Page 4 of 57 QUALity I use Large, JPG, BASIC.
Reset brings you to NORMAL JPG. Once I've reset I'll immediately change to my preferred QUAL setting: BASIC. Do this by pressing the QUAL button (bottom left rear) and spinning the rear dial one click to the right. This shows as L and BASIC on the top LCD. L stands for Large image size (3,872 x 2,592 pixels) and BASIC JPG compression. I'm a data cheapskate. I prefer small files. For most people not shooting hundreds of throw-away images a day, feel free to leave it in NORMAL. NORMAL makes files twice as large with a tiny bit less blockiness if you're looking closely at the files printed 3 feet (1m) wide. I prefer smaller files in exchange for almost invisible levels of blockiness. See my D200 Quality Settings page for more explicit detail and examples of these settings on a D200. My D80 does the same thing, but lacks the Optimize Quality JPG Compression mode I prefer on my D200. Exposure Compensation I set my exposure compensation to -0.7 because my D80's metering firmware is defective. It usually overexposes. Set -0.7 by holding the +/- button we just used for reset and turning the rear dial two clicks to the right. Sadly we'll often have to adjust this depending on the subject. It's no big deal: just look at the image on the LCD and click it towards the left (+) to lighten the image, and to the right (-) to darken it for the next shot. This is why I prefer my D200, which has a superior meter because it rarely needs any fiddling. Shutter Advance Mode I use Continuous (the bearded rectangle). I get one shot with one press of the shutter, and if I hold the shutter button my D80 shoots three frames per second. I do this in dim light so I can pick the sharpest image. For most shots of moving things I fire several rounds and pick the one with the best expressions and gestures. Of course I use a professional sorting tool on a 30" screen to make selecting files trivial. These are the only things I change from the reset mode. Everything else I tweak below is unchanged by reset.

Page 5 of 57 ISO

I use 100 and Auto ISO. Auto ISO increases the ISO automatically as it gets dark so I don't have to. It shoots at ISO 100 in good light, and at 1/15 of a second (or any speed you choose) it starts ramping up the ISO to a maximum of 1,600 (or any ISO you choose) as it gets darker. Only if it gets still darker will it let the shutter speed go below 1/15 at ISO 1,600, exactly as I'd do manually. I explain how to set Auto ISO and select the shutter speed at which the ISO starts to increase and the maximum ISO to which it will increase in the Custom Setting 07. I set Auto ISO to 1,600 max because the noise from the D80 at ISO 1,600 looks much better than blur. I set 1/15 because my Nikon 18-200mm gives great results down to 1/15. I adjust the lowest shutter speed setting in the AUTO ISO menu if I change conditions or lenses. Unlike film, my D80 looks great at high ISOs, so I use them anytime I need them. More details, including how to set ISO to 3,200, at the ISO Button. WHITE BALANCE I use AUTO and a clear UV filter to protect my lens. The D80 has a much warmer color balance than earlier cameras like the D70 so I don't need the 81A filter or the -3 trim. See examples of different settings here and details on my White Balance page. White balance is how you set the color balance, and color is critical. It's also personal preference. Use whatever looks right to you. My D80's LCD is very accurate. If it looks different in print or on your computer, your printer or computer are out of calibration. Luckily AUTO works great most of the time. I look at my LCD, and if it's not right, I'll set it to whatever looks good. Usually that's the Direct Sun or Cloudy positions. These settings give much warmer results than earlier cameras. I rarely use the warmer Shade setting on my D80 while I used Shade often on my D1H and D70.

Page 19 of 57 ISO / Minifying Glass / Checkerboard Button
If playing, it reduces the images to fit 2x2 or 3x3 on the screen. If the image was zoomed, it zooms out. If shooting, hold this and turn the rear dial to change the ISO, or sensitivity to light. I usually leave my ISO at 100 and let the D80's Auto ISO adjust as needed. Auto ISO makes all the ISO adjustments for you. I always use Auto ISO since it's as smart as I am. Higher ISOs can give sharper images in dimmer light because they let the D80 shoot at faster shutter speeds or smaller apertures, but they also can add more grain (noise) to your photos. ISO 100 gives the cleanest images, but the most potential for blur in dim light. I use ISO 100 outdoors. ISO 400 and ISO 800 are perfect for sports outdoors. ISO 1,600 gives the noisiest images, with the least potential for blur. ISO 1,600 still looks pretty good if you need it, but I only use it indoors. ISO 3,200 is for use as a last resort. It is grainy, and lets you shoot in the dimmest light without flash. Auto ISO selects magically among all these (except for ISO 3,200) so you and I don't have to worry about it. Firmware Flaw: ISO goes from 100 to 3,200. Above ISO 1,600 Nikon uses bizarre terminology to scare amateurs away from setting these, because these same amateurs would clog up Nikon's (800) NIKON-UX support lines complaining about grainy photos. Nikon calls ISO 2,000 "Ho.3," ISO 2,500 "Ho.7" and ISO 3,200 "H1.0." HINT: If you've selected Auto ISO then you cannot set a manual ISO higher than you allow in Auto ISO. To get to ISO 3,200 (cryptically called H1.0 by Nikon) you must turn off Auto ISO.
Page 20 of 57 QUAL / Magnifying Glass Button
If playing, zooms in. Use the up/down/left/right button to scroll around. TRICK: When zoomed in, flicking the rear dial will go forward/back among other images, all at the same zoom and location. (The Left/Right/Up/Down key still moves around inside the zoomed images.) This makes it easy to see which shots in a sequence are sharp or not. The bad news is that when you delete one that the monitor returns to the default full-image view. If not playing, press this and spin the dials to set the kind of file, the size of the file and the size of the image. You read the setting from the top LCD. The rear dial controls the kind of file (raw, JPG or both), and the size of the JPG file (FINE, NORMAL or BASIC). I always use JPG, never raw. (see JPG vs. Raw.) I usually use BASIC JPG and sometimes NORMAL JPG. BASIC JPG looks almost the same as NORMAL, unless you're making six foot wide prints. It also makes a file half the size of Normal, which speeds up everything and saves space on my hard drives and backup CDs. I never use FINE; it looks the same as NORMAL and wastes space. Feel free to use any settings you like; that's why they're here. The front dial selects L, M or S image (pixel) size for the JPG images. I usually use L or M. You can see examples from my similar D200 at D200 Quality Setting Examples. AE-L AF-L Button This locks the focus or exposure. You select what it locks in Custom Setting 18. I set mine to lock exposure for as long as I hold the button. Rear Dial Click this left and right to control most of the D80's functions. You can reverse which dial does what in Custom Setting 15.

Page 25 of 57

Another reason to select REAR is because the flash goes off at the end of the exposure. People presume photos are made the instant a flash fires, then leave. This wreaks havoc with long exposures. If you use REAR mode with long exposures they'll stay put and not move until the end. Of course you'll also want to select flash lock to eliminate the preflash. REAR doesn't do anything with short exposures. Trick FV Lock Mode: You can set this in the Custom Menus. I cover this below. It prevents people from blinking with flash! BKT Button Bracketing. I never use this. Bracketing was a popular crutch used by new photographers who couldn't get their exposures correct on film. Ansel Adams (and I) thought bracketing was very bad, because it was more work than learning how to expose correctly and because it usually guarantees that your best exposure is at the wrong instant, making you lose 2/3 of your good shots. Today the D80 has a great LCD and color histogram for getting the correct exposure. Use them, not bracketing. Big Button Above AF - M Switch This unlocks the lens. Push this straight in and rotate the lens to remove it. It's a bayonet mount. AF - M Switch Autofocus or Manual focus. If your lens has the same switch, you usually can leave this at AF and use the switch on the lens to select manual. Some lenses are different; see your lens manual or ask Nikon in the USA at (800) NIKONUX.

Page 26 of 57

FRONT RIGHT CONTROLS
Front Dial This is used to fine-tune most settings. You can reverse which dial does what in Custom Setting 15. Top Unmarked Button to Left of Lens Mount: FUNC (Assignable Function) button This button can be programmed to many clever tricks. I wish my Nikons had more of these! You set what it does in Custom Function 16. I leave mine on flash exposure lock (Bolt FV Lock), which lets me make flash photos without people blinking. Tap it to fire the flash and set the exposure, and subsequent photos won't need to fire a preflash, which ensures people blink. Read Custom Function 16 to learn all the clever things it can do.

Page 27 of 57

Bottom Button Below Lens Mount: Depth-of-Field Preview Button Tap this to stop the diaphragm down to the taking aperture. The viewfinder probably gets darker, but look carefully and you can see what's in focus or not. This analog feature is a remnant from film days. Today most people look at the LCD playback. Safety Defect: Nikon has a flaw in the firmware which fires a huge, blinding burst of flash when you press this button. You must disable this in Custom Function 26 to save your eyesight. The blinding flash burst is intended as a way to let you preview the effects of flash or multiple flashes. The defect is that it is left ON by default.

Page 33 of 57 Saturation This sets the vividness (strength) of colors.
A Auto: I don't use this. I suspect it cranks up the color for dull scenes and puts it back to normal for scenes that are already colorful. I prefer always to have my saturation cranked up. 0 Normal: For normal people shots you're probably better off with 0. This is the default. - Moderate: tones down the colors, which I've never liked. "Moderate" sounds like British understatement. In America we call this "dull and boring." Personally I want colors so bright you have to put on sunglasses, or I go directly to B/W. Your interests and taste will differ. + Enhanced: I prefer violent color, so I crank it up to +. I'd use ++ or +++ if my D80 had it, but that's me. Hue Adjustment Don't touch this! This rotates all your colors to different spots around the color wheel. If you use this to fix one color it screws up all the other colors. God only knows why this adjustment is here. Image Quality This duplicates half of the QUAL button. It chooses JPG, raw or both and the JPG compression level. See my discussion of the QUAL button for details, and see examples of these settings at my D200 Quality Settings page. Image Size This duplicates the other half of the QUAL button. It chooses the JPG image size in pixels. It does not directly choose the size of the file in bytes. See my discussion of the QUAL button for details, and see examples of these settings on my similar D200 at D200 Quality Settings. White Balance This duplicates the WB button as explained on the D80 Controls page.
Page 34 of 57 ISO Sensitivity
This duplicates the ISO button as explained on the D80 Controls page. Firmware Defect: the AUTO ISO options are hidden in the Custom Settings Menu! Long Exp. NR This is short for Long Exposure Dark-Frame Subtraction Noise Reduction OFF: Default. Leave it here. ON: Don't use this. If you do, the D80 will double the amount of time you have to wait around for time exposures of 10 seconds or longer. The D80 is so good you don't need this. Nikon only includes this because old-timers would get peeved if it was missing. I have details with examples from my very similar D200 at D200 Dark Exposures. Minor Firmware Defect: the help menu says exposures need to be 8s or longer for this NR to take effect. It's wrong - they have to be 10s or longer, or longer than 8s. High ISO NR This is short for High ISO Noise Reduction This lets you control the strength of the noise reduction (smoothing) applied at high ISOs. I find the default NORMal position optimum. You can set it higher, but it removes subject texture. You can set it lower and get more noise, along with more detail and sharpness. I have details with examples from my similar D200 at D200 High ISO Noise Reduction.

Page 35 of 57 Multiple Exposure This is unique. It lets you do what we did back on film. This works and it's easy to use.
Unlike film, it's smart enough to compensate the exposures so they add together without overexposure. To use it: 1.) Choose the number of shots to combine (2 or 3). 2.) Hit OK. 3.) Go up to DONE. 4.) Hit OK. It only works if you remember to scroll up and hit OK. You'll see a tiny icon on the top LCD that looks like two rectangles mating. Make your shots. You'll see each on the color LCD as you make it. The mating rectangles on the top LCD are now blinking. You'll also see the mating rectangle icon on the color LCD. You'll keep seeing the flashing mating rectangles icon on the top LCD until you complete all the exposures for which you asked in step 1.). The D80 won't tell you how many you've made until you're done. You can cancel it in the same menu if you want. Choose RESET. When you've made the last shot the D80 shows it as it did for the other shots for a moment, then goes off and adds them all together. After the CF light blinks a few times you'll see the composite image on the color LCD. The intermediate single images are not saved. It works with JPGs and NEFs. Don't turn off the automatic exposure compensation, called Auto Gain. If you do you'll get at least a stop of overexposure.

Page 36 of 57

CUSTOM SETTING MENU (Pencil icon)
Many of these menu options are shown only after you select the FULL MENUS option in the Setup Menu and are often deactivated in anything except the P, S, A and M modes. This menu really should be called the camera menu and shown with an icon of a camera, except that Nikon used the Camera icon for the shooting menu, which really should be called the Film menu. Camera settings, like focus, flash and timers, are set here in the Custom Settings Menu, shown by a pencil. This is Nikon's mistake; don't penalize yourself if it makes little sense at face value. How to Get Here Press MENU, go to the left and select up and down to the pencil icon. You'll see CUSTOM SETTING MENU on the top of the color LCD. What it Does This menu sets many things related to the camera and taking pictures, like autofocus, exposure, timers, flash and more. What I Change I change a lot here, read on. [R] Reset This resets everything in this menu to its defaults. I don't use this. 01 Beep Turn this OFF!!! This is the idiotic and annoying focus confirmation beep. Turn it off! The beep annoys others and is very rude. Focus confirmation is indicated by a dot in the lower left of the finder.

Page 37 of AF-Area Mode

This selects how the D80 uses its numerous AF sensors. You'll want to change this for action, still subjects or handing your camera to a non-photographer. I wish the D80 had a dedicated switch as the D200 does. On the D80 we need to go into this menu every time our subject changes. [ o ] Single Area is used for still subjects. I use this most of the time. The D80 uses whichever area you select with the rear Up/Down/Left/Right selector. [ x ] Dynamic Area lets the D80 automatically select which sensor to use as a subject moves around the frame. It really works! I use this for sports, running animals and birds in flight. The D80 first uses whichever area you select with the rear Up/Down/Left/Right selector, and proceeds to select other areas automatically if the subject moves. You won't see which area is selected in the finder, but you can see it on playback if you use the right software. [xxx] Auto-Area AF selects AF areas by magic, usually the closest one. Use this when you hand your camera to a non-photographer, or if things are moving too fast for you to do your own AF selection. This feature works great. I'm always surprised at the great results I get in this mode. TRICK: You can program the FUNC button to change this setting, which would be great except I prefer to use my FUNC button for Flash Exposure Lock. 03 Center AF Area This selects your choice of a small or large central AF area. I've always left mine on the default of Normal. You can program the FUNC button to change this. 04 AF Assist I leave this at ON. Turning this OFF disables the bright white light that shines in the dark to help you focus. I turn this off if I'm shooting where I don't want to disturb people, or be identified as photographing.

Page 38 of No Memory Card?
I leave mine at LOCK. If I have no memory card it won't let me take pictures. Don't set it to OK. If you do, you could have no memory card and be shooting all day, thinking you're making pictures when you really aren't. Shoot one wedding without a card and this set to OK and you'll see how stupid you'll feel. Only set this to OK if you want to demonstrate the D80 in a camera store with no card. 06 Image Review ON plays the picture after you take it. OFF leaves the screen dark. When the image pops on the screen, even if the D80 is still at your eye, spinning the command dials will change the playback, not the shooting settings like apertures. While shooting you might want not to use this, or remember that you must wait a moment and tap the shutter release to reset the D80 to interpret the command dials for changing shooting settings instead of playback screens.

Page 39 of ISO Auto

This is one of the strongest reasons I prefer my Nikons to my Canons, which lack this critical feature. ISO Auto Increases sensitivity (ISO) in dim light automatically to prevent blur from slow shutter speeds. I use this all of the time, unless I'm using manual exposure mode. Auto ISO is a crucial component of Modern Exposure Technique. Today I adjust the Auto ISO's minimum shutter speed as I change lenses and conditions. I no longer adjust ISO directly, as we did in the old days before 2004. This is a time-saving step towards the future, just as program exposure was a step ahead of aperture priority in the 1970s. You can choose the highest ISO to which the Auto ISO will go (Max sensitivity). I let my D80 go all the way to to ISO 1,600, since it looks fine at ISO 1,600 and any small amount of grain is better than a blurry photo. If you prefer blur to grain, feel free to limit the D80 to ISO 800 or 400. Try ISO 1,600: the D80 is better at high ISOs than film ever was, and far better than any compact digital camera at these speeds. You also may set the minimum shutter speed (Min Shutter Speed) below which the D80 starts raising the ISO. Select the slowest shutter speed at which you'll get sharp images under your present shooting conditions. I wish this function was smart enough to recognize which lens I'm using and adjust accordingly, but it's not. HINT: If you've selected Auto ISO then you cannot set a manual ISO higher than the maximum ISO set as part of Auto ISO. To get to ISO 3,200 (cryptically called H1.0 by Nikon) you must turn off Auto ISO. HINT: You set the lowest ISO used in Auto ISO with the ISO button, of course. Firmware Defect: Nikon's firmware leaves Auto ISO active even in manual exposure mode. This makes the D80 change the ISO automatically and defeat the purpose of manual exposure. Remember to deactivate Auto ISO when using Manual exposure mode. 08 Grid Display This activates hairlines in the finder. I leave them ON to help me keep everything straight and level. You can program the FUNC button to set this more directly.

Page 42 of 57 FV Lock: This is the setting I use.
Press it once to fire a pre-flash to measure and lock the flash exposure. You'll see a pip of flash, and then a lighting bolt + L icon lit on the lower left of the viewfinder to let you know the lock is set and active. Now for every photo you take, the flash doesn't fire before the photo is taken. This prevents people and pets from blinking, which they almost always do in the regular flash mode. In the regular mode the D80 fires a little bit of flash before the photo is taken to measure the flash exposure This starts people blinking, who then usually have their eyes almost completely closed a tenth of a second later when the picture is taken. Be sure to cancel this by pressing the FUNC button a second time if you want to return to the normal mode, or if you change your distance and need to save a new flash exposure (FV Lock) value. Flash Off: Another slick feature, in this setting the flash won't fire if you hold the FUNC button. Matrix Metering forces Matrix Metering regardless of the selected mode. Center Weighted forces Center Weighted Metering regardless of the selected mode. Spot Metering forces Spot Metering regardless of the selected mode. 17 Illumination This lets you have the top LCD illumination turn on any time the meter is on. It saves you from having to twist the power switch.
Page 43 of AE-L/AF-L This selects the function of the AE-L/AF-L button.
AE/AF lock (default) locks both for as long as you hold the button. You'll see AE-L in the finder when it's locked. There is no AF-L finder indication. AE Lock only holds the measured exposure for as long as I hold the button. I use this setting. You'll see AE-L in the finder when it's locked. I usually shoot in Single AF mode, which locks the focus separately. AF Lock only locks the autofocus. This is handy if you want the lens to stop focusing, for instance, if reframing a portrait or if you're panning while a target goes behind a tree. There is no AF-L finder indication. AE Lock Hold requires just a tap, after which the D80 holds the exposure until you tap it again. This eliminates the need to hold the button, but also requires you to remember to press the button again to unlock, and press a third time to lock again. AF ON focuses the D80 when the AE-L/AF-L button is pressed. This deactivates the normal AF action of the shutter button. The only way to autofocus with this selection is to press the AE-L AF-L button. FV Lock locks flash exposure, exactly as you can set the FUNC button. This lets you use the FUNC button for something else. Focus Area Selection lets you press the AE-L/AF-L button and spin the rear dial to select the AF areas. This is similar to Canon's [+] button. I never use this; I use the Up/Down/Left/Right button. The selections below this combine other functions explained above with the Focus Area Selection via knob. 19 AE Lock This lets you lock the exposure when the shutter is pressed. The default is off, which I use. The shutter button doesn't lock exposure. I prefer to use the AE-L button to lock exposure. 20 Focus Area This allows one to click one past the end of the constellation of AF areas and return (wrap around) to an area on the opposite side. I leave this at its default of No Wrap, which means once I get all the way to one side, it stops.

Page 44 of AF Area Illumination
This allows you to force the red illumination of the selected AF areas ON or OFF. I leave this in its default of AUTO, which turns them on as needed in the dark. 22 Built In Flash This lets you set the function of the very flexible built-in flash. Hint: Be sure to hit OK after changing anything, otherwise the D80 ignores what you think you changed! TTL (default) lets the flash work normally and give great exposures all by itself. M (manual) lets you force the flash to one brightness value. It adjusts in full stops from full power down to seven stops below, shown as 1/128 power. I use this if I'm using the built-in flash to trigger my studio strobes or if I'm trying to set up something tricky which isn't working in the usually perfect TTL mode. Repeating Flash is a gimmick. It lets the flash fire manually many times in fast succession. You might play with this in a dark room with a long exposure to make a stroboscopic image of something in motion. Commander Mode is how you can control one or many SB-600 and SB-800 flashes remotely from the D80. Leave it on the default of channel 3, which is the default channel for the flashes. If you figure someone was screwing with your D80 and reset it to channel 1, it won't work! I don't often use this, but it's easier than it seems, and it works GREAT, unlike the old flash slaves. It's reliable, and your remote flashes don't even have to be visible to get the signals! I've hid them around corners, out of the picture, and they fire and expose perfectly. Nikon is the world's leader in flash technology, and it's all inside your D80, for free. I explain how to set your SB-600 and SB-800 flashes to work in this mode at Nikon Wireless Flash. The D80's commander mode menu offers a lot of flexibility.
Page 45 of 57 Built-In Flash setting in Commander Mode
"Built-in Flash" is also the title of a setting inside the Commander Mode menu. The Commander Mode menu is an option inside the Built-in Flash Custom Setting 22. My apologies for Nikon using this twice, making written descriptions of the menu structure clumsy. It's not confusing at all in actual use. You can leave the built-in flash at TTL, in which case it lights the subject along with the remote flashes. Turn this to "--" to prevent the built-in flash from contributing light to the picture. It will still fire to control everything else. You can leave the built-in flash in TTL and alter its lighting ratio with its Comp(ensation) setting. Comp(ensation) lets you alter the brightness of each flash or flashes. 0 is normal, + is brighter and - is darker. Group A and B Group A and Group B allow you to control remote flashes as two banks, presuming you set each flash to A or B. By default the Nikon flashes are group A. You can use many flashes, all set to group A. You'd want to set some to group B if you wanted to control their light output separately in the Comp(ensation) part of the menu. Modes From the D80's Commander mode menu, you can set each flash's exposure mode. TTL, through-the-lens automatic exposure, is the most elegant and what I use. You can fine-tune the light level of each group in third stops. M: You may set their outputs (brightness) manually in full-stop increments. AA: You may run remote SB-800s in the old Auto Aperture mode. This mode uses a sensor in the SB-800. --: Turn that flash or group off. Channel Leave the channel on 3, the default of the SB-600 and SB-800 flashes. I have no idea why default is three; I guess it helps keep you in the dark and having to pay for flash seminars. You'd only reset channels if another photographer wanted to setup his flashes in the same place and control them separately.

Page 46 of Flash Warning This lets you turn off the flash reminder bolt in the finder.
I leave this on. The flash reminder is much more than an idiot light. The D80 analyzes the dynamic range of the scene, and if it's too great, reminds you to use flash to fill the dark areas. It is the world's smartest idiot light. 24 Flash Shutter Speed This is another world-class trick easy to use on Nikon, and nonexistent on Canon. This lets you chose the slowest shutter speed used in the normal flash sync mode in the P and A exposure modes. I explain flash sync modes here. This lets you get much more natural images that include more ambient light with flash. Use this well and your photos won't look as if they're shot on a black cyc in Hell, lit only by car headlights, as do most flash shots indoors. I leave mine set to 1/8. Set it slower to get more ambient light if needed, but it leaves more likelihood of blur if you or the subject moves. Set it higher to lessen the possibility of blur, but this reduces the amount of ambient light that can be captured. This is much better than using the SLOW flash sync mode which can lead to very long (30 second) exposures in very dim light. 25 Auto FP This lets you shoot above 1/200 second with an SB-600 or SB-800 flash. I've never used this, but leave it on in case I do. It doesn't do anything at slower speeds. 26 Modeling Flash OUCH! TURN THIS OFF! In its default on mode, when you press the depth-of-field preview, it fires off a long burst of all your flashes. Safety Defect: The first time I did this I was looking at my camera, and almost blinded. With all the stupid warnings in the instruction books, I'm surprised that Nikon has left this dangerous firmware flaw unresolved. Default should be off!

Page 47 of Monitor Off

This selects how long the monitor stays lit after you ignore it. This works in the menus and on playback. Firmware Defect: Sadly this doesn't affect the length of the Image Review after you make a shot. When I was making our Christmas Card photo of my family with a remote control, the monitor always shut off the same second I managed to run back over to my D80. 28 Auto Meter Off This selects how long the meter stay active after you start ignoring it. I leave this at the default of 6 seconds. 28 Self Timer This selects the time, presuming you have the self timer active, between pressing the shutter and the shutter firing. I leave this at 2 seconds, since I use the self timer only if I forgot my ML-L3 remote control. I use my ML-L3 remote, not the self timer, if I'm taking pictures of myself. 30 Remote On Duration This selects how long the D80 stays awake waiting to be released by the MLL3 remote control, presuming you've set it to work via remote control. The default is one minute, which is silly, since when I'm using my remote I don't want to have to take a picture every minute or have to reset my D80 to pay attention again. I set mine to 15 minutes. You set the D80 to pay attention to the remote with the Shutter Release Mode button. 31 Exp(osure) Delay Mode This is a flimsy excuse for a mirror lock-up. In this mode the shutter fires 4/10s of a second after the mirror flips up. It's better than nothing, but I still wish it had a 1970s style default mirror-up at the beginning of the self timer interval. The best is the self timer of Mamiya cameras, which have a dedicated self-timer button. Press the self timer button, and the camera goes off a few seconds later. Nothing to set, nothing to remember to reset.

Page 48 of MB-D80 Batteries
This allows you to tell the D80 what kind of AA batteries you're using in the optional MB-D80 hand grip. If you do, you'll be rewarded with a more accurate battery gauge.

Page 49 of 57

SET UP MENU (wrench icon)
Many of these menu options are shown only after you select the FULL MENUS option in the Setup Menu and are often deactivated in anything except the P, S, A and M modes. How to Get Here Select the Set Up Menu by pressing MENU, moving to the left and then up or down to select the wrench icon. You'll then see SETUP MENU on the top of the color LCD. What it Sets This sets the usual housekeeping items like languages, video formats, auto image rotation, the clock and file numbering. What I Change This menu contains the secret message mode I use to encode my and contact information into every file shot with my D80. I also read the Battery Info often. You can't change it, just read it.
Page 50 of 57 CSM/Setup Menu
This allows me to set what I need once, like languages, and then turn off those items in the menus. This is like a breath of fresh air to clarify the menus down only to what I use daily. If I ever want to reset the menus to Korean when I loan my D80 to a pal, I simply choose FULL menus again. The choices are: Simple (default): only the most basic settings are shown. Full is what you should set as soon as you get your D80. It allows you full access to every menu option, so long as you are in the P, S, A or M exposure modes. My Menu is where you can deactivate the display of any or almost all of the menu options. Every option you've altered remains in effect, but you won't see it displayed to alter. For instance, set language to Korean, then deactivate the Language option. Language remains in Korean, and good luck to your pal trying to reactivate the language menu to return to English. I'm scaring you; I use this mode to turn off all the menu items I set once when I buy a camera, like Beep, and if I ever need to set them again, it's trivial to select Full. This My Menu is more powerful than you may realize. I turn off all the junk, and it leaves all the items I set often on one page, making it much faster and clearer to set and unset Auto ISO everytime I go into Manual exposure mode, for instance. Format Memory Card This duplicates the function of the two red FORMAT buttons. I format cards every time I put one in my D80, and every time I go shooting. I use the buttons, not the menu. They are faster. World Time This sets the date and time. There is a nice map for finding time zones. Want to reset your D80 for Fiji or Tonga? Just click. You can swap among time zones without having to reset the seconds, a boon for me who keeps his D80 set to the exact second. Firmware Defect: You set the time under the DATE option.

Page 51 of 57 LCD Brightness
This changes the midtones on the LCD. It changes backlight intensity only by 10%. It is mostly a gamma (midtone contrast) control. For the adjustment to take effect you must remember to hit OK after making a selection. I leave mine at 0. Unlike my Canon DSLRs, My D80's LCD is always bright, contrasty, color accurate at every angle and sunlight readable. I never have to twiddle with the brightness adjustment. Video Mode This sets the format of the video output. Use NTSC (525 lines, 59.94Hz) in the Americas and Japan, and PAL (625 lines, 50Hz) in Europe. This output will always look much worse on a TV or projector than images do on a computer or projected through a computer. Read Why Images Look Awful from the Video Output for more. Language This sets English or other languages. As suggested before, set yours to Swedish and see if you can navigate back to English. Fun! USB This selects how the camera behaves when plugged into a computer via USB. I leave it at mass storage, which means my D80 appears as an external hard drive from which I can drag and drop images and folders in my Mac OSX Finder or Windows Explorer. PTP is used if you want to control the D80 as an external device, for instance, via Nikon Camera Control Pro for remote camera control. PTP makes the D80 look like a device instead of like a drive. Use whichever works best with your computer and workflow.
Page 52 of 57 Image Comment
This lets you add a secret text message into every file. Mine is set to (c) KenRockwell.com with my phone number! You see this text looking at the EXIF data in software on a computer. It doesn't appear in the visible image. Sadly Nikon provides no real symbol. You set this by going to MENU > Set Up Menu > Image Comment > Input Comment > (add your message like you did on 1970s video games) > Enter. You must hit ENTER or it will forget everything you just did! To edit or remove a character, select it in the Input Comment screen by holding the checkerboard button and clicking the big thumb selector. Select a new character with the same selector and press the center of the selector to add it. Press the Trash button to delete a character. When you get your text message spelled out, go to Attach Comment and hit SET so a small checkmark shows. Now go to and select DONE. If you forget to check Attach it won't attach, and if you forget to hit DONE it will also forget everything you just did. Sorry, I don't write the firmware. It's great having everything you shoot have your contact info embedded. It also allows you to prove ownership in a third-world country when catching a thief with your camera. Help the cop go through the menus and read your personal ID information. Folders You can create, name and rename folders on your memory card. They are named with a 3-digit number from 100 through 999. Select Folder selects the folder into which new photos are written. You could use this to record images into a previous folder. I never do this: if I want to get that complicated I wait until I get to my computer where it's much easier to sort. You might want to use this feature if you shot one event or subject, went on to a second and made a new folder for it, and then returned to the previous subject. New is used to create a new folder. Unlike the pro cameras like the D200, there is no trick by which you can hold the ? button on power-on to create a new folder automatically. Rename and Delete are self-explanatory.

Page 57 of 57

Color Balance: This one's slick. It calls up a better control panel than Photoshop's color balance tool, which dates from the 1980s. Nikon's tool reminds me of what we have on million-dollar color correction machines used in Hollywood telecine to color correct motion pictures. The Nikon D80 shows three histograms (reminiscent of Tektronix' WFM700 waveform monitors) and the D80's Up/Down/Left/Right key becomes the color correction track ball. Click it left and right to alter blue-red, and up down for magenta - green. If you have something neutral, watch the waveforms, oops, histograms, until they are about equal. Left - right on the Up/Down/Left/Right key slides the red and blue in opposite directions, and green - magenta slides the red and blue equally left or right. The green stays put. Small Picture This creates a much smaller version of an image. You've got your choice of 640x480, 320x240 and 160x120 pixels. Image Overlay This is silly. It creates a new image by adding two others together in the z-axis (intensity). It only works with raw originals. A reader wrote me about a genius plan to use this for in-camera mutilation of large dynamic range scenes by combining two very different exposures. I don't see it working. I'm missing the genius part. You can't get to this with the OK key on playback. You have to use the menu button.

Cortina dAmpezzo Venice Portofino Cinque Terre
Two photographers, Italy and the D80
Photographers from different fields share their impressions after shooting with the D80 on a trip to Italy.
About shooting in Italy - H (Hien): I ve long dreamed of shooting in Venice. As a photojournalist, I always strive to convey the moment just as I see it with my own eyes. This demands a great amount of footwork to get acquainted with the location, and the time to establish a rapport with the locals. Shooting early in the morning with the D80 left an immediate impression on me. There was limited light, and that was comprised of a mixture of natural and artificial light. A film camera in such a situation requires complicated use of filters, whereas the D80 was able to achieve accurate white balance and metering under mixed light sources and produce beautiful results. Y (Yves): I believe shooting in the cafe allowed m e t o c l e a r l y ex p r e s s m y f e e l i n g s a b o u t the location. I am always exploring how best to express myself based on the inspiration I draw from the actual scene. And for me, the light is the inspiration. I like to control the light in each shot, which of course includes capturing the mood of the natural light, while at times also taking advantage of reflected light or using flashes. The D80 produced images just as I envisioned them, performing perfectly throughout the trip. Images from the D80 are of the highest quality, and I can edit them freely after the shot. The D80 can even perform in-camera editing, which only adds to the creative possibilities and makes digital easier and more enjoyable for everyone. Anyone who takes photos understands the desire to capture precious moments the instant they unfold, and the need for a camera with the speed and precision to be always ready to shoot. Y: I wa s als o im p res s e d by the s p ee d an d efficiency of operation. The placement and size of buttons and controls makes them easy to use. I also find the menus easy to understand, and intuitive to use. The solid feel of the camera body belies its compact size, it was easy to carry around and simple to use from the very beginning.

Hien Lam Duc

Born in Laos, Hien emigrated t o France at the age of 16. He began his career as a photojournalist with a series on the Mekong River. Hien now lives in Paris and photographs around the world, with particular concentration on Laos.
The D80 is a perfect camera for every aspiring photographer and fully capable of satisfying the most demanding.

Hien Lam Duc

H:I use the LCD monitor to confirm what I just shot and find the D80s 2.5-inch monitor very easy to view. The display is bright, colors are excellent, and the high resolution is a practical benefit. I found this combination even helps me confirm sharpness. The playback and preview features are also easy to operate. You can zoom in or out using a single button, and its easy to return to a full-frame view. Theres no doubt that the ease of operation and quality of display makes the LCD monitor a useful tool, not only for checking shots and settings, but also for communicating with the people that Im photographing.
Impressions after completing the shoot - H: I was particularly taken with the quality of response, the ease of manual control, and the flexibility of settings and functions. Autofocus also delivered the precision Ive come to expect of Nikon SLR cameras. The viewfinder provides a clear view, and its easy to change focus points to match the shot. I shot with the D80 the same way I use my film bodies, and I felt completely comfortable doing so. The D80 is a performer that transcends distinctions between film and digital cameras. Y: One of the advantages of digital is in how it smoothes the photographic process. You can change settings at any time on a digital camera that are the equivalent of changing the type of film. A good example of this is the ability to change sensitivity. Digital is also more efficient than film. You cant confirm what youve shot with film until after developing the film, whereas digital allows you to accurately confirm whatever you want as you shoot. This point really struck me as I shot with the D80. H: It sounds as though we agree that the D80 is a perfect camera for every aspiring photographer, as well as one that is capable of satisfying both a photojournalist such as me, and a commercial photographer such as yourself.

For every aspiring photographer High performance that satisfies all shooting styles
10.2 effective megapixel CCD image sensor Advanced image processing engine Improved 11-area AF system 0.18 sec. start-up and short release time lag 2.5-inch LCD with wide viewing angle Large, bright 0.94x viewfinder Nikon D-SLR build quality and fine ergonomic design D-Lighting, Filters effects and a wide range of image enhancement options
About the 10.2 megapixel images - Y: Skin tones really come out great. They are accurately reproduced, even when shooting in soft light, or people with darker complexions. Im also pleased with how sharp and clear shots came out, even when shooting with little light with which to work. H: Even when shooting from the gondola in bright sunlight, the reds in my subject, the blue sky, and the black of the gondola were all accurately reproduced. I used the Landscape mode of the Digi-Vari Programs for this shot, and the outstanding quality of the contrast, color reproduction and smooth transitions all caught my eye. Theres no doubt that the D80s automatic settings can deliver satisfying results. With automatic settings like this, anyone can take professional-quality photos.
First impressions of shooting with the D80 - H: All functions respond immediately. The camera is ready to shoot the instant I turn it on, shutter response is excellent, and autofocus is fast and precise. Speed is of the essence to my style of photography. Thats why the remarkable speed of the D80 captured my attention right away.

Yves Paternoster

Born in France, Yves studied photography i n Amsterdam and began working as a f r e e l a n c e p h o t o g r a p h e r. Currently living in Amsterdam, Yves focuses primarily on commercial photography.
The camera provided satisfying results that were sharp and clear. Yves Paternoster
Ive shot from this location before, but never this early in the morning. The D80s automatic functions worked wonderfully, capturing the mood of the moment as I hoped to express it.

Yves Paternoster 4

Image quality mode: RAW (NEF) Lens: AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF Exposure mode: [M] 1/2.5 second, f/5.6 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 125
I tried to shoot this scene just as it struck my eye. I used the Landscape mode of the Digi-Vari Programs for this shot, and Im very pleased with how the D80 was able to accurately reproduce the moment.
Image quality mode: RAW (NEF) Lens: AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED Exposure mode: Digital Vari-Program [Landscape] 1/125 second, f/9 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 100

It was a challenge to find a new perspective on a famous vista. The weather wasnt the best, but the D80s automatic white balance managed to handle the mixed lighting conditions brilliantly and I got a very good shot.

Yves Paternoster

Image quality mode: RAW (NEF) Lens: AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF Exposure mode: [A] 2 seconds, f/9 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 100
The colors of the traditional costumes, the passion of the dance and the scenic background made me eager to capture the moment in a panoramic shot. The D80 handled the lighting perfectly, and the results are great.
Image quality mode: RAW (NEF) Lens: AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED Exposure mode: [P] 1/320 second, f/9 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 125
I really enjoyed taking this picture. Inspired by the light and the interaction of the people, and aided by the ease with which the D80 performed, I was able to visually express my feelings about the scene.

Yves Paternoster 6

Image quality mode: RAW (NEF) Lens: AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF Exposure mode: [A] 1/60 second, f/5 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 200 Built-in-flash: Manual
With this photo, I wanted to capture the spontaneity of the moment just as I had witnessed it. It was also fun to show this photo to the fisherman on the spot and let him see for himself how well it came out.
Image quality mode: RAW (NEF) Lens: AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF Exposure mode: [S] 1/125 seconds, f/4 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 100
For every aspiring photographer.
New high-resolution image processing engine
One of the key advances developed for the D80 is its high-resolution image processing engine. At its heart is a dedicated new high-performance processing chip that greatly accelerates performance on all levels, while also consuming less power than its predecessors. It also inherits advantages developed exclusively for Nikons latest professional digital SLR cameras, combining color independent analog pre-conditioning with improved 12-bit digital image processing algorithms. The result is natural-looking images that benefit from faithful color and tone reproduction. The level of performance attained allows the new engine to rapidly and efficiently process the 10.2 megapixel resolution images captured by the DX Format CCD image sensor.
1 Lens: AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF Exposure mode: [S] 1/60 second, f/2.8 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. Lens: AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF Exposure mode: [S] 1/250 second, f/4 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. Lens: AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF Exposure mode: [S] 1/60 second, f/3.5 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. Lens: AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED Exposure mode: Digital Vari-Program [Landscape] 1/1.3 second, f/2.8 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. Lens: AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF Exposure mode: [S] 1/400 seconds, f/6.3 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. Lens: AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF Exposure mode: Digital Vari-Program [Landscape] 1/200 second, f/10 White balance: Auto Sensitivity: ISO-equiv. 400 All photos taken with image quality mode: RAW (NEF) 1-3: Yves Paternoster 4-6: Hien Lam Duc

D80 Processing System

Image Sensor

2-channel rotated output

ASIC (Image processing pipeline)
High-speed quantization process
Nikkor lenses used for the preceding photos include:

Optimized A/D conversion

Precision V/H conversion interpolation
Precision tone processing
Precision color processing
Faithful color reproduction with more precise pipeline quantization
AF DX Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8G ED
AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF
AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D ED-IF
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF
Beautiful results with accurate colors and sharp details
10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD
Optimized to capture sharp details, the 10.2 effective megapixel CCD image sensor yields extraordinarily high-resolution images, providing plenty of freedom to crop creatively or print impressive enlargements.

11-area AF system

The D80 inherits Nikons advanced Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor M odule that recently debuted in the D200. Refinements to this new 11-area AF system ensure consistently fast an d p re c is e fo c us l o c k under var ying shooting conditions, all while the addition of effective new focusing options instills photographers with greater confidence to get the desired shot. For example, while the system is able to use each of its 11 focus areas individually, the center sensor can also be switched to wide-frame operation for broader coverage. Refinements to the programming algorithms that control lens focus action further improve system response and focus precision, along with subject acquisition and tracking abilities. Auto-area AF mode
High-speed continuous shooting
Capable of shooting a rapid 3 frames per second in continuous bursts of up to 100 JPEG (FINE M-size or smaller) or 6 RAW (NEF) images, the D80 makes it easier to stay on top of the action or to capture those unexpected, yet precious picture opportunities. Refinements to achieve this performance include improved processing speed, optimized buffer memory handling, as well as higher data transfer rates.
Advanced Auto Exposure system
Consistently dependable exposure is the hallmark of Nikons exclusive 3D-Color Matrix Metering II. Refinements for the D80 include its inheriting the advanced exposure evaluation system from the Nikon D2Xs and D200 digital SLR cameras. Brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance information is evaluated, with the results referenced against the expansive onboard database of exposure data from over 30,000 actual photographic scenes, and the final exposure value calculated - instantly. Variable-size centerw e i g h t e d metering is also available, as are a c h o i c e o f 11 s p o t meters linked to each of the 11-area AF systems area sensors.

Without D-Lighting

With D-Lighting
Always ready to shoot, easily and precisely
Integrated flexibility for maximum versatility

Nikkor Lenses

Lens quality directly influences the image quality achieved by any SLR
Greater operating ease with Nikon ergonomics
The D80 packs high performance and high resolution into a body that is more compact and slimmer than previous Nikon digital SLR cameras. True to Nikons commitment to intuitive operation, the size, layout and operation of all buttons and controls are designed for maximum ease of use.
camera. Nikons solid heritage of delivering the finest optics, precision mechanisms, and optimized performance has long earned Nikkor lenses the highest praises of photographers. In 2004, total accumulated production of Nikkor lenses topped 35 million units. The D80 employs the Nikon F lens mount to ensure seamless compatibility with the unequalled performance and quality of Nikons full lineup of AF, AF-S and dedicated DX Nikkor lenses.
Large wide-angle 2.5 LCD monitor with improved menus
The D80 features a large new 2.5-inch 230,000-dot high-resolution LCD monitor that provides an ultra-wide 170o viewing angle from all directions. To accurately assess sharpness, images can be easily previewed at up to 25 times magnification using new dedicated zoom buttons. A new RGB histogram display aids in evaluating exposures with greater precision. Other playback options include single frame, 4 or 9-image thumbnail display, an improved histogram display and highlight point display. Refinements to the new menu interface make navigation easier on the eye, easier to understand and easier to use. The carefully chosen color scheme helps make the larger font size of menu items remarkably easy to read. Menus can be customized to display only selected items using the new My Menu set.
Large, bright 0.94x viewfinder
Another important new feature of the D80 is the adoption of the pentaprism viewfinder from the D200. This new eye-level optical viewfinder features large magnification (0.94x) that helps ensure a clear view for precise composition. The diopter adjustment control knob also makes it easier to fine-tune the view to match eyesight. The viewfinders integrated grid display can also be turned on to assist composition.

AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF
compact 7.5x zoom lens ably covers wide-angle to telephoto shots with its focal length range of 18-135mm, the equivalent of 27-202mm in 35mm [135] format.
AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF
Designed to combine top performance with outstanding value, this
An ideal choice for shooting everything from portraits to sports and wildlife, this high-power telephoto zoom lens combines a 4.3x zoom ratio with a range equivalent to 105-450mm in 35mm [135] format. Nikons advanced VRII (Vibration Reduction) technology helps minimize the impact of camera shake for sharper handheld pictures.

LCD monitor

Storage media (SD memory card)
The D80 is compatible with SD memory cards. Already widely in use around the world and available in a variety of capacities, SD memory cards feature efficiency and convenience in a slim, compact design.
The following CPU lenses can be used with the D80. IX Nikkor CPU lenses cannot be used.
Type G or D AF Nikkor2; AF-S, AF-I Nikkor PC-Micro Nikkor 85 mm f/1.8D3 AF-S/AF-I Teleconverter5
Built-in Slideshow functions
Other AF Nikkor (except lenses for F3AF) AI-P Nikkor
Built-in slideshow options for the D80 include Standard or Pictmotion, which includes style selections that control transitions and background music. Shows can be enjoyed on the cameras 2.5-inch LCD monitor, or complete with audio on a television when connected via the supplied AV cable.
Automated Digital Vari-Program and Exposure modes
A selection of 7 Digital Vari-Programs makes creative photography as simple as rotating the mode dial. Choose from Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close Up, Sports, Night Landscape, or Night Portrait and the selected program automatically optimizes white balance, sharpening, tone (contrast), color, saturation and hue settings to best match the scene. Greater personal control over camera operation is provided by the Programmed auto [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], AperturePriority Auto [A] and Manual [M] exposure modes.
Built-in flash with i-TTL flash control
The powerful built-in flash does much more than fire when natural lighting is inadequate or effectively add balanced fill flash when there is strong backlighting. Nikons highly robust i-TTL flash control evaluates flash exposure with greater precision to achieve better automatic flash balance and deliver outstanding results. It also helps realize features such as Repeating flash function for creating stroboscopic effects and the Modeling Flash, which allows photographers to visually check for shadows and reflective objects and assess overall lighting prior to shooting. Full support for the Advanced Wireless Lighting System lets the built-in flash function as a remote commander that provides direct control to wireless SB-800 or SB-600 Speedlights.

Software

System Chart

Capture NX (optional)

The NEF advantage

Additional features

Other tools that enhance Capture NXs unique capabilities include: Browser, Batch Processing, Edit List, Red-Eye Reduction, Version and Noise Reduction and other useful functions.

Viewfinder accessories

Viewfinder accessories for further shooting comfort and convenience.
Flash units (Speedlights)
Nikon Speedlights add functionality and precision that tap the full potential of the Creative Lighting System for full and easy control over lighting.

Lenses

A comprehensive lineup of high-quality Nikkor lenses.
Nikon software for simpler, full-scale image processing and editing
NEF (Nikon Electronic Format) satisfies ever-changing photographic needs with extended range and versatility. The RAW data contained within each NEF file is never altered, regardless of how many times the file is opened and new renditions saved.
Adjustment Viewfinder Lenses (-5 to +3m) DK-20C Eyepiece Magnifier DG-2

Eyepiece Adapter DK-22

Studio Speedlights**
Nikon Speedlights SB-800/600
Capture NX System Requirements
Highly versatile photo editing solution
Nikons new Capture NX software provides easier access to powerful and visually intuitive enhancement tools that help photographers tap the full potential of NEF images.

RAM Hard disk Display

U PointTM technology

Others

Patented U PointTM technology allows easy selection of image areas according to points of interest, and turns the application of effects and enhancements into an intuitive photographic process. U Point TM combines with the extensive Nikon Capture toolbox to offer an unsurpassed set of features for NEF images as well as JPEG and TIFF files from most any digital camera.
Control Point: Size Brightness Contrast Saturation Control points make it easy to adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, hue, red, green, blue, warmth, and much more.
Windows: Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Professional. Macintosh: Mac OS X (version 10.3.9 or later) 256 MB minimum (1.0 GB or more recommended). 200MB required for installation 800 x 600 pixels (1024 x 768 or more recommended) with 16-bit color (High Color/thousands of colors) or 24-bit color (True Color/millions of colors) recommended. CD-ROM drive required for installation Internet connection required for some options

Magnifying Eyepiece DK-21M

Eyepiece Cap DK-5*

Speedlight SB-800

Speedlight SB-600

Accessory Shoe Adapter AS-15 SC-28, 29

Angle Finder DR-6

Rubber Eyecup DK-21*

TV accessories

The video cable connects the D80 to a television for playing slideshows or viewing individual images.

Remote control options

A choice of remote control options provides necessary camera stability when using long exposures.

Audio-Video Cable EG-D2*

TV Monitor**

Remote Cord MC-DC1

Wireless Remote Control ML-L3
Computer related accessories
Transfer, store, manage, preview and edit images freely with a variety of storage and software options.
Camera Control Pro (optional)
AC adapters, batteries and battery packs
High-performance power accessories support maximum field performance.
A specialized D80 camera case for protection and storage.
With Camera Control Pro, photographers can remotely operate and adjust most settings of the D80. And for a further refinement of workflow, theres also the option to download images directly to the computers hard disk during shooting.

SD memory card**

PC card adapter**

SD memory card reader**

Personal Computer**
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e*
Multi-power Battery Pack MB-D80 Quick Charger MH-18a* AC Adapter EH-5

Capture NX

PictureProject (supplied)
Semi-Soft Case CF-D80 USB cable UC-E4*

Camera Control Pro

PictureProjects intuitive user interface provides fast and easy access to powerful tools for organizing, editing and sharing images. Pictures are automatically imported when the D80 is connected to a compatible computer. Mail, Slideshow, CD/DVD burning, Auto Enhance and other creative functions are readily available via handy buttons. Pictures can be organized into collections using simple drag n drop operation, and can be quickly located by name, keyword, or date. Design templates make it easy to produce prints, tailor images to e-mail, or layout several images on a page to produce creative album layouts. PictureProject is provided with every purchase of a Nikon D80.

PictureProject*

* Supplied accessories ** Non-Nikon products

Lens correction tools

A trio of original tools help expand imaging possibilities for a wider variety of lenses by compensating for lens effects such as vignette in corners, pincushion and barrel distortion, or color fringing.

Selective tools

Capture NX offers a range of selective tools for applying over 25 enhancement styles, including the Brush, Lasso, Marquee, Gradient and Fill/Remove tools.

Compatibility and Accessories Compatibility and Accessories Hi-Speed USB compatible
The D80s USB 2.0 Hi-Speed interface enables fast data transfer speeds from camera to computer.
New Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80

PictBridge support

Pictures can be printed as simply as connecting the D80 to any PictBridge compatible printer via the supplied USB cable and giving the command. In-camera page setup support makes printing easier while also affording finer control over the results.
The new Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 features an ergonomic design that blends added stability with extended shooting potential of up to 5,000 shots. Running on either one or two EN-EL3e batteries, or on six AA-size batteries*, the battery pack adds extra command dials along with alternate shutter release and AE-L/AF-L buttons that facilitate more comfortable shooting in vertical format. * Compatible AA-size batteries: alkaline, Ni-MH, lithium and nickel-manganese
Remote Cord MC-DC1 (Approx. 3.3 ft./1.0m in length.) Wireless (IR) Remote Control ML-L3
A choice of remote control options provides necessary camera stability when using long exposures, such as for landscape and macro photography.

MC-DC1

Shooting mode (Single/continuous; selftimer; Remote control modes) button Exposure compensation/ reset button Shutter-release button Power switch/Illuminator switch Sub-command dial FUNC. button Depth-of-field preview button Eyelet for camera strap AF mode/reset button
Metering mode button/Format button Control Panel AF-assist illuminator /Selftimer lamp/Red-eye reduction lamp Built-in flash Accessory shoe Focal plane mark Mode dial Eyelet for camera strap Infrared receiver
Flash mode / Flash compensation button Bracketing button Video connector (under cover) Reset switch (under cover) DC-in connector (under cover) USB connector (under cover) Remote cord connector (under cover) Lens release button Focus-mode selector

Playback button Menu button Protect/Help button/ WB (white balance) button Thumbnail button/ISO (ISO sensitivity) button Playback zoom/QUAL (image quality/size) Tripod socket Delete button / Format button Viewfinder eyepiece cup Viewfinder eyepiece
Diopter adjustment control AE-L / AF-L button Main command dial Multi selector Memory card slot cover Focus selector lock LCD monitor Memory card access lamp OK Button Battery-chamber cover latch Battery-chamber cover
Nikon Digital SLR Camera D80 Specifications
Type of Camera Effective Pixels Image Sensor Image Size (pixels) ISO Sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) Storage Media Storage System File System White Balance
Single-lens reflex digital camera 10.2 million RGB CCD, 23.6 x 15.8mm; total pixels: 10.75 million 3,872 x 2,592 [L], 2,896 x 1,944 [M], 1,936 x 1,296 [S] 100 to 1600 (ISO equivalent); H0.3, H0.7 and H1 available

Flash Control

SD memory card Compressed NEF (RAW): 12-bit compression, JPEG: JPEG baseline-compliant Exif 2.21, Compliant DCF 2.0 and DPOF Auto (TTL white balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor), six manual modes with fine-tuning, color temperature setting (in Kelvin), or preset white balance, white balance bracketing LCD Monitor 2.5-in., 230,000-dot, low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with brightness adjustment available, allows up to 170-degree viewing angle Playback Function 1) Full frame 2) Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments) 3) Zoom 4) Slideshow (Standard or Pictmotion) 5) RGB histogram indication 6) Shooting data 7) Highlight point display 8) Auto image rotation Delete Function Card format, All photographs delete, Selected photographs delete Video Output Can be selected from NTSC and PAL Interface USB 2.0 (Hi-speed) (mini-B connector); SD card slot: supports firmware updates via SD cards Text Input Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input available with LCD monitor and multi-selector; stored in Exif header Compatible Lenses Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts) Picture Angle Equivalent in 35mm [135] format is approx. 1.5 times lens focal length Viewfinder Fixed eye-level pentaprism; built-in diopter adjustment (-2.0 to +1.0m-1) Eyepoint 19.5mm (-1.0m-1) Focusing Screen Type-B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with superimposed focus brackets and On-Demand grid lines Viewfinder Frame Coverage Approx. 95% (vertical & horizontal) Viewfinder Magnification Approx. 0.94x with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0m-1 Viewfinder Information Focus indications, Metering system, AE/FV lock indicator, Flash sync indicator, Shutter speed, Aperture value, Exposure/Exposure compensation indicator, ISO sensitivity, Exposure mode, Flash output level compensation, Exposure compensation, Number of remaining exposures Autofocus TTL phase detection by Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with AF-assist illuminator (approx. 0.5m to 3.0m) Detection range: EV -1 to +19 (ISO 100 equivalent, at normal temperature: 68F/20C) Lens Servo Instant single-servo (AF-S); continuous-servo (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); manual (M); predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status in continuous-servo AF Focus Area Normal: 11 areas; single area or group can be selected; Wide: focus area can be switched to center wide-frame focus area AF Area Mode 1) Single Area AF 2) Dynamic Area AF 3) Auto-area AF Focus Lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button Exposure Metering Three-mode through-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering System 1) 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); metering performed by 420-segment RGB sensor 2) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8, or 10mm dia. circle in center of frame 3) Spot: Meters 3.5mm dia. circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on active focus area (on center focus area when non-CPU lens is used) Exposure Metering Range (ISO 100 1) EV 0 to 20 (3D Color Matrix or center-weighted metering) equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 68F/20C) 2) EV 2 to 20 (spot metering) Exposure Meter Coupling CPU coupling Exposure Modes Digital Vari-Program (Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Macro Close up, Sports, Night Landscape, Night Portrait), Programmed Auto [P] with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto [S]; Aperture Priority Auto [A]; Manual [M] Exposure Compensation 5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV Auto Exposure Lock Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button Auto Exposure Bracketing 2 to 3 exposures in increments from values between 1/3 to 2 EV Shooting Modes 1) Single frame shooting mode 2) Continuous shooting mode: approx. 3 frames per second 3) Self-timer 4) Delayed remote mode 5) Quick-response remote mode Shutter Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter; 30 to 1/4000 sec. in steps of 1/3, 1/2 EV, bulb Sync Contact X-contact only; flash synchronization at up to 1/200 sec. Built-in Flash (Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Macro Close up, Sports, Night Landscape, Night Portrait) auto flash with auto pop-up; Manual pop-up with button release Guide number (ISO 100, m/ft.): approx. 13/42

* If card will be used with card reader or other device, check that device supports 2 GB cards. **SDHC compliant. If card will be used with card reader or other device, check that device supports SDHC. Operation is not guaranteed with other makes of card. Contact the manufacturer for details on the above cards.
Image Quality, Image Size and Number of Available Shots (when using 1GB SD card) The following table shows the approximate number of pictures that can be stored on a 1 GB Panasonic Pro HIGH SPEED card at different image quality and size settings.
Image Quality RAW (NEF) + JPEG FINE
Image Size L M S L M S L M S _ L M S L M S L M S
File Size approx. 17.2MB approx. 15.1MB approx. 13.6MB approx. 14.8MB approx. 13.8MB approx. 13.0MB approx. 13.6MB approx. 13.0MB approx. 12.7MB approx. 12.4MB approx. 4.8MB approx. 2.7MB approx. 1.2MB approx. 2.4MB approx. 1.3MB approx. 0.6MB approx. 1.2MB approx. 0.7MB approx. 0.3MB

RAW (NEF) + JPEG NORMAL

RAW (NEF) + JPEG BASIC RAW (NEF) JPEG FINE

JPEG NORMAL

JPEG BASIC
Number of Available Shotsframes 63 frames 72 frames 65 frames 71 frames 76 frames 72 frames 76 frames 78 frames 82 frames 133 frames 233 frames 503 frames 260 frames 446 frames 918 frames 503 frames 867 frames 1500 frames
Number of Consecutive Shots Availableframes 6 frames 6 frames 6 frames 6 frames 6 frames 6 frames 6 frames 6 frames 6 frames 23 frames 100 frames 100 frames 100 frames 100 frames 100 frames 100 frames 100 frames 100 frames
1. All figures are approximate. File size varies with scene recorded and make of memory card. 2. Maximum number of frames that can be taken before shooting stops at ISO 100. Capacity of buffer (number of frames that can be taken before buffer is full and shooting slows) is displayed in control panel. Capacity of memory buffer drops if noise reduction is on. 3. Image size applies to JPEG images only. Size of RAW (NEF) images can not be changed. File size is the total for compressed RAW (NEF) and JPEG images.
Products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html
Macintosh, Mac OS, and QuickTime are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft corporation. The SD logo is a trademark of the SD Card Association. The SDHC logo is a trademark. Adobe, Acrobat, and Adobe Reader are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. PictBridge is a trademark. All other products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Images on LCDs and monitors shown in this brochure are simulated.

Online Video Tutorial - Digitutor
Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer. August 2006 c 2006 NIKON INC. WARNING TO ENSURE CORRECT USAGE, READ MANUALS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING YOUR EQUIPMENT. SOME DOCUMENTATION IS SUPPLIED ON CD-ROM ONLY.
1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, N.Y. 11747-3064, USA www.nikondigital.com

DSLR-D80-30-08/06

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