Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another fantastic camera from Nikon., 20 Aug 2008
I already own an old Nikon 5200, so was looking for something to step up from towards SLRs.
I spent a lot of time searching reviews and advice on this type of camera, a major competitor was the Panasonic Lumix FZ18. However after ordering the Lumix it just didn't feel right. The only advantage I could see was that it had better reviews in most cases, which was down to it's automatic 'point and shoot' mode being much better than that of the Nikon.
However I sent it back and ordered the Nikon. The Nikon had a good, well made feel to it, (I prefer it being made from metal) and I've found its auomatic mode to be absolutely fine, though by doing some fiddling around with its modes, semi automatic and automatic modes you can acheive fantastic results. This is not a camera for those who want to point and shoot, if you're interested in photography and want to learn more about SLR type cameras then this is the camera for you. If not, I'd reccommend the Lumix.
I did not buy this camera for the 'superzoom' quality. It does not perform well in dark light at full zoom, recieving a lot of noise. However having used it for just an hour it's macro mode is fantastic. I've yet to use it for my other favourite shots; night landscape however if its anything like my old 5200 (which took awesome photos in this scenario compared to cameras like it) then I'm sure it'll be amazing.
The only thing I don't like about this camera is the lens cap; its just a push on one, rather than the click fit type on the Lumix.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top digital compact camera!, 23 Sep 2008
I use this camera every day - I go nowhere without it.
As a pro photographer, I started using compact cameras two years ago, when I got tired of hauling heavy pro equipment around with me while on vacation.
My first compact cameras - the Nikon S-10 and the Nikon D-70 - were good, but not perfect. When I saw this camera's specs, I bought it without hesitation, and wow, I am impressed!
It does EVERYTHING one would expect a compact camera to do with ease, and much more. It is easy to use, It is light. It comes packed with features.
The auto-programs and auto-white balance are spot-on. Focusing is quick and silent. The zoom is excellent, and the min f-stops are impressive throughout the focal range. All of this at an unbelievable price! You simply can't go wrong in buying this camera.
If you know my reviews on this and other sites, you will know that I don't easily award more than three stars to a product.
This camera deserves its five stars - it is easily the single best online purchase I've made all year!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just the Thing for a Quick Trip to Europe!, 5 Nov 2008
I like this camera!
I just returned from a three-week trip to Italy, Holland, and London, and I found my Nikon P80 to be easy to manage, after several readings of the manual. Not too small, the P80 fits comfortably into my hands and does not wobble as the smaller cameras tend to do. Although I do miss taking splendid photos with my 1974 Rollei SLR with the three lenses and polarizer, I do not miss the weight, the limitations of rolls of film, and the encumbrances of all the accompanying paraphernalia.
I especially like the P80 because it is inconspicuous, and one can get candid shots of street life without being intrusive. The easily managed diopter allowed me to use the viewfinder without my glasses. The monitor made it easy to view photos quickly; and the battery charger worked splendidly (I took two Nikon batteries, and charged one every night.). I was also pleasantly surprised at the macro feature which allowed me to copy family photos from my brother-in-law's album, which were taken in the 1940s and '50s.
As other reviewers have suggested, reading the manual is indispensable, but one ought not to be tied to it. For instance, I discovered that in the northern latitudes with their bright autumn light, so beloved by the Dutch painters, the "sunset" setting worked better than the automatic, or even the plain "landscape" settings (I didn't care much for the automatic setting which tended to over-expose the pictures). I also experimented using the shutter and aperture priorities; took night pictures that were eventually successful, and discovered the video option, getting some fantastic shots of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace (As I discovered when I downloaded the photos onto my computer--a painless process--the sound of the guards' commands and their marching feet, as well as the clip-clop of the horses' hooves, comes through loud and clear. Unfortunately, so does the yak-yak of the surrounding tourists!). Not knowing how much memory I would be using, I took two 4G memory cards and shot 1800 pictures and 31 short videos, which improved remarkably during the second week, as I was getting used to the intricacies of the camera (and was recovering from jet-lag). As a result, I have a thorough documentation of my trip, which I wouldn't have gotten with a cumbersome SLR.
Although for the next trip, which I shall take by myself and take my time, I might invest in a real DSLR (with a polarizing lens), the Nikon P80 was perfect for what proved to be whirlwind tour of Europe. And any lapses in color or light and shadow, I'll compensate for for with my Adobe CS3.
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