The Nikon D80 Digital Camera

Although the reviews have cooled somewhat since the D50 model, the Nikon entry into the high-end ten megapixel D-SLR (digital single lens reflex) camera market. For just under $1300, the kit includes an 18-135mm lens (AFS DX 18-35 with motor) and a very capable camera with a 2.5-inch LCD which can store very large resolutions.

The Nikon D80 can use both SD memory cards and SDHC cards which provide storage capacities from from 2 GB up to 32 GB. This is important because the extraordinarily large resolutions (3872x2592) and color ranges available can rapidly consume storage space.

The D80 can capture images very quickly in JPEG, JPEG+RAW and RAW modes, has a recycle time of 0.6 seconds, and a 7.5x optical zoom. It has a very agile autofocus with 11 areas and, like the D200, supports wireless flash integration, a higher capacity battery and the same menu interface and LCD monitor. It has a built in flash which can operate external flash devices, and an attachment for third party flash devices as well.

The interface available through the LCD has a variety of very convenient features including 2x2 and 3x3 thumbnail display and playback with highlights, histograms, image quality and detail settings. There's even an instant retouch with filters and D-lighting. The shooting and custom setting menus, while not as detailed as the higher-priced D200, are still comprehensive, with dozens of settings and features.

It takes around two minutes for the D80 to transfer a full 1GB of data through USB 2.0 to an external device, which is a superior transfer rate. The quality of the card installed in the camera is of paramount importance here, however. The higher the quality of the SD or SDHC card, the easier it is to maintain the higher transfer rates of between 8-10MB per second.