Nikon D80 question

[Linflas]

How does the D80 compare speedwise with a standard film camera like the N80? What I mean is when you turn it on does it power right up and ready to take pics? Once you start taking pics is the speed similar to a film camera ie. when you press the shutter release does it immediately snap a pic? My Coolpix 5700 has a definite lag between the time I press the button and when the picture is actually taken which is why I am asking. I am planning on getting my wife a D80 body for Christmas as everything I read says 2 lenses she has for the N80 should work in the D80 with no issues.

 

[soydios]

The D80 is an SLR in all respects. It's effectively instantaneous (~50ms).

 

[troytime]

i upgraded from a 5700 to a d80, the d80 is instant on, and can do over 3 frames per second

the 5700 was a great camera in its time, but the d80 murders it

 

[4x4expy]

Originally posted by: Linflas
How does the D80 compare speedwise with a standard film camera like the N80? What I mean is when you turn it on does it power right up and ready to take pics? Once you start taking pics is the speed similar to a film camera ie. when you press the shutter release does it immediately snap a pic? My Coolpix 5700 has a definite lag between the time I press the button and when the picture is actually taken which is why I am asking. I am planning on getting my wife a D80 body for Christmas as everything I read says 2 lenses she has for the N80 should work in the D80 with no issues.

Yes, Yes, Fast, Yes... You really need to find a camera shop(not a big box store), and play a little with one. Take an SD card with you to bring shots home or even do some 1hr prints. I've owned an N80. While a fine little film camera, it's rather sluggish compared to current DSLR offerings. Yes any of Nikon's AF lenses and most of their MF lenses will work on the D80. Of course there is the 1.5x crop to remember when using her old lenses.

 

[dug777]

Startup is for all practical purposes instantaneous. Focusing is very fast and accurate with the 18-135mm lens I've got at least.

I'm totally in love with my D80

 

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: 4x4expy

Originally posted by: Linflas
How does the D80 compare speedwise with a standard film camera like the N80? What I mean is when you turn it on does it power right up and ready to take pics? Once you start taking pics is the speed similar to a film camera ie. when you press the shutter release does it immediately snap a pic? My Coolpix 5700 has a definite lag between the time I press the button and when the picture is actually taken which is why I am asking. I am planning on getting my wife a D80 body for Christmas as everything I read says 2 lenses she has for the N80 should work in the D80 with no issues.

Yes, Yes, Fast, Yes... You really need to find a camera shop(not a big box store), and play a little with one. Take an SD card with you to bring shots home or even do some 1hr prints. I've owned an N80. While a fine little film camera, it's rather sluggish compared to current DSLR offerings. Yes any of Nikon's AF lenses and most of their MF lenses will work on the D80. Of course there is the 1.5x crop to remember when using her old lenses.

Thanks I did not know about this crop thing. I found a page that demonstrated what it does, this 1.5x crop means that what she sees through the viewfinder is not what ends up in the picture with the old lenses. Is that only for the AF lenses or does it also happen with the AF-S lenses that typically come bundled with the cameras. The 2 lenses she has is the original Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8 which she doesn't really use and a Nikkor AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D which is the one she uses all the time.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: Linflas

Originally posted by: 4x4expy

Originally posted by: Linflas
How does the D80 compare speedwise with a standard film camera like the N80? What I mean is when you turn it on does it power right up and ready to take pics? Once you start taking pics is the speed similar to a film camera ie. when you press the shutter release does it immediately snap a pic? My Coolpix 5700 has a definite lag between the time I press the button and when the picture is actually taken which is why I am asking. I am planning on getting my wife a D80 body for Christmas as everything I read says 2 lenses she has for the N80 should work in the D80 with no issues.

Yes, Yes, Fast, Yes... You really need to find a camera shop(not a big box store), and play a little with one. Take an SD card with you to bring shots home or even do some 1hr prints. I've owned an N80. While a fine little film camera, it's rather sluggish compared to current DSLR offerings. Yes any of Nikon's AF lenses and most of their MF lenses will work on the D80. Of course there is the 1.5x crop to remember when using her old lenses.

Thanks I did not know about this crop thing. I found a page that demonstrated what it does, this 1.5x crop means that what she sees through the viewfinder is not what ends up in the picture with the old lenses. Is that only for the AF lenses or does it also happen with the AF-S lenses that typically come bundled with the cameras. The 2 lenses she has is the original Nikkor AF 50mm f/1.8 which she doesn't really use and a Nikkor AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6D which is the one she uses all the time.

What it does is effectively make that 50mm a 75mm and her zoom a 42-120mm. What you see through the D80 viewfinder is what you get. So if she shot a lot on the wide end of her zoom, she might need to nab something to compensate for it.

 

[ElFenix]

actually its the fact that the D80 has a viewfinder that doesn't offer full frame coverage (only pro models do) that makes it so that the picture covers slightly more than what the viewfinder presents.

yet another reason rangefinders are awesome.

 

[4x4expy]

What you see through the lens IS what will end up in the photo. Yes pro bodies offer the 100% viewfinder instead of the 95-98% of consumer cameras. That isn't related to the crop factor, but is actually an issue even with consumer grade films SLR's like the N80. For the casual photographer this isn't an issue. The crop factor is an issue, if you plan to use only your older lenses. They will work fine, but your 28-80 lens will now be the same as 42-120 on film, 70-200 now becomes 105-300mm. Yes it is even with the bundled lenses, the 18-55, becomes 27-83mm(close to the 28-80 standard zoom for film).

One other thing to think about with the older lenses... Generally the cheaper, consumer grade lenses, ON FILM, are going to be sharp in the center and may be rather soft around the edges of the glass. This causes the borders and corners of photos to not be as sharp as center. With the older lenses on you "cropped" DSLR, the image is resolved by the centermost, and sharpest part of the lens. So basically, don't let this crop factor thing be a barrier to buying a DSLR. You may want to soon add a wide zoom of some sort, like a Nikon 18-55, 18-70, 18-135, to cover what would have been the 28-40mm wide end of you film range.