Nikon D80 with DX 18-70mm f3.5-4.5 (bundled lens) coverage
18-70mm at 18mm, f11 (27mm equivalent)		18-70mm at 70mm, f11 (105mm equivalent)

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Nikon D80 viewfinder

The D80’s viewfinder is one of the highlights of the entire camera. Like the D200, it’s a
Pentaprism design which delivers 95% coverage and an impressive 0.94x magnification. The Pentaprism allows a noticeably brighter view than the penta-mirror arrangement of cameras like the EOS 400D / Rebel XTi, but it’s the magnification and visible field that’s really special.

The D80’s viewfinder, like the D200, simply delivers a much larger apparent view than models like the EOS 400D / XTi or the D70(s) which sport lower 0.8x and 0.75x magnifications respectively. Unlike many digital SLRs with smaller than full-frame sensors, there’s no feeling with the D80 that you’re peering through a letterbox or down a tunnel. It’s not quite what you’ll experience with a genuine full-frame body like Canon’s 5D, but easily remains one of the best views you’ll have through a body with a smaller sensor.

While the Canon 400D / XTi and Sony A100 both sport 9-point AF systems, the D80 boasts an 11-point system based on the D200’s Multi-CAM 1000. There’s three AF modes: AF-S (single), AF-C (continuous servo) and AF-A which automatically switches between them. You can also choose between Single Area AF which only focuses on subjects in a manually selected area, Dynamic Area AF which follows the subject if it moves from a selected area, and Auto Area AF which checks all 11 focus areas and activates the ones on the primary subject.

The 11 focusing points are shown as tiny squares in the viewfinder and like the D200 become outlined or illuminated red when active. And along with being able to manually select any point, you can switch the center focus area from normal to wide frame. It’s a classy system both in looks and operation which is ahead of its rivals.

Following earlier Nikon digital SLRs, a number of items can also be optionally overlaid on the main viewfinder frame itself. Like the D200, there’s an indicator in the lower left corner for Black and White mode, along with icons indicating low battery and card not present; all three can be disabled using a custom function if required.

Again like the D200 and D70(s), there’s also a custom menu function to overlay a three-by-three grid, which can greatly aid composition; this is a feature we’re very fond of at Cameralabs and would like to see on every digital SLR. It makes the physical swapping of a focusing screen (as required with higher-end Canon bodies) seem quite prehistoric, not to mention expensive. And remember you don’t even get the option to switch screens on cheaper Canon bodies like the 400D / XTi or 30D.

Information running along the bottom of the main frame includes shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation scale, indicators for focus, flash value, AE lock, Auto ISO mode, low battery, flash compensation, bracketing, flash ready and shots remaining. Sadly there’s no ISO value shown in the viewfinder at all times though, even when the ISO button’s pressed; so beware if you’re the kind of person who shoots at high ISOs in the evening but forgets to reduce it before shooting under normal conditions the following day. The D200’s viewfinder impressively shows ISO, exposure and metering modes at all times. To be fair, the D80’s programmable Function button to the right side of the lens is set by default to display the ISO in the viewfinder when pressed, but it would still be nice to have it shown at all times.

Ultimately the D80’s entire viewfinder experience, from the large bright view to the overlaid graphics and 11-point AF system is not only far superior to the Canon 400D / XTi and Sony A100, but also better than products like Canon’s EOS 30D and 5D. If it also always showed the ISO value, it’d be almost perfect.