For every aspiring photographer High performance that satisfiesall shooting styles 10.2 effective megapixel CCD image sensor Advanced image processing engine Improved 11-area AF system 0.18 sec. start-up and short release time lag 2.5-inch LCD with wide viewing angle Large, bright 0.94x viewfinder Nikon D-SLR build quality and fine ergonomic design D-Lighting, Filters effects and a wide range ofimage enhancement optionsTwo photographers, Italy and the D80Photographers from different fields share their impressionsafter shooting with the D80 on a trip to Italy. ?gThe D80 is a perfect camera for every aspiring photographerand fully capable of satisfying the most demanding.?hHien Lam Duc?gThe camera provided satisfying resultsthat were sharp and clear.?hYves PaternosterYves PaternosterBorn in France, Yves studiedphotography in Amsterdamand began working as afreelance photographer. Currently living in Amsterdam,Yves focuses primarily oncommercial photography.Cinque TerreHien Lam DucBorn in Laos, Hien emigratedto France at the age of 16. He began his career as aphotojournalist with a serieson the Mekong River. Hiennow lives in Paris andphotographs around theworld, with particularconcentration on Laos.23About shooting in Italy - -H (Hien): I ve long dreamed of shooting inVenice. As a photojournalist, I always strive toconvey the moment just as I see it with my owneyes. This demands a great amount of footworkto get acquainted with the location, and the timeto establish a rapport with the locals. Shootingearly in the morning with the D80 left an immediateimpression on me. There was limited light, andthat was comprised of a mixture of natural andartificial light. A film camera in such a situationrequires complicated use of filters, whereas theD80 was able to achieve accurate white balanceand metering under mixed light sources andproduce beautiful results.Y (Yves): I believe shooting in the cafe allowedme to clearly express my feelings aboutthe location. I am always exploring how best toexpress myself based on the inspiration I drawfrom the actual scene. And for me, the light is theinspiration. I like to control the light in each shot,which of course includes capturing the moodof the natural light, while at times also takingadvantage of reflected light or using flashes. TheD80 produced images just as I envisioned them,performing perfectly throughout the trip.Images from the D80 are of the highest quality,and I can edit them freely after the shot. The D80can even perform in-camera editing, which onlyadds to the creative possibilities and makesdigital easier and more enjoyable for everyone.First impressions of shooting withthe D80 - -H: All functions respond immediately. The camerais ready to shoot the instant I turn it on, shutterresponse is excellent, and autofocus is fast andprecise. Speed is of the essence to my style ofphotography. That s why the remarkable speedof the D80 captured my attention right away. Anyone who takes photos understands thedesire to capture precious moments the instantthey unfold, and the need for a camera with thespeed and precision to be always ready to shoot.Y: I was also impressed by the speed andefficiency of operation. The placement and sizeof buttons and controls makes them easy touse. I also find the menus easy to understand,and intuitive to use. The solid feel of the camerabody belies its compact size, it was easy to carryaround and simple to use from the very beginning.H:I use the LCD monitor to confirm what I justshot and find the D80 s 2.5-inch monitor very easyto view. The display is bright, colors are excellent,and the high resolution is a practical benefit. I found this combination even helps me confirmsharpness. The playback and preview featuresare also easy to operate. You can zoom in or outusing a single button, and it s easy to return to afull-frame view. There s no doubt that the ease ofoperation and quality of display makes the LCDmonitor a useful tool, not only for checking shotsand settings, but also for communicating with thepeople that I m photographing.About the 10.2 megapixel images - -Y: Skin tones really come out great. They areaccurately reproduced, even when shooting insoft light, or people with darker complexions. I m also pleased with how sharp and clear shotscame out, even when shooting with little light withwhich to work. H: Even when shooting from the gondola in brightsunlight, the reds in my subject, the blue sky, andthe black of the gondola were all accuratelyreproduced. I used the Landscape mode of theDigi-Vari Programs for this shot, and the outstandingquality of the contrast, color reproduction andsmooth transitions all caught my eye. There s nodoubt that the D80 s automatic settings can deliversatisfying results. With automatic settings likethis, anyone can take professional-quality photos. Impressions after completing theshoot - -H: I was particularly taken with the quality ofresponse, the ease of manual control, and theflexibility of settings and functions. Autofocusalso delivered the precision I ve come to expectof Nikon SLR cameras. The viewfinder provides aclear view, and it s easy to change focus points tomatch the shot.I shot with the D80 the same way I use my filmbodies, and I felt completely comfortable doing so. The D80 is a performer that transcends distinctionsbetween film and digital cameras.Y: One of the advantages of digital is in how itsmoothes the photographic process. You canchange settings at any time on a digital camerathat are the equivalent of changing the typeof film. A good example of this is the ability tochange sensitivity. Digital is also more efficientthan film. You can t confirm what you ve shot withfilm until after developing the film, whereas digitalallows you to accurately confirm whatever youwant as you shoot. This point really struck me as Ishot with the D80.H: It sounds as though we agree that the D80 is aperfect camera for every aspiring photographer,as well as one that is capable of satisfying botha photojournalist such as me, and a commercialphotographer such as yourself.VenicePortofinoCortina d Ampezzo
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