Nikon N80/F80 Experience?

ic-racer · Mar 6, 2022

Looking forward to some travel in the near future. Last big trip on which I embarked I bought a camera just for the trip. I got a $25 Nikon N75. This was over ten years ago. Now the camera works great still, and I have obtained 3 others too, but I'd like something more 'metal.'
So I was thinking of getting one or two N80/F80 cameras. They seem to be still priced less than $100 each.
I'm not too keen on bringing my F6 or F100 due to their scarcity and value. I need them for my 'non-vacation' work.

N80/F80 seems like a perfect camera between the plastic N75 and the robust F100.
I have plenty of the 'kit' 28-80 lenses and I anticipate I will be using one of those on the N80/F80 body.
This is a screen shot from a recent ebay listing. Most of them on ebay look pretty clean with little use. I don't mind if they are sticky.

cramej · Mar 6, 2022

The N80 is a great camera. AF is decent and exposure is usually spot on. Very quiet. Having the MB-15 grip helps and uses AA batteries instead of lithium. Check the user manual for details on the custom functions.... the AF assist light can be annoying when you don't want it. I really wish I would have kept my SB800 to use with it. Best Nikon flash ever.

Cholentpot · Mar 6, 2022

ic-racer said:
Looking forward to some travel in the near future. Last big trip on which I embarked I bought a camera just for the trip. I got a $25 Nikon N75. This was over ten years ago. Now the camera works great still, and I have obtained 3 others too, but I'd like something more 'metal.'
So I was thinking of getting one or two N80/F80 cameras. They seem to be still priced less than $100 each.
I'm not too keen on bringing my F6 or F100 due to their scarcity and value. I need them for my 'non-vacation' work.

N80/F80 seems like a perfect camera between the plastic N75 and the robust F100.
I have plenty of the 'kit' 28-80 lenses and I anticipate I will be using one of those on the N80/F80 body.
This is a screen shot from a recent ebay listing. Most of them on ebay look pretty clean with little use. I don't mind if they are sticky.

View attachment 299870

These are top of the pops. Excellent cameras, I use one and it's my favorite plastic autofocus Nikon. I don't have any pro autofocus Nikons. This one is the closest. It has back button focus which to me makes it a pro body. Auto focus cameras which I cannot separate the focus from shutter go into the consumer bin.

N80, Vison3 250D, AF 75-300 (auto focus is slow as can be, used manual focus).

Sirius Glass · Mar 6, 2022

I have used the N75 since 2004 and parts are beginning to break so I have recently bought the F80 as a future replacement. I just installed the a set of two CR-2 batteries, when they die, I will switch to the F80. The F80 is closer to my F100.

Horatio · Mar 6, 2022

Great camera. Get two or three while they’re still cheap. (I did!)

Roger Thoms · Mar 6, 2022

Horatio said:
Great camera. Get two or three while they’re still cheap. (I did!)

I've got three of them and yes they are great little cameras. Lately I’ve been shooting one with my recently acquired Nikkor AF 85mm f1.4D which is a really nice combo, nice and light and fairly compact. I have another paired with a Nikkor 24-85mm f3.5-4.5AF-S G which is a nice setup. The third one is waiting in the wings as a backup. They do have a problem with the rubber getting sticky which I’ve been fairly successful remedying with a alcohol based hand sanitizer that has aloe vera. I also have a battery grip that came with one of them so I have the option of AA batteries.

Roger

Paul Howell · Mar 6, 2022

I found one at a garage sale, gave to a friend who wanted to move back to film from digital, mine came with the 28 to 105 kit zoom, ran a few roll through it, one one best pro consumer grade AFs. Metering was spot on, ergonomics was good, felt good in my hands, bright viewfinder, and will meter with all Nikon AF lens up to G. At the time I was building out my Minolta gear, the N80 is good as my Minolta 5 or 7.

gone · Mar 6, 2022

I owned one, they're very small and light. In fact, my first travel camera was an N80 with a really, really good AF ED 28-200 G 3.5-5.6 lens. That worked great on the train and around towns, I miss that lens. The shutter is as quiet as possible w/ a SLR. On the downsides, batteries are expensive, the viewfinder isn't bright, and you can't meter w/ 3rd party lenses.

Sirius Glass · Mar 6, 2022

momus said:
I owned one, they're very small and light. In fact, my first travel camera was an N80 with a really, really good AF ED 28-200 G 3.5-5.6 lens. That worked great on the train and around towns, I miss that lens. The shutter is as quiet as possible w/ a SLR. On the downsides, batteries are expensive, the viewfinder isn't bright, and you can't meter w/ 3rd party lenses.

Gee I meter my Tameron 28mm to 300mm AF lens on the F80. Should I ship the F80 off the Nikon to fix that grievous flaw?

cramej · Mar 6, 2022

Paul Howell said:
I found one at a garage sale, gave to a friend who wanted to move back to film from digital, mine came with the 28 to 105 kit zoom, ran a few roll through it, one one best pro consumer grade AFs. Metering was spot on, ergonomics was good, felt good in my hands, bright viewfinder, and will meter with all Nikon AF lens up to G. At the time I was building out my Minolta gear, the N80 is good as my Minolta 5 or 7.

I have and use both and the Maxxum 5 has an edge over the N80 in everything but volume, flash compatibility and lens compatibility. I appreciate the Nikon's ergonomics but sometimes it feels like what I imagine is the difference between an Acura NSX and a C4 Corvette. The Minolta is crisp and smooth whereas the Nikon, while a great performer, lacks some of the refinement.

momus said:
I owned one, they're very small and light. In fact, my first travel camera was an N80 with a really, really good AF ED 28-200 G 3.5-5.6 lens. That worked great on the train and around towns, I miss that lens. The shutter is as quiet as possible w/ a SLR. On the downsides, batteries are expensive, the viewfinder isn't bright, and you can't meter w/ 3rd party lenses.

Third party lenses work fine. It's non-chipped, non-ai, and possibly Ai lenses, IIRC.

Sirius Glass · Mar 6, 2022

cramej said:
I have and use both and the Maxxum 5 has an edge over the N80 in everything but volume, flash compatibility and lens compatibility. I appreciate the Nikon's ergonomics but sometimes it feels like what I imagine is the difference between an Acura NSX and a C4 Corvette. The Minolta is crisp and smooth whereas the Nikon, while a great performer, lacks some of the refinement.

Third party lenses work fine. It's non-chipped, non-ai, and possibly Ai lenses, IIRC.

Since I have Nikon AFs and this the thread is about Nikons,

I am only interested in Nikon AFs.
Why are you going OT with ~~Minotlas~~ Sonys?

cramej · Mar 6, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Since I have Nikon AFs and this the thread is about Nikons,

I am only interested in Nikon AFs.

Why are you going OT with ~~Minotlas~~ Sonys?

1. That's fine, you can be only interested in Nikons. My response was not even directed to you.

2. The Maxxum 5 was long before Sony. It's still a Minolta. Experience with a direct competitor may be relevant to the OP.

ic-racer · Mar 6, 2022

Thanks for all the replies.

Huss · Mar 6, 2022

Cholentpot said:
These are top of the pops. Excellent cameras, I use one and it's my favorite plastic autofocus Nikon. I don't have any pro autofocus Nikons. This one is the closest. It has back button focus which to me makes it a pro body. Auto focus cameras which I cannot separate the focus from shutter go into the consumer bin.

N80, Vison3 250D, AF 75-300 (auto focus is slow as can be, used manual focus).

I was looking for a "LIKE" button for this shot..

Huss · Mar 6, 2022

The F80 is much more substantial feeling (in feel and weight) than the F75. As a poster above mentioned, the back button AF is a super touch.
Get one in black not silver - the silver just looks so plasticky - and careful with the back door latch. Just like the F100 it is fragile plastic. Keep the latch up as you close the back, then release it and you should be ok.

F80 w/ 28-70 D 3.5-4.5, Fuji C200

Cholentpot · Mar 6, 2022

Huss said:
I was looking for a "LIKE" button for this shot..

That's quite a compliment from the likes of you. Made my day.

Thanks!

Helge · Mar 7, 2022

Functionally the N/F80 is ninety five percent the camera the F100 is.
And in other ways a better camera: Lighter, smaller, quieter, way cheaper, takes a standard cable release.
Also probably better battery economy.

If your intent is to use AF glass only, then F/N80 all the way!
Low light AF is no biggie. For indoor you’ll always have a flash mounted and that flash has IR guide beams.
For outside night shooting you’ll always be on a tripod, in which case you have plenty of time to fiddle with focus.
It’s just slower to achieve focus in really dark shots unassisted, not impossible.

Charles Escott-New · Mar 7, 2022

Sounds like a great idea. I am not suggesting it is better but also have a look at an F90x. Bought cheap because of a sticky back and then rubbed to a smooth finish. I have the grip but prefer the smaller size without. Build excellent, AA batteries and a decent AF, it is my travel SLR. That said the F80 is a very fine camera.

Craig75 · Mar 7, 2022

With the n90 / f90 you can spot meter with manual lenses which i don't think you can with other "prosumer" nikons and build quality is top draw. Mine was $40.

That feature may or not be worth it versus other cheap Nikons

Cholentpot · Mar 7, 2022

Charles Escott-New said:
Sounds like a great idea. I am not suggesting it is better but also have a look at an F90x. Bought cheap because of a sticky back and then rubbed to a smooth finish. I have the grip but prefer the smaller size without. Build excellent, AA batteries and a decent AF, it is my travel SLR. That said the F80 is a very fine camera.

No back button focus though. That's a deal breaker.

destroya · Mar 7, 2022

I have a few of them. I bought a 50mm 1..8 d lens of craigslist years ago, when people where giving away film cameras, and the N80 was used, according to the seller, as a lens cap. so I got it for free. few years ago they were available for $30 all day every day. its a great camera and well worth the price. I think it was the last consumer film camera nikon made. I still use it from time to time. I prefer it over the F100 and F5 because of its size and weight, I much prefer manual focus cameras. it does look very strange when I use the 14-24 on it, the lens makes it look so unbalanced.

john

brbo · Mar 7, 2022

I bought my first F80 for like 15 EUR. At one point I sold a lot of cameras that I wasn't using regularly. F80 was probably the only camera that I re-bought. Partly because it was still very affordable but mostly because it's a great camera (relatively small, light and very quiet). If it had better support for older lenses it would be perfect.

Helge · Mar 7, 2022

Charles Escott-New said:
Sounds like a great idea. I am not suggesting it is better but also have a look at an F90x. Bought cheap because of a sticky back and then rubbed to a smooth finish. I have the grip but prefer the smaller size without. Build excellent, AA batteries and a decent AF, it is my travel SLR. That said the F80 is a very fine camera.

No need to rub, dust or use 303 or other ineffective alchemy.
Just get a some scrap cloth and some alcohol and start to gently and selectively wipe the converted rubber off the body.
It’ll take some time. My F80s took about an hour each to perfection.
But after that, no more problems at all, and the surface seems to have stopped decomposing.
Use some 303 as a finishing seal.

Charles Escott-New · Mar 7, 2022

Like the metal door catch on the F90x. Always was conscious of the fragility of the catch on my old F100, same for F80 I suppose. Learnt about back button focus from Mr. Cholentpot, didn't know the F80 had this facility.

ic-racer · Mar 7, 2022

Yes, f90 looks nice too.

Nikon N80/F80 Experience?

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