N80 35mm SLR

Note the re-enforced latch pins on the door ... this could be the end of Duct Tape on Nikon cameras. Poppa Nikon has seriously redesigned the single little hook hanging off the end of the door that would inevitably snap off the third time it was slammed shut.

If the magic of how a camera auto sets the film speed enamors you, inside the camera's film cartridge compartment you can see the DX encoding contacts. They contact the film cartridge where it has the bare metal in funny little designs and complete a different circuit for each speed, i.e. DX ENCODING. Now you can sleep at night.

Lens Mount - F Bayonet lens mount accepts every AF Nikkor and most manual AI or AI-S Nikkor lenses. However, this is a modern electronic camera and it's almost silly to use the old non-AF lenses on it.

The focus mode selector switch allows for "M"anual, "S"ingle-servo or "C"ontinuous autofocus operation.

Built-in speedlight features 5-segment TTL flash control including 3D Multi-Sensor Balanced Fill-Flash, guide number 39 (ISO 100, ft) with 28mm Wide Angle coverage.

Comprehensive features includes: Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Red-Eye Reduction / Slow Sync, Rear-Curtain Sync and Flash Compensation from +1 to -3EV in 1/2 EV Steps.

Standard ISO-type hot-shoe accommodates Nikon speedlights SB-28DX, 28, 27, 26, 25.  Flash synchronization up to 1/125 sec.

Built-in speedlight or Nikon SpeedlightB-28 SB-28DX, SB-27 fires monitor pre-flash(es) when AF Nikkor or AI-P Nikkor lens is used.

A look through the camera's viewfinder, in the center you see the 5 different focus zones as well as the center-weighted metering circle. Across the bottom is the digital readout that shows the auto-focus status, metering mode, shutter speed, aperture setting, exposure mode (P, A, S, M), flash status, EV compensation, a digital representation of an analog exposure scale when in Manual mode, and a frame counter.

Mode Dial positions:

• P - Basic program mode. Camera sets aperture and shutter for you.
• S - Shutter priority mode you set shutter speed and camera selects the aperture.
• A - Aperture priority mode you select the aperture and the camera sets the shutter
• M - Manual you control all settings including aperture and shutter speeds.
• CSM - Custom Settings 18 different choices you can make to customize your camera to your style of shooting.
• ISO - ISO film speed settings. Manual film speed or DX encoding.

• Single frame advance.
• Continuous frame advance, up to 2.5fps.
• Self-Timer. Initial setting 10 second delay firing. (See CSM mode #16)
• Multiple Exposure. (See CSM mode #14)

Top deck LCD panel

Easy-to-view LCD panel gives you at a glance access to vital information. It can be illuminated for viewing in low light via a button to the right, which also is one of two buttons needed to rewind the film early.

Shutter release button: Activates Auto focus and releases shutter. Standard threaded cable release socket. Off/ON Switch: (Need we say more)

Exposure compensation button: For over or under exposure.

Flash output level compensation button: Forces over or under flash exposure compensation.

Located at the top of the ergonomically designed grip is the Main Command Dial.

Also displayed in this picture is the Depth Of Field Preview Button and the Built in AF-Assist Illuminator that doubles as the Red Eye reduction and self timer warning light.

On the back to the left of the HIGH EYEPOINT viewfinder (easier to see the entire screen with glasses) is the auto exposure-bracketing button and the flash sync mode/early film rewind button (one of two required to rewind early). On the right side of the viewfinder is the Diopter (-1.8 to + 0.8DP.) adjustment lever. The Main-Command thumb wheel (see Custom function #12.) is located at the upper right of picture.

This is the AE-L (auto exposure lock) AF-L (auto focus lock) button (see Custom function #11.) Surrounding the AE-L/AF-L button is the Metering System dial with which you can set the meter to be Center Weighted Average, Matrix or Spot metering (One of five spot meters that follow the A/F sensors.)

Matrix metering in the N80 is a 10 Segment 3D matrix meter that provides reading of brightness (EV 0-21), contrast, camera to subject distance and the selected focus area then comparing this information to more than 30,000 scenes in the camera's database to yield astonishingly accurate automatic exposure control.

Center-Weighted Average metering takes 75% of its exposure from the 12mm diameter circle in the center of the viewfinder and averages it with the rest of the screen (sensitivity; EV 0-21). This is very similar to the metering systems we have seen in every SLR made in the last 35 years. Still it is a very useful mode when shooting for portraits etc.

Spot Metering reads a 4mm circle, approximately 1% of the viewfinder that follows the manually selected focus area. This camera has five focus areas that can be manually selected.

Located in the center of the back is the thumb operated five position Focus Area Selector. Below it is the Focus Area Selector Lock Lever. And to the left is the AF Area Mode Selector. The upper position is "Closest-Subject-priority Dynamic AF" mode and the lower position is the "Focus Tracking with LOCK-ON"mode.

The QD (Quartz date) model camera offers the ability to date stamp your prints in the right hand corner with the date or day of month and time. It is powered by an independent wafer sized lithium battery (CR-2025) located inside the back door.

On the completely flat bottom we find a tripod-mounting socket positioned about as close to center of balance as possible. The battery access door is removable for attaching the optional MB-16 battery grip, which accepts the more economical AA-type batteries. Without the MB-16 the N80 runs on two CR123 lithium batteries.

The N80's (Quartz Date model in this picture) compact body when used with front-heavy zoom or telephoto lenses requires a "white knuckle" grip that can result in camera shake. The optional MB-16 enlarges the grip area and alters the center of balance to offset heavy optics. The N80 without the MB-16 is like going out without your pants on!

It's a $100 option that won't be optional after the first time you have used it.