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The Canon Rebel XTi is also a 10-megapixel DSLR. It is priced competitively and sells for some $300 less than the D80. The XTi has a good dust reduction system. We like the D80’s controls and quality of construction better, but the XTi has excellent image quality. The D80’s auto focus is better, and the Rebel XTi has only one LCD. The D80’s monochrome display shows shooting data using much less power than the XTi. Canon’s XTi body isn’t built as nicely, but its pictures still look fabulous. Colors are almost perfectly accurate, and it had better dynamic range performance than the D80. The price makes this model a temptation too.
The 10-megapixel Sony alpha A100 costs $850 with a lens, which is roughly $350 less than the D80. The A100 has dust control and built-in image stabilization, and both functions work well. The D80 has better focus, both auto and manual, and is built better. We found the A100’s controls slow to use, and kind of odd. The A100’s evaluative metering system is better than the D80’s though. The A100 is Sony’s first DSLR on the market, so there is no room to step up – yet. Being a new player on the scene is also a challenge in terms of compatible lenses. The Sony A100 does accept Konica-Minolta lenses and is coming out with a host of Sony-branded lenses. It will also accept Carl Zeiss glass when it becomes available. Still, this selection doesn’t come close to the offerings of Nikon lenses.
The K10D costs slightly more money than the Nikon D80 at $1300, but offers built-in image stabilization and dust control, as well as 10-megapixel resolution. The K10D’s auto focus system has superior specs – like the D80, it has 11 auto focus points, but 9 of the K10D’s points are cross-type, compared with only one on the D80. Pentax advertises a similar 3 fps burst mode. It has manual ISO settings to 1600, and a feature where users can select an ISO range for the camera to automatically choose from. We haven’t tested the K10D, but its feature set is great, and we’ve liked the ergonomics and quality of other Pentax DSLRs.
Value (8.5)
The Nikon D80 is a well-built, easy-to-operate 10-megapixel DSLR with good image quality, good auto focus and features for both experienced photographers and snapshooters. The D80 is slower than the Nikon D200, and its controls are less convenient, but the D80 beats the more expensive camera in some measures of image quality. Though there are cameras with more features and very good image quality available for less, it’s clear why the D80 costs what it does: it’s better-built, it has better auto focus, and better controls. It may not be a bargain, but its price is justified.
Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters - Nikon gave the D80 plenty of point and shoot features: custom presets, D-lighting for recovering goofed exposures, help screens, in-camera editing and the silliest slide show feature we’ve ever seen on a DSLR. It even takes SD cards, which point-and-shooters should have from their compact models.
Budget Consumers - The Nikon D80 is worth the money, but it’s only a bargain for photographers who are committed to the Nikon system. Cost-sensitive consumers can be happy with a less-expensive competitor that offers less expensive lenses and accessories.
Gadget Freaks - The Nikon D80 doesn’t add the sort of cutting edge features that lure the gadget freak. It’s a little conservative for them. We’d expect them to go for the Sony A100 or the Pentax K10D, both with integrated dust removal and stabilization.
Manual Control Freaks - The Nikon D80 offers convenient manual controls and very good image quality. We expect this market segment to look closely at the D80.
Pros / Serious Amateurs - The Nikon D80 is going to be a popular second body for pros who use the D200 or even the Fujifilm S3. It combines price, quality and ease of use.
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