Good control layout, good viewfinder, accurate exposure

No metering with manual focus lenses, small body, slaggish AF, useless diopter adjusment, flimsy battery pack, some knobs are too weak and small.

Oh boy... If anyone 5-10 years ago told me that Nikon will come up with something like N80, I would never believe it. But, here is a reality. This camera is below my expectations, see list of strengths/weaknesses above. I only can add that I am worried about money I have invested in this camera - I do not expect that it'll last for long. Camera is way too small and light for SLR, hence difficulties with handheld shots in low light. It’s impossible to operate N80 with gloves on. Earlier quality problems do not add confidence either. Personally, I recommend this camera with a great caution

Customer Service

needed, but it was fast

Similar Products Used:

N6006, N8008, N90

* DOF preview (though also featured in other camera's like the elan7e/eos30)
* grid view
* focusing is fairly fast, though not as fast as canon's elan7e
* noise level is acceptable, though not as quiet as the elan7e
* true spot meter (elan doesn't have)
* good flash technology
* good control interface
* very nice flexible program
* dynamic AF
* multiple exposures
* not expensive for what it is

* AF points are quite close to the center, i'd like them somewhat more off-center
* only 1 AF cross sensor, the others often have more difficulty focusing
* 2.5fps max
* a bit small for holding in vertical position
* no ECF
* no IR AF assist light (but then, this is probably asked too much for this price)
* no MLU (as opposed to Canon)

I got the f80 (and not the elan7e) because the f80 has a real spot meter. I thought the higher fps of the canon wouldn't matter much to me since i dont do a lot of sports photography. However, a higher fps would have been useful, just to capture 'the' moment. Suppose your child is blowing at the candles on his/hers birthday cake, it easier to get the best moment with higher fps. Of course it isn't really necessary, but i didn't realize until now. Also the quieter operation of the elan lets you get less attention in small rooms.

Canon's ECF is probably not to be underestimated either. Now, i have to look first at what part to focus, put my finger on the AF selectors and press. With ECF i would merely have to look. It's irrelevant when shooting landscapes etc, but for quick shots this can be very useful. I'm not stating the F80's focus selection is bad, I just think Canon's way is superior (and it's at no extra cost here)

The f80's interface is good. There are buttons for bracketing, flash settings, exposure compensation and flash compensation. With some practice it's very easy. I liked however an extra button to switch between spot meter, center weighted and matrix metering. Now it's with a rotating knob which isn't trivial to switch on the fly. General commands go very fast. With the flexible program and exposure compensation you've got everything you need. Still i think my aunt's Canon AE-1 works faster in full manual mode.

The f80's construction seems solid enough to me. I haven't dropped my previous camera yet (in 12 years).

The dynamic AF is adequate. I shot a lot of people running and they're all sharp.

Bottom line: The f80 it's a very fine camera, and i haven't lost shots due to its 'weaknesses'. I think however, the Canon may pose less of an 'obstacle' to the photographer. The difference in results between the f80 and elan7e is in 99% of all cases probably the photographer. There are however situations where the elan may be quicker to operate, according to its features. The most important factor is besides that, the usage.

I got the 28-105D IF 3.5-4.5 lens with it. It's a pretty decent one, but has clearly visible distortion at 28-40 mm. However, I often feel handicapped by its lack of speed so i got the 50mm 1.8. Much faster, much cheaper, and it's got the blurred backgrounds. I still use the 28-105 a lot for general shooting, but for low light and for head to waist portraits or whole body portraits the 50mm is the way to go.

This is my first slr (after 10 years of non-slr shooting), and i did not really know about these features and weaknesses when i bought it. I do not really regret my decision to go with the f80 -like i said it's a superb camera- but... if the canon's user interface is fast (which it probably is) and feels good to me, i'd probably go with the canon.

Customer Service

Good. Had problems with lens, got a brand new one (but maybe that says more about the store where i got it)

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N70, old Canon AE-1

Well balanced, compact, good performance, no fluff.

Outside build quality not as good as Elan 7E, although inside is better.

Strength: Very good camera for the money. Very good performance for the money. Gives you what counts, and leaves out most of the fluff.
Weakness: Not as much fluff as some competitors, so you might have to weather an occassional braggard from the competitor.

Note: Some early samples are rumored to have a defect in the focus selector. Lots of braggards from the Competitor has harpped all over it. But even if it's true, it's a minor problem easily fixed with a tube of superglue.

Customer Service

None needed for this camera.

Similar Products Used:

F100, N90s, N70, N6006, N50, T-90, EOS-1V, EOS-3, etc, etc

comapct, feature rich camera its a F100 of any non-professional photographer. Accurate eter, Cable release, 5 point fucus, DOF and many more.

For its category almost none. A mirror lock up would be nice( although a spot meter, which i use almost all the time, overweighs the elan7 in the same category). Hate that it does not accept the manual focus lenses. That is perhaps alright as i read somewhere- to keeep prices down that was not feasible for nikon.

I read lot of people talking about mirror lock up missing and mirror slap. Have you guys even tried to test the mirror slap...? I have made prints as big as 12x16 inches and poster prints as big as 20x30. To my standard the 12x16 print still holds the sharpness and low-grain. I have compared it to the prints in one of the mueseum prints in a local photography museum, thats how i could tell. This kind of picture quality is possible only with lens like nikon 180/2.8 and thats what i used. THis was a closeup shot of bunch of tiny flowers. I think the mirror slap of this camera is smooth if not totally vibration free.
As far as other features goes, yes its a plastic body - if you need a rugged metal all weather body, any lastest breed of cosumer/amature camera is useles, do not blame N80. go manual focus route or buy 2000 dollar F5/ canon 1V. I normally shoot 2 rolls avg per month and this camera has been fantastic so far. I love the spot meter, i use it almost all the time, I recommend a john shaw book for technique and a spot meter - you will never go wrong with exposure, i can bet. Five point autofocus is useful but i think the points are too close to center, you still need to do the compose-focus-recompose sequence sometime when subject doensnot touch the outer most focus point, but its much better than nothing.
Some features like dynamic focusing on subject as it moves is some kind of gizmo thing- not all that effective. I think nikon came up with it just to compete Canons eye control focus.
I like the dial on the back for focus point selection. I like the two-dial selection process. All these features picked up from F100 are simply great and soooo useful. Built-in flash has been given good amount of height when it pops up, that helps a little bit to reduce red-eye when you wnat to rely on this tiny flash. The comapct-ness of this camera is its advantage, lesser weight-space, feels handy; I don't know some why some people make issue out of it. focusing is much better in the cameras i tested. Controls are perfectly placed, After one roll of time I am so used to them now. If you have a F100, and want a backup this is perfect as controls are almost at same place. I would highly recommend this camera who is looking for one in this range. IF you absolutely need to go for stuff like image stabilization and diffraction optics, canon is a good choice nikon has started to get those features but don't know when will the reach there. Canon will give you lot of features in lenses in the same price range. but if can afford to pay for those big glass then you probably can buy a high end camera also. All i think this camera is as good as it gets. My only personal regret is i wish i could use manual focus lense as nikon still makes them and with the same legendery F-mount.

Customer Service

not needed so far.

Similar Products Used:

Canon ellan IIe, nikon n50, nikon n70.

Features, Size and weight,ergonomic

NONE for this class of camera

For all of the reviewers who gave less than 3 stars, please do not sabotages this review, if that was your true opinion may be you're need to learn more about photographic and its tools.
For those who' really need to know the true : This camera is the BEST BUY in its class. The BEST tool for 99% of images creation.
Chasseur d'images (French) , Popular Photography (U.S), Practical Photography...., all rated 5 stars.

Customer Service

So far, not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 300, EOS 1-V, Elan 7, Nikon F5,F4,F100, Leica R8 & M6

Compact, lightweight and very easy to use. Metering is excellent.Love the built in speedlight (I have an SB-28, but this thing is so handy).I really love the spot and CW metering options for high contrast areas like snow and water scenes. Very portable (an F5 could break Arnold Schwarzenegger's shoulder after 8 hours of walking). Control dials are very well laid out.

Would like high speed sync with flash.
It's not made of titanium (don't drop it too hard)

An excellent intermediate camera. It's not supposed to replace the F100 or F5, so would you all just lay off! This is ridiculous to look at reviews giving it 1 or 2 stars because of this. Quit griping and go spend $1200 - 2500 if that's what you really want. All the rest of us are very happy. Really, I've seen pinhole cameras that rank better than 1 star. Try to be at least reasonable and rate this camera for what it is; one of the best mid-levels currently available. I hate whiners.
Great all around performance, metering, focusing and ease of use. I like the capabilities of the Nikon "system" and that's a large part of why I bought this camera.

Customer Service

NA. Thank God.

Similar Products Used:

canon eos elan II
Pentax ZX5N & ZX7(too limited creatively)

Price,
Feature set (almost everything you can find in a F100), Size
Lightweight

None

With this machine you'll have all the advanced tec. features you´ll only find in much more expensive cameras.
Does the "Not very rugged", Plastic body (with mettalic mount), absence of mirror lock-up make this this camera a bad camera ? No, for sure - these are issues raised for sure by the ones that paid to much for a equivalent camera (these things are in fact the ones that make the difference from a 3X more expensive machine).
"Light and Small" ? These are some one of the big advantages of this machine.

Similar Products Used:

F100,F90

Matrix metering, spot meter, viewfinder grid lines.

To light, to small, not very rugged, mirror, no mirror lock, battery pack.

Only reason to buy this camera is if you have already purchased several Nikon lenses and that is only if they are auto focus, because the older manual focus lenses have compatibility problems with the N80, shame on Nikon!
I prefer my N90 to the N80, it is more rugged and has a more solid feel, it is twice the camera.
Even the Elan7 is a better camera.

Customer Service

good

Similar Products Used:

Elan7, ElanII, Maxxum7,
N90, N70

Great AutoFocus!
Good feel!
Nikon Lenses!

None that I can see

This is a great camera for the money. Works with Nikon's great lenses and even has support for the newer VR lenses. I love it! It works great with fast moving sports and everything else!

Customer Service

No need for them yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Elan 7

Very quite, solid design

Little to much plastic, but good!

All i must say in the N80/F80 is by far the greatest camera that i have bought yet, I have had a manual camera forever, and decied to go out and buy an AF camera, this is a great camera for ones looking to expand, happy shooting!

Customer Service

Good

Similar Products Used:

None