N80 for Travel

[masuro]

I took my D300 plus a lot of prime lenses, flash, batteries, charger, &c. to Canada this summer and almost

immediately regretted it. Not because the D300 isn't a great camera; it's very, very good but for travelling I

think less is more. My wife and I plan to travel abroad every summer and I am looking for something lightweight

yet good enough for most purposes. I don't shoot wildlife or sports so I don't need something like an F6 or a D3.

I decided while in Canada that I would buy an AF film camera (I have a Contax 645 but that's too heavy for

travel. I also have an FM3a but manual focus means I would probably miss some snapshots.) and a single zoom to

keep things light and simple. I've decided to get the AF-S 24-85 f/2.8-4 and shoot negative film (easy to find

and process anywhere). I originally thought of getting an F100 but it's somewhat heavy. I'm looking for a

camera that's light but offers all the functions I need. I've read a number of positive reviews of the F80 and

it seems like a very good travel camera. It's light, has lots of functions, and can be bought for cheap. The

only thing that bothered me was the use of CR123 batteries but if it gets 30 rolls per battery then bringing just

a few spare should be fine.

What I want to ask other Photo.net readers is if they have had experience using this camera for casual travel.

Has anyone used both the F100 and F80 and, for casual travel purposes, will the F100 give me extra benefits?

I.e. have you every missed a shot because you were using an F80 and not an F100?

[Jerry_]

If you want something to run on four AA cells, you could locate a lightly used N8008s or F801s body. If you get the AF (non-S) 24-85mm f2.8D-f4D lens, it will work on the N8008s, but the 'G' or a AF-S lens may not. For general shooting on film, the older N8008s bodies keep on plugging away.

[russ_konrad]

<b>"...but that's too heavy for travel..."</b>

<p>

<b>"...originally thought of getting an F100 but it's somewhat heavy..."</b>

<P>

<strike>

If those two camera bodies are "too heavy" for you - you really need to spend some time at a gym and develop some basic muscle mass before someone kicks sand in your face on the beach!

<p>

Seriously - the F100 is a GREAT body that weighs almost nothing for anyone older than a 10 year old girl.

<p>

My 13 year old daughter uses my Nikon F5 and D3 on a regular basis with a 70-200 f/2.8 lens and gets outstanding results and she never complains about how much it weighs.

</strike>

[masuro]

Yes, it's off to the gym to compete with the little girls. :)

I suppose I should have been more specific about the weight issue. Shooting with the cameras is not a big deal and I regularly use my Contax 645 with no problem. The weight problem comes into play when I have to carry cameras and equipment around for a month. I prefer a shoulder bag for travelling becuase of the easy access.

I looked at the N8008s but it wouldn't work with all the lenses I have. Thank you for the suggestion, though.

[calvin_lee]

I have owned both cameras and can say that the N80 (F80) is significantly lighter than the F100. Though I don't think the F100 is all that heavy, the N80 feels like it weighs almost nothing compared to it. You should be able to pick one up in good condition for under $100.

[vinh]

I've owned both the N80 and F100, and still own the F100. The N80 is incredibly light... weighs nothing in comparison to the F100. Adding the battery grip (MB16) to the N80 improves handling significantly (this comes from someone with very small hands) and allows the use of AA batteries--I'd recommend it.

 

I do think the N80 makes a better travel camera than the F100, given its weight, especially when paired with prime lenses. N80 + nifty fifty, great combo.

[constance_cook]

I have both and definitely agree with Calvin and Vinh. The camera has good functionality and really is lightweight. For the size, it is not fragile.

 

I still have mine and use it when I want an AF camera and small size.

 

Conni

[richard_driscoll]

I don't know if you have any MF lenses for the FM3A that you wanted to use but the N80 won't meter with them whereas the F100 will. That and the higher sync speed are the main advantages, I think.

[richard_beisigl]

I own the N80, and it is a very good camera, with more than enough features for any photographer ; both beginning and advanced.

It is light weight and it really has a good feel to it.

[photo5]

I really don't think the F100 is a heavy camera, and the benefits outweigh the drawbacks when compared to the N80. I would recommend the F100 over the N80 for the viewfinder, faster AF, better build, metering with MF primes, in-viewfinder information display, etc. I had the N80 and the F100 before it, and was never really happy with the N80.

[photo5]

Another big reason to use the F100 over the N80, is you can use rechargeable AA's with it, rather than the expensive Lithiums the N80 requires. Someone recommended an n8008s, but I don't think it will work with AF-S lenses, or G lenses for that matter. Go with the F100, you won't regret it. It is simply the best AF film body Nikon ever made.

[masuro]

Thank you all for the responses. I think I will probably get the F80. It's much cheaper and I will most likely only be using it for travel. I don't have any MF lenses that I use with the FM3a (well, one, but I very rarely use it). For serious film work I use my Contax. It's a shame there are no rechargeable batteries for the F80 but buying a few lithium batteries for travel is okay.

[psul_aul]

Surefire flashlights use the same CR123 batteries. And they sell them on their web site pretty cheaply.

I think it is www.surefire.com.

 

I too, think the N80 is a great travel camera. I've used both an N80 and F100 and in normal daylight conditions there is not much difference in autofocus ... the metering systems are the same, and it comes with the built in flash which works great for fill. I don't think you will regret getting one.

[huntrbll]

At the risk of being contrary and showing my age, I suggest a couple of manual focus Nikons.....perhaps a pair of FGs, which are quite compact. Pair these with 24/28, 50, and 105/135mm lenses and they make a great film-based traveling kit. Yes, you give up autofocus, but these lenses in manual focus are smooth to use, you have the option of two different films loaded in each body, and you have a backup body in case Murphy and his laws raises his ugly head.....I won't travel with just one camera body........

[masuro]

I may bring my FM3a as a backup but I am not sure. I like using manual focus cameras but I want auto-focus for travelling. Sometimes I'm just really slow cocking the shutter and trying to focus.

[will_daniel1]

A note about taking a lot of equipment into Canada: Many, many years ago, when I was a sales rep for a major 35mm camera company, I took my wife on a vacation to Montreal. At the Canadian border, I had to open my trunk in response to whether I had any alcohol with me; I had one bottle of Scotch whisky in the trunk. When I opened the trunk and they saw case after case of photo equipment, the alcohol no longer mattered. They escorted me into a little room and interrogated me about the photo equipment. Because I had business cards on me I was able to convince them they were just salesman's samples and I was on vacation. Bottom line: they thought I was a pro photographer coming into their country to shoot without a work permit of some sort. Lesson learned.

 

Will

[DWScott]

The F80 is a GREAT travel camera. Very light, but sturdy. It handles really well, with or without the battery grip. Choice of using the battery grip depends on the weight of lens you attach.

 

The only issue I would have with the F80 for travel is very cold weather. I found that below minus 5 degrees Celsius, the F80 couldn't muster the battery power to work reliably.

 

I haven't owned an F100, but look at the cameras side by side and the F100 is a much more substantial chunk of gear to carry around.

[hajo_g2]

Marcus,

 

I have both the F80 and F100 and usually travel with both of them together (one for color and b/w film each).

 

Wilst the F100 is a fantastic camera, the only practical advantage for travel photography which I use often is that I

can attach an MF wideangle, set it to hyperfocal distance and fire away without having to worry about focus. (This is,

in theory, also possible with an AF lens coupled with the F80, however the DOF markings and smooth focussing

rings on the AI(s) lenses make this a lot easier and enjoyable.)

 

Even with an MB-16 battery grip, the F80 is significantly ligther than the F100, and still it doen't feel too plasticky.

Also, that built-in speedlight may come in handy sometimes.

 

As opposed to older cameras like N8008 etc. someone mentioned above (which I also used to have), the F80 has

the same user interface like modern DSLRs. Personally, I wouldn't want to go back.

 

As I'm about to switch to digital this month with the purchase of a D80, the F80, and not the F100, is the film camera

I'm keeping. I find it more practical, for exactly the same reasons for which you are considering it.

 

As for a light zoom lens, unless you need the 24mm end, may I strongly recommend the 28-70/3.5-4.5 AFD, a real

sleeper. It's small and light and takes standard 52mm filters. As I've said in previous threads it is sharp, contrasty,

has very good color rendition and is probably the best Nikon consumer zoom for pictures with the sun in the image

due to it's excellent correction against flare and ghosting.

[masuro]

Will,

Interesting story about entering Canada. I suppose I would have to be careful if I showed up with my medium format camera, tripod, bag of filters, and so on but I haven't had any trouble yet. I did get a car searched once because a friend said she had a bottle of rum.

 

David,

Thank you for the warning about the cold weather. I usually travel in the summer so I don't expect to have any problems. I had my FM3a freeze up on me one year in Canada. I think it was about -30 Celsius so no surprise.

 

Hajo,

What is the focal length of the wideangle you use for hyperfocal shooting? Thank you for the lens recommendation. I don't need 24mm but I do like 85mm and the 2.8-4 maximum f-stop. The 24-85 zoom takes 72mm filters but so do my Contax medium format lenses so I already have a number of basic filters. I did order a polarising filter today that was quite expensive. Ugh.

[hajo_g2]

"What is the focal length of the wideangle you use for hyperfocal shooting?"

 

I'm using an Ai Nikkor 2.8/24mm. I used to have an old Sigma AF 2.8/24, but that was one of a horrible lens, I'm affraid to say.

[hajo_g2]

One more thing, Marcus,

 

I don't mean to discourage you, and usually I wouldn't want to comment on a lens I haven't used myself. But since I once considered the 24-85/2.8-4 myself and researched all the reviews, I thought I might comment. You said that you want the 2.8-4 f-stops. Unfortunately, its appears to be a uniform verdict in several reviews that the lens is worst at exactly these apertures. It is said to be quite soft wide open, so the extra half-stop may not be as helpful as you think.

[Jim_Tardio]

I think you would be better off with a D60 (or the just announced D90) and the 16-85 VR lens. You're not gaining anything but another headache by traveling with film. The 24-85/2.8-4 is an OK lens at best, with a lot of sample variation.

<p>

I travel internationally several times a year and there's no way I'd go back to film.

<p>

I also don't understand why people think it's better to have a body that uses AA batteries. A charged backup battery is all that is needed for a full day of shooting. It's cheaper in the long run.

<p>

You already have one of the best film cameras around in the FM3a. Use that if you must use film.

[rick_donnelly]

Marcus:

 

The N80 is perfect for your intended use. It is my choice for film shooting on the road as well, even though I have the F100 and several other bodies. The 24-85 3.5/4.5G is a perfect complement for this purpose, as it is lighter and more compact than the 2.8-4 while actually delivering better images according to most expert reviewers like thom hogan. For low light I also carry either the 35/2 or 50/1/.4. The 24-85 3.5/4.5 is discontinued and a little hard to find but worth the effort.

The only downsides to the N80 are that you can't use manual lenses and f-stop adjusment is only in 1/2 stops, not 1/3. Since your shooting print film that shouldn't matter. A big advantage (to me) of the N80 is that it is a very quiet camera, much more so than the F100 or fm3a. Probably the quietest of all nikons. I've used it discreetly in churches and museums.

[masuro]

Thanks again for the responses. The F80 is very quiet, indeed. I'm quite impressed with that. I want to

use negative film, not digital, because while travelling I might not have the best lighting conditions.

Many events take place in the afternoon when contrast is very high and negative film is good at

capturing a wide range of light. Also, I like the look of negative film.

I haven't had any photos printed yet so I can't comment on the lens. I do know that it focuses extremely

close on my D300.

[masuro]

Today I got back the first set of prints from a roll of Superia Reala film I used in the F80 with the 24-

85mm lens. I am very happy with everything. The film is good and I love the look of the colours. The

camera exposes and focuses very well (I made a few mistakes) and the lens is sharp. I don't regret

buying this at all and I will probably use it for more than travel.