D80: It's Official.

http://www.nikon.com.my/pagearticle.php?pageid=91

Tokyo — Nikon Corporation is pleased to introduce the D80. Incorporating Nikon's latest digital and photographic technologies, this new high-performance interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera features automated operation and advanced features designed to satisfy any photographer with the passion to create beautiful photographs and preserve special moments.

 

New 10.2 effective megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor with the power to capture exceptional sharpness and faithful color at 3,872 x 2,592 pixels size.

Inherits the industry-leading advanced imaging processing engine of Nikon professional D-SLR cameras. Color-independent pre-conditioning prior to A/D conversion works in harmony with high-precision digital image processing algorithms to produce natural-looking images that benefit from faithful color and tone reproduction.

3D Color Matrix Metering II automatic exposure control ensures ideal exposures in most lighting conditions. Evaluating brightness, color, contrast, selected focus area and camera-to-subject distance, the system references the data against an expanded onboard database created using data from more than 30,000 actual photographic scenes to instantly and accurately calculate the final exposure value for the shot. Variable center-weighted metering and spot metering centered on the active focus area are also available.

 

Refined 11-area AF system packs the same number of focus areas available for the professional D2 series into a space-efficient system that features fast, precise operation. Each of the 11 focus areas can be used individually, the center sensor can be switched to wide-frame operation for broader coverage, and new Auto-area AF mode measures all 11 focus areas, automatically determines which of them are on the primary subject and activates only those areas.

 

ISO AUTO mode automatically adjusts sensitivity between ISO 100 to 1600 to maximize available light and achieve optimal exposure. Sensitivity can also be set manually between ISO 100 to 1600 in steps of 1/3 EV, plus HI-0.3, HI-0.7 and HI-1. Three levels of High ISO Noise Reduction are available when shooting at high ISO settings. Long Exposure Noise Reduction is also available when shooting at shutter speeds of 8 seconds or slower.

Cool!

"The D80 also adds built-in Standard or Advanced Pictmotion slideshow options, which includes style selections that control transitions and background music. Shows can be enjoyed on the 2.5-inch LCD, or complete with audio on a television when connected via the supplied AV cable."

Now who needs a computer

damn, i wonder if it'll fit in our d70 housings....

M.

Nope...it won't fit.

Anthony,

You say that with conviction.

Have you tried one in a housing ?

Here is some info on the new lens too (70-300 AFS), not good for underwater, but a great travel lens for topside.

http://www.nikon.com.my/pagearticle.php?pageid=92

The D80 won't fit in current housings because the realtive position of the lens attachment is different from everything else out there, and so is the button layout.

Here is why...

D80/D70 rear view:

D80/D70 front view:

Size compare in next post...

Size comparison:

Here are some dimensions for comparison - of course it's all academic until someone actually gets a unit in their hands.

D80 132mm x 103mm x 77mm

D200 147mm x 113mm x 74mm

D70 140mm x 111mm x 78mm

Remember a box beer to the first to get one underwater. ( working )

Multiple Exposure is a new shooting option that creates a single image within the camera from up to 3 consecutive exposures, producing an effect automatically that resembles multiple exposure techniques used with film.

Does any other digital camera offer this? Very cool. Not that you can't do it better in photoshop, but at now you can do it in a way that the "photoshop haters" can't object to..

With the D200 you can:

These are two separate functions on the D200 that give control in-camera that normally is only available in-computer. The Multiple Exposure system allows one to create a single image from up to 10 separate exposures, while controlling the division of exposure needed for an accurate final image.

The Image Overlay function allows one to create a composite image by combining two separate images in camera, and varying the opacity of the two images. The final results are saved as a stand alone image, and the original files are saved also. This could be used instead of a neutral density filter, by shooting for the dark to mid tones in one image, and the mid to high tones in the other, then combining the two images, in-camera, for one properly exposed image with much a wider light range.

Not that I've ever used either of these functions...

The D2 (both X and H) has the same feature of creating a single image from up to 10 exposures. It also has image overlay, potentially useful for over/under shots, but I haven't tried it yet.

my aquatica has plenty of room.... i am going to stuf it in there!

Where's Jean!

You got that crowbar handy mate?

Me first; after all, I'm in the country. Woo hoo; sounds like what I've been waiting for.

Cheers,

Marli

Any official date or price?

Don't tell me to hit the link.. slow internet! Easier for me to ride someones coat tails

The link is dead... They pulled it out! No speculations on dates, but apparently the body only will cost $1099 in the US, £799 in the UK and 119.800 Y in Japan.

I wonder if that'll mean a price drop on the D200?

more likely an increase on teh D200...

What tha?