First pictures with D80

Strax · 30 Nov 2006 at 13:32

I have just spent a very wet 2 days in the lake district with my new D80.

First impressions are that it is a big jump up in ease of use and quality compared to my old D50.

Not much to photograph in the mostly rainy days, managed to catch it lucky at Aira Force though as the sun came out for 5 minutes...

Aira Force

binaryknight · 30 Nov 2006 at 13:46

i find the bright spot on the left side draws my eye in and a touch distracting from following the waterfall down but like the composition

robertgilbert86 · 30 Nov 2006 at 13:56

I really like that shot, it's good how the sky isn't burnt out too much despite the long exposure.

binaryknight said:
i find the bright spot on the left side draws my eye in and a touch distracting from following the waterfall down but like the composition

I didn't find it distracting untill you mentioned it!

z0mbi3 · 30 Nov 2006 at 13:58

robertgilbert86 said:
I really like that shot, it's good how the sky isn't burnt out too much despite the long exposure.

I didn't find it distracting untill you mentioned it!

Ditto. Presumably it wouldn't be too dificult to alter either.

Strax · 30 Nov 2006 at 14:04

Interesting replies, I also took a few from the same position before the sun appeared and to me the banks at the side just looked too dull.

It needed the sunlight to bring them out and also highlight the tree thats perched precariously half way up the banking.

Still very pleased with the quality of the D80's shots though

paddy · 30 Nov 2006 at 15:16

Nice picture - I don't find the side that distracting

I'm currently saving for a D80*, good to see at least 1 person on the forum has one - let us know how it goes.

*everything was going well untill I had to buy, insure and tax a car at the same time

Shoei · 30 Nov 2006 at 21:12

paddy said:
Nice picture - I don't find the side that distracting

I'm currently saving for a D80*, good to see at least 1 person on the forum has one - let us know how it goes.

*everything was going well untill I had to buy, insure and tax a car at the same time

Ive got a D80, just finding time to get out and use the thing.
Got a kiddies b/day party this weekend though, so it'll be usefull there and hoping to get out sunday if the weather is nice.

D.P. · 1 Dec 2006 at 10:59

Can anyone compare the D80 to the D70?

SteveOBHave · 1 Dec 2006 at 12:56

Yeah, I'm saving for one too, probably in a kit with an 18-135mm lens. It's quite a bit of cash, luckily the missus has decided to contribute a bit for Christmas! Yay!

Photo is lovely - I think the spot on the left is nicely balanced by the dappling on the right - I'd be totally stoked to have taken that - well done!

Shoei · 1 Dec 2006 at 13:38

SteveOBHave said:
Yeah, I'm saving for one too, probably in a kit with an 18-135mm lens. It's quite a bit of cash, luckily the missus has decided to contribute a bit for Christmas! Yay!

dont get the 18-135 lens, its not all its cracked up to be.
Got mine with the 18-70 which gets stonking reviews.

Strax · 1 Dec 2006 at 14:00

I got mine with the 18-70 as well. Its a great lens, better than the D50's 18-55.

I have spent the last 2 night doing family portraits using the flash commander and a remote SB600. For a 'free' feature of the camera, it adds loads of new possibilities for creative flash use as well.

SteveOBHave · 1 Dec 2006 at 14:39

Shoei said:
dont get the 18-135 lens, its not all its cracked up to be.
Got mine with the 18-70 which gets stonking reviews.

Really - cool, thanks for that - It's just that I am used to my old Sony DSC-F717 which has a 5x optical zoom on it. Still trying to get my head around needing separate lenses for different jobs...

So you reckon 18-70? In laymans terms what's the zoom magnitude or doesn't it work like that?

Edit: also do any of you guys do macro work? I've seen you can use an adapter to reverse a normal lens as a cheap option - does this follow the standard rules of you get what you pay for?

Shoei · 1 Dec 2006 at 15:27

SteveOBHave said:
Really - cool, thanks for that - It's just that I am used to my old Sony DSC-F717 which has a 5x optical zoom on it. Still trying to get my head around needing separate lenses for different jobs...

So you reckon 18-70? In laymans terms what's the zoom magnitude or doesn't it work like that?

Edit: also do any of you guys do macro work? I've seen you can use an adapter to reverse a normal lens as a cheap option - does this follow the standard rules of you get what you pay for?

While i was researching the D80, majority reviews said the 18-135 lens is a budget lens and the 18-70 shouldn't be called a kit lens as its so good.
I got a Tamron 70-300 at the same time while i work out which organ to sell so i can get the Sigma 70-200 F2.8 hsm lens.

divine` · 1 Dec 2006 at 19:12

SteveOBHave said:
Really - cool, thanks for that - It's just that I am used to my old Sony DSC-F717 which has a 5x optical zoom on it. Still trying to get my head around needing separate lenses for different jobs...

So you reckon 18-70? In laymans terms what's the zoom magnitude or doesn't it work like that?

If you work the other way round...

The F717 has a 35mm equivalent range of 38-190mm
The 18-70 has a 35mm equivalent range of 29-112mm (assuming the D80 is a 1.6x crop factor, might be 1.5x in which case it will be 27-105mm)

So it will be wider, but wont zoom in quite as far

reddeathdrinker · 3 Dec 2006 at 06:54

Looks like a great pic

On the subject of upgrading from the D50 to the D80 though, I'm doing it next week, getting a D80 body from Kerso (£520!!), as I have already spent a thick wedge on glass - Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX and a 50mm f/.18 prime....

How are you finding the transition? Anything initally wierd, or hard to get your head round?

And SteveOBHave - I have a reversing ring for my 50mm f/1.8 prime - it's fantastic. Obviously you are using manual exposure and aperture settings, but the few shots I've done so far are pin-sharp. The very limited DOF at f/1.8 is fun to play with....I got mine for under $20 at auction (from a UK seller as well

)

SteveOBHave · 3 Dec 2006 at 10:14

divine_madness said:
If you work the other way round...

The F717 has a 35mm equivalent range of 38-190mm
The 18-70 has a 35mm equivalent range of 29-112mm (assuming the D80 is a 1.6x crop factor, might be 1.5x in which case it will be 27-105mm)

So it will be wider, but wont zoom in quite as far

Awsome - thanks for that - the F717s zoom is pretty good as is the lens - I've been pining ever since the CCD crapped out on me - hopefully SONY will have it back to me in a coupld of weeks.

Went into a shop down the road from me and had a play with a D80 with the 18-70 Nikon AF lens and I'm very impressed, ultra quick and silent. The zoom is more than sufficient as I never really used the full extent of the D80s zoom.

SteveOBHave · 3 Dec 2006 at 10:18

reddeathdrinker said:
Looks like a great pic

On the subject of upgrading from the D50 to the D80 though, I'm doing it next week, getting a D80 body from Kerso (£520!!), as I have already spent a thick wedge on glass - Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX and a 50mm f/.18 prime....

How are you finding the transition? Anything initally wierd, or hard to get your head round?

And SteveOBHave - I have a reversing ring for my 50mm f/1.8 prime - it's fantastic. Obviously you are using manual exposure and aperture settings, but the few shots I've done so far are pin-sharp. The very limited DOF at f/1.8 is fun to play with....I got mine for under $20 at auction (from a UK seller as well )

I couldn't get you to post a couple of your macro shots could I? I'm tossing up whether to just bite the bullit and get a decent macro lens or try the reversing ring. The guy in the shop told me that the macro of the 18-70 lens is surprisingly good anyway.

Strax, do you have any more photos - I'm quite keen to see what you're getting out of your D80.