Nikon D80 unboxing

It's a good thing we have more than one digital camera kicking around the HQ, because we just got our hands-on Nikon's new 10.2 megapixel D80 digital SLR and the first thing we wanted to do was take a bunch of pictures of it.

The box itself isn't exciting, though it did do an excellent job of blending in with the floor here.


The usual assortment of cables, as well as a quick charger for the battery.




The screen protector for the LCD is removable.


SD, baby! CompactFlash is on its way out.


The D80 comes bundled with an 18-135 DX Nikkor lens.

[apeguero @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:41PM]

Hey Peter,

Are you going to be giving that one away to a lucky Engadget winner anytime this month? It would be nice :)

[Peter Rojas @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:43PM]

Nope, it's a loaner that I have to return to Nikon after I'm done with it. We'll see what we can do about getting them to give us another one for a contest!

[Robert @ Oct 2nd 2006 7:45PM]

it would be nice i am looking at that one or the D200

[Chuck @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:04PM]

Robert and Peter:

You should check out this D80 vs. D200 link. I find Ken Rockwell's site to be extremely useful to beginner/intermediate and even probably advanced photographers... Anyhow, he loves the D80.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d80/vs-d200.htm

Good luck! Just got a D80 myself...

[J S @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:01PM]

Dynamic range? What's the dynamic range of this? In an indoor or daytime photo do the shadows come out much darker than seen visually?

[Dan @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:08PM]

Chuck, thanks for that link! I've been pussyfooting over the D50, D70s, D200, and now the D80 for, well, at least a year now. I've been using dpreview to get the tech specs, but this guy really lays it out simply. Donno if I'm any closer to deciding, but I now have another place to read up.

[Tamar @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:30AM]

Just a note: Ken Rockwell's reviews should be taken with a grain of salt. A lot of times you'll read his site and find out that he's reviewed lenses and bodies that he hasn't even touched. I'm not sure why and how he's on top of Google searches (which is how you all usually find him), but he's NOT an authority in the photography industry, at least not by serious users. If you're looking for a specific camera or some gear, I recommend that you do more thorough research, like checking out forums on the items you're researching. I personally find NikonCafe.com to be a great choice for Nikon users, as well as Nikonians.org. Ken Rockwell definitely has some useful insights, but don't use him alone (or heavily at all) to base your photography purchases.

Despite all I've said about Rockwell, the D80 is a pretty good camera. I don't think many people would disagree.

[Alden @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:40PM]

In other words, there is _no_ difference in unboxing it with any other nikon DSLR, except for the model badge and then screen protector.

[Robert @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:07PM]

thanks Chuck nice. will help me alot.

[Robert @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:13PM]

did you know that Compact Flash comes in very big sizes and is cheaper than SD i wish my IPAQ (hw 6515) had Compact Flash Vs. Mini SD i could have like 16gb CF mem vs the 2GB. Just a idea.

[rems @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:24PM]

you should have been unboxing a 400D... ;P

[Brian Mc @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:40PM]

have you held the 400D :-(
my pinky and half my ring finger dangles under the camera
my hand was cramping just checking the thing out
I'm going to be trading up from my D50 and would honestly get the 400D over the D80 if it were larger since it has hardware dust removal
Brian in Texas

[shon Dempsey @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:28PM]

so when are we going to see engadgetphoto.com? unless the camera does something other than take pics and video, im not sure id classify it as a "gadget".

[Canon FanBoy @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:36PM]

I prefer my Canon 5D, none of this focal length multiplier stuff! My 50mm acts like a 50mm, my 70-200mm like a 70-200mm, my 16-35mm like a 16-35mm... Of course with an expensive Canon lens collection I doubt I'd switch anyhoo.

[Paul @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:42PM]

Wow, looks like a pretty sweet-looking camera. I learned photography on a Nikon. Of course, it was a film SLR and the exposure counter eventually broke although the rest of the camera continued to function perfectly. Still, even though I still have a soft spot for traditional film photography (the smell of silver nitride solution - ahhhh), I'd definitely take this digital Nikon over my old one most any day. :-P

Paul
http://www.kiwali.com

[Peter @ Oct 2nd 2006 9:01PM]

That's the beauty of the old Nikon gear, it would take almost any abuse you could give it and it just kept working. The FE and FE2 bodies could even be used completely manually if the electronics failed. That was one of the really nice things about film (aside from the smell of fixer in the morning), you rarely had to worry about mechanical failure preventing you from getting the shot.

[Bizzle @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:50PM]

I like that kit lense, definitly beats out the Pentax 18-55.

[The1 @ Oct 2nd 2006 9:21PM]

I got my D80 on Friday and I love it. The clarity is amazing. I picked up a 2GB San Disk Ultra Mem Card to save RAW files and that equates to 159 on one disk. SanDisk will release the SDHC card sometime this month for $219.00. I will be waiting. Picture Project is ok too.

[MikeB @ Oct 2nd 2006 10:37PM]

Schwing! Gotta love camera gadget porn!

[franzbonus @ Oct 2nd 2006 11:37PM]

I have the D50 and I can say that besides the digit '5' replaced for a '8', every single millimeter of plastic on it is the same.

[Gilbert Tang @ Oct 3rd 2006 11:16AM]

I have a D50 as well and I can tell you that these cameras, from the exterior (well, less so) to the interior are fairly different and, depending on your budget/skill-level/needs, they can definitely coexist. I'm interested in selling my D50 for this camera. It's not that I think my photography will get any better, it's just that this camera will allow me to take more of the shots I'm accustomed to and with a layout more similar to my old F100.

[klif-e @ Oct 3rd 2006 5:16AM]

Add BG-E3 to the 400D and its much more pleasent to hold..

Love my week old 400D

[Paul Jobs @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:21AM]

"I have the D50 and I can say that besides the digit '5' replaced for a '8', every single millimeter of plastic on it is the same."

Ahh, did you look deeper. How about a new 10mp sensor and other improvements. Besides, you didn't notice the new external controls and much larger LCD.

[Paul Jobs @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:27AM]

WTH! this guy hacked my engadget acount! iu didnt write that last post about the 5" screen, and i got a confirmation email!...

[Nathan Chan @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:17AM]

@Brian Mc

Yeah that anti-dust system sounds nice and my hands are just fine holding the 400D but the D80 just feels like a more solid build to me. I'd love to have either, to bad many university students like me are dirt poor.

[optV @ Oct 3rd 2006 2:47AM]

Ken rockwell is a jacka$s.

[Herb @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:14AM]

I hate SD! What do they expect me to do with my 6 CompactFlash cards ranging from 512MB to 4GB?

I definitely would buy this camera if it came with CompactFlash, but SD is really freaking me out.

[Tamar @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:24AM]

"SD, baby! CompactFlash is on its way out."

No way, man. CF is the norm in more professional cameras (the D2X, D2H, D2Xs, etc) and the D200. It's not going away anytime soon.

[Doug Augustyn @ Oct 3rd 2006 3:27AM]

The reason Nikkon is putting SD in their 'prosumer' model cameras is that they don't want to alienate their customers. You'd be more apt to buy an expensive camera which you already have gobs of cards for, right?

[Jasper Waale @ Oct 3rd 2006 4:23AM]

Oh, Had that body the last 14 days ? is this news ?
what might be news is that the 18-135 is not a VR and the 18-200 that is the right lens is out of stock the next 4 months Im told by nikon

[Porkchop Flavored Cupcake @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:27AM]

Ken Rockwell is indeed a jack@ss.
You want real reviews, go to DPreview.com, Imaging Resource, or CameraLabs.
DPreview just posted their full D80 review: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond80/
It measured up very well and achieved high recommendation marks.
All that being said, Canon is expected to release some serious updates for it's 70th anniversary coming up. Rebates have already started with their current lineup from what I've heard.

[Vincent @ Oct 3rd 2006 9:36AM]

Just so you guys stop complaining about the SD card slot.. its an SDHC slot! Waa CF is bigger, well give SDHC another few months and they'll be just as big, and faster.

Anyway, yeah I do plan on getting the D80 since the day I heard it was to be coming out soon. Fastest shutter speed is slower than the D70, but with the extra 4MP, and still the ability to use my old F series lenses, and SDHC, it's definitely a nice upgrade.

[Dan @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:28PM]

RE: guys who warned about Ken Rockwell

Thanks for posting your opinions. I spent hours last night reading his site, and after just a few pages I did notice that he's not very scientific, nor exacting, in his reviews. In fact, he can be a bit biased here and there too. So, yes, I did take his reviews and opinions with a grain of salt.

Having said that, it's a nice change from dpreview, where I've been doing my research before I came across Ken Rockwell. Aside from the fact that it's not white on black which makes my eyes go NUTS, it's nice to see the techinical specs broken down to how-it-works-in-the-field.

[Jeff Kott @ Oct 3rd 2006 12:30PM]

As far as your comment that every inch of plastic is the same as the D50, a few examples of how ridiculous the comparison is.

One, obviously the sensor is different. 10 megapixels is a significant improvement over 6, especially if you print big or crop. Two, 2.5 inch LCD monitor in back, same as D200. Three, big .95% magnification viewfinder, same as D200 and a huge improvement over D50. Three, same autofocus system as D200 - a huge improvement. I could go on, but don't let the fact that the camera is the same size as the D50 fool you into thinking performance will be similar.

[NitroNeo @ Oct 3rd 2006 1:24PM]

Please, give away a Nikon 200D with or without lenses.

It would be wicked, and give you all that you seek including, power over the people!

[Big Al @ Oct 3rd 2006 5:06PM]

I recently played with the D80 at a local Best Buy. The thing that is most impressive is the feeling of quality, especially when compared to the Rebel XTI, which I was also considering. The D80 feels much more substantial and seems to be made of superior materials compared to other units in this price range. The XTI, while also a great camera, feels like a toy in comparison.

Now the only thing to decide is whether to buy a D70 on the cheap or pony up for the D80. Decision, decisions.....

[Jebby Deringer @ Oct 3rd 2006 6:20PM]

I bought a D80 yesterday and I love it so far. I didn't buy the kit because I bought a 80-200mm F2.8 off Ebay 2 weeks ago. The camera is great so far but being my first SLR I have some learning to do (luckily the last camera I used had manual controls). I too was interested in a D50 and D70 but had put off buying one for too long. The quality is really good for plastic. I would prefer if it was a little larger and metal (D200 maybe) but I'm not ready for such a large investment. I'll probably get the battery grip in the future for better holding and portrait shooting.

[Ranjit @ Oct 11th 2006 5:05PM]

The D80 comes with a Kit of 18-135 mm Nikon Lens ... is this a Wide angle or a telephoto lens...
Is this good for Aircraft photography... Advice would be truely appretiated...

[Erica Trumpower @ Oct 12th 2006 2:35AM]

Does anyone have any feedback as to whether there's a big difference between the D50 and D80 body? I'm trying to deceide which to buy (and obviously would prefer the lesser expensive) . . . i'll probably buy Nikon's 12-200 lens too . . . and the goal is to take clean pictures without a lot of noise which will be printable in large scale (like 5x4 feet) . . .
advice?