I love it - the Nikon N80

[Huss]

Isn't that an ED lens, so you can only shoot it wide open on F80 (or any other film SLR)? How does that make it a great combination?

It’s either wide open only, or min aperture only. I think it depends on which electronic diaphragm lens.

 

[Roger Thoms]

Isn't that an ED lens, so you can only shoot it wide open on F80 (or any other film SLR)? How does that make it a great combination?

ED the Glass, that’s a “G” lens, it will work fine. It’s the “E” lens that can only shoot wide open.

Roger

 

[brbo]

Thanks for clarification @Roger Thoms!

 

[ic-racer]

Yes, a G lens, that is correct. The eight "E" lenses were all manual focus, and pre- chip, so not going to work on all the AF cameras.

This lens works great on all the latest Nikon AF cameras except the N55, on which it is 'focus confirmation' only, but everything else works on N55.

ED: Extra-Low Dispersion Glass
N: Nano Crystal Coat
SWM: Silent Wave Motor
AS: Aspherical Elements
M/A: Grab and go manual focus
RF: Rear Group Focus

 

[Craig]

Yes, a G lens, that is correct. The eight "E" lenses were all manual focus, and pre- chip, so not going to work on all the AF cameras.

You're thinking of Series E from circa 1980, there are now E lenses ( as a successor to G) that have an electronic aperture instead of mechanical. I think these are compatible with newer digital SLR's only.

 

[Moose22]

You're thinking of Series E from circa 1980, there are now E lenses ( as a successor to G) that have an electronic aperture instead of mechanical. I think these are compatible with newer digital SLR's only.

Correct. NO film cameras are compatible with the new E (electronic diaphragm) lenses. E lenses came out after 2006, so only cameras designed after that era will work.

I was bummed when I found that out. I had the 200-500 before I bought an F6 and it's a fun lens, but I can only shoot if at f/5.6 on film cameras. I bought it for birding on my digitals, where it excels, but it would be fun to be able to shoot film with it.

 

[John Earley]

My favorite photo of one of my granddaughters taken with an N80 and a Nikkor 85mm 1.8G


Anwyn by JOHN EARLEY, on Flickr

I purchased a number of different "defective" N80's a few years ago, cleaned them up and made sure the error code (if they said there was one) was not something to worry about and resold them. Some of the error codes come from improper loading of the film or not securing the lens all the way. I made enough from the sales to buy an F100 and I still have one of the N80's. Love both cameras for different reasons.

 

[Huss]

My favorite photo of one of my granddaughters taken with an N80 and a Nikkor 85mm 1.8G


Anwyn by JOHN EARLEY, on Flickr

I purchased a number of different "defective" N80's a few years ago, cleaned them up and made sure the error code (if they said there was one) was not something to worry about and resold them. Some of the error codes come from improper loading of the film or not securing the lens all the way. I made enough from the sales to buy an F100 and I still have one of the N80's. Love both cameras for different reasons.

Wonderful pic!

 

[ic-racer]

Finally getting some prints that were made from negatives exposed in an N80. HP5/ Ilford Multigrade FB.

 

[Yashica]

I have my #1 F80 over 2 Decades. To be honest, it does shoot simply like a later Nikon DSLR. (I bought the D100, D70s, D40, D60, D80, D90 & D7000) after i stopped, because there was since my D100 never a 23/24mm F1.8 or F2 AF-S DX lens, for ~35/36mm into FF-terms. I never went to FX with Nikon but via Canon (EOS 5D) and Sony A7. I shoot my ordinary F80 with a 28-70, and the #2 which is a F80D with matching battery grip, much better to use AA batteries, cheaper than the expensive lithium cells, albeit the F80 gets bigger, heavier so, but better grip for my pinkie. Also using the F100.

 

[Huss]

I have my #1 F80 over 2 Decades. To be honest, it does shoot simply like a later Nikon DSLR. (I bought the D100, D70s, D40, D60, D80, D90 & D7000) after i stopped, because there was since my D100 never a 23/24mm F1.8 or F2 AF-S DX lens, for ~35/36mm into FF-terms. I never went to FX with Nikon but via Canon (EOS 5D) and Sony A7. I shoot my ordinary F80 with a 28-70, and the #2 which is a F80D with matching battery grip, much better to use AA batteries, cheaper than the expensive lithium cells, albeit the F80 gets bigger, heavier so, but better grip for my pinkie. Also using the F100.

I use rechargeable lithium cells so don’t need to worry about the cost, but how long do the regular lithiums last in your experience?

 

[Yashica]

I use rechargeable lithium cells so don’t need to worry about the cost, but how long do the regular lithiums last in your experience?

Much more than 10 years...my last ones are being expired 2008 (Varta), just put them into my F60 on Friday, was still in original packageing. Its still being shown as new, according to the battery status into the top LCD. I do have rechargeable LiFePO4 batteries for my F65/F75 though. I use both my F80 and F100 with AA cells.

 

[Huss]

Sorry, I meant how many rolls do you get out of two in your N80?

 

[Yashica]

Sorry, I meant how many rolls do you get out of two in your N80?

If you mean me, i don't know. I have the batteries literally always inside, though its a bad thing, i know. I have never checked. But i never use flash. I have usually 3 to 5 35mm SLRs loaded with Film, and shoot some frames over the year. Mostly different b&w films, but also color, this time, Agfa APX 100 & 400, Kodak pro image 100 and Agfa Vista 200. I ordinary have a roll going for like ~6 to 18 months, before finished, usually.

 

[Daniela]

I have never tracked how many rolls I get out of the batteries either, but I've experienced two things:
-cold makes them drain faster (isn't that the case for all batteries?), and
-the one time that the batteries completely drained because I inadvertently left the camera on for a couple of days, the camera turned off and, once I put fresh batteries in, I couldn't get it to work again. I turned it on and off a million times until something clicked and, thankfully, it's been working well ever since. I don't know if this is an issue for all N80s or just mine.

 

[Yashica]

Its normal, that the batteries (besides lithium cells) drain much faster into low temperatures. Never had that issue with the N80/F80 you wrote, during the past 2 decades.

 

[Daniela]

Never had that issue with the N80/F80 you wrote, during the past 2 decades.

I had never had that issue either, but it scared me enough to always have replacement batteries at hand. And I'll certainly be careful to never let the batteries fully drain again!

 

[Yashica]

I had never had that issue either, but it scared me enough to always have replacement batteries at hand. And I'll certainly be careful to never let the batteries fully drain again!

I see. Yes, that's better. And don't store them inside the body, if not being used over months...i've seen enough corroded battery compartments from various gear over the years...luckily, no Nikon was being affected. And no Contax, Yashica or Minolta.

 

[John Earley]

Wonderful pic!

Thanks

 

[John Earley]

I have never tracked how many rolls I get out of the batteries either, but I've experienced two things:
-cold makes them drain faster (isn't that the case for all batteries?), and
-the one time that the batteries completely drained because I inadvertently left the camera on for a couple of days, the camera turned off and, once I put fresh batteries in, I couldn't get it to work again. I turned it on and off a million times until something clicked and, thankfully, it's been working well ever since. I don't know if this is an issue for all N80s or just mine.

I recently had that happen too. It also restarted suddenly after I turned it on/off many times.

 

[Dachshund]

I’ve got two N80s, one for color, one for b/w, great cameras!

 

[Huss]

I’ve got two N80s, one for color, one for b/w, great cameras!

My name is Huss, and I approve of this comment.

 

[Yashica]

I’ve got two N80s, one for color, one for b/w, great cameras!

So do I. And the same with the F60, and F90x before.

 

[ic-racer]

I don''t post about it here, because I'm the hard-core film/darkroom guy. But for color I don't bat an eye to use digital. (you did not just read that.)

 

[Kino]

I’ve got two N80s, one for color, one for b/w, great cameras!

Just don't get them mixed up!