Nikon Reviews

I have used different cameras, from manual Russian cameras, to state of the art point-and-shoot. I have even fiddled with digital cameras, and considered switching to digital. Well, I decided to stick to film for now, so I bought the Nikon N-80 (known in Europe as Nikon F-80, same camera with minimal software differences).
This is a very good camera, which adapts to every kind of user.

Occasional users: You can set it to automatic mode, in which case you have a very expensive point-and-shoot camera (even though I don't know why would one buy this camera to use in auto mode only). For people with little experience the camera's many controls might be intimidating, and the included manual provides help only for people that know quite a bit about cameras. Also, the flash has to be popped opened manually in order to work, which many people would forget (like I do sometimes). Perhaps, for ocassional users, it would be better to stick to a point-and-shot camera designed for point-and-shot.

Advanced amateur photographers and hobbyists will get the most out of it. Think of a professional camera similar to F-100, without the proffessional price tag. They will have all the customizations offered. I love the simplicity of exposure controls. You can switch by turning a thumb-wheel between pairs of speed-diaphragm while keeping an optimum exposure (in auto mode). In addition, a good option is continuous or single shot metering mode, which comes handy in action situations. For situations when timing is important, the controls are so well placed that once you get used to them, you can change all the settings without even taking the camera from your eyes.
If you are a professional, you already know about this camera and about the F-100 line, which might be better for you in some situations (even though in 90% of the cases this camera would be more than enough).
Things that might need improvement:
In dark places, the focus is somewhat slow (even if the "illuminator lamp" is used), and if your subject moves, you might have a problem focusing fast enough in auto mode. I lost some pictures in the beginning, until I learned to circumvent this issue by switching to continuous focus, or even to manual focus. I think that any other camera in this class would have the same troubles in similar situations.
All things considered, I love this camera and I wish I had more time (and money) to play with it.

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.

In the world of traditional film SLRs most amature photographers either underbuy or more likely overbuy. The N80 as Goldylocks once said is just right! The sophisticated features and performance will please all but the working professional photog. The simplicicty of design and ease of use make it a perfect SLR for those who seek an upgrade to point and shoot. The vast array of Nikon and and other lens makers offerings for this body make it enormously attractive as skills and or needs expand. Should the point come that the N80 owner sees value in moving to a semi-pro F100 or a full pro F5 the lens that have been bought will make the transition happily. All a point to be made for those who see a digital SLR in their future. The Nikon AF lenses fully apply to the well reviewed D100, D1x, and newest D1H.
As a performer the camera is a gem. The focusing and metering systems are very effective and well exceed the performance of pro cameras made just whithin the last few years. Auto focus is fast and well aided by the built in low light feature. The built in speedlight works very effectively for most indoor applications and reasonably well as an outdoor fill light.
All considered there are few offerings in the market today that will please the user as well as the N80.

Photography has been a hobby of mine for nearly ten years now. Having shot on a lot of Minolta and Canon I can say that Nikon equipment is sufficiently superior to its competition unless you are in need of fast auto focus (i.e. for sports) where Canon tends to rule. However, in nearly every other arena in the 35mm SLR world Nikon is at the top of the list. From build and lens quality, to controls and light meters Nikon beats out the competition. So if you are already sold on buying a Nikon (which you should be) the N80 is a great pick for the serious amateur or beginner, but probably a little bit too high on the food chain for the casual photographer.

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.

I bought this camera six months ago, and I shooted tens of film... That's almost perfect, a great camera in several situations and with a lot of useful and easy-to-use functions (good bracketing, excellent several focusing/exposure options, excellent performance (1/4000, 2.5 fps)..... ....and so on). I can recommend to everyone who's interested in PRO/Amateur camera withous spending too much.
If you set it in completely manual mode you almost have a great camera in your hands.

Backwards:

1) Not too much robust (don't go climbing with that camera...)
2) Spot autofocusing loose a little bit on night scenes: switch on manual focusing is imperative
3) Built-in flash is not too much accurate for night complicated scenes

Comparison Hints:
- N65 loose *a lot* in comparison with this camera: no completely manual mode, no spot-metering, and so on. Spend a little bit more and buy a N80
- N100 has a more roboust chassis and a very similar (even, better) autofoucs, plus better performance (1/8000, 3 fps, closer autobracketing). You should decide basing on your needs and your budget

I've been a manual camera user for the longest time but decided to find out about AF before I lose my eyesight. I'm glad I picked this Nikon. The features save lotsa time, the focusing is sharp and even, the flash works wonders and I am having a ball. True, good photographers can find objections to the camera, but also good photographers can shoot with ANY camera. I won't abandon my manual Minolta, because it's better suited for carefully prepared and staged shots, but this Nikon has all I want in a camera to carry around. It's light and fast enough to shoot at the unexpected. In short, a great buy!

Lets put things in proper perspective when writing reveiws. The N80 was not introduced by nikon as a replacement for the F5 or F100. Both of these cameras are undisputed professional models. the N80 made obtaining similar, and some identical features from the pro models available to anyone who had $$$-$$$ to spend on an SLR. This in comparison to $$$$-$$$$ for the F100 and F5. The N80 is a performer. It can tackle all but the most demanding of photographic situations. Invest in good quality lenses, and save money on the camera body, if you do not plan to take over 2.5 frames per sec., fast action flash photography or planning to abuse your camera body.

This camera is amazing. I've been using one for about 5 months and I'm amazed at the high quality pictures I've gotten. The camera has a lot of advanced features that allow even someone new to SLR photography to take excellent pictures. The camera also includes 4 priority modes which allow you to develope even more as a better photographer.

The lens that comes with the camera is a 28-80mm f3.3-5.6 Nikkor. This is a good all around lens. I used it for the first three months solo before getting a 70-300mm lens. I still use the 28-80 a lot, but if you plan on continuing taking pictures, then you should get a bigger telephoto lens.

The camera is very easy to use and if you get one, experiment with all the functions on the camera. You will most likely be very happy with the results.

This is a great camera for amateurs because it has Nikon quality at a great price. Please don't think cheap piece of crap, though. Its zoom isn't great but thats why it's for amateurs. Note: NOT FOR BEGINNERS FOR THAT A SIMPLE POINT AND SHOOT WILL DO. It's easy to load and to use. And has a dicent flash syncro of 1/90. I also reccomend a Quantaray Filter to replace the lense cap becuse after a while the lense cap get extremely annoying.

I don't have a lot of experience with cameras but this one was so easy and simple to use and produced a bunch of great pictures with little effort. I have to give it a 5 star rating because it is just impossible to mess anything up. If you want a camera that knows what you want and is soo easy to learn to use, get this one. It's worth it.

I own an N70 and it has served me well. For an amatuer, and even a serious amateur, it's a great camera, however, keep in mind that the N70 lacks a few features that you may not miss at first, but may come to want over time. For example, there's no depth-of-field preview, the shutter syncs at 1/125th not 1/250th, the max shutter speed is 1/4000, half that of the 8008s or N90s, which means nothing for action photos (1/4000th is plenty fast) but in high light situtations where you are still overexposed at f22, the extra speed is necessary. Also, there's no locking button for the shutter, and no data back available. I am considering upgrading to N90s or an F4s, but I will keep the N70.

I have to admit that I am biased. I only ever use Nikon products. I have an F3 and an 80008. I purchased the N70 for the built in flash feature (so I wouldn't have to lug around my SB-24) and to have one nice do it all camera to take on vacations, etc. without having to take my whole camera bag with F3 or 80008 bodies. Well, I've shot a wedding, a trip to Spain, and, well, you get the idea. Haven't even needed to pickup the other two. The nice thing about the N70 over the N60 (which is also a great camera) is that the N70 still has the synch port. I wouldn't, of course, trade my F3 or 80008 for studio work or other stuff, but for one compact camera for taking on trips, etc. this camera is great. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it isn't a professional's camera like the F3 or F4 or N90, but this camera is fantastic and more than enough camera for most people.

Years ago when I was looking for a SLR I was thinking of getting one of the expensive ones but people told me to start off with something like this. Well I did, and I am so happy. I love this camera. I have taken it to Italy, Netherlands, Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island in Hawaii. It has gone everywhere with me and given me some great pictures.

If you are just starting off with these cameras or even if you have been using these types of cameras for awhile you will not be disappointed with the N70.

I've always used cheap 35mm and disposable cameras. Now that my daughter is growing up and becoming more involved in various sports and school activities I've long wanted to have a serious camera with zoom so I can get good upclose high quality shots. I decided to splurge on the N65 after doing lots of internet research and talking to variety of photographer type folks.

The camera itself is very sturdy and solid, but not extremely heavy. I'm able to carry it around in my backpack all day without discomfort. It's easy to load the film in, but the provided instruction book is superb to get you started. It has a variety of manual settings, but I've pretty much only used the auto setting for everything - and just about all my pictures have come out great. Nice and sharp, with rich colors and just so much better looking than my cheapo camera gave me. It's also nice to be able to zoom in on various subjects. I have a lot to learn about this camera, and will need to find a book to learn it all - but as a beginner it has really served the purpose for me, but I know there is much more I can do with it.

I bought this camera four months ago knowing nothing about photography. Now, thanks to my F65, I'm shooting slide films and learning the zone system and continue to amaze ppl with my wonderful pictures. I had a chance to play with the more advanced F80 but besides the faster flash sync offered I'm fully satisfied with my easier-to-manage F65. By "easier" I don't mean any loss in functionalities or features. Advanced features like multiple exposures, depth-of-view preview and auto bracketing are all there inside this compact, light weight body. There's an optional infra red remote for this camera that functions like a cable release which's a must for night and serious photography too. The camera works with all AI and AFS Nikkor lenses. A shutter speed of 1/2000 is more than adequate for all conditions and film pull/push can be achieved by exposure compensation despite the fact that we can't directly manipulate the ISO setting. It's a perfect camera for novices with its automatic modes, and for advanced users with its possible manual settings. The matrix metering is reliable and accurate, the center weighted metering is good for low light or night photography. It doesn't have spot metering, but it isn't necessary anyway as a real professional won't need a on-camera spot meter. So unless you're in need of a faster flash sync for wildlife photography or a more rugged but heavier body, there're really no reasons to go for higher models.