold of one. I had a question about the 4 year ESP for the 28-105 I bought.

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My first AF SLR!

-Professional Feel
-Excellent Metering
-Can work as slow (manual) or fast as you want it to.
-Manual is informative
-Looks cool and professional!

-AF searches a bit, could be lens issue
-Low light focus light on side of camera can be a bit blinding...it works great, but if it's night out, it hurts the subject's eyes!

An incredible camera, and well worth the money. It's not as "professional" as the F5, but for an intermediate to learn on, you can't get much better. I constantly have people telling me how cool the camera looks, plus it takes excellent photos. Good luck getting one, though! ;) One thing though: don't get the camera with the 28-80 lens, if you possibly can, invest in the 28-105...much better quality, and well worth the cost. Just some thoughts!

Customer Service

Haven't had to deal with

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Canon A1
Pentax Spotmatic

Light
Fast, accurate Auto Focus
Electronic Shutter
Built-in Flash
Custom Functions (On-Demand Grid Lines)
Flexible Program Mode (if you don't like what the camera chose for shutter speed and aperture you only have to rotate a command dial to change it.)

While changing film advance modes you have to hold down a button that acts as a lock release while you move the lever. I'm glad that it's there but, it is hard to perform with one hand. Otherwise the camera is very well built and all controls are in the right place.

My main reason for selecting this camera was that I wanted to have AF, an Electronic Shutter (allows you to selecet more shutter speeds than the manual FM2n e.g. 1/90th or 1/350th of a second)and DOF Preview all in one body. So, I traded in my FM2n even thought it will be in working condition longer than me. I like a camera that is quick to set up, easy to understand and has the features I use. From candids to macro, the N80 is an all purpose camera. I want to add that, the On-Demand Grid Lines might seem like a gimmic to rope in comsumers but it is actually a very useful feature, and people should be glad that Nikon has eliminated the need for a separate and expensive focusing screen as an accessory. Also, if you are concerned about the body being made from polycarbonite plastic don't be. I know from experience that it is some tough stuff. The F100 is made of metal but it's electronic components are just as vulnerable to a drop as the N80's. It probably can take bumps and scrapes better but hey, it's designed for PJ's, Sports Photographers and extreme climates anyway.

Customer Service

I haven't needed to service any of my Nikon equipment.

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Nikon FM2n, Pentax K-1000

Light, small, amazing array of features, uncanny picture-taking prowess. On demand grid lines rule! Plastic is not a problem provided it stays away from where it should'nt be, i.e. lens mounts and film rails (both of which on the N80 are metal). Comparing this camera to its contemporaries, I find its value unbeatable.

Need to keep instruction manual handy for custom function settings. Infra-red sprocket hole counter, fogs I-R film (I've heard). Wanted to get a better (more expensive) camera and this d*** thing preempts the need!

I'll admit, I'm a hack, that is, I'm an equipment nut. I had decided to finally go autofocus for 35mm, after using all manual focus equip. for years, and was planning a trip at the same time. The idea was I'd use my new AF stuff on the trip to pay more attention to my surroundings and less on my gear. Well, I was decided on an F100 and a 28-70 af-s, mainly because I use a lot of film, and being the "pro" camera that it is, I felt it would suffice. Moving along, planning the trip and such, I did'nt get my s*** together it time to order the blasted thing, and I live in the sticks, no one around here would ever stock one for the shelf. So I'm painted into a corner here, looking at my array of MF Nikon gear, Leica rangefinders, and a 6x7 outfit. I wasn't looking forward to lugging any of it. After all the orig. idea was to simplify, one camera one lens. So now I'm shopping, we're talkin' Wal Mart, Target, slim pickins' up here for retail establishments, and I aint seein' nothin' (bad grammar added for dramatic effect). Low and behold a Ritz camera, and I spy a Nikon N80. Looks kinda like a F100, but smaller and plastic. I quickly realize, being that it's the nicest (most expensive)camera I,ve seen in wandering through ten different stores it may have to be the one. I walked out of there with it and the one lens they had for it that didn't say Quantaray on it (yes, I know, say it again, I'm a Hack!), a Nikkor af-d 28-105, for well under a grand, thinking, "I'm probably going to hate myself later for buying this chintzy camera". Brief once-over the manual en route, and I'm ready, for better or for worse. Well, seventy-five rolls of film later, (mostly slide) I have this to say about it. IT ROCKS!

Customer Service

Don't know

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Tried/looked at a few Canons Minoltas, Own Leicas, Nikons, Mamiyas, etc.