We are sending back our 2nd D80 now. The lens keeps coming 'detached' and won't take pictures. You have to take it off and put it back on again. It works for awhile and then indicates that it is detached. Nikon indicated they never have had this problem before (despite this being the 2nd incident with us). For a very expensive camera - this is quite frustrating.

So far, so good, but if you use a UV filter you will find that shots taken in low light or those involving prolonged shutter exposure will cause light to reflect off of the lenses. If it was possible for me to attach an example to this review I would attach about 100 pics I shot within the past 2 weeks. Other than that this camera is easy and fun to learn. Metering off of objects is a breeze and many photo editing options are built in to the camera. The only drawback to camera operation is that sometimes the autofocus does not know what to lock onto if there is too much sky or solid color in the picture, which will prevent the camera from taking the picture unless you switch it to manual operation.

PRO: Very intuitive operation. Excellance you;d expect from Nikon

CON: None

OK. One year passed since I've bought this camera so I can get into a review of my personal experience with it.

First of all, if you consider into buying this model, you should know that this is not a dSLR that you can use on auto settings and get fabulous results. Get a point and shoot for that or a D40/ D40x. D80 seems to be tuned to provide best results with manual modes or semi-auto modes (fixed-aperture or fixed-shutter). I spent almost 1,000 shots until I got used with the behaviour of D80 in different light conditions and with different camera settings. The learning curve may vary, but definitely won't be a steep one.

EXPOSURE: the matrix metering mode is thought to overexpose but, IMO, those that said that use this mode in the wrong situations: high-contrast, high-dynamic scenes which require careful analysis of the zones (with spot metering and/ or center-weighted) and exposure settings should be chosen accordingly. Matrix is fabulous for shooting scenes with the sun to your back, overcast or uniform lighting: exposure is perfect. For all other situation I would highly recommend spot metering.

FOCUS: focus is always dependent on the lens you use. If you invest in this DX body, get a good (pro) lens to suit your needs. The 17-55DX (Click here: Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens) from Nikon is a fast-focus, super-sharp lens that allows you to take shots using all capabilities of the D80 AF system. However, there are some cheaper lens I would recommend, one of them is the 50mm f/1.8 prime (Click here: Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras), super cheap bargain for the quality you get. The new 55-200VR (Click here: Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR [Vibration Reduction] Zoom Nikkor Lens + Hoya 52mm UV Haze Protector Glass Filter + CapKeeper Lens Cap Strap + 6-Piece Cleaning Kit - for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras including Nikon D40, D40x, D50, D70, D70s, D80, D100, D200 & D300) is also a bargain but don't expect to get similar sharpness as from the 17-55DX. Overall focus is very fast WITH a fast-focusing lens but will require some learning from you especially if you'll use single point focus so some recomposing technique should also be learned.

COLORS: You'll be ABSOLUTELY AMAZED by the colors this camera will provide you considering that you nailed the exposure and set correct camera settings. Skin tones are natural, vivid and well balanced, blues are deep, reds are explosive, greens are smoothly rendered. But please take tests on all three color modes (two sRGB modes, I and III and one Adobe RGB mode, II) and see which suites you best. If you intend RAW, go for Adobe RGB; for JPEGS use I or III sRGB modes. You should be aware, though, that deep reds tend to overexpose on I and, especially mode III, so either compensate exposure, either go for RAW and mode II. Overall, colors are marvelous and you'll get amazing results once you'll learn how to master the camera.

Please get yourself two rechargeable batts. One is not enough if you intend to shoot all day. Another option would be to buy the grip, the MB-D80 (Click here: Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera), that allows you to stick 6 AA batteries or two EN-EL (Click here: Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-Ion Battery for D200 Digital SLR Camera) rechargeable. With 2 nikon rechargeable batteries the autonomy is VASTLY improved.

HIGH ISO: From my experience, the limit of all-around ISO setting is 1250 for best-detailed photos. However, as you'll learn to better expose ISO 1600 is perfectly usable and ISO 3200 for Black and White or small-sized photos (4x6"). Please remember that higher you get with the ISO, more important is to nail the exposure in order to minimize the noise. In-camera high-ISO noise reduction does marvels IF you'll shoot JPEGs, but please don't use it if you go RAW: you'll loose details.

The camera body is made for middle-sized hands. For bigger hands, the D200 body is more suitable. Most important, for example, is the distance to the buttons than can be reached with the right thumb (the AE/AF-L and the multiple selector). But the controls operate smoothly and you can do a lot of customizing to fit your needs.

Overall, this is an excellent camera and don't get fooled by reviews that point to poor image quality. Almost all cases of poor image quality come from improper use and not enough testing of this camera capabilities. My first results were awful, but after a couple of weeks of continuous learning I started to get amazing results. I'm suggesting 5 topics you SHOULD learn/ cover before or simultaneous with using this camera:

1. Basic controls: aperture, shutter speed, ISO and how they interact;

2. Relationship between aperture and depth of field;

3. Ansel Adams zone theory; very educative

4. Color temperature and color temperature correction

5. RAW files processing

About #5 above, please get yourself good RAW processing software. I use, for my workflow, Nikon's Capture NX (Click here: Nikon Capture NX Software for Windows and Mac) and Adobe Photoshop (Click here: Adobe Photoshop CS2): I squeeze most of image from Capture NX, save it as TIFF and make final adjustments in Photoshop.

Good luck, D80 is worth each penny I spent on it.

And no, I'm not on Nikon's payroll. ;)

Update: October 29, 2007: 17-55DX on a D80

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I have just purchased a Nikkor 17-55DX lens and there are some things I would like to share with this D80 review.

First of all, the lens is awesome ! It is extremely sharp even down to f2.8 but what amazes me it is its ability to deliver microcontrast which give images a very natural look. Details are better rendered than with any other regular lenses I own. However, there are some things you should be aware of when using this lens with the D80:

1. First of all, this is a VERY contrast lens. Whenever you'll shoot in harsh lighting conditions (as directly under mid-day sun), the images tend to loose details in the extremes (highlights and shadows); you'll manage to control that using lower tone settings in the image menu of the D80, maybe -1 or, better, -2. This is VERY important if you shoot jpeg, and advisable for NEFs.

2. For me it seems that the lens is balanced for neutral light, kind you'll get in a studio with controlled lighting. Under direct sun on my D80 it has a slight magenta cast in shadows, easily correctable with postprocessing (pp); overall, images you take with this lens and a D80 are very well controlled and don't require pp.

3. the lens IS heavy, my D80 + MBD80 (grip) + 17-55DX is quite a boulder so you probably take that into consideration when looking for the 17-55DX;

That's all for now

Nikon has muddied the waters about, and now offers no less than three digital SLR cameras that use the same basic imager -- the D200, D80, and D40x. Which should you buy?

This D80 is smack in the middle, and packaged with a useful lens that's also middle-of-the road in its applications. Appropriately, the D80 may be the best choice for those who have graduated from the point-and-shoot/snapshooting phase, but aren't ready for a more semi-pro camera.

D40x -- Uses the same 10.2MP sensor, but is smaller than the D80. It produces similar image quality, but has the limitation of providing autofocus only with AF-S and AF-I lenses (or other lenses from third-party vendors that have autofocus motors built-in.) If you own an existing complement of lenses that aren't compatible, you'll want to pass on this camera.

D200 -- Larger than the D80, it has more water-resistent sealing, and uses a four-channel readout from the sensor, so it's capable of 5 fps bursts in continuous shooting mode. The D200 is much more customizable, has shooting banks to store sets of settings, and will provide metering in both M and Aperture-priority modes with older, non-"cpu"-equipped manual focus lenses. This camera might be your choice if you're shooting a lot of sports, have older lenses, and want to be able to customize your settings. The D200 uses Compact Flash cards rather than the SD cards used by the D80 and D40x.

D80 -- This camera has many of the features of the D200 in a smaller package, but with a slower 3 fps burst rate. It's a camera you won't easily grow out of, is simple to use, and provides excellent image quality. It makes an excellent "first" D-SLR.

I bought the Nikon 80 with the 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens for my daughter's college graduation gift. She loves it and has put it to very good use in only a week. The lens is perfect as a starter for this camera ("Awesome" to quote her). The professional photographers where she works were also impressed.

Beware of some of the "deals" you see offered at online stores and auction sites. Research revealed the following problems:

1. Online stores with very bad ratings - they try to shake you down for more money after the order is submitted.

2. "Grey Market" cameras that were improperly imported and come with Japanese manuals.

3. Kits that bundle non-Nikon lenses (Sigma, Tamron). These work but they are of lower quality and cost than the Nikon lenses.

4. Kits that bundle Nikon lenses that are not the AF-S DX lenses designed especially by Nikon for their digital SLRs.

After looking at the whole picture, Amazon with my Prime shipping was the best deal.

Now my only problem is that I want one, too!

I recently purchased the Nikon D80 with the 18-135mm kit lens and I am quite pleased with the quality and performance of both the camera and lens. It is my first digital SLR, though I have had film SLRs and three digital "point and shoots."

I bought the Nikon after weeks of research and indecision during which I read countless reviews and forum messages comparing the Nikon and Canon systems, and I also handled the actual cameras in stores. I finally decided on the Nikon because, among many other desirable features:

1. It has a very fine and solid feel. It is built well and fits my hands perfectly.

2. The viewfinder is large and very bright, by far the best.

3. It has spot metering.

4. The battery life is great.

5. It uses SD cards, which I already had.

6. There is a top LCD status panel.

7. Grid lines are available to help with composition and camera leveling.

Image quality is superb. My pictures so far are surprisingly good, considering my inexperience and the complexity of the camera. I realize that any available DSLR is probably more than good enough to supply my needs but I am delighted with this one.

This camera TIED with the Canon 30D both having a 74 Score with Consumer Reports July 2007 Issue, which stated on the front of the magazine. "Finding the Best Digital Camera" THEY EVEN SHOWED THE NIKON D80 camera on the Front of the Magazine!!! I find this Camera and especially the Nikon Lenses quality to both be extremely EXCELLENT. You can't go wrong with buying this Nikon D80 DSL Camera, This Camera even OUTPERFORMED (according to consumer reports) the HIGHER PRICED Nikon D200! This is one FANTASTIC CAMERA! As for Lenses, I know that Nikon offers a package with THIS D80 Camera along with an 18-135mm Lens. (An EXCELLENT LENS) The only other lens in this same categeory of Lenses would be the Nikon 18-200 which is priced at OVER $800, if you can afford to just buy the D80 body and can afford the $800 for the 18-200mm Lens I would highly recommend it, otherwise the 18-135 Nikon Lens IS an EXCELLENT substitute, Nikon also has a NEW Lens out the 55-200mm Zoom Lens It retails for ONLY $218 on Amazon and is a worthy investment. I am just getting into photography but am a quick study and one thing I will tell anyone is this: Do NOT substitute a lesser quality lens which may list the SAME Nikon Lens Spec's such as: SIGMA, Tammaron, and a few others who make the same type of lens Nikon makes but NOT WITH THE quality and dedication to EXCELLENCE that Nikon Lenses offer. You may save money in the short term by going with one of these COPY LENSES as I call them, but you will regret your choice when you see the lower picture quality, especially if you are able to compare the picture with one taken using a true NIKON Lens.

C. HENDRIX, ATLANTA, GA

I finally did it. I have made the transition from film to digital photography.

I LOVE this camera! Definitely a great addition to the venerable Nikon line of SLRs. It is right-sized, easy to handle, fast and quiet. There is a good deal of automation built for those times when you are more need to get a shot NOW, yet the fine control to enhance your creativity.

Since this is my first digital camera of any type, I cannot compare it to other digital models; I can only compare it to film cameras.

D-80 and Digital Advantages

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Low processing costs. Only pay for the "keepers" you print.

"Throw away" and test shots no longer carry a penalty of any kind.

Huge picture capacity with large SD cards. No more changing film rolls at the most inopportune moment.

Instant feedback.

The D80 has a high enough resolution to make good sized prints.

All the digital processing advantages, (white balance, cropping, converting to black-and-white or sepia tone, etc.)

Auto ISO and the ability to change ISO for any given shot.

The many exposure modes give you flexibility and fine control. The modes vary from point-and-shoot, to manual. There are also vari-program modes that automate many common shooting or difficult situations like night portraits where you want to flash the foreground but also want a long exposure to get the darker background. Or high-speed modes where you may need the AF system to track a moving object as it passes across the field of view.

Compatible with the full range of 35mm lenses, speedlights and accessories. So if you are like me and have a significant investment in 35mm Nikon gear, this is the way to go. Do not get rid of that 35mm body! (Using DX-type lenses on a 35mm body is not recommended!)

Smaller focus area (compared to 35mm) means less shutter travel. That translates into much faster flash sync speeds and less vibration.

The D80, when combined with Silent-Wave Motor lenses has a very fast focus which is nearly noiseless.

The Auto-focus system is one of the most intelligent I have ever used, yet you have extremely fine control over it. Very flexible.

Setting the built-in flash to Commander Mode permits you to control several off-camera CLS compatible speedlights *wirelessly* (SB-800, SB-600 and SB-200). You can also turn off the built-in flash so that it will not fire during exposure (avoiding the harsh face-on light). It will still generate the monitor pre-flashes to fire the other speedlights. You can also use a shoe-mounted speedlight to be the commander as well. There are a couple of channels and groups so that you can avoid stepping on another photographer in competitive shooting situations.

I love the rear-curtain flash sync! I will not buy a body or flash that will not support it!

There are so many other options and capabilities with the flash, such as multiple flashes during a single exposure, that really give you tremendous creative control.

Digital and D80 Cons

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Not too many cons, but they can be show-stoppers for some.

Film has a much higher resolution, so if you want to make poster-sized prints, you will still need that film body.

Limited ISO range. The slowest ISO for the D80 is 100, common in other DSLRs too. I often shoot ISO 25, 50 or 64 for the express purpose of getting very slow shutter speeds to blend motion, such as running water. Even with these, I would often use neutral density filters to get exposures of several seconds. Now I need to use more ND filters to stop down.

The battery does not last as long as a 35mm battery, more than 1,000 shot w/o flash, but it recharges quickly and you can always carry a spare. If you are used to camera batteries lasting for weeks or months, you will not get that here, but then.

While the D80 has a very solid feel, it have a feeling that it is somehow more prone to shock and vibration damage than 35mm counterparts. Note! This is speculation on my part!

Other Points

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Remember that there is approximately a 1.5x effective focal length ratio when compared to a digital camera. So that 18-135mm DX lens actually equates to a 27-202mm lens on a 35mm. a 24-120 lens would be 36-180. If you like wide angle, you may need to pick up another lens. If you like telephoto, you are in luck.

Recommended Accessories

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I recommend the SanDisk Extreme III SanDisk 2 GB Extreme III SD Memory Card ( SDSDX3-2048-901 ) line of SD cards, the bigger the better. These are very fast and can *exceed* the Nikon product claim of 100 continuous shots, at 3 per second, when not using RAW mode, even when image size is Large! It also comes with special "undelete" software to recover deleted images. I am happy with the Ultra II line but they cannot quite keep up with lots of continuous shooting and they do not have the undelete utility.

The optional MB-D80 Nikon MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack for the Nikon D80 Digital SLR Camera battery pack uses two batteries (discharging them one at a time!) to power the camera. You can also use AA batteries in it to drive your camera in a pinch. While it adds weight, it makes vertical shooting easier as it has a shutter release (which can be disabled) and command and sub-command dials. I recommend this accessory.

Do you travel? Consider the Adorama QP-104 Rapid Battery Charger. Adorama QP-104 Rapid Li-ion Battery Charger for Nikon EN-EL3 Battery, 110-220V, 12V Car Cord Adapter Included It has a car adapter so you can recharge your camera battery while you are on the road. The A/C adapter is compatible with both North American and European power standards (you still need the plug converters, however).

Consider the getting the D80 body separately and the Nikon 12-24mm f/4G ED IF Autofocus DX Nikkor Zoom Lens zoom and the 18-200 VR DX Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Zoom-Nikkor Lenszoom instead of the 18-135mm kit. But only if you are a fan of zoom lenses. I have yet to use a zoom that came anywhere near the quality of a prime focus lens. Not to mention zooms are almost always a stop or two slower.

I really like to SB-800 Nikon SB-800 AF Speedlight for Nikon D50, D70s, D80, and D200 Digital SLR Cameras speedlight. High guide number 38/125, auto-zoom 24-105mm and, of course, the amazing Nikon wireless CLS are great! Get a couple or three if you do any indoor work! Do not forget about sync cords Nikon SC 29 - Flash synchro cable - flash terminal if you want to use a pistol grip.

The ML-L3 wireless remote is useful only if you standing in front of the camera. If you need a remote release, get the MC-DC1 cables release. If you need to back away from the camera, consider the after-market Satechi MA-G (118 inch cable) MA-G (118 inch) Camera Remote Control for Nikon MA series D80 D70s remote release.

Consider the Domke Domke F-2 Original Bag (Sand)line of camera bags, as most models are large enough to hold the camera with the the MB-D80 battery back attached.

Do not forget filters for the lenses.

One Last Point

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Why only 4 stars?

About 3 months after getting this camera, it inexplicably died, displaying "err" and underexposing each picture. With the dozens of pieces of Nikon gear I have purchased over the years, this was the very first failure I ever had. I contacted Nikon support, which was easy and fast (the never put me on hold). I sent the camera to the service center and got it back 10 days later. I was pleased with the the service and repair, but disappointed the the camera broke to begin with. Still, I am considering getting another D80 so I can have a second body.

As long as you know what you're buying, it's hard to go wrong with Nikon's digital SLRs. They all take beautiful photographs. Even the basic D40 will give you professional-level clarity, color and focus.

There are four Nikon digital SLRs in the consumer market. Here's how they compare:

The entry-level camera is the Nikon D40. It's a basic SLR camera that takes high-quality 6.1 megapixel (MP) photos. It has an automatic flash, eight programmed exposure modes, three focus areas and a self-timer with four settings (2, 5, 10 and 20 seconds). The D40 can shoot about two-and-a-half images per second and take about 450 photos on each battery charge. Its ISO range is 200-1600. On the downside, it has a plastic body, a semi-mechanical shutter and only accepts Nikon's newer AF-I or AF-S lenses unless you want to manually focus each shot. It weighs about a pound. The basic D40 kit is Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens.

One step up from the D40 is the D40x. Using the same body as the D40, it shoots 10.2 MP photos. It can take about three images per second, get about 500 photos out of a single charge, has an ISO range of 100-1600 and has a fully electronic shutter. The most popular D40x set has a single lens: Nikon D40x 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens.

A major step up is the D80, shown here. About a third-inch wider and four ounces heavier than the D40, it uses the same processor but works fully with any Nikon SLR lens. It has 11 focus areas, a depth-of-field preview in its optical viewfinder, white-balance bracketing and a self-timer that can be set for any time between 2 and 20 seconds. Incredibly, you can get up to 2000 shots on each battery charge, assuming you don't use the LCD screen much. Amazon sells the D80 body separately (Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body only) and in various lens-package deals.

Finally, the D200 is simply one of the best cameras Nikon has ever built. A half-inch taller and a third-inch wider than the D80, it weighs nearly two pounds thanks to its all-metal body. Designed for more advanced users, it does away with all but the standard programmed exposure mode and instead shoots 5 frames per second, outstanding for a 10 MP ISO 100 camera, especially at this price. It uses Compact Flash cards. In many ways the D200 is a professional camera at a consumer price. This is the camera I use for all but my most demanding shots. From a professional standpoint it really increases your productivity compared to the far bulkier D2 models, as it is so much easier to carry and position. Amazon sells the D200 body by itself (Nikon D200 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) and in various package deals.

I'm not including the professional D2 models here, as explaining all their features would drag this review on forever. Besides, from what I've heard the new D3 should be released this fall.