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Nikon D80 (Lens Included)

HQ Grade: B-

A	is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of digital cameras.
B	means they are good, with some standout features.
C	means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth.
D & F	mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs.

4 out of 5

"AF"

4 out of 5

"10,000 fine photos, 50 bad ones"

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This camera is ranked

36th of 50 in SLR/Professional
69th of 102 in 9 and 10 Megapixels
26th of 73 in Nikon
36th of 71 in Over $600

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Answered!

maureesK (safari) 0 pts

June 21, 2007 10:15 PM

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is the matrix metering unpredictable and is claimed to overexpose and requires a lot of exposure compensation which needs to be done for every shot

the above according to many people on the d80 forum and Ken Rockwell

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Brenda P (BrendaP) 28729 pts

June 22, 2007 4:00 AM

For what it's worth, I've heard of this issue too, along with many people arguing it and saying that a lot of it depends on where you 'expect' the camera to do the metering:

http://photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00LBdn

As someone states in that discussion: "The D80 meter favors shadow areas more than highlights. This is the main difference between the D200, which favors highlights. Many people call this a "defect" but it is by design."

Not really answering your question, but an interesting discussion regarding it.

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maureesK (safari) 0 pts

June 22, 2007 8:52 AM

thanks for the reply it confirms what I have read, is it better then to buy a camera that exposes for highlights than shadows as it is easier to improve shadows in PP, whereas if highlights are blown they cannot be recovered

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Brenda P (BrendaP) 28729 pts

June 22, 2007 10:22 AM

Exactly right. As a darkroom user I couldn't have explained it better myself.

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maureesK (safari) 0 pts

June 22, 2007 11:18 AM

Thankyou again for replying so soon, I will probably upgrade to the D200 Nikon as this appears to have many features I like and the metering appears to be better than the D80

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Alana (philomycus) 2 pts

June 22, 2007 2:31 PM

I've read the D80 is better on recording reds and greens than the D200....found it somehwere on the net and I guess it's all realitive.....decisions, decisions!!!

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maureesK (safari) 0 pts

June 22, 2007 4:49 PM

Alana thankyou for the information,I went to the camera store and the 200 seems very complcated, maybe there is a way to compensate for the manner in which the D80 meters. any suggestions from anyone will be appreciated.

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is the matrix metering unpredictable and is claimed to overexpose and requires a lot of exposure compensation which needs to be done for every shot

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