Nikon Coolpix P80 Expert Reviews

This is a 10 megapixel camera with a 27-486mm (film equivalent) reasonably fast (f2.8 to f4.5) zoom lens. It has effective optical stabilisation. Construction quality is good with Nikon's admired ergonomics and clear menus. Most important settings are ...

Image quality at ISO speeds up to 200 is exceptionally fine. Image noise is very well handled and we were impressed with the cleanliness of open shadows, the most difficult part of a photo to keep noise-free. Resolution and sharpness are generally ...

Isn't it time for a second generation electronic viewfinder? These low resolution affairs have never been much good and they have been around for a long time, so this is the obvious place for improvement in all-in-one superzooms.

This is a remarkably good camera. The bad old days of shutter lag are now well behind us and this little Nikon is nicely responsive. The speed of auto focus at full zoom really took us by surprise because we have become accustomed to hunting at the ...

Big numbers sell cameras. More megapixels, longer zooms, larger screens - all these things look great on websites and on showroom tickets. Most aren't of any great significance in themselves, but the exception is zoom range. Ultra-zoom cameras let you ...

Should you zoom out to buy one? A capable ultra-zoom, but not the best.

With reduced dimensions and a weight of only 365 grams, the P80 is a very compact bridge camera – therefore a multipurpose and handy device that you can take everywhere with you. Taking into account that it has no less than a 18x lens, this is worth ...

Nikon often takes advantage of its know-how in exposure management (cf the 3D colored matrix exposure of D300s). The P80 offers a correct exposure inside but tends to overexpose bright lights, which destroys fine details in high tonalities. Of course, ...

How does Nikon's contender in the superzoom stakes, the P80, compare to its big lens rivals?

Sharp images, good exposure, nice handling

Fringing, erratic noise control

The Nikon P80 is okay, but we have reservations. While the handling is generally good, it feels a bit of a lightweight and it's not the most responsive. Image quality shows good exposures, but also fringing and noise.

If you'd like a pro camera but cannot afford one, a semi-pro is a good alternative. We take a look at six worthy contenders.

The 35mm equivalent focal range of the 10.1Mp, 18x optical zoom Nikon Coolpix P80 starts at a wide angle 27mm and stretches all the way up to 486mm, allowing for a broad variety of compositions and subject matter.

The Nikon Coolpix P80 is a competent all rounder, if not particularly trailblazing in any way.

Nikon's latest model in the P-series is the P80, equipped with a host of manual and digital features for image controi, while maintaining a traditional handling experience.

As super-zoom bridge cameras go, the Nikon Coolpix P80 is okay, but there are reservations. While the handling is generally good and instinctual, it feels a bit of a lightweight and it's not the most responsive in the world. Image quality is average ...

The Nikon Coolpix P80 is a super zoom digital camera. The 18x zoom lens is one of the longest you will find on the market. This 10 megapixel model is relatively small in size. Considering the more advanced features the camera has, Nikon have done a ...

Style - controls - length of lens

Shutter lag times should be faster

This is a good, solid addition to the range of super zoom cameras already available. As you would expect it has a selection of manual exposure controls. It is also a relatively compact size.

Nikon's Coolpix P80 combines a 10-megapixel sensor with an 18x 'superzoom' lens that offers wide-angle shooting at the equivalent of 27mm in 35mm format. The overall zoom range (which extends to the equivalent of 486mm) provides a useful span of focal ...

The zoom lens on the review camera moved smoothly - and not too fast - providing a better level of precision than we've seen in some superzoom models. With brightly-lit subjects, autofocusing was fast and usually accurate, with little evidence of ...

486mm) provides a useful span of focal lengths with relatively wide maximum apertures. The camera body is compact and well designed with a comfortable rubber-coated grip and thumb rest. Weighing just over 390 grams with battery and card, it provides a ...

Rear view of the Coolpix P80 showing the location of the key controls