Nikon P80

[corkyg]

A week ago, I posted a query about views re Nikon's P80 - a high class P&S unit. After reading the notes and all the reviews, I decided to take a chance - what the heck! Brown delivered it today from B&H.

As soon as I got the battery charged, I put in a SD card and got a qujick pair of AUTO P&S mode w/flash using our TV room as a target. This is the coverage w/flash at the widest angle (27mm.)

P80-2

And here is the same room but at max zoom - same flash . . . 486mm:

P80-3

 

[Blain]

Those pics kind of suck.
Is there any filtering done to them?

 

[Illusio]

I agree. they are pretty grainy. What ISO setting were you using?

 

[Aharami]

not impressed. The S3 gives better pics than that

 

[corkyg]

OK - here are a few more samples. This was shot from my front porch looking down the driveway at max wide angle (27mm.) Mode was P Auto.

Wide

From the same spot, and same settings, this was at max zoom (486mm) focusinn on the top of the saguaro cactus:

Zoom

Lastly, an indoor close up w/flash showing what I have ready to go for Europe next month:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Corky-G/DSCN0009.JPG

This shows the small Li-ion Nikon charger that came with the P80, and its A/C cord. The Euro plug adapter and a handy Euro 3 port multiplier I picked up in Germany at a hardware store.

The Nikon charger is good at voltages from 100 to 240 at 50 to 60 Hz.

 

[Blain]

Did you use a tripod? :roll:

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Blain
Did you use a tripod? :roll:

Not yet. Not even a monopod. Don't forget - this is a P&S operation.

 

[Aharami]

so do you like this better than the S3?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Aharami
so do you like this better than the S3?

Overall, yes. But, I have a long way to go on the learning curve. It takes some getting used to - I mean the menus are separate for each mode. Setting the ISO is somewhat of a mystery still.

But for a lightweight travel P&S unit, it has a lot of potential.

But - it is not anywhere near this level . . . Took this today with my EOS 5D:

Lily

You find the bug?

 

[Illusio]

You feeling any different about the Nikon after spending some more time with it?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Dark Jedi
You feeling any different about the Nikon after spending some more time with it?

Yes - learning the multi-layered menu system takes a bit of persistence - I am frequently referring to the manual.

But, the advantages of size and weigh combined with air travel and other items being carried, make the P80 my choice for my forthcoming trip to Portugal.

Got this picture yesterday - shows the top of our saguaro cactus and how it has become a juice bar for local birds. The red fruits are very juicy and sweet.

Fruit

 

[corkyg]

Went out to get the mail today - saw a dove chowing down on top of the big saguaro. We back inside and grabbed the P80 for a quickie - full auto.

Hot Dove

It was 2:00 PM - and very hot - 110 F. The dove stayed for a long time - maybe too drunk to fly. Thos cactus fruits do ferment in the hot sun, and these are over a week old.

 

[Illusio]

Nice.
Have you done much nighttime/low light shooting?

 

[corkyg]

Here are two low light shots - daytime low light. The room was illuminated by a skylight in the next room. The picturers make it look much brighter. It was too dark to read!

First - this picture is with the Canon EOS 5D and a f/1.2 lens set at ISO 1600 in P mode. Hand held, seated in my TV chair. In ech case, the focus was on the TV screen

5D

Second, approximately the same are from the same chair using the P80. It was also set in P mode, and the ISO is AUTO. I haven't figured out how to get to the ultra low light settings - ISO 1600, 3200, and 6400.

P80

 

[corkyg]

Snt a little more time climbing the learning hill. I generally don't care much for the P80's layered menu system - hard to remember where things are. Anyway, I hit two improvements in the low light world - manual focus and white balance. Here is a full auto shot - illumination a small desk lamp. Of course, the white balance and focus are off.

Auto

Now I found the simple menu change to shift the white balance to "incandescent" and also switched to closeup focus.

WB

Little by little - it gets better.

 

[Blain]

Sample Shots from the P80 at Steve's Digicam

 

[corkyg]

Thanks, Blain! That is something to shoot for. I think I'll keep it. But . . . it is in no way a simple, P&S camera. The Canon S3 is or S5 is easier to use. The multi-layered menu syst is not easy to grasp. Each mode has a different set of menus.

 

[Illusio]

I'm still trying to decide between the Nikon P80 and the Canon S5 (and panasonic DMC-FZ18). They all seem to have their pros and cons. Was there anything that tipped the scales for you?

 

[episodic]

FZ18 for the win.

 

[Illusio]

Originally posted by: episodic
FZ18 for the win.

Any particular reason?

 

[corkyg]

If I had it to do over, I think I would try the FZ18 - primarily for the lens. The cost is also significantly less. Also, it can do RAW format.

DPR