Does the Nikon P80 automatically put a date stamp on pictures?

My current Pentax camera does not have a date stamp feature, and that is my biggest complaint. That's why I'm looking for another camera. That is a huge selling point for me.

Pretty much all cameras these days have a date stamp feature, i can't tell u for sure cuz i don't have a P80 (yet)

Yes it makes sense that date stamp is not used anymore in the digital pictures, i don't use it either, but i was just talking out of experience.
You sure seem to know a lot James, how about answering my question ?

Uh, I believe I did. Shall I quote it for you?

"NOw, having said that, the P80 does have a date stamp feature. Page 120 of your manual walks you through it."

I recently purchased a coolpix P 80 . The date stamp is a great feature , and unlike many new digicams, it can be imprinted in the lower right hand corner of each print AUTOMATICALLY with each shot OR the feature can be turned off- nice ,huh?? The outstanding feature and propasbly the main reasonfor owning Coolpix P 80 is the 18x optical lens.. When secured on a stable platform it performs really well-- for non movement photo ops that need telephoto zoom for clarity - use the self timer ,setting the P 80 down on anything that is a good platform, and there is no camera shake to contend with, which always hightens as you zoom into the double digit optical zoom portion. Iam using the P -80 as back up for my new Nikon P60- a whiz banger, does everything well, has a auto date stamp feature as well as a remote control release.. both nice features in dSLR -- The drawback with theD 60 is its limited telephoto capability , even the 300mm VR tele lens does not do nearly what the P 80 18x optical lens can do- AND does it at less than the price of the 300mm VR nikkor , there fore makes sense to have th P 80 as backup for the D 60. Both Nikons use VR - vibration reduction technology, and it works well, hal5141

Thanks! You know a lot about the camera. I have purchased the camera since I posted this question and I'm enjoying the fact that it does have a date stamp. I'm just using it for everyday purposes....family vacation pictures, school pictures, pictures of my kids, and so on. However I've been disappointed because many of them come out very blurry. If there's any kind of background movement (even in the very distant background) it makes the entire picture blurry. How do I correct this? I'm by far not the expert photographer, I just want nice clear pictures. I did not have that have that problem with my previous Pentax camera. What am I doing wrong???? Thanks in advance.

hello krisa-- yes, blurriness, this can be a problem w/ the p-80 , but here are a few hints I have picked up from various sources, all a lot smarter than me conserning Coolpix P 80 use- any combination of these hints should address the bluriness problem and make it go away. Now in no special order, here are some of the "MAGIC BULLET" cures:

A. for any subject that is stationary and more than 20 feet or more away(outside P-80's flash range) use LANDSCAPE on SCENES mode dial (see page 39 in manual) the same for night or darkened scenes :use NIGHT LANDSCAPE ,BUT make sure P-80 is rock steady(see page 41 )

B. have P-80 set in INFINITY MODE for all shots 20 feet or more away from the P-80. You can take photo ops with movement in them, but if it is real fast movement use SPORTS continuous mode(see page 46). INFINITY mode will obviate any BLUR in photo ops 20 feet and out .

C. For photo ops within 20 feet range-- use FILL FLASH where ever possible -- this sets the shutter speed comprable to a STOP ACTION speed which defeats blurriness .

D. use NORMAL setting in the Image optimizer mode choices ( see page 91) all the other settings adjust the depth of fields somewhat to adchieve its goal- VIVID sounds nice , but the vibrance comes at a price , and this can often be translated to less clarity - the NORMAL setting gives you a true "AS IS" and if your subject is colorful , your snap will be colorful. If your subject is not colorful, VIVID, for uncolorful shots, does not work to make the uncolorful subject , VIVID , it just distorts the true aspects of the scene.

E. IMAGE SHARPENING IS DONE AUTOMATICALLY in AUTO mode (see page92) so don't fuss with customizing. This is best left to expert, seasoned photographers , who are pro or semi pro.. Oh, the rest of us tyrols ( would be,wanna be photogs ) can experiment to our hearts content w/ all the latitudes and visisitudes the P-80 offers- BUT if it is a IMPORTANT photo op-- tried and true AUTO or PRGRAMMED modes have to be the choice o" tyrols" ..This allows the the P-80 to make the basic dicisions as to exposure , and you ,the operator, to make all the artistic decisions as to SUBJECT placement , good composition , and lighting quality.

F. on page 96 , there is a good run down of ISO sensitivity choices. The P-80 is blessed with many choices, almost too many- Just remember the lower the ISO number , the less chance for BLUR-- Unfortunately, if the available light is low, then higher ISO's are called for - NOISE (specKling out of clarity)may become a issue , BUT this usually is seen only when you try to enlarge from standard 4 x 6 photos- it is a basic working tool to add light availability within the the P 80- REMEMBER - if a available light is low in your photo op-- the available light your eye sees , is what will be recorded. you allow the P 80 to do low light snaps, only to the point the TRUE lighting is captured, this may translate to murkiness and muddiness, if thel ight levels are really beyond recording.
Of course the use of FLASH obviates "Available light" problems by adding light- it is that simple.. always remember there is light fall off as you go out of the flash range-give or take, this is about 20 feet out, and your flash is no longer effective..

G. lastly ,ALWAYS shoot in FINE mode in the image quality setting (see page 88) you may get less photos on your memory card, BUT FINE is the ONLY way to go if you want consistant photos with good resolution and compression- This is the biggest aide to sharpness your P-80 can furnish you--- FINE has to be the ONLY setting you consider,if you want better control over blurriness. It is important to remember that even thou the CoolpixP 80 is eqiupped w/ VR( vibration reduction) a steady platform is a MUST to get the blur out -- subjectively speaking , I leave the VR mode ON all the time=- the reason the manaul mentions you can turn it off , when taking TRIPOD assisted photos --- is , shutter lag is decreased w/ the VR function off -- this is microsecond stuff....FORGETBOUTIT ... please let me know if this info helps w/ the BLURRINESS problems- these tips has allievated the BLUR problem for me, being aware of the above caviats.. hal5141

Hal has some great suggestions there. My question would be, do you prefocus? Hold down the shutter half way with your subject right in the middle to get a pre-focus of the image you're shooting locked in. Then, with the shutter still depressed half way, recompose your picture. If things change, prefocus again. When you're ready for the shot, press the button the rest of the way.

This will speed up your camera's performance during picture taking since it won't have to autofocus before it shoots the shot.

Thanks...you guys are great! I'm in over my head I think. I miss the simplicity of my blurr free Pentax. I'm going to print these suggestions and try them. Thanks a bunch! KrisA

krisA-- I am far from the sharpest tack in the box- and at age 79 i have lots of senior moments, and i have tamed the coolpix P 80 (well, most of the time) so am absolutely positive you can do it too.. I t really comes down to practice... if you work at becoming familiar with P-80's controls ( and I pull out the instuction manual regularily), then your photographic efforts will be more gratifying.. Using it with scant knowledge of it's capabilities, can be done,for the simplest of photo ops , and you will always have a decent SNAP SHOOTER, BUT if you want to go beyond the world of snaps into true PHOTO's ( the differance being more technically sound shots) then get the basics down , that will encourage this transition -- You will be most pleased with yourself, for sure-- the adage comes to mind: 'ANY JOB worth DOING -- is WORTH DOING WELL' hal5141

I'm really happy about this date stamp feature of the Nikon Coolpix P80. I have surveyed Canons etc...was on the verge of buying such only to find out that these have no date stamp feature. This feature means the world to us mothers who likes to record defining, unforgettable moments of our children. I'm off first thing tomorrow to buy my Coolpix P80.