The Nikon D80 is a semi-professional DSLR for photographers who want to expand the scope of their creative palette. Offering a quick, high resolution image processing engine and a strong range of image functions, the Nikon D80 enhances creative freedom. According to Nikon’s website, `the Nikon D80 features an exceptional combination of superior image performance, speed, accuracy, flexibility, reliability, creative responsiveness and efficient handling, opening up new worlds of photography.`

Features of the Nikon D80

• High resolution 10.2 Megapixel DX format CCD for fantastic prints up to A3 size
• Fast 3fps continuous shooting – up to 100 JPEG or 6 NEF (RAW) consecutive shots
• 11-area AF system with easy-to-use auto-area AF mode
• Immediate response and ultra-short shutter lag
• In camera editing with D-Lighting, red-eye correction, monochrome, filter effects and image overlay
• Complete compatibility with Nikon’s Total Imaging System

Nikon D80 – Ergonomic detail
The Nikon D80 packs a punch with crisp, high resolution detail in a compact body, providing you, the photographer with the extra flexibility you need to be creative and to print impressive enlargements.

A 0.18 second start up time and shutter lag of 80 milliseconds provides almost instant response, which along with Nikon’s dedication to ensuring intuitive operation – the size, layout and operation of all buttons and controls are designed for maximum ease of use – means you can start shooting straight away. The D80 uses the Nikon F-mount, giving photographers extra choice through seamless compatibility with the entire Nikon AF Nikkor lens family.

Nikon D80 – Advanced Auto Exposure and high speed continuous shooting
The new model is heir to many of the valuable traits of Nikon’s latest professional DSLRs, such as colour independent analogue pre-conditioning and high-precision 12 bit digital image processing algorithms, making it an excellent choice for photographers looking to expand their photographic remit. These features work together to produce natural-looking images built on accurate colour and tone reproduction.

3D Colour Matrix Metering II, which is exclusive to Nikon, ensures accurate automatic exposure control regardless of lighting conditions. The major advantage of this system is that it evaluates, rather than simply measuring, the true content of each scene. Variable centre-weighted metering and spot metering are also available, as are exposure compensation and auto exposure bracketing. Natural colours are produced by measuring the entire frame of each scene and matching white balance to the light source. There is also a selection of 6 manual white balance settings for those who prefer increased personal control; incandescent, fluorescent, direct sunlight, flash, cloudy and shade.

Nikon D80 – 11-area AF system
The D80 features Nikon’s advanced Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module, inherited from the D200, which ensures quick, accurate focus lock in a variety of shooting conditions. The refined 11-area AF system packs the same number of focus areas as provided by the professional D2 series into a space-efficient system that features speedy and accurate operation. Each of the 11 focus areas can be used individually, the centre sensor can be switched to wide-frame operation for broader coverage and new Auto-area AF mode measures all 11 focus areas, automatically determining which are on the primary subject and activating only those areas. These effective focusing options instil the photographer with confidence that they will capture THE shot.

Nikon D80 – Clear and bright
The Nikon D80 features a large, bright viewfinder with 0.94x magnification, ensuring a clear view for precise composition. The camera also has a built-in dioptre adjustment control knob, allowing the photographer to alter the view to suit eyesight and an integrated grid display can also be activated to assist composition. (Dioptre is a unit of measurement of the optical power of a lens)

The D80 has a 2.5` 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD, providing an ultra-wide 170° viewing angle from all directions. Previewing images is made easy due to a dedicated zoom button which helps assess sharpness up to 25 times magnification. A RGB histogram on the display helps to evaluate exposures and the D80 features an option for a built-in Standard or Advanced Pictmotion slideshow, including style selections that control transitions and background music.

Nikon D80 – Enhanced menu system
The Nikon D80 features a new user-friendly menu interface for easier operation, giving users the option to customise using the ‘My Menu’ setting. A Retouch menu provides options for in-camera editing:

• D-Lighting gives greater clarity, enriching results and adding creative flair
• Red-eye correction detects and corrects red-eye caused by flash
• Trim can be used to produce smaller files for easy sharing and greater efficiency
• Image Overlay mergers a pair of selected RAW (NEF) files taken with the D80 to create a new composite image that can be saved in RAW/NEF files taken with the D80
• Monochrome settings (black and white, sepia, cyanotype)
• Filter Effects (skylight, warm filter, colour balance)
• Multiple Exposure option which creates a single image from up to 3 consecutive exposures to offer a similar effect of that produced with film

Nikon D80 – Powerful flash
The powerful built-in flash employs Nikon’s highly robust i-TTL flash control for greater precision in flash exposure evaluation. More than just a source of compensatory light, the built-in flash achieves better automatic flash balance to deliver outstanding results and also enables users to achieve stroboscopic effects through the Repeating Flash and gives them the opportunity to check for shadows and reflective objects by eye, using a Modelling Flash. The Nikon D80 fully supports the Advanced Wireless Lighting System allowing the built in flash function to operate as a two group remote commander, for direct control over wireless SB-800 or SB-600 Speedlights.

Nikon D80 – High energy battery
Nikon’s new, dedicated high-performance processing chip and its own high-resolution image-processing engine, means vastly accelerated performance on all levels, whilst at the same time achieving lower power consumption and producing more pictures per battery charge. The EN-EL3e rechargeable lithium-ion battery delivers enough power for up to 2,700 in a single charge, which in turn allows you more time to perfect your image. The battery can be recharged at any time and a useful ‘fuel’ gauge displays remaining charge by percentage in real time, number of shots since last charge and overall battery status.

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