moving from D50 to D80 ... would I notice the difference?

[NewNameNeeded]

Lots of people talk of the big step up in performance moving from older to newer techonology.

Anyone gone from the Nikon D50 to the D80? Am wondering if it'll make such a difference in terms of the quality of the image (given both were out about the same time). The megapixel difference is appealing but I'm more interested in whether other aspect of image capture will be markedly better??

I've seen the D80 body for under £400 which seems tempting, although do people expect this to fall further given the D90 out at the end of the month?

What is the step from D80 to D300 like? Anyone done that?

Thanks
Matt

[mph999]

NewNameNeeded said:

Lots of people talk of the big step up in performance moving from older to newer techonology.

Anyone gone from the Nikon D50 to the D80? Am wondering if it'll make such a difference in terms of the quality of the image (given both were out about the same time). The megapixel difference is appealing but I'm more interested in whether other aspect of image capture will be markedly better??

I've seen the D80 body for under £400 which seems tempting, although do people expect this to fall further given the D90 out at the end of the month?

What is the step from D80 to D300 like? Anyone done that?

Thanks
Matt

I've just gone from the D50 to the D300 - massive difference, ok, a lesser jump from the D80 to D300, but still, IMHO, very significant.

Martin

[VxDuncan]

Given the D80 uses the seame sensor, AF and metering (?) as the D200, it should make quite a difference. Still no a semi-pro body though, so plastic and no weather sealing but is'nt too large / heavy and retains scene modes. Minor differences, but they add up. Considered a Fuji S5 or D200? Both really cheap now.

[CivicMan]

I moved from a D50 to a D80 - tbh not a huge difference in quality, the D50 is an excellent camera. The D80 has got some nice extra features (auto bracketing, bigger LCD I like), but in pure terms there's not much between them. I've actually kept the D50 as it's worth so little now, and it's too nice to let go so cheaply!

[NewNameNeeded]

VxDuncan said:

Given the D80 uses the seame sensor, AF and metering (?) as the D200, it should make quite a difference. Still no a semi-pro body though, so plastic and no weather sealing but is'nt too large / heavy and retains scene modes. Minor differences, but they add up. Considered a Fuji S5 or D200? Both really cheap now.

Would like to stick with Nikon - had wondered about a D200 but they still seem to retail for £700 (at least via net) and I think if I was spending that money I'd be better spending a bit more and getting the D300.

Think I'll go hold a D300 tomorrow and see what I think ....

[GravelBen]

I went from a D50 to a D80 and really did notice a significant difference - not so much in terms of image quality, if anything the D50 was easier to get sharp, noise-free images from (the extra megapixels seem to show up your mistakes more), but in terms of actually taking photos the D80 is much nicer to use. Most significant factors off the top of my head:

• Bigger, clearer, brighter viewfinder and screen makes quite a difference
• Two control wheels rather than one, makes manual changes much less hassle
• 9-point AF rather than 3-point

I thought about a D200 for the better dust/weatherproofing etc but found a very cheap second-hand D80 in good condition so went with that instead.

Edited by GravelBen on Wednesday 10th September 02:18

[furtive]

I've also gone from a D50 to a D80 and noticed a big difference. I can also now control my SB600 speedlight remotely, which was the main reason for the upgrade.

[CivicMan]

The OP's original question was about the difference in image quality.

Features - big difference.
Image quality - not a lot.

[NewNameNeeded]

CivicMan said:

The OP's original question was about the difference in image quality.

Features - big difference.
Image quality - not a lot.

And I think therein lies my need not to upgrade. If the sensor in my dinky little D50 does a good enough job I find I can manage without the additional buttons - a hinderance always having to go in to the menu to change things - but not so much trouble I would part with £400-900 just to get a later model.