Nikon D80

[ktulu]

aww, isn't it a relief to have a "what camera to buy" thread that is nice and peaceful and i'm not afraid to open

Especially knowing we are right, being Canon shooters and all

 

[jann1033]

the only thing i would disagree with is the comparison of the d80 and xti, they are almost identical from what i see with the exception of spot metering and 11 vs 9 pt af in the d80 and i don't know what it's made of. the startup, synch ,shutter speed, fps, mp, etc are virtually identical. and both are way beyond the d40 ( their "entry level" camera like canon's rebel xti is their entry level camera) as is even the rebel xt. the xt might not be equal to the d80 but the xti is pretty comparable.

 

[Groucho]

I think it's more than an on-paper thing. A D80 should have a more high-end "feel" to it. This review mentions D80 vs XTi:
"I much prefer the D80's design and build quality, but it is more expensive than the XTi. If you want that nicer body and a real LCD info display, then it may be worth spending more to get the D80."

You'll also get some of the features you're missing, like spot metering... and a 2-second timer (I had no idea the XTi doesn't have a simple 2-second timer? a very mysterious decision by Canon)...

This article compared the D80, XTi, and Alpha:
"The Nikon D80 is arguably the best camera of the three. It beats the 400D / XTi and A100 in almost every respect, sporting superior design and build quality, the biggest, brightest viewfinder, more sophisticated AF, greater customisation and a secondary status screen which many will find easier to read in bright light. While some test results were very close, the D80 also resolved the greatest detail and many will prefer its handling of high ISO noise to the Canon.

In these traditional photographic respects, the D80 is comfortably ahead of the Canon 400D / XTi and Sony A100, but there’s one key difference: it’s also comfortably more expensive, especially when you add the cost of a lens."

I think there's a lot more to the higher-end cameras than just the numbers like how many pictures they can take a second or megapixel count. (How many XTi owners wouldn't happily trade for a 30D? )

 

[Anewman]

There is a Reason product lines do not match up to the industry leaders(Canon in this case).

Because other manufacturers do not want them to.

Nikon likes to be able to straddle the lines and compare the D80 to the 30D in some areas and then compare it to the Rebel line in others.
And they do it in reverse too when price is being debated they compare the XTi to the D40 and when it turns to other areas they then choose to compare the XTI with the D80.



Car companys do that all the time, "more head room than a CAMRY, and more power than a Corolla."(not an actual claim)

 

[go cowboys]

I am not a pro, but I totally understand the posts about the feel of the xti vs the D80. I bought the xti at the end of 06 at my local photo store (epperson photo in OK) and paid right at 1000.00 for the body and two lenses. I HATED it from the beginning. It was silver - not at all what I thought was a "real" camera. It was smaller than the D80 which felt inadequate in my hands. I was almost embarrassed to carry it. I actually carried my little 800is point and shoot more. I felt like I had been "sold" the xti when what I wanted was the D80. Anyway after one month and very few photos, I was allowed to exchange it for the D80 and now I use or play with it almost daily. I can not speak on the tech features of the two, but I can say that I am happier with the one I wanted than I was with the one I saved 200 dollars buying.

I highly recommend the photo shop I used if you want to buy on line. They really took care of this customer.

Anyway, get the one you want. They are so much alike technically, I say get the one that feels the best.

 

[YEKCIM]

...after one month and very few photos, I was allowed to exchange it for the D80 and now I use or play with it almost daily.

What lens(es) did you end up with, with the D80? Any others on your "wish list"?

~YEKCIM

 

[go cowboys]

What lens(es) did you end up with, with the D80? Any others on your "wish list"?

~YEKCIM

I bought the 18 - 135 "kit"/boxed set/whatever. It is good for my purposes right now but I would like the 70-300 VR lens. I can not swing the 1600.00 price tag yet but I am hopeful. right now am looking for the sb600 as I think a good flash would be very beneficial.

 

[YEKCIM]

I bought the 18 - 135 "kit"/boxed set/whatever. It is good for my purposes right now but I would like the 70-300 VR lens. I can not swing the 1600.00 price tag yet but I am hopeful. right now am looking for the sb600 as I think a good flash would be very beneficial.

The 70-300VR is about $500 online. Is your $1600 figure for the lens alone, or is it for what you already have (D80 + 18-135) plus the 70-300VR?

~YEKCIM

 

[brack]

I can only tell you what I chose but I will say that I disagree with some of your assertions about the XTi. Battery life and handling/feel can be overcome with the battery pack.

I have the XTi and the original Digital Rebel. Both are very good cameras. If you picked the XTi you would have very little to regret ever.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Go to a place like BestBuy that will allow you hold and try them out. If the battery is gone or dead ask associate to put one in. If you get a good one they may even put a memory card in and let you try it out and print even, one did that for me before anyway.

But go and hold them. I found that I much prefered the feel of the Nikon over the Canon. I was always a Canon girl but I've become a Nikon fan now especially since getting my little point & shoot Nikon a year ago. I'm looking at getting the D40x or D50 but may go for the D80 if I can though I'm like you and would love the D200 I think I will start small and then go up later on.

 

[YEKCIM]

I'm looking at getting the D40x or D50 but may go for the D80 if I can though I'm like you and would love the D200 I think I will start small and then go up later on.

If you want a D50, you'd better move quickly. They are just about gone, although I have seen some pretty good online deals ($399) on factory refurbs.

~YEKCIM

 

[Zoesmama03]

They still had some at on site but that was a few months ago.

I'll probably end up with a D80 as the price comes down.


I'm thinking of getting it at bhphoto.com when I saw they had body(D50) and I could get a 50mm 1.8 lens for $500. Now maybe they have sold out since.

I'll see what is available when I get the money saved. Actually thinking of getting the N80 or F80 film SLR first because I'm wanting to take a class in August.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Dang they are gone there too.

 

[go cowboys]

The 70-300VR is about $500 online. Is your $1600 figure for the lens alone, or is it for what you already have (D80 + 18-135) plus the 70-300VR?

~YEKCIM

you are right, I must have looked at a different lens. I saw them on bhphoto for less thn 500.00, Is it a great lens? Do I need it? What do you think about a flash?

 

[YEKCIM]

you are right, I must have looked at a different lens. I saw them on bhphoto for less thn 500.00, Is it a great lens? Do I need it? What do you think about a flash?

I suggest you use what you have, for now, and see if you think you need a longer lens, before plunking down $500. If you do decide that you need to go longer then, yes, the 70-300VR is a very good lens but, at $500, it should be. Also suggest you see how the onboard flash does, before investing in an accessory (SB600/SB800) flash.

~YEKCIM

 

[go cowboys]

I suggest you use what you have, for now, and see if you think you need a longer lens, before plunking down $500. If you do decide that you need to go longer then, yes, the 70-300VR is a very good lens but, at $500, it should be. Also suggest you see how the onboard flash does, before investing in an accessory (SB600/SB800) flash.

~YEKCIM

what about the 70 - 200 vr that Ken Rockwell is so high on? Is there an advantage to it over the 70-300 other than weight? I have used the flash some and although it is OK, I think that I would benefit from a real flash for pics of school programs or my sons basketball games.

I saw your zoo photos on another thread and I want to be able to take good photos like those. What software do you use for editing and storage?

 

[KrazyPete]

The $1600 Nikon lens was probably the 70-200mm F/2.8 VR. That's the one I'm saving for.

I've read good reviews of the 70-300mm VR but it's a much slower lens at F/4.5-5.6. I think the lens Ken Rockwell, and a lot of other Nikon shooters, rave about is the 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR. It will set you back about $750 if you can find it in stock.

 

[YEKCIM]

I saw your zoo photos on another thread and I want to be able to take good photos like those. What software do you use for editing and storage?

Thank you for the kind words. The zoo shots were made with the 70-300VR, and edited using (don't laugh) Picasa, although I'm seriously thinking of buying Paint Shop Pro X, for a little more fine tuning ability. For storage, I have a 300 gig external hard drive (which I'm quickly filling up, btw).

The 70-200VR is, I'm sure, a great lens, but of course, it is pricey. So far, the 70-300VR has been adequate for my needs, although f/2.8 would be really nice.

~YEKCIM

 

[photo_chick]

I can only tell you what I chose but I will say that I disagree with some of your assertions about the XTi. Battery life and handling/feel can be overcome with the battery pack.

I have the XTi and the original Digital Rebel. Both are very good cameras. If you picked the XTi you would have very little to regret ever.

I have the XT myself and it is a perfect fit for me as I have small hands. While I drool over the full frame sensor of the 5D, I don't see myself stepping up soon becasue it is too large for me... I don't see the need for me to step up to the 30D with the way I am shooting right now either. Besides, it too feels bulky and awkward in my hands.

Not to mention my DH would kill me if I spent that much right now!!!!!!

 

[YEKCIM]

Dang they are gone there too.

Adorama has factory refurb D50 body for $399. Their site does not specifically say "in stock" or "out of stock", so you might want to call first, if interested, to verify that they are in stock.

B&H has used D50's ("Condition 10") for $399 body only or with kit lens for $499.

~YEKCIM