p80 lens thread adaptors now available
If you’ve been hankering for a way to add a polarizer or a protective UV filter on the front of that Nikon P80 lens here it is…
Custom accessories maker Bernie Heins now has two flavors of custom-machined lens thread adapters for the P80 in stock and ready to ship. Both are step-up rings that screw onto the front of the P80 lens, allowing you to attach standard thread accessories such as polarizers, filters and close-up/macro attachments.
You won’t be able to attach heavy extension lenses or converters because the P80 lens construction won’t handle the weight. But you should be able to use a lightweight macro adapter like the Nikon 3T or Nikon 4T without problems.
The Nikon P80 52mm thread adaptor will let you mount standard 52mm threaded accessories on the P80. The 55mm adaptor provides a 55mm thread. Either adaptor can be left on the camera even when it’s turned off and the lens retracted.
You won’t be able to use the original P80 lens cap with these adaptors because it’s too small. So you’ll have to invest a couple bucks in a cap that’s appropriate for whichever adaptor you choose.
The lens cap “Issue” is actually a huge benefit, though, since the factory-supplied Nikon P80 lens cap is more of a joke than a functional utility. Mine pops off the lens quite easily unless I’m extremely careful.
At this writing, each of these high-quality, finely-machined adaptors is priced at $27 plus shipping. You can see them along with accessories for other Nikon Coolpix, Olympus and Panasonic cameras at Bernie’s Nextphoto website.
Others are saying...
« nikon p80 catch and release nikon p80 Q & A -- questions and answers about the nikon p80 in everyday use (especially for newbies) »
...
Elvis Lanton said 582 days ago …
What is the difference in the two filter adapters for the P80.
p80bob said 580 days ago …
Elvis,
The difference is that one size accepts a 52mm diameter filter, the other accepts a 55mm diameter filter.
Deepi said 559 days ago …
I have a small question. What is the diameter of the lens? If I want to buy an adapter ring for P80, to fit my 49mm filters(I have many for old camera), what should I ask for, in local shops in my country? Thanks for the information, in advance
p80bob said 557 days ago …
Thanks for your question, Deepi
A few months ago I had a machinist friend measure the inside diameter of my P80 lens barrel but I can't find my note about what he found. I do recall that it's an off-size, something like 38.5 or 39.5mm. Whatever the size, I hunted everywhere for an adapter with the correct diameter and came up empty. As for the threads, he wasn't able to measure those so I don't know if they're a standard pitch or not.
It's really not worth trying to figure out since Bernie Heinz's adapters are readily available. By the time you invest in a bunch of different sizes to experiment with, it'll be less expensive just to buy an adapter from Bernie, then buy a cheapie step-down adapter like this one to attach your 49mm filters.
You will notice some vignetting at wide angles with any adapter on your p80, but it's not too severe with a single ring like NextPhoto's P80 adapter. I imagine adding a step-down ring on top of that would create a bit more, though.
If anyone else has some luck finding a p80-to-49mm adapter ring, perhaps they'll tell us here in the comments.
Thanks again for reading the blog. Let us know what you end up doing, won't you? And if you have some p80 photos we can look at, post a link here in comments.
Deepi said 551 days ago …
Hi Bob,
That’s a great tip. I agree, it’s better to buy the rings rather than searching for something that’s unknown. I spoke to Customer Care of Nikon and they said that they don’t have any technical document/information on the diameter :)
I saw a much cheaper ring and I can buy a Step-Down-Adapter-Ring-Filter to add my 49mm filters.
I am planning to shop around this weekend at some local stores to find any clue. I will surely post some pictures of P80, especially with the thread
Thanks a bunch
Kate said 549 days ago …
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!
Jason said 509 days ago …
I want to get a fish eye lense attachment for my Nikon P80. Is there a fisheye that will fit the threads on the P80 or will i need the step down adapter? Will the Nikon P80 lense support the weight of a fish eye adapter?
Thanks.
Jason
p80bob said 506 days ago …
Hi Jason, and thanks for your question.
You’ll need the adapter to mount almost anything on your p80 lens. The p80 lens barrel threads (such as they are) are a non-standard 38.5mm. And since the lens barrel is plastic, it’s easy to strip the few tiny threads that protrude beyond the lens if you don’t use something that fits exactly.
Some people have reported mounting cheap ($3.00) 38mm adapters on the p80, but I’ve not tried that myself. I suspect they’re not going to hold up in the long term. Those same people also report you cannot shut the camera down without removing the adapter because the lens cannot retract fully.
Bernie’s custom-made adapter from NextPhoto doesn’t have that problem. Yeah, it’s $27, but the investment is worth it because it’s a high-quality product that works the way you want it to work. Here’s the link to his site again…
nextphoto.net/
As for mounting a fish eye lens on the p80 (adapter or not), I’m not sure you’ll be very happy with the result. The p80’s viewing angle at widest zoom (27mm in 35mm terms) is about the widest you can expect. Mounting anything wider than that on the p80 may result in serious vignetting.
You may want to borrow a fish eye from a friend to see what happens when you mount it on the p80 adapter.
Peace, — Bob
Yaira Santana said 491 days ago …
Hi
I need a ring flash or some kind of diffuser por my Nikon P80 coolpix. I need to take intraoral pictures and the light is not letting them to show nicely.
Thanks for the help
Lance said 480 days ago …
Hi. I am a huge fan of manually focusing images. Is there a lens I can mount on the adaptor that will allow me to manually focus rather than use the arrow button?
p80bob said 480 days ago …
Thanks for your question, Lance…
I don’t know of any add-on like that, so the answer to your question is “probably not.” And even if you DO find one it could mean big trouble for your p80. Here’s why…
The p80 lens barrel mount isn’t sturdy enough to support anything as heavy as an add-on lens. A filter, yes, but not an actual lens. Putting that much weight on the front of Nikon’s lens barrel … not to mention twisting it for manual focus … would be a big strain on the barrel and might cause some serious damage.
Nikon flatly says that you cannot mount anything on the p80 lens. When I talked to them they told me that’s why they don’t make any add-ons for the p80. Of course, we’ve discovered that you can mount filters and close-up attachments, but I wouldn’t want to try hanging an adjustable lens on it.
It’s a shame that Nikon’s built-in manual focus is so deficient. At least I find that it is. But the auto-focus works well in most situations where I use the camera.
The p80 has many good points and can make some marvelous photos. But, like any other tool, it has limitations.
Peace,
—- Bob.
matt45 said 474 days ago …
hey..for the nikon p80..is there a fisheye lense that will fit into the adapter or atleast into the threads of the lens?
tigger96 said 455 days ago …
I hope this doesn’t sound dumb, but how can you put a filter on the p80 with the ring adapter from nextphoto? The lens protrudes out when you turn it on and the ring adapter is thin and if you put a filter on it, how does the lens protrude out and not break the filter? I just can’t figure it out. I’ve seen some great photos using the UV and polarize filters and would like to get one (I have many problems with glare as I live in Florida and am around a lot of water). Thanks!
ahmedsn said 448 days ago …
thanks … but if you please, can you upload a picture of these filters fixed on the p80.
thanks again
Roberto Tumminelli said 416 days ago …
Hi Bob,
I just take a look at Amazon.com website and found a set of lenses and adaptor for “our” camera. ( www.amazon.com/gp/pr…= )
What do you think about this?
Best regards
Tumminelli
p80bob replies...
Thanks for asking, Roberto, but I don't think I'd touch that product. Certainly wouldn't try it on my p80 for several reasons...
1. The "adapter" is a slip-on tube. Far inferior to the NextPhoto adapter that's custom-made for the p80 by an experienced craftsman.
2. The "wide angle" and "telephoto" lenses in the kit are junk. Really. Your p80 has much better optics than any of these plastic extension "lenses." Sticking one of these on the front of your p80 lens will result in terrible photos. And could easily damage your p80's lens.
Peace...
-- Bob.
linda said 416 days ago …
I wonder if anyone has tried this “filter kit and ring adapter” I see on Ebay. This link will break after the item closes but here it is:
cgi.ebay.com/FILTER
They don’t mention the mfr of the adapter. I’m a photo-newbie so I don’t know if Bower is a decent brand filter. But with the filters and a cap, it’s only a little more than buying the adapter alone through your link.
p80bob replies...
Thanks for your question, Linda. Bower makes pretty decent stuff for the point-n-shoot photographic market. It's not high-end quality, but certainly respectable enough for most folks who would use the p80. And at $36 it may be worth trying just for the UV and polarizing filters.
I can't imagine why you'd want to use a ND filter on the p80, though. ND stands for "Neutral Density" and they're designed to reduce the light that reaches your lens. Can be very useful on a camera that's ultra-sensitive in bright sunlight, but that's certainly not the p80.
Using a ND filter on the p80 will just force the camera to increase the ISO for that shot; something you definitely don't want. When shooting in super bright sunlight, even with a water or snowy scene, use a polarizing filter and set your p80 to ISO 64. You'll get much better quality pix that way.
Peace...
-- Bob.
Dallas said 402 days ago …
Hey Bob,
I am looking at purchasing a P80 and did a google search for filters.
I found this from Opteka filters.
47stphotoonline.com/…
Here’s what it says:
Opteka HD² 3 Piece (UV, PL, FL) Filter Kit for Nikon Coolpix P80 Digital Camera
Do you know anything about these filters?
Thanks,
Dallas
p80Bob replies...
Thanks for your question, Dallas. While I don't know anything about that particular filter set, I do know that Opteka makes stuff of reasonably good quality. I prefer the higher-end filters from B+W that I bought for my DSLRs. They're overkill for the p80, but since I've already got 'em anyway, that's what I use.
Peace,
-- Bob
Dallas said 400 days ago …
Bob,
Thanks for the insight. I ordered my P80 online tonight. I was looking at the Opteka filters and they didn’t get positive reviews, so I’m going with your recommendation.
Thanks,
Dallas
megp80 said 384 days ago …
I am trying to find an external flash and softbox for the P80; any ideas?
p80bob replies...
Thanks for your question, Meg. Unfortunately there aren't really any options that work for the p80.
Since the p80 has no hot shoe or other connection for an external flash, the only way to trigger an external unit is to find one that fires when the p80's built-in flash fires. Problem with that is the p80's focus assist system...
Nikon's focus assist system fires the p80 flash several times in quick succession so the sensor gets enough light to autofocus for you. Not just once, mind you. Not twice. But usually three times or more! And it's been my experience that even that's not consistent. Every once in awhile it'll fire as many as 6 pre-flashes before the final exposure flash.
I haven't yet found an external trigger that can be set to work reliably with the p80 because it's impossible to predict how many pre-flashes will pop before the final exposure flash. The camera's just too quirky.
If I do run into one, I'll write it up here on the blog.
Peace,
--Bob.
Doll said 348 days ago …
I am new in photography. I really love photos. I wanted to be a pro someday. My question is, what will this lense thread do to my P80. Don’t be mean, I’m 14.
p80bob replies...
Thanks for asking, Doll... The filter adapter will allow you to attach photographic filters in front of the p80's lens. It provides a standard-size, standard-thread mounting platform that will accept either 52mm or 55mm filters (depending on which adapter size you buy).
You would use it to attach (for example) a polarizing filter to intensify colors and reduce glare from water, snow, ice or other bright, highly reflective materials. Or you could use it to attach a graduated neutral-density filter to correct a sky that would otherwise be over-exposed in a landscape scenic. Or use it to attach any number of other specialty filters for additional creative effects.
For more info and creative ideas about what filters can do for your photos, look here...
Peace,
Bob.
Tim said 332 days ago …
Hi Bob,
This is a very helpful website. Thank you!
#16 Linda had asked about theBOWER adapter.
I bought one with the set that #15 Roberto had asked about.
The 52mm adapter will only screw on tightly if the camera is on. When the camera shuts off, there is a lens error.
I’m going to spend the $27 to get a proper adapter.
I’m also glad to know about the quite fragile threading & will NOT be using the 2X & Macro from that set.
I’d like to know if you think that this set is a good idea for the P80: « invalid ebay link removed » .
I’d like the +1,+2,+3,+10,Sepia & a few others. Is the safety lens a good thing to have/leave on?
Thanks for all the GREAT advice.
Tim
p80Bob replies...
Thanks for your comments, Tim
Sorry, but I had to remove the link you posted to the ebay set because clicking it went to ebay's "invalid / item removed" page. So I don't know if it would be a good idea for the p80 or not.
I can tell you this: as a general rule, most Bower stuff (lenses & filters) will give fairly decent results, but it's not professional-grade, so don't expect anything fantastic from it. Raynox is another good brand that's usually good quality. But remember this:
You should be _very_ cautious about adding any additional weight to the front of that p80 lens. A filter should be okay (using the recommended Nextphoto adapter). The Raynox 250 macro adapter should be okay if you're careful and use it only occasionally. But anything that puts weight on the end of the lens may cause trouble.
It's worth pointing out here that Nikon says you should not mount _anything_ to the front of the p80's lens. On my p80 I've used a polarizing filter (plus Nextphoto adapter) and the Raynox 250 (by itself) without any harmful after effects, but your mileage may vary.
Enjoy your p80, Tim. And thanks for visiting!
Peace,
-- Bob
TRD said 290 days ago …
I purchased the P80 last year and have had very good results with it for everything I need to use it for, until today. I shot a soccer game on a partly cloudy, mostly sunny day. I used the sport mode, which I haven’t had much use for until now – and when I’ve used it before, it has been overcast.
I’d have been very happy with the photos except that they have light streaks over many of them. I see here www.amazon.com/revie… that this is a known problem with this camera. I’m not terribly happy that Nikon is selling this camera, knowing that this is a problem – but there isn’t a whole lot I can do about that now. And I like the camera otherwise. I needed something that would suit many of my needs and would be easy for my husband to use.
I know where to find the adapter now – thanks!. But I need some help with what filter to buy to solve this problem. I do horse shows for a couple barns and eventually we’ll have a sunny day at a show and I’ll want to use the feature for the speed events. Any recommendations and where to find them? I’ve never used filters before.
Thanks!
p80bob replies...
Thanks for your question, TRD...
What you're seeing is not "a known problem with this camera." Rather it's a known problem with all super-zoom compacts, not just the p80. Two factors contribute to it and the combination of those two factors creates the result you've described.
The two factors are:
1. The ultra-teeny-tiny sensor used to record the image in the compact super-zooms cannot be manufactured to the same quality as the larger sensors in DSLRs. And the more megapixels manufacturers cram into those tiny sensors, the more inferior they become.
Today's technology just can't cope with the small size and still produce a camera that's affordable. That's why small, "pocket-sized" or near "pocket-sized" cameras can't produce the same quality photos that even a low-end DSLR can produce.
Consider this:
The largest dimension of the p80's sensor is less than 1/8 inch, about the same size as sensors in other super-zooms from Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung, Sigma and others. DSLR cameras have sensors that are much larger. For example, the largest dimension of the sensor in the Nikon D60 is almost 1.25 inch, and the area of that D60 sensor is more than 300 times greater than that of the p80 or any other super-zoom sensor.
What happens when you cram so many megapixels into such a small space is they interfere with each other and produce artifacts called noise. The in-camera noise processing can smooth some of that noise, but when you're shooting in Sports mode the camera doesn't have enough time to process it well. So you're left with streaks, smears and color patterns known as "moire" in your final image.
2. The other factor that contributes to those noise streaks is lens construction. In order to make a lens with such a wide zoom range as the super-zooms, many compromises are necessary. One of the those is positioning the front lens element as far to the forward end of the lens barrel as possible. This means there's no extra barrel length to shade the light rays which strike the front lens element from the sides. And these create a phenomenon called lens flare.
You'll often see lens flare when shooting a subject that has the light behind it. But shooting into the sun isn't the only way to create it. Even moisture in the air can create lens flare that you won't see until you view the final image.
Lens flare isn't always visible to your eye, but when combined with the imperfections inherent in the tiny sensor size, it can become very evident in your final image. Combining lens flare with sensor noise can create some really ugly results.
DSLR lenses use a lens shade to prevent oblique light rays from hitting the front lens element. But you can't use a lens shade on a compact camera because the zoom range won't accommodate it. A shade may work well at telephoto lengths, but will obscure part of the image when you're trying to shoot at a wide angle.
Those high-quality DSLR lenses are also specially coated to reduce flare and improve contrast and color balance. But that coating is expensive. That's one reason quality DSLR lenses cost two or more times what your p80 did.
You can reduce lens flare in your p80 by using a circular polarizing filter. That's where Bernie's lens thread adapter becomes useful. With it, you're still likely to notice some vignetting on wide-angle shots, but for medium and long telephoto work that won't be a factor.
The bottom line is this: use your p80 for photos it can make well; use a full-blooded DSLR for shots that require high resolution, high quality and high-speed, especially in challenging light conditions.
The p80 is a great camera and does lots of things well, but it can never replace a DSLR.
Peace,
-- Bob
James said 269 days ago …
I can’t get hold of nextphoto….. IOs he still selling the adaptor?
p80bob replies...
I believe he's still selling them, James. Bernie's online sales site is still active at http://nextphoto.net/ and there are "order now" buttons on the site for his various products.
I know that it is a side business for Bernie and not his full-time job. Give his website another shot, why don't you.
Peace,
-- Bob
Norul (pronounce no rule) said 232 days ago …
hi Bob,
i’m currently having P90 (sorry coz yr forum more on P80). Just want to know whether this P80 lens thread adapter can also fit with P90?? if can’t, is there any adapter that can be fit in with my P90….thanks
p80bob replies...
Hi Norul... I don't know if it will fit the p90 or not. You might try visiting Bernie's site again and send him an email with your question.
Sorry I couldn't be more helpful!
Peace...
-- Bob
Tim said 208 days ago …
Hi Bob,
I was trying to photograph lightning last night with my P80. I tried a number of various settings, but to no avail.
Have you ever done this successfully and if so, what should I do?
Thanks, Tim
p80bob replies...
Hi Tim! Thanks for your question...
I haven't shot any lightning storms with my p80, but here's how I'd start if I did...
First, set the camera on a tripod and adjust the lens for a wide-angle view. You'll want to include some scenery in your shot to make it more interesting, so the wider the better.
Then set the p80 up this way...
1 - Set ISO somewhere between 64 and 400. Probably start with 200 and experiment from there.
2 - Set the p80 to Manual mode.
3 - Set aperture to f16.
4 - Set shutter speed to somewhere between 2-4 seconds. You'll have to experiment with this and try several different settings because you need to fire the shutter before you see the lightning. That means you're gonna guess when the sky will flash. And you'll probably be wrong most of the time.
5 - Start clicking the shutter whenever you feel it's time. But be very gentle... you don't want to move the camera while pressing the button because that will blur the photo.
Photographing lightning can be very challenging but the results can be truly stunning when you get a good shot. That's not always easy, though, and you'll definitely have to be patient and work for it.
Making a great photo of lightning is all about patience and experimentation. it's sometimes a lot of work. But the payoff can be very rewarding.
Most important of all is: have fun while you're trying!
Peace,
--Bob
Alan Andrade said 191 days ago …
Hi i’ve had a p80 for about 6 months now i love it have taken great photos with it as you can see here www.flickr.com/photo… i use the sports continuous mode alot and sometimes i get light streaks in the sequences and i was wondering if its my camera or can i buy anything that would fix that such as filters or ad ons i need help please….
p80bob replies...
Thanks for your question, Alan. Scroll up the page and take a look at comment #22. You'll find your answer there.
Peace,
Bob
John said 191 days ago …
Bob,
I have had my P80 for over a year, and in general, I like it. The ultra-zoom really enables me to get some shots that I could not before.
One issue that I am having is with the auto-focus. It has a habit of choosing something in the periphery of the shot and bringing that into focus and ignoring the other 95% of the shot. I took some pictures of some rock formations on the NZ coast. In the very bottom of the screen, there’s a little bit of grass from the shore – maybe 5% of the screen. The grass is in VERY sharp focus, but the rock formation and the ocean waves are completely out of focus.
I have tried setting the focus to macro to take a picture of a spider web, and it focuses through the web to the vegetation 20 feet behind the web. I have set the focus to infinity to take distance pictures (only zoomed out to about 2X) and the photos are slightly out of focus.
Any ideas about what I may be doing wrong? Has there been any issues with the focusing feature of the P80 that you are aware of?
Thanks in advance for the help!
John
p80bob replies...
Hey, John, thanks for asking...
To improve the p80's focus accuracy, use the "Focus Lock" technique. Select Center for the AF area mode. Point the center of the auto focus area where you want your main focus. Press the shutter-release button halfway and hold it there. Move your camera to frame the shot as you'd like to see it. Then press the shutter release the rest of the way down.
You'll find this technique described with diagrams on page 27 of your p80 manual.
Peace,
-- Bob
ej said 106 days ago …
Hi! Are you familiar how to do the “bokeh” effect using the Nikon P80? If yes, can you teach me how to do it in my camera? Thank you
p80bob replies...
Thanks for asking, ej...
You'll find a good tutorial on achieving the bokeh effect you describe at this link. It's not specific to the p80, but you'll get the idea once you read it.
Have fun with your p80!
Peace,-- Bob.