D80 durability and common problems

Hi everyone!

My trusty old EOS 300D has finally given in: damn thing has had the usual mirror pin failure, plus exposure computer and CF reading problems... right now it would cost me a lot more to have it repaired than to get a new one. Time for replacement!

I'm thinking of getting a D80 since it has both excellent image quality and some very original features, but I have found very little information on its durability. To give you an idea of why I'm concerned, I took well over 30,000 shots with the camera I'm replacing; took it into extremely humid mine shafts, three editions of the very dusty WRC Rally Mexico, salty beach trips, freezing forests, took it outside on rainy days... it even got kicked down from a table by my dog. Obviously, I want something that can take punishment and take tons of pictures.

-Is anyone with a D80 keeping an exposure count?

-Have you had any mechanical or electronic problems with it?

The fact that you find little information about durability may be speaking volumes...about how durable the D80 is. If people aren't complaining, then their cameras must be working!

I dropped my D70 about 4 feet onto a concrete parking lot and other than dent the lens hood it was ok. The D80 should be dog-safe.

The D80 for sure feels MUCH more sturdier than the 300D, in comparison the 300D feels like a toy camera, not that it is but it just feels like it.

Th Canon is lighter, for good and for bad the D80 is feel more massive. Dropped mine once, a short fall, no problem. The heavier weight might be a less good thing in that case.

Can't imagine the D80 would be a less good camera than the 300D mechanically. I don't have the MTBF for the two cameras or how many exposures they are built for though.

Maybe you should take a look at the Pentax line of DLSR's, eg. K10D, it has wether proofed seals and should withstand dust and moisture better.

Good luck hunting for a new camera!

All those situations you are describing are interesting to me. If budget allows I would seriously consider a D300 since it's a bit more rugged being more of a pro level camera and it's wether sealed.

I have a D80 and it seems durable enough to me. It's not weather sealed (neither was your 300D). Not sure about durability in the long run or in those situations you have described.

--
http://pics.myfotoguy.com

42Hz said:

Maybe you should take a look at the Pentax line of DLSR's, eg. K10D,
it has wether proofed seals and should withstand dust and moisture
better.

Click to expand...

Before anyone excited about the K10D one needs to spend some time on the Pentax forum and see the loooooooooong list of complaints about slow AF, AF that cannot keep up with a person walking and AF that cannot cope in low light levels.

The seriously extreme use the OP has described may need an underwater case

Me thinks maybe the D300 for him however that raises the next issue, the lens, how weather sealed is the lens? moving parts, zoom lenses that pump air etc result in a much tougher problem to solve.

Maybe an underwater case is really the way to go in those extremes.

--
Inspector Kluso

whatever model you buy, get a body armor for it.
--
'Attitude is a little thing that can make big differences'

Fujifilm Finepix E550 and F20
Nikon D40 and 55-200 VR.

I've used the D80 in dusty India, on a photojournalism assignment on Ethiopian building sites and on ski slopes in Utah (as well as on the streets of London and at many a drunken party) and it's never failed me. On three occasions a lens has failed to connect properly on mounting. All three times a quick click and relock fixed the problem.
--
http://www.blenford.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gafferbee

My D70s fell about the same distance onto concrete, only I was attached to it as it went down and I landed on top of it. I looked it over after I got my breath back. The camera has pebble marks on the bottom yet operates fine. I needed bandages! It’s been in the rain, been stetted on and operated in the cold and in very humid conditions. It still takes fine photos. Shutter life is about 50,000 actuations for the D80. If you want longer, move up to the D300 and it’s 200,000 actuations.

Morris
--



http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/~morris/POD

morris said:

...It’s been in the rain, been stepped on and operated in the cold and in very
humid conditions. It still takes fine photos. Shutter life is about
50,000 actuations for the D80...
Morris

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, that's very useful info =)

But I mean guys, seriously, am I really all that uncommonly abusive with my equipment? This has sparked my curiosity, as all I did was simply take it with me on every trip I took. What do you do with YOUR cameras?

I usually take pictures with mine, sometimes with one hand on the hadlebar and a camera in the other.

Tim Bury said:

All those situations you are describing are interesting to me. If
budget allows I would seriously consider a D300 since it's a bit more
rugged being more of a pro level camera and it's wether sealed.

Click to expand...

Agree - some of those conditions are pretty harsh for any "consumer grade camera" - though I tend to believe you would have better luck with a consumer grade Nikon than many others.

If a full Pro body - or a D300's not in the cards - take a look at the D200 or Pentax K10D.

imo
--
'Let go of old wrongs & start anew.'

if your budget wont stretch to the d300 go for the d200 because of the weather sealing and metal body - a much better option than going to the d80 in my humble opinion

wow, great capture.

hc635 said:

Hi everyone!

My trusty old EOS 300D has finally given in: damn thing has had the
usual mirror pin failure, plus exposure computer and CF reading
problems... right now it would cost me a lot more to have it repaired
than to get a new one. Time for replacement!

I'm thinking of getting a D80 since it has both excellent image
quality and some very original features, but I have found very little
information on its durability. To give you an idea of why I'm
concerned, I took well over 30,000 shots with the camera I'm
replacing; took it into extremely humid mine shafts, three editions
of the very dusty WRC Rally Mexico, salty beach trips, freezing
forests, took it outside on rainy days... it even got kicked down
from a table by my dog. Obviously, I want something that can take
punishment and take tons of pictures.

Click to expand...

I have had a D70 for three years, got over 30,000 shots on it, have taken it into rain forest exhibits, down into the Carlsbad caves, different beaches, canoeing on the Pudget Sound, hiking when it's below freezing, and so on. I don't have any problems with my D70, and don't think I've ever read a post of someone whose D70 or D80 broke down after usage like this. Supposedly the D70 is rated for 50,000 shutter actions but there have been reports of using it for more than 100,000.

The D300 (which is twice as expensive) is MADE for this kind of behavior, but my personal feeling is that Nikon has over-engineered their cameras enough so that the D70 and D80 can stand up to these environments very well. Of course, YMMV.

As a matter of fact, I'm a bit surprised that a camera from a reputable company like Canon would start wearing down after only 30,000 photos. With digital, that really isn't that much.

hc635 said:

-Is anyone with a D80 keeping an exposure count?

Click to expand...

As a matter of fact, everyone with a D80 is keeping an exposure count, whether they know it or not, since the number of shutter actuations is written in each image's EXIF information . Don't Canon cameras automatically keep track of their shutter count?

Eric
--
http://www.lumenssolutions.com/photography/

My D80 is aproaching 12000 clicks, no problems what so ever. When I dive into the menu and take a look at the battery conditions, the battery quality is "new". I wonder how many years I have to keep using my D80 to wear out my batteries? Probably more than 50 000 clics.

The D80 seems to tolerate cold (sub freezing) conditions better than other cameras I have owned: Canon 10D, Canon 350D (Gollum), and the Nikon D70.

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Please visit
http://home.c2i.net/gunnar-bye

It is rugged and well-built. I lugged mine around all kinds of places on my Hawaii trip last year with the grip. No problems whatever. No dust either, it seems to be sealed pretty well.
--
Roger (W6VZV)
Huntington Harbour, California
Surf City, USA

'I want to die peacefully, in my sleep, like my Grandfather...'
Not screaming, and in terror, like his passengers...'

I belivee my D80 is better built than my D70,

My D80 is up around 8000 clicks.

My D70 is a round 59300, no signs of any problem so far.

Last six months my partenr has been using the D70 in central Australia, currently on the edge of the Simpson Desert producing dusty images like this



A couple of months ago when she returned home I discovered she had not been using the camera bag and had left the D70 on her lap while driving for hours on end through fine red dust, I opened up the D70 to see how much of that fine talcum powder like red dust had got inside the D70, I found NONE.

The Nikon 18-70 kit lens does have some dust inside on the lens elements but works fine, focuses smoothly and zooms smoothly.

Nikon builds them tough.

Not sure what the so called weather sealing buys you, I do remeber seeing a post from someone with a weather sealed Nikon DLSR that had moisture inside it from perspiration and Nikon would not fix it under warranty, it turns out there was no weather sealing around the buttons on that particular Nikon DLSR.

Sealing a zoom lens against dust IMHO is like mission impossible if dust gets in water will get in even easier.

In harsh environments, keep the camera in a good zipper locked camera bag until you are ready to shoot when finished shooting back it goes into the safe environment inside the camera bag, the best weather sealing money can buy period.
--
Inspector Kluso

There is perhaps a new trend by Olympus E-3 users of dumping bottled water over their cameras to prove its resistance to wet weather conditions. From what I've read in the Olympus forums here, the camera should hold up quite well to wet windy conditions, or if you're ever threatened by a gang of bottled water tossing assailants. Looks like a pretty nice camera too (albeit, not in the same price range as a D80).

The D200 is dropping in price quite dramatically however, and really isn't that far off in price from the D80. Especially used D200s. And they are pretty well built, with sealing and all.

This has been a very useful thread, as I have just purchased the D80 also, so thanks everyone. Durability was a key factor in my decision. I also considered the D200, because it just felt like it was built to withstand anything man or nature could throw at it. Ultimately, between the assurances of a very knowledgeable sales person at Central Camera in Chicago, and just feeling that the D200 was too much camera for me, I chose the D80. Based on previous comments, I don't think I will be disappointed.

I am interested in any product that may offer some weather protection, a camera condom, if you will. Midwest weather can often be extreme, however it does offer many photo opportunities, however I would prefer to offer some protection to my new toy. Any suggestions woule be appreciated.