Introducing the Nikon D80 Digital SLR

Nikon has just announced its latest Digital SLR camera, the D80. The D80 brings together advances in picture quality, resolution, ease-of-use and affordability to make it one of the most compelling digital cameras ever. Think of it as the offspring of the D70s and the D200. It shares most of its core technology with the D200—the same 10 megapixel CCD sensor, the same viewfinder, metering engine, autofocus module and iTTL flash command capability. Exposure for exposure, the D80 delivers the same quality images for about $700 less!

D80 vs D200

There's got to be a catch, right? Well, the D200 is faster at 5 fps than the D80 at 3 fps. If you're shooting sports or concerts or anything where capturing live action in rapid bursts is of paramount importance, you may be better off with the D200. The D200 body is stronger, heavier, with more magnesium and less plastic and is better sealed against the elements. The D200 takes CF cards while the D80 takes SD cards. The D200 supports your manual AF lenses and the D80 does not. And the D200 supports ultra-professional features like a GPS module and a WiFi module for downloading pictures directly to your computer while you shoot. So if you use your camera every day to make your living, or you're shooting in demanding environments, you may find the D200 will be more durable. Still, we expect that the D80 will find its way into the hands of many professionals, whether as a primary camera or as a back-up.

The Looking Glass D80 Pro Bundle

If you'd like to be one of the first to get your hands on a D80, give us a call. The first D80s will ship in early September, paired with a 18-135 lens. The outfit alone has a manufacturers suggested retail price of $1414. We are bundling the D80 Outfit, plus the three year extended service agreement, a Hoya multi-coated UV filter, and a Kingston 2 GIG SD card all for just $1599. If you don't mind waiting a two or three months, expect the price to drop about $100 as supplies increase to meet demand.