D80 price drop predictions?

I finally have some money to buy a D80 but I was thinking there may be a price

drop soon. I don't need the camera right away so it's no rush. I just don't

like that the Sony and Canon 10mp DSLR's are selling for $200 less then the

Nikon. Just want to know what your predictions are for a potential price drop.

Thanks!

As time goes on, the price of the D80 will drop. Have patience, grasshopper.

One thing to remember is that a jump from 8 to 10 MP is not that huge. Sure, it looks big on paper but you have to remember that the sensor is in a rectangular form. X * Y = Total MP count

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So, to make it simple:

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2MP * 3MP = 6 MP<p>

2.5MP * 3.2MP = 8 MP<p>

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Also, you have to compare the feature sets and the final output of the camera. Certain camera's are better for what they do. Regardless, the cost of the camera body will be minimal compared to a DSLR's eventual lens kit. And, with any technological item. There will always be a point where it will be cheaper. You will never win that race unless you somehow get your stuff for free.

Cameras are more than just pixel counts. Canon's Rebel line simply does not have the same build quality as the D70 and D80; that is why Rebels have always been cheaper. Meanwhile, Sony is having all sorts of problems selling the A100 and its price has dropped quite a bit in merely 3 months or so. Things are cheap for a reason, and usually it is the result of supply exceeding demand.

 

Today, you can get a D80 for $900, which is not bad:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=Search&A=details&Q=&sku=470397&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

 

If you want absolutely the cheaptest, wait another year or so until its replacement is announced ....

My prediction is 100$ drop in a year. That means that for 100$ you loose

the enjoy of using it. Meanwhile you pay for the films of F80. You decide.

<i>the cost of the camera body will be minimal compared to a DSLR's eventual lens

kit.

</i><p> Not always. I've used just the 18-70 kit lens with a D70 for over a year

and

it's fine.<p><!--img src="http://chaospress.com/other_pics/

isabellaweb.jpg"--><p>

If you wait about 5 years, or possibly 10 years, it will be really, really cheap. Buy it now and start enjoying it!

The D80 will probably begin to drop in price with the approach of it's replacement. One thing I considered when purchasing my D200 was potential resale value. I realize the resale value of any camera is always much less than it's retail price; however, it seems that higher grade cameras retain their value slightly better. Having said that, I would go ahead and purchase the D80, or if you want to save money look for a good D70s. I realize everyone says it is a relic and an antique, but in fact it is still a wondeful camera.

I agree with the general sentiment expressed here that 'megapixels are not all' but I do want to take some measured issue with the statement (here expressed by Yuri Sopko) that you frequently see, followed by the arithmatic to calculate out small-sounding linear-size differences, that megapixel increases aren't any big deal at all.

 

That logic doesn't really seem quite right to me -- e.g. an 8x10 is four times as big as a 4x5. I daresay it would be perceived as such to a viewer, too (i.e. it is not merely twice as big). Guess what -- said 8x10 uses four times as many megapixels to have the same density of pixels per inch as does that 4x5. The relationship between megapixels and picture area *is* linear. So, in Yuri's example, that 8MP example is in fact a third "bigger" than that 6MP example in the way that would matter, not some much smaller difference derived by calculating linear dimensions along a single side.

Thanks for the responses,

I know that the price will EVENTUALLY drop...I just don't want it to drop right after I buy the camera! It's selling for $1149 CDN now compared to $949 CDN for the XTI.

These models seem to be selling very well. There are millions of 'bay pages with vendors selling them. A couple dealers were temporarily sold out.

 

Additionally Nikon (in common with most big players) have been shocked at the amount of D-SLR sales they've enjoyed over the last few months. WSJ had an article about this recently.

 

Nikon USA just had a series of rebates offered or some of its equipment- no D80 on the list.

 

I expect the price to hold steady for longer than we might normally expect. Heck, they might even be able to get away with an interim price increase.

Bryan & Ann, The D80 is a class above the Sony and Canon so there is no real comparison.

 

I bought the D80 early because the value of my D70 was falling quicker than the D80 price was likely to fall. But the main reason was the longer I have the D80, before it is replaced by the D90. The more value I will gain from my purchase.

 

When the price is reduced it is because the camera is older. And worth less because of the impending update.

it's called the D40. Of course these camera are not molecule-for-molecule equivalents and

I am a little disappointed with the absence of an autofocus motor inside the D40, but what

a helluva camera Nikon is selling us with the D40. Since I am most interested in the end

product, I am not going to wait until I can afford to buy a D200. I have a D40 kit on order

and (based on my hands-on testing) I know I am going to have a lot o fun with it. BTW, I

am not a Nikon shill. It's just that I have been buying and shooting Nikon steadily for over

40 years and have never gotten anything but outstanding results. I just love the

equipment.

Hi there, you could buy in Montreal for $1069 Canadian at the 'Centre Japonais de la Photo'

 

Hope this help.

'The D80 has already dropped in price...it's called the D40.'

 

Jim, You have got to be kidding?

The D40 is well named, in my opinion it is about half as good as the D80.

The D80 is such a successful camera, it may take a little longer for it to drop in price. I think the D80 is what caused the D200 price to drop so much - it had to hurt the D200 sales quite a bit - it's basically the same camera in a more compact, lighter body. But there isn't anything to really drive the D80 demand significantly down right now. I got lucky and got mine from Circuit City before the holidays for $799. I think by early summer most reputable dealers will have it at that price.

I have the perfect formula for predicting this. The price will drop as soon as you buy one. Happens every time.

I'm going to agree with Rich. Happened with my D50. But I'd say go ahead and spend your extra 200 pents on the D80 IF ITS WHAT YOU NEED.

I've had mine for roughly a month and I cant put it down! It's a piece of work. You wont regret it.

You might want to consider buying it from a dealer with a 30 day price guarantee if this is a major concern to you. The way most of them work that is that if you buy from them then find it cheaper within 30 days they'll refund 110% of the difference in price...and many of those dealers include if THEY offer it cheaper within 30 days as well.

 

Personally, I wouldn't expect a drop within 90 days (minimum).

It is March 01, 2007 now and I am looking at some vendors that sell D80 body only for $300-$400 range -- while at B&H it is still listed for $924.95. Are these vendors that sell D80 so cheap reliable?

Each D80 costs B&H a lot more than $400. Do you really think some other store can sell it for $400 and make money? If you are still not convinced, go ahead and order from those stores and see what happens. I wouldn't give them your credit card number, though.

Hang in there just a little longer and I predict a decent price drop on the D80 as the D3 (pro

Camera} as well as the D300 are due out in the stores in November.