5 Frames with a Nikon F80

By Hamish Gill

My Nikon F75 project came to an end when I recently “upgraded” to the F80. The Nikon F80 felt almost instantaneously like it was a better choice for me. As I talk about in the last part of my Nikon F75 project the amount of the controls and level of functionality in the F80 just feels a lot more suitable for me.

These shots are from the first roll I shot with it. They were taken with a combination of the 50mm 1.8 and the 28-70 zoom with Portra 400. The camera and two lenses made for a compact enough set of kit to carry around for the day. Either second lens fit nicely in my Field Pouch alongside a spare roll of film (that I ended up not needing).

These images actually also represent a bit of a break through I’ve had in my processing of Portra 400. I’ve now found a standard set of adjustments that I apply in the scanner dialogue. Combined with these, I’ve also come a standard couple of Lightroom presets I apply to deal with noise and colour shifts introduced by the way I use the Noritsu, and then another to add contrast (I scan flat). I’m still making frame by frame adjustments in lightroom, but not many. I now feel like I’m starting to get closer to having as consistent results as to those I get out of my black and white process, which is quite pleasing… despite it feeling like it’s taken me an age to get here. More on that another time, perhaps…

Anyway, here’s some photos:

Thomas Land Thomas Land Thomas Land Thomas Land Thomas Land

More from the F80 here

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About The Author

By Hamish Gill
I started taking photos at the age of 9. Since then I've taken photos for a hobby, sold cameras for a living, and for a little more than decade I've been a professional photographer and, of course, weekly contributor to 35mmc.
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Comments

Bonus Camera Review Blog – Nikon F80 – Alex Luyckx | Blog on 5 Frames with a Nikon F80

Comment posted: 03/04/2020

[…] out the reviews by other awesome camera reviewers! Mike Eckman Dot Com – Nikon N80 Review 35mmc – 5 Frames with the Nikon F80 Ken Rockwell – Nikon F80/N80 Test Review Nikonians – The Nikon F80/N80 Review […]
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Karl Valentin on 5 Frames with a Nikon F80

Comment posted: 12/03/2018

The funny thing about all the autofocus film cameras from the first generations is
that they still do a amazing job without the "magic" anyone puts in a old mechanic
camera and you can get them as a bargain or even less.......

When I start taking pictures with film again a Nikon F4 was my first pick because
it get it on Ebay for less than 100 bugs.
I use it with manual focus leneses and the speed of autofocus never matters in my case.
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Martin south of France on 5 Frames with a Nikon F80

Comment posted: 12/03/2018

Great article. The Nikon F80 is one of the best 35mm cameras out there; one of the very last that Nikon produced. I picked one up a couple of years back for £25, ran a film through it and was amazed. Then I sold it. I missed it so much that I bought another. I particularly love the small built in flash. This is what puts it above even the F100 in my book....flash sync is not brilliant, especially in daylight but.... I shoot slide film and that light meter is spot on every time....in fact I often carry the camera just to use as a light meter for my vintage Nikons and Canons. At present these cameras are a bargain....but it will not last. Prices have already risen and will continue to do so. I plan on keeping this one!!
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 12/03/2018

I’ve been tempted to buy another before they get silly... it’s inevitable that they will Thanks :)

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Abe Fettig on 5 Frames with a Nikon F80

Comment posted: 11/03/2018

Your colors look great! I especially like that shot with the helicopter ride, very creamy whites and contrasty (but not clipped) blacks.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 11/03/2018

Cheers mate, yeah, those are two areas I feel I’ve begun to really get how I like them!

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Mark O'Brien on 5 Frames with a Nikon F80

Comment posted: 11/03/2018

I had an N80 for a few years, and liked it, except for the fact that it was useless with manual lenses. I had it drop 3 feet from my hands to a linoleum floor, and the camera's back broke off. That was it for the camera. Unfortunate, yes. I eventually bought an F100 to replace it, which I still have and use, and it takes all my lenses. The N75 is a good buy for someone that wants an easy to use and lightweight Nikon AF camera. The N80, likewise, but with a few more extras. It's too bad Nikon chose to remove features from those lower-end cameras, the most egregious being unable to meter with manual lenses. Otherwise, slapping on a 50mm series E to an N75 would have been a great combination.
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Hamish Gill replied:

Comment posted: 11/03/2018

I get it, but I’d still just rather use a MF camera with MF lenses, I’m no good with modern focusing screens and mf lenses, and don’t like the little confirmation lights

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