N80/N80 QD

The N80 has long been a favorite lightweight, modern film body of mine.

 

Unfortunately, I pulled mine out to use it this afternoon and found that the film back latches were broken-something that from what I can see is not terribly uncommon on these(I just don't know how it happened in mine while in storage).

 

In any case, virtually all Nikons of this era have SOME sort of data back option. It's something that I like having-since I sometimes let rolls sit in a camera for a few weeks, I'll often turn the back on for the first photo of the day and the turn it off as a "bookmark" on the roll(at least for cameras other than the F4/F5/F6 where between-frame recording isn't available).

 

So, when I went to Ebay I went hunting for either a loose data back or for a complete camera with one.

 

I know on lower end cameras, Nikon would often designate ones with an included data back as "QD"(Quartz Date). I have a couple of N65s marked as such on the front, and they have a data imprinting back that looks similar to the one on my F100.

 

If the instruction manual is to believed, there was also an N80 QD. The problem is that either I'm a complete idiot(okay, maybe that's a given) or that the QD bodies are a bit of a unicorn. I've found a few advertised as such on Ebay, but none-not even the boxed examples that say QD on the box-seem to have any obvious data imprinting capability.

 

Am I missing something here?

 

In any case, it's not a high priority for me to replace this camera-Lord knows I have enough 35mm SLRs. I just like the N80 as a lightweight body that's fully AF-S/VR/G compatible.

Can't really trust a lot of ebay listings. The N80/F80 QD variant should have a data imprint LCD panel on the camera back.

 

KEH has a one in EX condition for $84.

 

Nikon N80 QD 35mm Camera Body

Thanks-I'd looked on KEH but I guess I'm being a cheapskate and don't want to spend that :)

 

I got spoiled by spending $20 on my first N80-I know the second might cost me a few bucks more. I'll probably keep an eye on Ebay and see if I can scoop up a kit-that's often my strategy on low end camera bodies as I can usually either get other stuff I can use or flip the excess and end up not paying very much for the camera itself.

 

There's a cheap one now(non-QD) with a 50mm 1.8D-if it's a made-in-Japan 50mm I'd probably sell my Chinese one :)

You're like me who doesn't like Made in China products. Any way I know there is the F80, F80D and F80S. The F80 is the same as the N80. The F80D print date and time. The F80S I think also print exposure information. I don't know what they called the US version.

The F80D print date and time. The F80S I think also print exposure information. I don't know what they called the US version.

 

As best as I can tell, the US only got the "N80" and "N80 QD" with the latter printing date and time. It looks like I might be well served by looking for an F80s.

 

I don't have anything particularly against made in China Nikon stuff as I consider it all high quality. Given two otherwise identical products, though, with their only difference being country of origin I'll take the made in Japan one. From what I've seen, the secondary market places a higher priority on this than I do, as a nice condition used 50mm f/1.8D made in Japan will regularly bring prices as high if not higher than a new production Made in China one.

The F80/N80 is one of my array of earlier AF cameras. I like it a lot and did an essay on it, if anyone is interested:

LinK