Just bought an N80

<p>Ok, I just bought an N80 in what looks to be very nice condition, on eBay (for $41 + shipping LOL). My first impression upon seeing and holding one for the first time was that of a camera that appeared rock solid outwardly yet felt really flimsy to the touch. I just can't believe how compact and light this camera is compared to my 2 N90s bodies or even my relatively compact N8008s. The user interface is slightly different as well, almost Canon-ish. It kind of looks like a little baby F100. <br>

I used Canon EOS bodies for years, until the price of film equipment dropped low enough for me to finally gratify my camera lust. <br>

The thing is, the rubberized material that covers the body and film door seems to have accumulated quite a bit of stubborn lint/fibers from whatever use it saw with the previous owner (which obviously wasn't much because the camera looks nearly unused). <br>

What's the best way to give the rubber on this camera a good sanitizing wipe-down without ruining it?<br>

I typically use some Canon lens fluid on a soft cloth to clean hard plastic but I'm apprehensive of using it on the soft rubber without damaging it somehow. <br>

Does anybody have any ideas? I can't get the lint to budge with a blower. I never have these types of issues with my own cameras since I am very conscientious when it comes to keeping them clean.<br>

Thanks!</p>

<p>I put a body cap on and carefully use <a href="http://www.armorall.com.au/content.aspx?id=33">'Armour All'</a> car upholstry / trim protectant with a limited size applicator like an ear bud or mini pec pad type applicator. I've done so on four bodies with no effects other than perfectly clean rubberised parts. I often get light duty soil stains on the right hand grip of my camera and find the protectant product best to lift the residue and leave the rubberized bits looking new. Armour All is maybe only an Australian product but I'm sure any polymer based plastics protectant will perform a similar task.</p>

<p>yes, the N70 and N80 were called the baby F100.............but no, don't use any kind of "oily" cleaner on a camera body, unless you'll just put it up on display and not use it. otherwise you'll get oil transfer to almost all the other parts of the camera and lens..............i'd use just a damp magic cloth. be patient with several gentle rubs.</p>

<p>well, just my thought.</p>

<p>I've long been certain that Armour All would "restore" the look of the rubber grips on a camera body, but also figured that its oily or slippery nature would not be desirable.</p>

<p>I've used ammonia-free Windex sprayed onto a lint-free cloth to wipe down my cameras for a long time. Doesn't really give them a restored look but cleans well.</p>

<p>The Armour All doesn't leave any slippery or tacky residue at all - granted I use it sparingly and I wipe away any excess with a lint free cloth. I've used it literally dozens of times on D70,200,300 and 700 grips as well as the MB-D10 grip rubber - no slick, no residue just clean grips.</p>

<p>I found that nothing seems to cure 'sticky' N80's sadly. Some just seem to gather dust and fibres like nobody's business. When new they did not do it, but for some reason some seem to do it now. The finish goes a bit soft I think. A damp microfibre cloth (the plush type) helps but the camera will continue to gather dust. I purchaced some new camera backs for my N70's in the end and that was an end to the dust sticking to those, but N80 backs are not so easy.</p>

Don't underestimate the N80's toughness. It's made out of polycarbonate, which is a fairly resilient plastic. And yes, your initial impression is correct: this camera was nicknamed "the baby F100" for a good reason: it's a stripped-down version of the F100, and a lot lighter to boot. It has some 14 custom functions (I believe, cannot recall the exact number) and it's a very good performer with all types of AF glass. I used to have one. In fact, it was my entry camera to AF SLRs, but sold it after I got myself an F100 because I simply didn't use it.

 

As for the cleaning... I'd do it with a damp microfiber cloth. If you absolutely must, take a minuscule amount of silicone to keep the dust off, but be very, very careful with it, as it will make the body slippery.

<p>I've used the Armor-All Vinyl/Leather Cleaner on old leather/rubber without any adverse effects. Worked great on an F90s back that was very sticky. After the Armor-All Cleaner the N90s went from Sticky to just Tacky. I've got an F100 that I've been cleaning w/ Armor-All Cleaner since I got it in early 2001 and the rubber still looks like new. I've also noticed my F100's rubber is still tight against the body. A friend's F100's rubber has come loose under the right-hand grip and you can feel air between the rubber and the body. He told me he used basically water and sometimes glass-cleaner on his F100's rubber.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for all the responses. I initially bought the N80 as a "kick around" camera to take everywhere. Now I'm starting to like it so much that I'm considering purchasing some other body to kick around! With current prices, I should probably just pick up another one!<br>

I've owned an N70 in the past, which was a great camera when it worked. I had it repaired by Nikon USA in Melville a few years back but they never corrected the problem and when I took it out of storage a few weeks ago the film door had turned into a gooey black mess! <br>

I might be wrong, but it seems to me that the N80's penchant for accumulating fibers/lint doesn't appear to be related to the "melting" problem of the earlier N-series cameras.<br>

Does anybody here own an N80 body whose rubber is "melting"? <br>

You'd think Nikon would have taken measures to correct something like this! </p>

 

<p>I had an F80 and really liked it. But it was prone to scratching film, even after a couple of trips in for service. Apparently there was a modified part for the film winding side that Nikon could install, but I didn't bother.<br>

I'd be curious to know if any of your negatives have scratches. They line up with the little wheels on the right-hand (takeup) side of the film back.<br>

I've always been tempted to look for another, cheap F80. Especially since my dad gave me a couple of lenses and other bodies (F75 and F90x.) The F80 seems like a good sweet spot of high performance, size and light weight.</p>

<p>Hi David,</p>

<p>There is a product for revitalizing rubber and plastic trim on automobiles called <a href="http://www.mothers.com/02_products/06108.html">Back-to-Black</a> made by Mothers. Years ago an assistant of mine turned me on to this trick. It works well to eliminate the stickiness of camera bodies when the rubber covering starts to deteriorate. Apply Back-to-Black and then wipe off the excess well and the rubber surface will not be sticky or slippery either. Unfortunately, once the rubber camera covering starts to deteriorate, nothing will stop the progression. You can only slow it down with this product.</p>

<p>Congrats on your new find, have fun loading/shooting with it this weekend!</p>

<p>I know this is an old thread, but I just got out my N80 a few weeks ago to sell it, and noticed the really sticky back (must've gotten it while in storage). Just wanted to add my 2 cents. Windex works WONDERS. Wiped it down with Windex and a microfiber cloth (Sprayed Windex on the cloth to make it damp), and all the stickiness/residue is gone, it really does look same as new, no stickiness, no rubber coming off, perfect. Of course, I did rub pretty vigorously, but it did the trick! Of course, the camera functions perfectly, but now it looks great too!</p>

 

<p>I know I'm reviving an old thread yet again, but I pulled my N80 out of the camera bag just a few minutes ago and noticed it was sticky all over the textured surfaces, so I jumped on the web to search for this, and came across this thread. I I tried the Windex trick and it seemed to help, but I wonder how long it will last before it starts "melting" all over again.</p>

I work as manager of a camera store in Wilmington, NC....I have found a great solution for removing the sticky mess from old camera bodies, such as the Nikon N90s and others. I tried all sorts of different ways, as described here and in other posts, but the VERY BEST solution was to use CleanTouch Cleaning Wipes, designed for the kitchen and bath. They easily removed the stickiness without harming the the back or removing any materials. It took about five minutes of rubbing, but it is by far the best way I have found to remove the dreaded sticky back syndrome :)

I haven't tried Armor All on a camera, but as a side note, don't use it on your motorcycle seat. It's embarrassingly slippery.

Now I'm starting to like it so much that I'm considering purchasing some other body to kick around! With current prices, I should probably just pick up another one!

 

Have your tried an F100 camera. It's much much better than the N80. I had owned both the film days of my prior life.

Have your tried an F100 camera. It's much much better than the N80. I had owned both the film days of my prior life.

 

I love my F100, and consider it the pinnacle of Nikon non-pro SLRs.

 

Still, though, I like and use my N80. For $20, I have a super lightweight camera that gives me complete compatibility with all AF, AF-D, AF-S, VR, and G lenses. Of course, I had to go and make mine bigger and heavier by putting the battery grip on it-I'd go without if it weren't for the fact that I'd rather not have to use CR123s. Considering that they're cheap in bulk and lithiums last forever in storage, I should just buy a bunch and forget about it for a while.

 

I'm not getting rid of my F100, but the N80 definitely has a place in my bag at times. I like it for the same reasons the late Galen Rowell liked it-it's small, light, and capable.

 

BTW, I'm pretty sure I've managed to get all of the N80-based DSLRs including the D100, Fuji S2 and S3, and Kodak DCS 14/n(I guess I do need an SLR/n). I think Kodak at least probably would have used an F100 if it had been made available to them, but they still managed to build a good(or decent enough in the case of the Kodak) camera on the N80 body.

F100 is nice, but don't sell the N80, better known world wide as the F80 short. It, and the N90 are much cheaper alternatives to the F100, the admitted high point of that series. [Link].

 

Everyone would give proper respect to some of these cameras if they had just added some lead weights to them :rolleyes:

It, and the N90 are much cheaper alternatives to the F100,

 

I have an N90s, and it's a good camera.

 

With that said, it's loud, heavy, loud, slow to focus, loud, and did I mention that it's loud? The F100 is definitely a much more refined camera.

 

Even though the N80 is a lower end body than either the N90(s) or F100, the AF is much better.

 

Also, if someone wants to use modern lenses the N90(s) is handicapped with G lenses since they will only work in P and S mode.

F100s are unbelievably inexpensive at eBay, to the tune of below $100. An superior value costing not much more than N80 and N90.

F100s are unbelievably inexpensive at eBay, to the tune of below $100. An superior value costing not much more than N80 and N90.

 

I'm not trying to knock the F100-far from it in fact. I think someone who wants to use modern lenses would be hard pressed to find a better all-around camera. Mine has stayed loaded since I bought it.

 

With that said, I think your price assessment is a bit off. Local prices are running in the $150-200 range(I think I paid at the upper end of that for my fairly nice one) and a quick check of Ebay sold listings shows that working examples are selling for this much also. The only ones I saw under $100 were ones specifically listed as parts/repair.

 

Of the "common" Nikon SLRs, its price is about in line with the F3, F4, and FM2. About the only ones that still bring stronger prices(or at least the only of what I'd consider "user" cameras) are nice FM2Ns, F5s, F6s, and F2ASs. When you look at "modern"(by that I mean command wheel/LCD cameras) SLRs only the F5 and F6 bring more money. I think that's a testament to how much people still like the camera. I have MOST of the AF Nikon film cameras, and I paid $50 or less for all but the single digit cameras. Not too long ago, I paid $5 for an N70-a camera folks love to hate-and the batteries it came with were worth that much. My point in all of that is that pickings are plentiful for someone who just wants a film Nikon, but they still opt for the F100.

 

By contrast, as I mentioned I paid $20 locally for my N80. I think they do a bit better on Ebay and at the used sellers, but not by a dramatic amount. To me, it's a perfect "I'm mostly going to shoot digital but I want a film body with me" camera. It's easy to use, has a great meter, decent enough autofocus, and is 100% compatible with all my "modern" lenses(although AF-P and E are still off limits). It does give up non-CPU metering vs. the F100.

 

If I'm getting more serious about 35mm film shooting(which is quite often) usually a "better" in some way body comes out. I'll either go full manual with an FM2N, F2 of some sort or another, or sometimes an F just for the heck of it(or one of any number of other interesting bodies) OR I'll go "full modern" with an F4, F5, or F100. Actually, truthfully if I want to get serious about film I'll use my Hasselblad or Pentax 645 for portability(both have their uses, even though ultimately the Hasselblad is my top choice) or I'll haul out the Mamiya RB67 or 4x5 if portability is less important. Still, though, the humble little $20 N80 has a home in my bag.

With that said, I think your price assessment is a bit off.

Sorry, the ones below $100 are on auction. My oversight. Many were sold somewhere a bit more than $100. A few below $100.

Funny enough, one of the undergrads came and talked to me the other day about buying a film camera for his girlfriend. He was initially looking at an Olympus OM-1, but after probing a bit further I found out that she is already into photography and has a D7xxxx along with a handful of nice older film-era lenses she uses on it.

 

After talking a bit, I convinced him that a Nikon SLR was the way to go and initially suggested an N80 for the small investment. There again, my argument was that it was inexpensive and light while offering a huge amount of lens compatibility. I brought in both my N80 and F100, and after playing with both he was 100% sold on the F100. I think went and bought one from the local camera shop that afternoon(I called and they had one for $195 that I knew was nice).