Nikon Coolpix P80 10.1MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Black) Reviews

• Shoot For The Moon

  
  By A9ELHLPXF7JKD on 2008-05-25
  If you don't care to know about the art of photography and you don't like to read manuals, don't buy this camera and you can stop reading right here. Otherwise, read on.
  
  I can take any camera and take bad shots with it. But if I use most modern cameras to their full potential, I tend to end up with great shots. By that I mean using correct focus, exposure compensation when necessary, and selecting the proper ISO, shutter speed, and aperture for the situation. Those are just the basics. There are also other adjustments and tweaks like Face Detection, D-Lighting (Nikon's term for bringing out more detail from dark areas of the photo), white balance, etc..
  
  Essentially, if you know how to use all those things (and your camera lets you adjust them yourself), you can end up with some pretty great shots from any camera. You can get creative in ways that auto-only cameras will not allow. Some people end up with blurry shots because they don't know how to take sharper shots. Better shooters can take sharp shots - or they can make them blurry on purpose for an artistic effect. I personally can't stand blurry shots - except for the occasional shots where only the subjects are a bit blurry (to accentuate motion).
  
  This camera has 6 settings that affect the sharpness of the photo - and that doesn't include aperture. One of them is the macro focus setting. Although normally used for close-ups, you can keep it in "macro focus" in most of the different shooting modes (Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Program, etc.). The other setting is the Sharpness setting. By default, the camera is in the middle of the scale. Some might consider the middle of the scale to be too soft. Simply click it up to the "sharp" level, or one more for the sharpest level. There are also two clicks down to increase softness. 1 macro + 5 sharpness levels = 6.
  
  Why would someone want a soft (not so sharp) photo? One example is portraits. In general, people don't like portraits of themselves that show every pore and hair on their skin. Softening particular subjects can also convey a delicate beauty - say a ballerina resting on a chair.
  
  So for those who complain about this camera not taking sharp pictures out of the box, all you have to do is turn it up. For extra measure, use a small aperture and a good tripod. You will see the difference.
  
  Not all sub-SLRs offer as many options as the P80. In particular, I like the high-powered zoom, the camera's ability to correct wide angle distortion, the overall compactness (considering the zoom), and the logical way things are laid out. The image tweaking controls that are most useful are also the easiest to access via the circular multi-control on the back. I also like that the flash doesn't pop up unless I want it to (it has a manual switch to pop it up).
  
  The P80 is easy to carry around and covers all the bases (video, wide angle, super zoom, full manual control, etc.). If you know the features of this camera and know how and when to apply them, you'll end up with spectacular shots. It's that simple.
  
  This camera has nice features that you may not always use, but for those special occasions, they are nice to have. One of these features is the ability to move the focus point around. With your trusty tripod set up, you want to get a surfer off to one side, gazing out over the sea. But you don't want the ocean to be in sharp focus because you want to immediately draw your viewer's eyes to the surfer. By clicking the circular button, you move the focus point over the surfer and set the camera to also meter on the focus point (so that the surfer is perfectly exposed). Add a little flash fill if you like, and Voila! Instant art.
  
  Night shots really benefit from an adjustable focus point. Say you want a shot of a lonely lighthouse on a cliff at night. It's off to one side of your shot to give it a more dramatic frame. With the focus point in manual and the camera set to meter on the focus point, move the focus point closer to the lighthouse until what you see in the LCD looks properly exposed. If you have to keep the exact focus point a little bit away from the lighthouse to get the right exposure, no problem, just set the focus to lock on infinity (I'm assuming you aren't standing right next the lighthouse). The same concept will work for public Christmas tree displays at night. To get the right exposure and focus, move the focus point onto or near the tree that most interests you.
  
  Want to take pictures of your friends, and maybe get in the shot yourself? Switch on face detection, hit the self-timer and take your place next to your friends.
  
  The sports mode will have your friends lining up to get their golf swings and tennis serves photographed. The camera shoots 13 frames per second in the default mode, sacrificing everything for speed (aperture, ISO, etc.). So while your shots from this mode won't make the cover of SI, everyone will get a kick out of seeing themselves in a stop motion sequence (up to 30 frames).
  
  The camera has two modes which help you get the best shot in unusual circumstances. In Best Shot Selection mode, it shoots up to ten shots as long as you hold down the shutter release button. Then it automatically selects and saves the sharpest picture in the bunch, discarding the rest. In Exposure Bracketing mode, it applies three different levels of exposure to the same shot. One of them is likely to be just what you wanted. Exposure bracketing can even be fine tuned to your liking (read the manual to learn how).
  
  With a single press of the shutter release, this camera can automatically take and assemble 16 shots, 1.1 seconds apart, into a single picture. You get a picture made of 16 consecutive "scenes". This is good for things like a cat playing with a ball, or you and your buddy making funny faces.
  
  Do you wonder who or what knocks over your garbage cans when you're not home? The P80 can shoot time lapse sequences, firing once every 30 seconds to once every hour. It turns off between shots to conserve power, or you can buy an external power supply.
  
  Hate crooked pictures? Push the DISP button to lay down a grid which you can align with horizontal or vertical objects. The grid also helps you position subjects according to the "Rule of Thirds", which even amateur photographers should know.
  
  The digital zoom is cool! It doesn't just enlarge and crop - it interpolates to fill in detail that might otherwise be lost. If you go full optical and full digital zoom, you can see the craters and "seas" on the moon! Use a tripod, lock the focus on infinity, turn off VR, and use a 2 or 10 second delay to allow the tripod vibration to settle.
  
  I'm quite pleased with my purchase. If you're the creative type and a camera nut (you actually read the manual and experiment), you'll probably be very pleased; producing countless pictures suitable for framing. If you just like to point and shoot, this camera is probably not for you.
  
  But don't just take my word for it. Go to Flickr and do a search on "Nikon P80" to see what this camera can do.
  
  

• Average Image Quality, some quirks

  
  By A3FPSY1M6G7XIB on 2008-05-07
  I tried this camera this week, and found myself returning it within a couple days. In all honesty, I had read good things and I had hoped perhaps this would serve me as a bridge camera between my Canon G9 and my dSLR camera.
  
  First, it is nicely made, and feels good in the hand. It works smoothly, and is relatively quiet during operation. The lens is high quality, and it has the standard Nikon layout on the selection dial. Curiously, it maintains the separate setting on the dial for SETTINGS which should be standard for all creative zone options. This is similar to all other recent Nikon cameras.
  
  In use, the camera feels more like a point and shoot than a true tool of the trade -- and therein my average review. If you are working your way up from a point and shoot and not quite ready for a dSLR, this might be the camera for you.
  
  But based on my observations: the camera had a difficult time focusing in low-light conditions, and then defaults to grainy high ISO defaults -- sure you can set that, or use Manual mode, but it won't work right out of the box in auto or Programmed Auto or Aperture or Shutter mode.
  
  The image quality is fair -- many photos needed saturation boosts -- they just seemed bland out of the box. Again, this is programmable, for those who venture into the menu, or those who like playing with photoshop.
  
  In general, all photos looked soft, and they all need sharpening in photoshop. This is something I would clearly not want to waste my time on with every photo taken that I might want to use for print purposes. The image quality just us NOT what you would expect with a camera of this price. That being said -- the image quality is consistent from closeup to faraway landscape. There is no noticeable loss of IQ with longer focal distance shots, which is better than most superzoom compact cameras I have seen. Closeup macro shots appear the sharpest: if you like taking photos of bees on flower blossoms, this is your baby.
  
  While the photos do not lose IQ at the far range of the considerable 18x optical zoom -- they suffer from severe purple fringing at that end -- worse than many other superzoom ultraportables I have seen.
  
  The VR works as promised -- provided you are moving and your subject is not moving. I couldn't get clear images of moving objects without significant futzing with the settings.
  
  The shutter lag is considerable, nowhere near the rapid response of a dSLR -- and compared to my Canon G9, significantly slower than that as well.
  
  This compares favorably to the Canon S5 and might in fact be better than that camera -- but the image quality is not better than the Canon G9, which remains the absolutely best Image Quality camera out there at this price point (without the zoom lens, of course).
  
  I'm not going to rant and rave and say this is a terrible camera -- it just seems incredibly average at this price range -- take a look at the Canon G9 for faster shutter speed, better image quality, and similar manual control.
  
  I will say one thing -- for those who like to isolate their subject from the background (i.e. blur your background, with good depth of field) the Nikon P80 excels at that -- I haven't quite seen as nice aperture priority images in a point-and-shoot as I have with this camera.
  
  But overall, it's a highly priced point and shoot, which won't satisfy advanced camera users.
  
  

• SEISHA SEICHU

  
  By A74TA8X5YQ7NE on 2008-05-10
  This is what practitioners of Kyudo, the Japanese martial archery, seek: "correct hitting is in correct shooting". And this is how this camera makes you feel after mastering and getting used to its controls and abilities.
  
  After months of research I decided and bought this ultrazoom. SLRs take better pictures but I refuse to carry all the extra equipment when on vacation. NIKON P5100 was the choice on the other end but it lacked both the x18 tele and the wide end zoom.
  
  The (close) second contender was OLYMPUS SP-570UZ but here is why I found the NIKON a better choice and did not regret it: although the OLYMPUS comes with a larger zoom (x20) it is controlled solely by an awkward (motorized) ring that requires both hands and has an uneven feeling. Moreover, both cameras sport 10MP but, contrary to the OLYMPUS which just had more mega-pixels crammed onto the old (550 & 560) sensor, the NIKON comes with a newly developed sensor. On top of that, I avoided the slow and limited XD-cards OLYMPUS seems stuck on. On the other hand, I missed on 2mm of wideness and x2 on tele zoom.
  
  I have been using the camera with undiminished enthusiasm for over a week and I have only good things to tell you about it. It took me a while to familiarize myself with the settings - full auto will not get the best results under any conditions. Once that harmonious point is reached though, this is the camera you would want to be using in most situations.
  Where it looses the 5th star: the flash does not pop up automatically when needed. Forget to do so and a high (and noisy) ISO creeps in. So yes, this piece of equipment is not without its caprices...
  
  Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle (and Zen masters) warn about the observer altering the event being observed. With NIKON P80 one can obtain the shot visualized either from very close or from afar. And it does so with simplicity and style.
  
  

• A Superb User-Friendly Multi-Use Camera

  
  By A3VZ4LAHI144EC on 2008-05-10
  I've been using this camera in a variety of situations and subject matter and I just love it. As a professional in the field, I wanted a camera that would have the zoom capability and the image quality of more costly (and heavier, bulkier 'pro' equipment) combined with the spontaneity and efficiency of a point a shoot, one-hand camera. This camera DELIVERS all that for me in a great little package that is easy to use, light to carry, superbly intuitive to navigate and still yields excellent high quality images. At $400 out the door at a retail store, I couldn't be happier with my purchase. I compared it with everything else in that price range and it just blew the others away. If you have $800-$1000 sure, go ahead and get one of the next level dSLRs like the D40 or D60. But if you don't want to be messing with lens changes and like to 'shoot-on-the-go', then you simply can't do better than this camera. It's a versatile, easy to use product at a reasonable price.
  
  

• An interesting camera

  
  By A2LVI17XQ5EYQ0 on 2008-05-08
  My interest in this camera is about obtaining mega zoom and macro abilities at a reasonable price. While this camera is classified as a point and shoot, and it certainly can be that, it does have some overides such as aperture and shutter priority and manual. Without the overide capabilities I wouldn't have been interested since I want creative control of my shots. Just out of the box last night I found that the macro worked fine as did the mega zoom. Mid range shots had stunning clarity. I noticed some noise on low light macro shots. So far I like this camera.
  
  It would have been great if Nikon would have included RAW image processing. I would have much rather had that than the capability to make short videos. I also would have liked it if it were possible to thread filters on to the lens, which it is not.
  
  The user's manual is really clear and understandable for someone used to working with DSLRs. I was able to load images on my computer using USB1 and Windows XP with no problem. I ignored the Nikon photoloading program and sent the images to Photoshop.
  
  I would definitely suggest getting an additional memory card, since if you are shooting on the 'fine' setting it does not take long to fill up the camera's internal memory. For example if you shoot 10 images at the 'fine' setting the 50 MB internal memory will be full.
  
  When this camera arrived at my home via shipping through Amazon the driver just left it on the doorstep. I would have rather a signature had been required than risk a $400 camera being swiped off my front porch.
  
  
  
  
• Feeling Better!
  By A1T9CXD8Z4JMF2 on 2008-05-12
  I'm a Nikon fan, and saw this as a economical way of getting DSLR-like features. In particular the "super-zoom" functionality and sports shot setting -- seemingly perfect for the games my children play -- motivated me to pull the trigger on this purchase.
  
  I'll leave the in-depth analysis of the camera to others who are more knowledgeable but what has me disappointed are the streaks of light that showed up on several hundred photographs I took, using the high speed continuous setting in the sports mode, late in the afternoon (between 4:15PM-6:00PM) on Saturday, May 10th.
  
  After consulting the manual I found the following on page 47: "If bright objects such as the sun or electric lights are captured during high-speed continuous shooting, vertical streaks of light may appear in the recorded images. We recommend that you avoid capturing bright objects during high-speed continuous shooting."
  
  Precisely my problem.
  
  There are multiple settings in the sports mode (as well as the manual setting) to try, so I will be doing that before delivering the box to UPS for return, however it is troubling to discover that the fastest programmable shutter speed (1/4000) is best suited for . . . shooting in the dark?
  
  If I fall in love with this camera (and end up keeping it) I'll be sure to update this review.
  
  UPDATE: Went out recently and tried other settings/features -- images are crisp without any hint of the problem encountered in the sports setting. As a result I'm bumping my rating up to three stars (though it doesn't appear that Amazon will allow for such a revision?).
  
  Will continue to update as developments warrant :)
  
  FINAL UPDATE: I emailed Nikon support about the light streaks that appear in photographs when using the sports mode (what they called "bands of overexposure"). They were very honest in their assessment -- there's no way to eliminate the problem entirely. Their recommendation was to utilize the exposure compensation setting (-0.3 or -.07) to ameliorate the effect. Though disappointed, the quality of the images overall (especially macro) is so good that I have decided to keep the camera. The overall rating of Amazon reviewers (3.5 as I write this) seems absolutely correct!
  
  FINAL, FINAL UPDATE: Purchased a filter adapter from NEXTPhoto.net and a circular polarizing lens. This has all but eliminated the bands of overexposure that showed up in the high speed continuous, sports shooting mode. I have also discovered that, with an infrared filter (R72) the P80 is capable of some nice infrared photography (as long as I keep the ISO setting at a maximum of 200 -- 400 and above is very noisy)!
  
  
• It's a tradeoff: zoom power vs. image quality
  By AESELK62C2IT3 on 2008-05-13
  I was very optimistic about this camera, but like several other reviewers, I'm returning it soon after receiving it. I made a direct comparison between this camera and the one I've had for 4 years (Olympus C-750UZ, 10x, 4MP). The P80 certainly had better zoom range on both ends, was very user-friendly, and faster than my other camera. Noise in low light was a bit better on the P80, which also had faster shutter speed to help prevent blurring. However, my Olympus outperformed this camera in a very important area: image quality. All of the images from the P80 appear "soft" (except very close-up in macro mode, which turned out quite nicely). Despite its age and lower MPs, my old camera clearly outperforms the P80 in this regard. Online research indicates that other 18-20x cameras have a similar problem with image quality. Maybe the technology just hasn't advanced far enough (yet) to produce quality output in such a compact package that includes a telephoto lens.
  
  Other than the image quality (which may be just fine for someone who's not making a direct comparison with something they're already very happy with), this is clearly a quality camera. Aside from the image quality I would certainly give it 5 stars (but unfortunately that is my priority, worth two stars to me). If you have your heart set on getting a super-ultra-zoom, this could still be the camera for you. Personally, if I do decide to upgrade in the near future, I will probably go with something less ambitious in terms of zoom power. I love to take full-frame pictures of birds and other wildlife (which you usually need a decent zoom for!) but I'd rather have a great image with some extra margin than a merely fairly good full-frame image... which is what you get with the P80.
  
  
• Impressive little camera
  By A32M7HKY7SQ602 on 2008-05-08
  Nikon doesn't seem to advertise this, but the P80 actually has a manual focus mode. This was a pleasant surprise.
  
  Image quality is extremely good for a compact super-zoom lens like the one Nikon included in this camera.
  
  
• Great Camera! Ignore the negative reviews.
  By ARMT7L6NYJ0XR on 2008-05-13
  Ignore the negative reviews. This is a good starter camera for beginners who is just starting to get into the professional photography field.
  
  First of all, the negative reviews about this camera are from people who have probably been in the business of taking photograph's for a long time and probably could not afford to buy an expensive professional camera and end up getting a Nikon P80. BIG MISTAKE!! You hear there complaints about the Nikon P80 and comparing it from other similar cameras they've owned or used in the past and want to up-grade. If they want to up-grade to a better camera, WHY GET A SIMILAR CAMERA LIKE THE NIKON P80? Get a PROFESSIONAL NIKON CAMERA FOR HEVEN'S SAKE!!
  
  This is an awesome camera! I've been taking lots of photographs since I purchased this camera a week ago and I've been having lots of fun with it. I love the 18x Optical Wide-Angle Zoom-Nikkor Lens and the New Sports Continuous Scene Mode that can shooting up to 13fps plus the Bright 2.7-inch LCD and electronic viewfinder.
  
  NOTE: I purchase the NIKON P80 at Costco's for $[...]. When I purchase the NIKON P80 at Costco's, it came with a Carrying Case & a 1GB Memory Card Package. This is a good starter kit.
  
  Ignore the negative reviews. THIS IS A FUN CAMERA TO HAVW AND I LOVE IT!! I GIVE THIS CAMERA 4 1/2 STARS!!
  
  
  
• Not such a great camera
  By A316XO4RWX21YN on 2008-05-09
  Well, after reading about it in the NYTimes I was excited at the idea of having a camera with a zoom 18x and for that price range. I currently own a Lumix FX100. Let me tell you that I returned the Nikon yesterday after 2 days of trying to get a decent picture out of it. First off when zooming all the way to 18x you would see shadows on the corner of the picture. The noise was pretty bad and most pictures even in low ISO looked grainy. I could barely get a focused picture out of it and often would have a blurry subject with a focused background (and no I wasn't focusing on the background since my subject was in the center). Finally the video mode although of good quality would not work on my mac. The files are saved in .AVI format and I tried every player I have including Quicktime which usually plays AVI files, but nothing, every single time it crashed. I researched a bit and found out that Panasonic had a similar camera but with 8.1 megapixels for less than $300. Ratings are amazing and the camera is sold out in most stores so that must be a good sign. I have ordered it and will hope it performs better than this one.
  
  
• Better choices
  By A1HZCY03RQTOTI on 2008-05-08
  I have had this camera for only 2 days and it is on its way back. Its not terrible but it satisfies neither uses of a good Digital SLR camera or a convenient point and shoot. It is not in the class with for example a Nikon D40X as a (near) pro backup type of camera that I had hoped it might be for all the reasons you read elsewhere in these reviews. On the other hand it is far too bulky to replace a top point and shoot like the Canon G9 or Nikon P5100 which give equal or better performance in the critical areas. An 18x zoom is a great idea but the rest falls flat and with that much zoom there should be more wide angle capability than 27mm. Nikon is usually pretty good at getting it right eventually and hopefully they will some day soon fill this gap.
  
  
• Look elsewhere for quality
  By A3KLGEMFYM4AWJ on 2008-05-08
  I bought this camera YESTERDAY with overnight delivery...I am returning it TODAY! Do not be fooled by the 18x zoom advertisement. While the zoom is probably it's only good quality, my Sony H5 with a 12x zoom captures basically the same 'distance' zoom, but with much better clarity and crispness. The flash on the Nikon is horribly designed with a push button release, the time between shots is a little long in my opinion, the movie mode is a total joke! 30 seconds of video at the highest setting is a big upset--very very disappointed in this camera. The photo quality is very grainy and almost upsetting to my stomach! Even with ISO set as low as possible, the 'grain' seems to be there for the long run. I took several indoor photos, several outdoor photos, several zoom photos....just very very disappointed in this camera as a whole. I suppose if you are only taking pictures of rocks and flowers, then this camera may be ok for you--but then again, so would a cheap disposable camera from your local drug store. Don't take a chance losing your precious memories to this 'cheap' camera. I was looking for a higher zoom to replace my Sony, but after seeing the Nikon's poor capabilities, I will stick with Sony from now on.
  
  
• Excellent, Just Excellent
  By A2X5B8S8KXZPWO on 2008-05-19
  Just got this camera last week. We are novice users and found this camera to be very easy to use. The instructions that came with the camera are great and the in-camera instructions are excellent as well. We took our new camera for a test drive at our kids soccer games on Saturday. The shots we were able to get are FANTASTIC!!! We can actually see our kids in action, up close and in focus. The sports mode is wonderful. We really enjoyed zooming in on the picture after we took it to see even more detail. The battery worked really well. After 280 shots it was still going strong. 280 shots in one afternoon. Who would have ever thought we would take so many pictures. With our old camera we were lucky to take a handful. It was just so much fun to shot that we just kept going. We will play around with all of the settings over the next few days, but so far it has really WOWed us.
  
  
  
  
• Nikon p80
  By A3AWHNFU86FU90 on 2008-06-08
  It is simply my point and click. This might be to complex for the entry level digital user because like other reviewers I use a Cannon. Yesterday at a swim party I used the L400 lens for the distance face shots, but I used the p80 for the cake and presents shots. To me Photoshop is as necessary for photos as a good lens. I know I lose a lot of shooters when I add all the complicating issues. This little camera is very light and is in my purse at all times unlike my Cannon. I use it to all of its potential. You have to read the book and practice to enjoy all it can give. I love the spot meter and focus used at the same spot. I can shoot faces in the dark and have face colors that are quite good and from my purse to photo takes seconds. I love this camera, it is with me and in a restaurant or on a walk with the dog all those times when I never planned on taking any photos.
  
  
• The New Coolpix P80, 3 Stars!!
  By A3KX5KNYBHQGSP on 2008-05-13
  -------------
  Lo Negativo :
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  - Cuando hay mucha luz la pantalla LCD refleja unas rayas verticales color morado que se graban en las fotos (ver fotos de la galeria).
  
  - La estabilización VR no es tan buena, principalmente cuando alcanza el maximo zoom, la imagen tiembla mucho.
  
  - La información EXIF de cada foto, en modo playback, no refleja el valor ISO con el que fue capturada.
  
  - Los videos no son tan de buena calidad, totalmente horribles, cuando se hace zoom se distorciona la imagen.
  
  - El modo de escena panoramica no es muy "amigable".
  
  - El control para ajustar los valores de Manuales (apertura y velocidad) no es muy practico.
  
  - Desde el ISO 400 en un ambiente a iluminacion media, se nota presencia de ruido en la imagen, ¿q tal en 3200 o 6400?.
  
  - El maximo valor de apertura es de f8, muy limitado a mi parecer para tomas donde se desea un buen enfoque del fondo y los detalles.
  
  - Las tomas con el zoom digital son practicamente inservible (ver imagenes en galeria).
  
  - La calidad de la imagen, no es la gran cosa como esperaba de una Nikon.
  
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  Lo Positivo :
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  - Bonito diseño, muy comoda para tenerlo en la mano.
  
  - Se puede hacer zoom mientras se graba video, aunque lastimosamente la imagen queda muy distorcionada aun en la mejor calidad segun la camara.
  
  - Usa modos de escena bastante estandares, ya conocidos en muchas marcas.
  
  - Alcanza una velocidad de obsturación de 8 seg., cuando la mayoria llega a 2 o 4 seg., esto permitira realizar tomas con mayor tiempo de exposición.
  
  - Su alcance de zoom optico de 18x, es muy bueno, aunque la imagen no queda tan nitida.
  
  
  *** Tres Estrellas!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Nikon Cooloix P80 Digital camera
  By A3FWMB49KCKZHO on 2008-05-27
  The Nikon Coolpix P80 is a superzoom camera similar to the Nikon Coolpix 8800 I previously owned. The P80 has a greater telephoto capability (18X versus 10X) with a wider zoom range than the 8800. It also has a larger sensor than the 8800 (10 megpixels versus 8). It's price is nearly half the price of the 8800. Unfortunately, some features have been omitted to help achieve that lower price point. The P80 does nor have a hot shoe for a Speedlight. It does not have a remote operation feature. The camera body is smaller and feels less substatial that the 8800 camera body. That is good thing for carrying the P80 but seems to be a detriment to steady holding. The P80 is a better camera, but I miss some of the omitted features.
  
  
• Nikon Coolpix P80 is a Great Mini SLR
  By A3VD9J3FIVJTF2 on 2008-06-13
  The Nikon Coolpix P80 is the digital camera I wish I could have bought five years ago, but cameras with these features did not exist, and if they did, the prices would have been out of reach for the casual photographer.
  
  This compact digital SLR has an astounding 18x zoom lens, 10 Megapixel resolution, a large LCD screen and a bright through-the-lens viewfinder. In addition to several photo resolutions, the user can choose from several different aspect ratios--16:9 TV, 3:4 TV, different computer screen sizes, and 1:1 square, great for online auction photos.
  
  The Coolpix P80 is considered a hybrid camera, since it has all the features of a much more expensive digital SLR, but you cannot remove the lens. It has a diopter adjustment to allow the user to take photos without glasses; the ability to turn off the LCD display when using the SLR viewfinder, and an easy-to-use menu.
  
  The camera is as simple to use as an automatic point-and-shoot for the casual user, plus all the bells and whistles like shutter priority, aperture priority and auto-focus. You can shoot several frames per second for still photos and can take videos.
  
  Oh, and the price is 25% less than the small 4 Megapixel camera that it replaced. I recommend purchasing a two-year warranty extension, available for about $15, a bargain.
  
  
  
  
• Please learn to use camera.
  By A2X566YEC9XFHM on 2008-06-25
  This camera is an excellent piece of equipment from Nikon. You must learn to use it before you critize or return it. It has a nice sharp focus. The streaks you see or read about in the samples or prior reviews are due to the user having the exposure compensation on a positive setting. This makes the picture much brighter than it needs to be. The compensation results in over exposed and streaky shots. Please note the situation you are in and beware; for example if you are in direct sunlight you would not need to use the exposure compensation. Camera is very intuitive and I would consider it user friendly. Just give yourself a chance and read the manual before you post negitive reviews. For the price you are getting a real decent camera. I am even pleased with the digital zoom which I used at an indoor concert. The VR realy works and helps you to keep you camera shake down to a minimun. Also try using the VIVID or More VIVID settings . I believe you will be pleased with the outcome. I owned many SLR's over the years and I bought this camera to use while I am getting over a cranky back. This gives me the leisure to get 27mm to over 460mm without carrying a bunch of expensive and heavy lenses. Also the 4X digital gives you even more flexibility to reach subjects you could not reach without an assortment of expensive and weighty lenses.
  
  
• There was a quandry in our house
  By A2ASYXUTP2R6H1 on 2008-09-16
  My wife and I have been film photographers for over 30 years together. By myself I have been taking photos since the '50s.
  
  Before we trudged into the land of Digital, we wanted a relatively inexpensive camera to test what all the hype was about. I had claimed at one time that I would give up photography before I went digital. The last three rolls of Kodachrome 64 cost us over $30 to buy and have processed.
  
  We anticipated the D700 but did not know when it would be available. To see what we could do with digital, we bought this little gem. We have taken over 3,000 pictures with it since we got it in June. It rests on the shelf now because we got our D700 (and D3 for good measure).
  
  While we used the P80 we were impressed with the quality and features and its ability to translate what we were seeing into meaningful shots. This camera could never be mistaken for a professional or even advanced amateur camera but what it can do is allow a photographer to develop his art. If you are a reasonably serious beginner, this is a perfect camera. It does not have changable lenses but does not need them. Besides, if you have an interchangable camera, you should have high quality glass to go with it, not what camera makers are making for the consumer market.
  
  It has been a lot of fun, playing around with this camera. We have a lot of shots we are very happy with. There are limitations but for the kind of camera it is, the Nikon P80 is at the top of the list.
  
  
• No problem with the camera, but amazon's pricing disappoints
  By A2MNWFC8BMN8B1 on 2008-05-12
  I received the camera on the 6th, as promised, and am satisfied with it so far. It does what I expected it to do: take good pictures for this decidedly non-pro camera bug. While my shirtpocket Canon SD900 is a great little camera, I wanted the Nikon for the zoom mostly. The size is a little large, but a carrying case will solve that. Good hand fit.
  
  What I don't like is Amazon's pricing system. Those of us who ordered early paid $400 for this puppy; those of us who waited a week can get it for $369.95. NEVER PRE-ORDER. I feel somewhat ripped off, but I'm a big boy and have learned my lesson at a cost of only $30. It won't happen again.
  
  
  
• Great Value for Price - More than Just a Point N Shot
  By AGB118GTAUDJL on 2008-05-28
  I have this product for two weeks and gave it a full workout over the Memorial Day Holiday. I am very pleased with the image quality and features. I shot with all modes and felt that it delivered what it promised for this price range. My ony recommendation is that the flash should pop up automatically when it is needed and the lens cover should be built in much like when the Panasonic went from the TZ1 to the TZ3 which I also own. I would also have liked a hot shoe for flash and the ability to protect lens with a UV filter. Minor stuff for this type of camera which gives you more creative control without the big price tag.
  Of course if you want to step up to the pro-amateur DSLR type cameras and spend hundreds dollars or more than you should expect all of the above.
  
  
• Better than a SLR
  By A1GAA1DL1I2DE0 on 2008-06-12
  I have been a professional photographer and this camera is the most awesome I have ever owned. The still pics are excellent quality and it weighs less than just one of the many lenses I use to lug around. No more changing lenses and taking a chance on dropping something or missing a shot while hassling with all of that. BUT the coolest trait was when I was asked to video some thing, I didn't have to pull up and turn on a different camera. I just rotated the dial on top of this and push the shutter. THAT is what I call Awesome. I reccommend that you also get a 8GB SD/HC card to use for lplenty of capacity and an extra battery because you won't want to stop shooting once you start. The software will let you make the widest panorama shots you have ever seen including 360 degrees. If you like the bigger heavier more expensive SLR's buy one but this camera converted Me.Sandisk 8GB Ultra II SD HC Secure Digital SDHC Card (SDSDH-8192, Static Package)
  
  
• Sweet camera
  By A3JSI4L2CLQ1ES on 2008-09-07
  My desire was to find a camera that was in between my pocket Canon SD1000 (a truly wonderful camera, but no optical zoom) and a more expensive and heavy SDLR. The Nikon P80 fits this "tweener" area nicely.
  
  I have owned the camera for about 6 weeks and have taken over 1000 pictures with it. It's accompanied me to a pro football training camp, kayaking and canoes trips, parties and multiple family occasions. My original concern that this camera would be too big to tote around is simply not the case. It's become a wonderful companion.
  
  A bullet list of observations:
  - The zoom is incredible. I shut off the digital zoom feature completely. Found that I didn't need it and figured it would maximize sharpness. I do less cropping of pictures now with this camera than before.
  
  - The sport shooting mode is wonderful. I use it more than I thought I would.
  
  - I shopped around extensively and the reasons I chose this camera over the comparable Sony and the Canon, Lumix models were: This camera had a better zoom, used SD cards, had a more solid feel and had simple controls but yet had equally extensive features. Above all the others it felt good in the hand.
  
  - Although this camera can act as a "point and shoot", by no means is this "juniors first camera". I really think the best way to get better results is to take the time to learn about the camera controls/features (RTFM) and learn about how to take pictures. In addition to my purchase of this camera I also bought the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson which has increased what minimal knowledge I had about exposure.
  
  There are some annoyances with this camera.....
  
  - It's slow. If you don't learn to use the camera in other priority modes or manual - you may get frustrated at the slow shutter response and missed shots. I've also found it's slow to zoom focus. The flash also requires some wait time as well (to be expected).
  
  - I want to put a lens filter to protect the lens but ... #1 I can't find any and #2 doing so would require a different lens cap. Many have complained about the cheap plastic lens cap, but it's actually designed to easily pop off when you turn on the camera. A more solid lens cap would over time screw up the lens drive. It just looks cheesy.
  
  Anyhoo, the camera's not perfect, but I felt I did my homework and made the best purchase for my needs. I am pleased with it and have already recommended it to friends who I think have beyond basic interest in photography.
  
  I hope this information helps anyone who is considering this camera.
  
  
• Well Worth the Money
  By AGWBSELTPFZEJ on 2008-08-20
  I don't normally post product reviews, but I wanted to throw in my two cents on the Nikon P80--especially considering the number of negative reviews by seemingly impatient people who used the camera for a day or two and felt compelled to return it. To read their reviews, you'd think this camera was manufactured by blind monkeys.
  
  Rest assured, this camera takes fine pictures. In most people's hands, the Nikon P80 produces clear, vibrant images. Will it get you published in National Geographic? Not if you returned it the day after you bought it! Besides, even the best cameras can't make up for a lack of skill.
  
  I purchased this camera because my previous point-and-shoot, which served me very well for 5 years, was too limited in its capabilities for what I wanted to do. On the other hand, a full DSLR camera was more than I needed. I saw the P80 in a local store and realized that it was the type of camera I was looking for. I read the reviews here, and had to filter through the poor reviews because the reviewers seemed too dismissive and too harsh in their judgments.
  
  I will be using this camera mostly for outdoor use. I do a lot of hiking, canoeing, and snowshoeing, and along the way I take a lot of pictures. Some of these pictures wind up in print, both B&W and color. The camera I had been using was small enough to fit in my breast pocket, which made it easily accessible and allowed me to be spontaneous. But a smaller camera has obvious limitations, which I sometimes ran into while trying to prep a shot for publication at 300 dpi. Don't get me wrong, that little 5-mp point-and-shoot worked well for me, but I wanted to see what I could do with a larger, more sophisticated camera.
  
  The P80 is too big to fit in my pocket, but it is light enough that I won't mind taking it on week-long wilderness hikes. I have only owned the camera for 2 weeks now, and so far I have only been using the automatic settings while I get a feel for its capabilities, but already I have taken several shots that I like very much. The resolution is perfect for what I'll be using it for. Chances are, if I used a tripod the images would be even sharper. A full-size image works out to be 9 x 12 inches at 300 dpi. You can, of course, set the camera to take smaller pictures.
  
  One thing I've noticed from two weekend hikes is that the battery has a more limited life compared to what I'm used to with the smaller camera. Having been sure to fully recharge the battery the Friday night before my trip, I have been getting the "low battery" indicator by Sunday afternoon on both trips. Granted, I've had a bad case of "new toy syndrome" and over time I will probably learn to conserve battery power better. In the meantime, I plan to buy a back-up battery. It couldn't hurt. One thing that I've missed is an indicator that tracks battery power from start to finish, not just one that flashes when the power is low.
  
  Another minor fault--which I can learn to live with--is that the on/off button can be a little too easily triggered. While trying to put the camera back in my backpack, I've accidentally touched the button and turned it on a couple times.
  
  One thing I wasn't clear on when purchasing the camera from Amazon was what it came with. For the record, the following items come in the box with the camera:
  
  * Battery recharger
  * Rechargeable battery
  * USB and AV cables
  * A strap long enough to hang the camera from one's neck
  * Software CD, especially helpful for managing the file upload process
  
  The internal memory is good for ~18 images at full resolution. I bought a 4 gb SD card, with a capacity of ~850 images.
  
  So, if you're looking for a camera somewhere between a POS and a DSLR, don't pass this one over thinking it only takes grainy, blurry images. It is a fine camera, especially for the price I bought it for. I haven't regretted it, and I am looking forward to getting to know it better.
  
  I give it 4-1/2 stars.
  
  
• GREAT Camera! AMAZING Pictures!
  By A1TBFMG2IMU47X on 2008-06-07
  This is a GREAT camera that takes AMAZING pictures! And the 18x zoom is unbelievable! If you are not quite ready to buy the SLR professional, then this is DEFINATELY the camera for you! I did A LOT of research before I bought this camera, and I LOVE IT! The picture quality is AMAZING- even at a VERY FAR zoom! It is CRYSTAL CLEAR!!! I am shocked! You will not go wrong with this camera if you are wanting a great camera with AMAZINGLY CLEAR pictures, then this is for you!
  
  
• The ultimate compact camera
  By A2SRFFBK9MPYCT on 2008-09-23
  I use this camera every day - I go nowhere without it.
  
  As a pro photographer, I started using compact cameras two years ago, when I got tired of hauling heavy pro equipment around with me while on vacation.
  
  My first compact cameras - the Nikon S-10 and the Nikon D-70 - were good, but not perfect. When I saw this camera's specs, I bought it without hesitation, and wow, I am impressed!
  
  It does EVERYTHING one would expect a compact camera to do with ease, and much more. It is easy to use, It is light. It comes packed with features.
  
  The auto-programs and auto-white balance are spot-on. Focusing is quick and silent. The zoom is excellent, and the min f-stops are impressive throughout the focal range. All of this at an unbelievable price! You simply can't go wrong in buying this camera.
  
  If you know my reviews on this and other sites, you will know that I don't easily award more than three stars to a product.
  
  This camera deserves its five stars - it is easily the single best online purchase I've made all year!
  
  
• Read the manual and its a GREAT camera!
  By A3HZYQT9UAGTNW on 2008-06-15
  I love this camera! Im a total novice but I think people that have issues with this camera are not reading the operating manual well enough. If you do, it will give you all the help to your qusetions you need! Its great!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!
  
  
• best I've owned
  By ACUCQTANCJ2M0 on 2008-06-16
  I have had this camera for a month now and I love it. I have nothing negative to say about it. It will zoom about a half mile and still looks great.
  
  
• My Take of the Nikon P-80 10.2 MP 18X
  By A1YBFQ6AVFC5DX on 2008-07-25
  First off let me say
  I bought this camera with out touching one on faith it would be good and I previously have used 35MM and had a Canon powershot A-95 Excellent little Camera but it didn't do as much as I wanted I ordered the P80 , an Extra battery and a 4 gig card for it got it in about a week(Slow) have had the camera about 6 weeks and I am very pleased with it, it takes excellent pictures it will do more than I can tell it too, I'm still learning the menus. If you set the camera correctly it will take an excellent shot, if you try to make it do something you have not set it to do then you will get a terrible photo but it is not the camera's fault its yours! If you read the manual and follow what it tells you as you learn it will take an excellent picture if you try it by the seat of your pants you will loose several shots but you will figure it out and eventually you will be happy with it. I have taken almost 900 photo with it is 6 weeks and lost maybe 15 not a total loss but blurry or poor color or out of focus MY FAULT! Setup is very easy to do and can be altered anytime I tried the fireworks setting on the 4th of July and did it free hand(needed a tripod) I was surprised how nice it took fireworks considering it was freehand! it has not been a disappointment for me it has been a joy and I think you might enjoy it too it is rated as slow on some things but its great for me because it does what I want and the way I want if you are advanced in your knowledge of photography you may not like it and on the other hand you may, I hope you do! This is my first Nikon and it is not a disappointment to me! Hope you enjoy it! JD
  
  
• Outstanding camera if stepping up from a basic point and shoot
  By A3B8EQJIYWE3JE on 2008-07-26
  I bought the P80 to replace a 3 year old 3mp basic point and shoot b/c I wanted a more powerful zoom and to take bigger pictures. I considered a digital SLR but could not justify the $$$ for no more pictures than I take.
  I was almost scared off from the P80 b/c of negative reviews about image quality, excessively lag times, etc.
  This camera is all I was hoping for and more. I will agree w/ other readers that you have to read the manual. Before I did this the few sample pics I took looked bad, however after 5-10 min reviewing the manual I now consistently take outstanding pictures.
  Compared to my basic point and shoot, it has a much quicker start-up time, a much smaller shutter delay, a fantastic zoom, etc. I have even found that the sports mode which takes 13pics / sec takes great pics and coupled w/ the 18x zoom allows me to get the close up sports pics I was missing before.
  If you are an advanced photographer, then maybe a more critical review is warrented. However, if you are a novice, don't be negatively influnced by criticial reviews comparing this camera to much more expensive digital SLR's. My conclusion is that this camera has most of the features of a digital SLR at a much lower price allowing me to take fantastic photos.
  
  

• Adobe Photoshop CS4 Upgrade
• Paint Shop Pro Photo X2
• Transcend 4 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS4GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]
• Transcend 16 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]
• Transcend 8 GB SDHC SD Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS8GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

• SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)
• Nikon EN-EL5 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery for Coolpix P3, P4. P5000, S10, 3700, 4200, 5200, 5900 & 7900 Digital Cameras
• Nikon Coolpix P80 Fabric Case
• Transcend TS8GSDHC6 8GB SDHC card (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6)
• Kingston 2 GB SD Flash Memory Card SD/2GB