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Nikon D-80 Digital Camera
The Nikon D80 is a digital single-lens reflex camera model announced by Nikon on August 9, 2006. The camera shipped the first week of September to US retailers. Considered by many to be a hybrid of design elements of the entry-level D50 and high-end D200 cameras, it occupied the same price bracket the Nikon D70 did at the time of its release. It was replaced by the Nikon D90 in August 2008.
The D80 slots nicely between the entry-level D50 and the semi-professional / professional D200, clearly based on the D70 design but also different enough to be seen as a completely new model. It features a ten megapixel DX format CCD (the same we presume as used by Sony in the DSLR-A100), the metering sensor from the D50 and numerous other items taken or modified from the D200.
Nikon D-80 front
In-use performance also feels as though it's a step above its price class, instant power on time and on to shot time, very fast auto focus, short shutter lag and 'just-about a blink' viewfinder blackout (160 ms), fast record review and playback as well as fast SD card write performance. There's also ergonomic performance, the camera is smaller than the D70/D70s but not at the expense of usability, the hand grip is a good size and shape (and considerably more comfortable than the EOS 400D) and all controls are within reach. Other small details such as button size and placement are simply just right.
Nikon D-80 back
So we've established that the D80 is a great 'photographers camera', but how good are the images? The answer is, really very good, Nikon appear to have shaken off the soft-image demons of the past and are also using a slightly stronger (more consumer friendly) default sharpening level than the D200. Resolution is as good as other ten megapixel digital SLRs, color response is vibrant, yet accurate, images are more contrasty than some other manufacturers but of course if you prefer a slightly flatter response you can always create your own custom parameter set. DPReview