Compared to...
Once more Nikon steal the lead on paper, with a more attractive feature set which is more customizable and has better control over camera functions. Also in its favor are the large bright viewfinder (which really does produce a noticeably larger view than the EOS 400D), the excellent automatic ISO implementation (virtually 'ISO priority') and a snappier feel to the whole shooting experience (helped greatly by fast auto focus and very short blackout times). Working against the D80 however is its price, some $200 more than the EOS 400D and $100 more than the Sony DSLR-A100 which also has in-camera shake reduction.
Nikon D80 advantages
- Much larger and brighter viewfinder
- Very short 'viewfinder blackout time' at shutter release
- User definable Auto ISO (minimum shutter speed, maximum ISO)
- Customizable ISO noise reduction (although EOS 400D is clean enough not to need this)
- Spot metering (vs. EOS 400D)
- User comment can be set in-camera
- Removable protective cover for LCD monitor
- Most customizable camera (32 custom functions)
- More comfortable grip / ergonomics (vs. EOS 400D)
- Advanced battery information
- Instant 'power on'
- Arguably better build quality
 Nikon D80 |
 Canon EOS 400D |
 Sony DSLR-A100 |
|
| Price (body only) |
US: $999 [check price] | US: $799 [check price] | US: $899 [check price] |
| Body material | Plastic | Plastic | Plastic |
| Sensor | • 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX) • 10 million pixels |
• 22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS • 10 million pixels |
• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD • 10 million pixels |
| Dust reduction | • Dust reference image | • Anti-static coatings • Low pass filter vibration • Dust reference image |
• Anti-static coatings • CCD-shift 'shake' |
| Native image size | 3872 x 2592 | 3888 x 2592 | 3872 x 2592 |
| Lens support | • Nikon F-mount • Includes DX lenses |
• Canon EF mount • Including EF-S lenses |
• Sony Alpha lenses • Minolta A-type bayonet |
| FOV crop | 1.5x | 1.6x | 1.5x |
| Body shake reduction | No | No | Yes, CCD-shift |
| File formats | • RAW (compressed) • JPEG (3 levels) |
• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (3 levels) |
• RAW (comp. lossless) • JPEG (3 levels) |
| Auto focus | • 11 area TTL • Range: -1.0 to +19 EV |
• 9 area TTL • Range: -0.5 to +18 EV |
• 9 area TTL • Range: -1.0 to +18 EV |
| AF illuminator | Built-in lamp | Flash strobe, must be raised | Flash strobe, must be raised |
| Color space | • sRGB (2 modes) • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
• sRGB • Adobe RGB |
| Metering sensor | • 420 pixel RGB sensor • 0 - 20 EV working range |
• 35 zone sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
• 40 segment sensor • 1 - 20 EV working range |
| Metering | • 3D Color Matrix Metering II • Center-weighted average • Spot |
• Evaluative • Partial • Center-weighted average |
• Multi-segment
• Center-weighted average • Spot |
| Exp. comp. | +/- 2.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV | +/- 2.0 EV |
| EV steps | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 or 1/2 EV | 1/3 EV |
| Sensitivity | • ISO 100 - 1600 • ISO 3200 with boost |
• ISO 100 - 1600 | • ISO 100 - 1600 |
| Auto ISO | User definable maximum ISO and minimum shutter speed | Auto (100 - 400) | Auto (100 - 800) |
| Custom ISO NR | Yes, four settings | No | No |
| Shutter speed | • 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/200 sec Flash sync |
• 30 - 1/4000 sec / Bulb • 1/160 sec Flash sync |
| Continuous shooting |
• 3 fps • 23 JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames |
• 3 fps |
• 3 fps • Unlimited JPEG/Fine frames • 6 RAW frames |
| White balance | • Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
• Auto • Six presets • Manual preset • Kelvin temperature • Fine tunable |
| Image params | • Six preset looks • Sharpening: Auto, 6 levels • Tone: Auto, 5 levels, Custom • Color: 3 modes • Saturation: Auto, 3 levels • Hue: -9° to +9° |
• Six preset picture styles • Three user sets • Sharpening: 8 levels • Contrast: 9 levels • Saturation: 9 levels • Color tone: 9 levels • B&W filter/tone: 5 of each |
• Seven preset looks • Sharpening: 5 levels • Contrast: 5 levels • Saturation: 5 levels |
| Embed comment | Comment set in-camera | Owner name set via software | No |
| Flash | Electronic release pop-up | Electronic release pop-up | Manual release pop-up |
| Viewfinder | • Pentaprism • Eyepoint 21 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.94x • B-type Bright View Clear Matte II • Optional grid lines |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 20 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.8x • Laser matte screen |
• Pentamirror • Eyepoint 20 mm • Frame coverage 95% • Magnification approx 0.83x • 'Spherical acute' matte screen |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels • Removable protective cover |
• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels |
• 2.5 " TFT LCD • 230,000 pixels |
| Status LCD | Yes, top of camera | No, utilizes main LCD | No, utilizes main LCD |
| Mirror-lockup | Partial, 0.4 sec optional delay | Custom function | Automatic with self-timer |
| Other features | • Multiple Exposure • Wireless flash control • In-camera retouching |
n/a | • Eye-start Auto Focus • Auto-orientation status display |
| Custom settings | 32 | 11 | 12 |
| Storage | SD/SDHC card | Compact Flash card | Compact Flash card |
| Battery | EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh) | NB-2LH (7.4 V, 720 mAh) | NP-FM55H (7.2 V, 1600 mAh) |
| Battery status | • Remaining charge (%) • No. of shots since last charge • Battery life (5 stage) |
Battery life (3 stage) | Battery life (5 stage) |
| USB | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (approx. 8.8 MB/sec) |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (WIA only) (approx. 3.2 MB/sec) |
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (approx. 8.7 MB/sec) |
| Vertical grip | MD-D80 (option) | BG-E3 (option) | No |
| Software | • PictureProject • FotoShare • Capture NX (trial) |
• Canon DPP • PhotoStitich • Canon ZoomBrowser EX • EOS Utility (Remote Capt.) |
• Picture Motion Browser • Image Data Converter SR |
| Dimensions | 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in) |
127 x 94 x 65 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in) |
133 x 95 x 71 mm (5.2 x 3.7 x 2.8 in) |
| Weight (no batt) | 585 g (1.3 lb) | 514 g (1.1 lb) | 545 g (1.2 lb) |
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