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I have a Nikon D80, I know it is no longer produced, but how "outdated" is it? Also, how long do cameras typically last with average use?

antonpug
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    we've 2 questions here and I don't think they relate to each other. The first one is very broad and not localized, cause you are asking about how outdated but you didn't say a reference, I mean how outdated to what? to entry level cameras? to high end cameras? etc... The second question is totally a different question, so it's better if you edited your question – K'' May 09 '12 at 18:03
  • Well, now it's two and a half years more outdated than that.... – mattdm Dec 10 '14 at 04:08

3 Answers3

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Dated, yes. Newer DSLRs are much better and have improved in terms of performance and newer features like Live-View and video.

However, the D80 is still a good camera. Newer models cant change that and it is still better than 99% of cameras with fixed lenses. If you get it for a good price, its very good.

Zak
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Only you can really say if your camera has become outdated. I suggest a simple experiment:

Take your camera down to a camera store with an extra memory card and ask the store keeper to let you try your lens(es) on one of their cameras. Take a number of tests shots with the new camera and try to take those same shots with your camera. Then take the images home on your memory cards and do your comparison.

Look at those images objectively and ask yourself if you can see a difference that is worth the money. The newer cameras will probably have quite a few more pixels - but take a look to see if it makes a significant difference with your level of skill and the lenses you tested with.

I still enjoy shooting my D70 (older than your D80) but I feel the in camera JPEG processing isn't quite as good as some of the newer cameras from Nikon. I typically shoot RAW and post process images that I want to keep, saving off both the RAW and JPEG, I feel that this workflow gives me the flexibility to compensate for what I perceive as weaknesses in the JPEG processing that, for example, doesn't preserve highlights all that well.

deaks
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It came out in 2006 and was replaced in 2008. In the digital photography world, 2008 was millenniums ago. Could you still use one and be satisfied with it - most certainly. Beyond that all information on how "outdated" it is would really depend on your particular use case and expectations.

If you are interested in camera life, I would look at this existing question: What are shutter actuations? The above information, in addition to the camera shutter life database will help determine lifespan of a unit.

Community
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dpollitt
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  • but the shutter average life span is not the only factor that affects the camera average life – K'' May 09 '12 at 18:52
  • @AkramMellice - And that is why I said "will help determine lifespan". Usually the shutter is the important part, but I didn't get detailed because it doesn't really seem like this user is looking for extreme detail either. – dpollitt May 09 '12 at 20:14