new p80 photos weekly roundup
The Nikon P80 can do some truly great things. Here’s a collection of recent shots made with the P80 that have been posted on other blogs :
Arturo Fukuda has just posted some beautiful photos of Ayacucho, Peru on his site at Foto Actualidad. There’s some accompanying text in Spanish which Google can translate into English here.
From Pakistan, Faisal Sheraz made these shots of Lahore Shahi Fort and Badshai Mosque…
And there are now two P80 users groups on Flickr… Alan from Honolulu started one to showcase P80 photos here, and another group showcases P80 photos here.
Got any p80 pix or links you’d like to share? Post a comment to tell us about ‘em.
Others are saying...
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Kate said 7 September 2008 …
Ok, Im sorry… Im posting this again because I cannot find where i originally posted it.. sorry…
Dear P80bob,
I am a very newbie amatour photographer… I jumped from a Sony W55 to a Nikon P80, I know its a HUGE step, and I am very satisfied with the result.
However since I enrolled myself to a photography course, I am thinking of buying a semi-pro DSLR. Now here comes the question. And please forgive me for the very newbie question. Will a D60 outperform the P80? If yes, how much so? If I take a picture with a p80 then set the D60 with the same adjustments will the picture be visibly better? Even with the “G” lenses that comes with the D60? What about noise level? The P80 can go down to ISO 64 while the D60 is ISO 100, so at ISO 100-200 will the D60 produce a lot less noise?
I am not saying I dislike the P80, but I would like to “tackle” with something a bit better, and I am afraid that the d60 might not have that difference in quality as people say, therefore I would like to have an honest opinion.
I was reading some forums and they say to buy a d300 or d700, however that price range for a newbie in hobby-photography is too much. Also, I have small hands (japanese descendant, im 5“2 100 pound), I remember my friend used to have a F90x some years ago and it felt BIG and HEAVY in my hands… In all the forums I read they say that the D60 is a lot smaller, now the question is… Is the dimished weight and size of the D60 a problem?
I mean… A heavier and bulkier camera better than the D60? And the LAST question… If I take a photo with a F90x using velvia 50 film, and ask the lab for a 8×10 and 13×18 prints.. Will the D60 outperform the f90x if i ask the lab to print the same sizes (of course using the same lenses, flash and settings)?
Could you please help me?
Sorry for the bunch of questions…
Thank you!
p80bob said 7 September 2008 …
Hi Kate, and thanks for your questions. Newbie questions are always welcome and none of them are stupid questions. After all, everybody was a newbie at everything at least once!
Rather than answer your questions here, I want to make the answers easy to find for anyone who reads the blog. So I’m creating a new post that can grow as you and other readers come up with more questions about using the p80. Look for the title “Nikon P80 Q & A — Especially for Newbies” on the blog main page in a day or two.
Ron said 11 October 2008 …
Hi, I am thinking about buying a p80 and I was wondering what is the max memory card I can use with the p80?
-Ron
p80bob said 12 October 2008 …
Hi, Ron and thanks for your question.
I’m using a 4GB SanDisk “Extreme IV” SDHC card. Nikon says the 1GB, 2GB and 4GB cards from SanDisk, Toshiba and Panasonic are all compatible.
Don’t know of anyone who’s tried an 8GB card in their p80. Nikon doesn’t recommend using an 8GB card, and I can’t really see a reason to try one considering the cost of the things. Believe me, 4GB will give you plenty of storage on the p80 even when shooting the highest resolution JPGs.
If you’re trying to decide whether to go for the Extreme III or the faster Extreme IV, I’d get the Extreme III. I’ve tried both in my p80 and didn’t notice any additional speed when using the Extreme IV.
Peace, Bob
UkWoody said 27 October 2008 …
Hi Bob, thanks for the interesting “blog” and site.
Having now had your P80 for a while now are you (and any others!) still very happy with it?
Have you noticed the problems with excessive noise and PF that many of the reviews have commented on?
I am currently a Pany Fz20 user, wishing to update. The toss up is probably between the new FZ28 and the P80. The Nikon feels much nicer and sturdier to me.
However the reviews have been mediocre and some people have not been over whelmed with their choice of the P80.
So do you have any regrets? Is it still an excellent camera? Does the FZ28 better it?
I tend to use the Auto type settings generally, and shoot landscapes and wildlife.
Is it a suitable camera?
Your views and opinions are gratefully received.
Just to also say, thanks to all the others who post pics on here. Nice to see them, thank you!
p80bob said 28 October 2008 …
Thanks for your questions, Woody.
Although I’ve used the p80 for other subjects, I bought it mostly for shooting wildlife. And I’m very happy with it in that respect. It also does a good job with landscapes, so I’m happy with it there, too.
The p80 does a very good job with well-lighted subjects. Focus is usually quick and the camera is very responsive. And Nikon’s Vibration Reduction is terrific. I’d be lost without it ‘cause my technique isn’t what it was 30 years ago.
One of the best things about the p80 is that you can design your own “film” by changing default settings. This allows you to make images that are sharper or softer, more vivid or more natural, exposed more for highlights or shadows… or whatever you like best.
I have no experience with the Panasonic FZ28, so I can’t compare the p80 with it directly. I can tell you that I’m very happy with the p80, and I think that anyone who understands what it’s supposed to do will be, too.
One thing I’ve noticed is that most of the folks who are so negative about the p80 seem to expect a “wonder camera” that will do all the work for them and turn out beautiful photos with no effort whatsoever. These are generally the “point and shoot” folks who don’t have any interest in spending the necessary time to learn what the camera can do or how to tune it for the performance they’d like to get from it.
Those folks don’t want a p80. They want a camera that doesn’t exist.
The noise problem in the p80 at higher ISOs is one that is shared by every other super-zoom I’ve seen, including the FZ28. It’s not unique to the p80 because it’s a result of the teeny-tiny sensor that collects the light to create an image. Simply put, the larger the sensor, the less noise you’re likely to see in your final image.
The p80 and the FZ28 use the same image sensor size. Actually, it may even be the same sensor since there aren’t a whole lot of folks who manufacture a 1/2.33 inch sensor with 10 megapixels on it. So the only difference in noise you may notice will probably be due to the way each company processes sensor noise. I like the way Nikon does it because the noise from Nikons looks more like film grain than what I’ve seen from other manufacturers.
Before I purchased the p80 I saw enough shots from all the cameras on my list (including the Panasonics) to indicate that the p80 might be a good choice. And it has been. I’m very happy with it.
But the real choice is what _you_ like best. So if you're torn between the two, perhaps it's a good idea to try them both and decide after using each one for a few days. One of the nice things about buying online from a seller like Amazon.com (where I got my p80) is their no-hassle return policy.
Whichever way you go, let us know when you get your camera. And post a link to some photos you make with it. I know the folks reading this blog would love to see them.
— Peace, Bob
ukwoody said 28 October 2008 …
Bob, firtsly thanks for your detailed and honest reply.
May I have the cheek to ask one more question please?
Many people seem to comment the time to take a picture is very slow. It’s not suitable to take spontaneous pictures with, or several shots in succession. I note you comment on taking wildlife pictures. Do you not find it slow? do you not miss shots?
I totally agree with your comment about many reviews. They are either looking at it from a dslr point of view – which it can never really match, or a P&S aspect – which it (fortunately) isn’t – of course it will be harder to use! Those comparisons annoy me!
Anyway, I look forward to your response, and I will take a look at amazon. (what happens if I buy camera A, send it back, get camera B, then decide A was better in the first place?
Kind regards and thank you for your time.
woody
p80bob said 28 October 2008 …
Cheers, Woody…
I’m happy that was helpful and hope this reply is, too.
I haven’t encountered any speed problems at all with my p80. I suspect the people making those comments are mis-using the camera or comparing it (again) to a DSLR.
Well… to be honest about it, I did encounter one speed problem the first day and almost returned the thing… because I read those same comments you’ve seen. But while I was packing the p80 to send back, I read the manual and discovered that what I experienced was a feature, not a flaw. And fortunately it’s a “feature” you can remove.
The p80 has a “Preview” mode which automatically displays the photo you just shot for about three seconds. And of course, while you’re “previewing” the last shot, you can’t take a new shot. This is part of the p80’s default setup as it comes from the factory. And it’s extremely annoying.
The good news is that you can turn “Preview” mode off. It’s one of the settings in the camera’s Setup menu. But if you’re like most people (myself included) who rip open the box, stick the battery into the charger for ten minutes while you’re attaching the camera strap, unwrapping the software disk and stuffing the card into its slot, then jam in the battery before it’s fully charged, you won’t know about “Preview” mode. And it’ll bite you!
So, you want to be sure to turn “Preview” mode OFF. Once done, it’s off until you turn it on again. Although I can’t imagine why you would.
Other than that, there are only two things that take camera time when shooting: 1 – focusing on your subject; 2 – downloading the captured image to your SD card.
Let’s address the second item first, since it’s the simplest of the two. Your download-to-the-card time will depend on the image resolution you choose (from the camera’s menu) and the speed of your card. Higher resolutions and slower cards require more time to store the image. But as a practical matter, this is a non-issue.
I use the highest image resolution the p80 can deliver (always) and a 4 gigabyte SanDisk Extreme III SDHC card. I have never encountered any speed issue with this combination. None. Never. It’s a non-issue, so forget about any comments you read to the contrary. The folks making those comments don’t know what they’re talking about. Or they’re stuck in “preview mode” and haven’t read the manual which will tell them how to turn it off.
BTW, I’ve read that Lexar cards are made specifically to Nikon specs and are a wee bit faster in Nikons than other card brands, but I’ve not used one so have no basis to compare them. And since the card I use is plenty quick, I haven’t any urge to buy a Lexar card to find out for myself. I doubt I’d notice any difference, since there’s no problem with card speed now.
Item #1 — focus delay — may be a different story and there may be some slight truth to comments about focus slowness. The p80 uses a contrast-detect auto-focus system. So if there’s little or no contrast in a shot, it has a hard time figuring out where you want the focus point. Either it will focus where you want it just by chance, or it will focus elsewhere, or it will hunt back and forth a few seconds then pick a focus point (which may or may not be where you want it).
I have encountered this issue when shooting indoors in low light while trying to photograph my dogs. But it’s not something that happens very often because I’ve learned that’s one of the camera’s weaknesses. So I don’t use it in those situations.
In fact, this contrast-detect auto-focus issue isn’t unique to the p80. If you study the comments and reviews of other super-zooms, you’ll find that every one of them has the same trouble. And it has nothing to do with camera brand or quality. It’s a shortcoming of the contrast-detect auto-focus technology used by every one of these non-SLR cameras… with possibly one exception.
The exception may be the Panasonic Lumix G-1. I can’t say for certain that it’s better in this regard because I haven’t gotten my hands on one. They’re not available here in the States yet. Won’t be until sometime late November ’08. And when they do become available they’ll be priced at more than twice the price of the p80. And without the super-zoom lens.
But supposedly they don’t suffer from the usual contrast-detect issues. Panasonic says they have refined the contrast-detect technology for this camera so that the G-1 will focus just as quickly as a DSLR.
The G-1 is the only camera that makes this claim, though, and I will admit that, if it’s true, I do lust after a G-1. May even buy one sometime in the Spring if it turns out to be everything the specs indicate it could be… and if I’m able to get both the normal and the telephoto lens that is supposed to be available then.
But back to your question…
No I haven’t found the p80 to be slow except indoors in low light when there’s little or no contrast in a scene. Outdoors — where I usually use it — I’ve had no problems.
As for your final question, here’s what happens: you’ll feel guilty. And Amazon will cheerfully go along with whatever you decide.
Actually I’m sorry I mentioned that idea. I don’t mean to encourage it, although I have done exactly that with another purchase that didn’t involve the p80. Here’s what happened…
The first camera arrived; I used it for about a week and returned it because I thought camera #2 would be better. When camera 2 arrived I used it almost two weeks, then decided camera 1 was the right one in the first place. So I returned #2 and re-purchased #1.
While I felt guilty about being such a dunce, Amazon never blinked. I think one of the reasons they have such a customer-friendly return policy is that they really do care if you’re happy dealing with them.
Hope that all helps you. This comment has become much too long, but I haven’t had time to make it shorter, so it’ll have to do as-is.
Send us links to your pix, whichever camera you buy. And thanks for reading the blog!
— Peace, Bob
ukwoody said 11 November 2008 …
Hi Bob,
Just wanted to let you know I decided to buy…. a Fuji s100fs. Sorry (grovel). It was a hard decision and all cameras have their good and bad points, but after much deliberation and consideration, asking user opinions and playing in store, I think I’ve made the right one for me.
I like the output of the P80, but to me the Fuji just had that certain something.
Make I thank you for your help and advice and wish you and your follow Nikon users many happy hours of Snapping!
kind regards
woody
J.H. said 8 December 2008 …
Hello,
Glad to read your blog.
I own a Nikon P80 too and I enjoyed it dearly. Fancy shooting outdoor as well and as such 2 grains of dusts found its way into the lense of the camera. (Absolutely no idea how :)
Would like to ask, do you know how we can remove or clean the lense if the dusts are inside the lense? If not, do you know of any place where we could get technical support over the internet?
Cheers.
p80bob replies...
Thanks for the question, JH, but I'm sorry to say I don't know of any way to clean inside the lens. It's not made to be taken apart or removed. But you may be able to get it cleaned at a Nikon service center. Check your p80 owners manual for the one nearest you, then give 'em a call. --Bob.
Mark said 26 February 2009 …
Bob: After reading the manual from cover to cover I can see no mention of the “preview” mode, or how to shut it off. Could you please step us through that process? Thanks.
p80Bob replies...
Ooops... my bad, Mark. (And thanks for your question).
Nikon doesn't call it "preview mode," they call it "Playback Mode." And the camera defaults to playback mode always on unless you turn it off using the Playback button (see button numbered "9" on page 5 of your owners manual).
I make it a point to keep Playback always off unless I purposely want to view the photos I've taken. If you leave Playback mode "on," the camera will only show you what the lens sees when you press the shutter button halfway. As soon as you completely press the shutter button, the screen (and viewfinder) will black out while the picture writes to your SD card. Then it will show you the photo you just took.
The camera is delivered with Playback mode always on. That's the default setting (very stupid, in my opinion).So, to avoid the blackouts:
1. Turn Playback OFF and leave it off unless you specifically choose to view the pics in your camera's memory.
2. Use a fast SD card. I use only SDHC Extreme III and Extreme IV cards. Even the IIs are too slow for me. I'm told the Lexar cards are designed for Nikon specs and are faster than others when used in a Nikon camera, but I've yet to try one myself, so cannot confirm this.
3. Don't rely on the LCD monitor for composing and shooting. Use the viewfinder. It's action is much faster and more responsive than the LCD.
Nikon doesn't explain this performance anywhere in the manual. You have to figure it out yourself after getting sufficiently annoyed by it.
Most of all... find a camera (either the p80 or something else) that you really, really love to use! Your photos _will_ show the difference.
Peace,
-- Bob.
Rohan said 3 March 2009 …
Hi Bob,
very happy to vist ur blog as i was searching for some quries about P80. i m a proud owner of P80 n very much in love with it.
I have uploaded pics take from P80 which i would like to share with u but d link which i m trying to paste is not opening.
p80bob replies...
Thanks for visiting, Rohan.
The software that runs this site will not display your photos directly. Just post a link to your main Flickr page or to the page where your photo resides. Posting a direct link to the jpg file won't fly.
Peace,
--Bob.
Rohan said 4 March 2009 …
ok i m posting this link, hope this will open.
www.flickr.com/photo…
p80bob says...
That should work, Rohan. Nice pix!
Aneka said 8 May 2010 …
Hi, I’m having troubles turning on my camera.
The light flashes green, but it doesn’t turn on.
Do you know what I can do to solve this problem?
p80bob replies...
Sorry to hear about that, Aneka. Sounds like you may have a dead p80. Best thing to do would be contact Nikon's repair service. Perhaps they can tell you what's going on.