I love it - the Nikon N80

[madNbad]

Once upon a time when I still owned a M6 TTL and a SF-24d when I wanted to use the flash off camera, the go to cord was a Nikon SC-28. Better than the SC-17 because of the locking foot. As was pointed out, the main reason was the Nikon and Leica contact points were the same layout. I know this little dandy has it's own pop up flash but was wondering if the Leica flash would work?

 

[Paul Howell]

I have a N80 waiting in the wings for when my N75 bites the dust. I cannot use it for infrared film though .

You still have true infrared film? Will not be an issue with current films that only mimic infrared.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You still have true infrared film? Will not be an issue with current films that only mimic infrared.

I have some HIE rolls and Rollei IR 400 film. Yes the instructions warn against using IR film with the N75 and N80.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I have a couple autofocus Nikon lenses but no body. I've been trying to decide if I want to pick up an N8008s, N90s or an N80. The viewfinder is probably the most important thing. Autofocus I don't care as much about. Any suggestions?

 

[KerrKid]

I think Huss passed on a N8008, so I’d probably do what he just did and get the N80 - if you can find a black one.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have a couple autofocus Nikon lenses but no body. I've been trying to decide if I want to pick up an N8008s, N90s or an N80. The viewfinder is probably the most important thing. Autofocus I don't care as much about. Any suggestions?

Consider the F100, with your experience I think that you will enjoy the camera more with those lenses.

 

[destroya]

i had an N80 and used it every once in a while, mainly as my football tailgating camera because of the small flash ( amazing the shots you get from dunk tailgaters!). then back in 2013 on craigslist I found a 50mm 1.8d lens for sale for $20. since I had just dropped mine, I went to check it out. well guess what? they thru in an N80 as a lens cap. so got both lens and camera for $20. one of my best buys ever
.
this is a very capable camera that has many of the things you need and leaves of a lot of those things you dont need, like size, bulk and weight. while i much prefer manual focus in 35mm, mainly for a small fit in you pants/shorts pockets walk arund camera, if I do need AF I grab the N80 over my N90, F100, F4 and F5. my ex kinda referred to it as the reverse size does matters kind of thing. I really like this camera.

oh yeh I have used retro 80s and superpan/retro400/rollei IR film in it and it works fine, no issues with the IR film advance mechanism.
john

 

[Paul Howell]

Rollei and retro IR are not true IR films, like ILford IR extended red.

 

[Huss]

I think Huss passed on a N8008, so I’d probably do what he just did and get the N80 - if you can find a black one.

It was the N90s that I passed on. Super camera, excellent price -$50 at my local shop - but it just didn’t click w me. I think it was down to the size and weight. I already have an F6 so didn’t really see why I would use the N90s instead.
The advantage of the N80 is it smaller and lighter, it has a built on pop up flash that you can use as a fill, it handles better, it is G lens compatible, and the one I found was a lot cheaper. But I think that is luck of the draw even though I do see a US based N80 right now for $9.99 w quantary zoom on ebay! Black…
The N90s is more solidly built, but that is the weight/size trade off.

I just shot a roll of film in the N80 while cycling around town. This, like the n75, is such a good one hand camera for things like that. Already popped another roll of film into it.

p.s. The grid lines on demand is a huge deal for me. Used it a bunch of times today - I have it set as a default.

 

[Huss]

I have a couple autofocus Nikon lenses but no body. I've been trying to decide if I want to pick up an N8008s, N90s or an N80. The viewfinder is probably the most important thing. Autofocus I don't care as much about. Any suggestions?

I think the N90s is the pick if you want to use manual focus lenses. Apparently the N80 does not meter with old AI/Ais lenses. I’ll check mine but I don’t see an aperture feeler tab on the lens mount.
edit - confirmed. The N80 cannot meter w non af lenses. The only mode you can use is manual as you can still set the shutter speed, and you can set the aperture on the lens itself. But there is no metering.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Thanks Huss. I only have the two regular autofocus lenses (AF Nikkkor) which should meter I'd assume. I'm curious about the viewfinders though. The N80 looks like it could be an issue with my glasses. What kind of relief does it have?

 

[Huss]

Thanks Huss. I only have the two regular autofocus lenses (AF Nikkkor) which should meter I'd assume. I'm curious about the viewfinders though. The N80 looks like it could be an issue with my glasses. What kind of relief does it have?

I’ll tell you tonight when I take out my contacts and put on my glasses!

 

[AZD]

The N80 cannot meter w non af lenses. The only mode you can use is manual as you can still set the shutter speed, and you can set the aperture on the lens itself. But there is no metering.

Yep, that’s pretty much the deal breaker for me. I suppose it might work with Voigtlander’s chipped manual focus F mount lenses though.

Actually, come to think of it, that’d be a great excuse to get the 58mm Nokton… Hmm, my $20 camera needs a new $500 lens, I guess I have to.

 

[Huss]

Yep, that’s pretty much the deal breaker for me. I suppose it might work with Voigtlander’s chipped manual focus F mount lenses though.

Actually, come to think of it, that’d be a great excuse to get the 58mm Nokton… Hmm, my $20 camera needs a new $500 lens, I guess I have to.

I just checked - works fine w manual focus chipped lenses. Tried it w my Nikon 45 2.8 AI-P

 

[jimjm]

Eye relief with the N80 is better than the FE/FM-series cameras, not much scanning needed to see all 4 corners with glasses. The F3hp is better with a 25mm eyepoint, but the N80 is still good at 17mm.
With all this talk about the N80, I'll toot my own horn about one I currently have for sale in the classifieds. Extremely clean, 100% functional and comes with the MB-16 battery pack and two CR-123 batteries. No sticky rubber. Heck of a lot of features packed into this camera and the meter is very accurate in different situations. Really light and easy to handle.
OK, it's not a $20 bargain bin special, but I've used it for several years and can confirm this is a fully functional, clean camera that's reliable. I just don't use AF lenses much, and that's where this shines. I'd rather see it go to someone who will load it up and use it.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

I bought an N80 tonight for $17. I mean, why not? I am still interested in the 8008 viewfinder which I read is the same as the F3. Curious about that. Plus the 8008 and N90 are both old, so they get some cool points.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I think the N90s is the pick if you want to use manual focus lenses. Apparently the N80 does not meter with old AI/Ais lenses. I’ll check mine but I don’t see an aperture feeler tab on the lens mount.
edit - confirmed. The N80 cannot meter w non af lenses. The only mode you can use is manual as you can still set the shutter speed, and you can set the aperture on the lens itself. But there is no metering.

The manual focus lenses need to be hand focused. I use the previous lens to set the aperture on the f/2.8 PC manual focus lens and watch the change in the light meter output to see if I need to adjust the aperture after moving the lens off axis.

 

[reddesert]

Camera/lens compatibility chart: https://kenrockwell.com/nikon/compatibility-lens.htm

F100, F5: meters with MF lenses (A and M modes); can focus AF-S lenses; can use VR
N90, N90s:, F4 meters with MF lenses (A and M modes); can focus AF-S lenses
N80: no metering with MF lenses; can focus AF-S lenses
N8008, N8008s: meters with MF lenses (A and M modes); cannot focus AF-S lenses

They all have a focus confirmation indicator when using MF lenses. There are other differences in the details. Like, I think the N8008 has a +/-2 stop range on the analog metering display in the viewfinder, which some people prefer to the +/-1 stop. The N80 (and its descendant the D100) can use a standard threaded cable release!

 

[Huss]

N80 can meter with manual focus lenses as long as they are chipped. Eg Zeiss ZF.2 series, Voigtlander SLII series, Nikon AI-P series.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I had one of these before but sold it because it was silver and I am shallow like that. Found this one on ebay in black w the 28-80d lens (as good optically as the G but also has an aperture ring so I can use it on my F3 etc). Was listed as ‘sticky’ and ‘for parts, untested’.
First thing I checked was to see if the back was broken - as many Nikons of this era are wont to do. It was fine. ‘Sticky’ is super easy to fix -15 mins w a cloth and rubbing alcohol. As it is a Japanese camera, chances are good that all it needs is batteries. And that indeed was all it needed.
$30 for a beautiful n80 with a 28-80 lens.

On Demand Grid Lines, how cool is that.

Roger

highly underrated camera; hope it will last you for decades to come.

 

[Helge]

F100 and F6 do NOT have this feature. F80 was a pretty darned good camera in 2000 at the prosumer level. Had most of the features you'd get from an F100 for cheaper.

Does that have a little fill flash? Honestly, for a lightweight, knockaround camera a those pop up flashes are a super feature. Kind of wish I had one on my camera about once every other roll.

The finder in the F80 is a little dimmer because of the feature (LCD) so not as good for manual focus. But yeah, it is very, very cool and one of the many small features that in my mind makes it a better choice than the F100.

Nikon should put it into production again with a new shell.
Functionally just one of the best cameras ever made.

 

[JParker]

I have some HIE rolls and Rollei IR 400 film. Yes the instructions warn against using IR film with the N75 and N80.

No problem using N75 and N80 with the current IR capable films like SFX 200, all Aviphot Pan 200 derivats (Rollei IR, Superpan 200, Retro 400s, JCH Street Pan......), all Aviphot Pan 80 derivats.
The spectral sensitivity in the IR range of these films is lower than the IR light used in these cameras for film transport control.
A friend of mine is using the N80 regularly with these films without any problems.

 

[Helge]

No problem using N75 and N80 with the current IR capable films like SFX 200, all Aviphot Pan 200 derivats (Rollei IR, Superpan 200, Retro 400s, JCH Street Pan......), all Aviphot Pan 80 derivats.
The spectral sensitivity in the IR range of these films is lower than the IR light used in these cameras for film transport control.
A friend of mine is using the N80 regularly with these films without any problems.

There is tiny marks on the sides but nothing that is even approaching the image area.
It even meters and auto focuses well through an IR filter. The metering seems off but the results are good.

 

[StevieRose]

I own an F100 and the N80. Both are great cameras, but I have to say that the N80 has 90% of the features of the F100 at a fraction of the weight and cost. I find myself reaching for it instead of the F100 most of the time.

 

[Daniela]

I love my N80. It's my main camera and I've had it for 20 years. I'm jealous that they're so cheap in the US. I've been looking for one over here and haven't found one for under 80 euros.

I have a N80 waiting in the wings for when my N75 bites the dust. I cannot use it for infrared film though .

I can echo what others have said. Despite the warning, I used infrared film in it and had no issues. I can't remember which film it was because this was around 2005, but I used it for a school assignment and it worked just fine.