Terry_Pepper's Full Review: Nikon N80 QD Body Only 35mm Film Camera
Nikon finally gets it right for those of us "advanced amateurs" who lust for the likes of the F100 or the F5, but cannot justify the expense.
I purchased the n80 body to shoot with Velvia, allowing me to keep my old n70 filled with 800 film for night shots, interiors and with my slow 170-500mm Sigma in lower light.
What a joy this body is. It has everything one could ask for, with the exception of a mirror lock.
The body is incredibly compact considering the feature set. So compact in fact, that I found my right index and ring fingers floating in thin air beneath the body! I ordered the M13-16 battery pack, and the effect is wonderful. The package now fits like a glove, and all holding positions have improved dramatically. The additional benefit of being able to use AAA batteries is wonderful - Have you ever searched for CR 123A lithium batteries in a small town? If only they had thought to incorporate a 2nd trigger button on the body for vertical shooting, similar to that found on the battery packs for the N90 and F100!
The viewfinder alignment guide option is a real winner, but the focus assist light is somewhat of a distraction. Thanks to Nikon for providing the opportunity to customize such settings. I keep the lines activated, and the assist light deactivated - have it your way!
Another wonderful feature is the ability to customize the AE and AF lock functions. I have set mine up so that a press of the AE lock button locks the exposure until it is pressed again. This is a real improvement over the n70, which required that you keep the AE lock button pressed to maintain the setting. I also like the auto rewind at the end of a roll, however as with everything else on this body, this can be changed to suite the user.
Also, kudos to Nikon for finally deciding to manufacture a body that accepts a good old cable release. Their habit of forcing owners to purchase an overly expensive electronic release cable for the past few years was a greedy non-necessity!
While I agree that the viewfinder diopter adjustment is a kludge, it's a mere inconvenience, since I'm the only one using this body, and once it's adjusted there's no reason to fiddle with it!
Perhaps the item with the largest negative impact on this body is its inability to work with infrared film. Unfortunately, an infra red sensing system is used to sense sprocket location within the body, and as a result infrared film will be exposed by the sensor. Hopefully Nikon will modify this sensing system to allow the use of infrared at some time in the future - this camera is laden with the types of features that show they ARE listening to their users!
I have heard of some complaints about the plastic construction. Personally, I don't have a problem with this body from this perspective. I've messed around with a friend's n90, and the n80 appears to be every bit as robust. I find holding the body to be a pleasant experience, and I have no sense of cheap construction at all. In fact, to my hands it feels infinitely more solid than the n70 or ANY Canon body with a price under $1,000!
I would heartily recommend this body to anyone who is:
1) Considering upgrading from an n70.
2) Considering purchasing a backup to an n90 or F100, but who cannot afford to purchase a second premium body.
3) Considering a switch to the Nikon system. At this price, why settle for less!
You can't go wrong with this body! (Do yourself a favor - purchase the battery pack - you won't regret it!
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