Nikon N80 35mm SLR Camera (Body Only)

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.


Good, but......   February 12, 2004
35 out of 41 found this review helpful

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.


not worth it   September 30, 2003
Rick Mark (Washougal, WA USA)
19 out of 47 found this review helpful

interesting - there used to be at least a dozen reviews of this camera on this site, but they seem to have been removed.

I bought this camera, found it too complicated and difficult to use, with tiny controls that were very inconvenient and hard to maneuver. I constantly had to have the instruction booklet with me. I ended up trading the N80 to a camera shop for a very good lens.

Maybe some people think that autofocus is worth the trouble, but I didn't.

Here's the main point. Nikon cameras are wonderful because the lenses are so good. I think new photographers make a very big mistake if they spend a lot of money on a Nikon camera body, and then buy a cheap lens to go with it.

My recommendation is this: Buy the cheapest Nikon camera body you can find, and then save your money for the best lenses. It's the lens that's capturing the image, not the body


A Great Step Up SLR at a Great Price.   October 9, 2004
Jennifer A. Kern (Ozone Park, NY United States)
19 out of 19 found this review helpful

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.


Back From Digital   December 1, 2004
Digital Photographer (Brooklyn, NY)
19 out of 23 found this review helpful

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.