Nikon D80

I chose the Nikon D80 as my first digital SLR camera. It is a 10.2 megapixel camera with intense features. My D80 kit includes a 18 - 135mm lens, battery charger, strap, screen protector, and battery. I also tested a Sony A100 which is almost identical to the D80; however, A100's loud shutter noise annoyed me greatly. I exchanged the A100 for the D80 which has a softer shutter noise. And it does appear that the D80 takes better photos than the A100 from the short time I had to test the A100.

The D80 shoots very fast at up to 3 frames per second. The image processing engine is based on the professional Nikon models, D200 and D2X. The body does not have built-in image stabilization like Sony's A100. The only way to add image stabilization to a D80 is attaching a lens with Nikon's vibration reduction capability. Although it would have been nice to have built-in image stabilization in the body itself, it should not make a big difference unless I am using a super zoom lens such as a 70 - 300mm lens. And if I do end up adding a super zoom lens, I will make sure the lens itself has built-in image stabilization.

As my first time using a Nikon digital camera, I was a bit skeptical about its menu system. I have used Sony's digital cameras for years, and I have always loved Sony's easy to navigate menus. To my delight, the D80 also has a very user friendly and easy-to-navigate menu system. And there are many easily accessible buttons and sliders on the body itself to quickly fine tune numerous camera settings.

The LCD monitor is 2.5" with 230,000 pixels. It has a 170 degree viewing angle and a removable protective cover. The cover is a very nice bonus feature. The display is vibrant and bright even with the protector attached.

My test photos.

Specs and review on dpreview.com.