Nikon D80 Digital SLR

Posted by T3 Online on Thu 25 Oct 2007

Nikon's Digi-SLR is one for the purist

Nikon's always made quality gear, but it's got to keep innovating to keep its SLR cameras ahead of Sony and Canon's. This one doesn't break with tradition, as it's a classy 10.2-megapixel model packed with features tailor-made to get enthusiasts frothing at the mouth.

Pick it up and you can feel that quality. It's more solid and comfortable than its 10MP rivals, the Canon 400D (T3 131, 4/5) and Sony A100 (T3 129, 5/5). It's got pro features to go too, inheriting from its big brother, the D200, an 11-point autofocus system, control over multiple flashguns, and the ability to fire the flash repeatedly like a strobe. There are also basic retouching facilities, although these are rather less useful.

The image in the viewfinder is bigger and easier on the eye than most, and the viewfinder grid can be switched on or off, making composition easier. It judges focus and exposure impeccably to deliver superb results and is undoubtedly a step-up from the Sony and Canon in these respects. However, it costs a lot more and is missing the Sony's anti-shake and the Canon's anti-dust features.

The camera comes in three lens kits. A budget 18-55mm, a more useful 18-70mm or the new 18-135mm. The latter offers the most flexibility, with a 7.5x zoom, but increases the kit price to around �1,000. You'll also need to pay more for a lens with anti-shake.

Picture quality is essentially the same on all three of the 10MP DSLRs out now, so it boils down to features versus cost. If you're after a step-up from an entry-level model, then its build quality and nifty features is definitely worth the extra. But if you want built-in anti-shake or the best value, you'll be better off with the Sony A100 or Canon 400D.-