D80 advice

Englischdude

Senior Member
Hi all,

I have recently been looking for some relief for my D7000 workhorse in the form of a 2nd cheap and cheerful body. As of today I am the happy owner of a mint condition D80 with only 9300 shutter releases which I picked up for a little over 100 euro. The idea was to have a 2nd light body which is not only compatible with all my old AF/AF-D lenses, but also not too expensive, something which I can basically throw around on the skislope with the kids, take with me on the bike in summer etc.

I have been studying Mr. Rockwells preferred settings as a starting point and was wondering if anyone else would hav any alternative suggestions as to basic setting for this camera. Also, to avoid any unpleasant surprises are there any shortcomings of this camera I should know about?

Many thanks for your help
Martin
 

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Hi Martin. D80 wouldn't be my first choice but the d90 instead.

Try to stay under ISO 800 on the d80 to keep things clean.

avoid using just jpg and vivid picture control which is contrary to mr rockwells suggestions. His tutorials are for noobs who are just starting with a dslr.
 

Englischdude

Senior Member
Hi Glenn,

thanks for the feedback. As mentioned, the D80 is probably going to get some rough treatment so I did not want to pay that much, the D80 which I got is in immaculate condition and was very cheap. A used D90 in comparable condition would have cost more than three times as much. I have heard that the D80 is not too "high ISO friendly" regarding the picture quality, so if I think my shootings will require more low light quality then ill use the D7000.

Happy new year!
Martin
 

Razpewton

Senior Member
Martin, I have owned a D80 for the last several years and it has done right by me. I'm the track photographer at North Florida Speedway and have taken over 70,000 with this camera. It has endure some incredibly dusty envirnments, and has received some hard knocks during the years. You can view the pictures I have taken with it on two websites:

Clay County Sounder

and here

North Florida Speedway
 

RockyNH_RIP

Senior Member
Martin, I have owned a D80 for the last several years and it has done right by me. I'm the track photographer at North Florida Speedway and have taken over 70,000 with this camera. It has endure some incredibly dusty envirnments, and has received some hard knocks during the years. You can view the pictures I have taken with it on two websites:

Clay County Sounder

and here

North Florida Speedway



You have some nice race photo's there...

Pat in NH
 

Englischdude

Senior Member
I loved my D80 when I was using it and it takes a good photo. I use mine in M mostly and never took my ISO too high.

Ive noticed this with the ISO. it is incredible the low light capability difference between the D80 and D7000. The D7000 performs admirably in low light conditions with a fast lens, I can mpump up the ISO to 3200 and achieve quite usable photos. The D80 on the other hand starts to show its limits even at ISO 800.

Im glad I got my D80, I have to send the D7K to NIKON tomorrow for them to solve the horrible backfocus issue....... but thats another thread.
 
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