Nikon N80... do you have one?

[Prest_400]

(Got inspired, so there's some storytelling here)

Today morning I was having a brisk walk to the beach while waiting for some errands, and the little canon AS1/WP1 had to rewind last frame. I opened the back and there was film across the gate. Damn! Wanted to reload the camera so I improvised a darkbag in my backpack (not very sound), expecting a nice roll full of leaks. Loaded a roll of portra and the camera rewound the leader. No film at the beach today, no way I can retrieve that leader out there. I'm 21 but I get along much more with manual cameras, knowing what it does or not do.
Back home I test the camera and it buzzes, not responding a second triggering and spewing a bit of burnt plastic smell. Well, it was a well spent British pound.
My OM1 jammed and with that I have no serious 35mm. I want a bit of a change even if I'll take some spare change and send it to CLA.

No underwater camera! Let's look for a Nikonos. Arrive ebay. No way I'm getting any of these soon under $100. Mr Rockwell says $50, hah!

Out of curiosity I kept looking at the craiglist equivalent for prosumer SLRs. Nikon F80s with kit zooms for $40, canons more expensive. A couple of months ago I found a F80 kit for $20! But I passed. Idiot me.

Kno' what... For $40 I'll surf around and get a N80. I'll just have to keep out of water a bit more and just limit shooting until chest level or on a boat...

At any rate, I was thinking about finding a mint N80 for those softball, baseball, football games when I want a decent AF rig that I didn't have to worry too much about it in dirty, rainy conditions.

And for taking it ashore, and into the sea just over the water. Perhaps I can improvise a ghetto snorkel casing with plastic bags. 😀

Presume you are talking about the Gelded Cheap!!! Plastic marvel that Ken Rockwell raves about...

I've bought a number of them from $20 to $50. They came kitted to the N series 55-90 model camera's.

Here's what Ken has to say:

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/28-80mm-g.htm

Did I say cheap!? and one of the sharpest, lightest small zooms I have ever used.

Don't pass if you have a chance to put one of these on any Nikon mount AF camera. I used them on a number of Fujifilm S2 through S5 Pro camera's.

More good news ... They flood the used market and readily available in huge numbers.

Convinced me. I first thought about getting an AF SLR and then putting on a Nifty Fifty. But even with cheap bodies, it added up to $100; and that's a bit of film for the Medium Format beast. Plus I'm not shooting much 135.
But if the kit zooms are rather decent and for some not extremely critical uses, hey. This gear was expensive back in the day!

I hope the 28-80s that are around with these are these good zooms. Kenny reviews the f3.3, but I guess other iterations will have almost as good performance.

Unless I'm not retreating, maybe I'll have one soon in my desk and on the bag.

 

[dave lackey]

Prest_400,

Good luck with the hunt! I love these cheapo threads, and I can't wait to see great photos from them!

 

[dave lackey]

Crap! Now I gotta find another bag because I came across another camera I forgot I had, an N60. Still loaded with film and good batteries. So, a new bag for my cheapo set! Oh, and now I need another Series E 50mm1.8.

I may have to use the N60 and F80 in my cheapo bag. My F6 and D3100 in the Billingham Pro. Two AF SLR kits. Interchangeable at that. And then my MF SLRs in the Domke 5xb bags.

Thank goodness our grandsons are almost old enough to go on a walkabout, shoot and learn to develop film. Their camera kits are awaiting them.

 

[Prest_400]

Crap! Now I gotta find another bag because I came across another camera I forgot I had, an N60. Still loaded with film and good batteries. So, a new bag for my cheapo set! Oh, and now I need another Series E 50mm1.8.

I may have to use the N60 and F80 in my cheapo bag. My F6 and D3100 in the Billingham Pro. Two AF SLR kits. Interchangeable at that. And then my MF SLRs in the Domke 5xb bags.

Thank goodness our grandsons are almost old enough to go on a walkabout, shoot and learn to develop film. Their camera kits are awaiting them.

The listing guy still hasn't answered. If I had it by next week it'd be fabulous because I could shoot a small project with it! Allocated a few ideas already for the good ole 135.
I linda moved out of 35mm because of scanning. Lab is good but each roll adds up and the flatbed is dang slow. For 6x9 ok, but 135 rather little and too much (not so resolutive and slow).

Bodies for 15€... But for not much more getting a whole kit is nice! I have a nikon F401 (forgot the US name, n4004s?) pf my dad but that is a hog. Plus the modern F80 is undistinguishable vs DSLRs. Classics are nice but I feel conspicuous.

Now, series E 50mm? I'd love a set up with an AF 50mm and the modern 1.8s are OK; but new or used not under 50€. If the 28-80 is good that does the job well. But again, I grew up with 50mm.

Bags? Some of these kits come with free bags. I just use my backpack + Wrist carry. Never camerabags (Billingham proce gets me lots of film)

OT: I rarely carry my Fuji 6x9 on the strap across the chest. But both this and an F80 carried simultanioulsly may make me look like an uber serious pro (not that I care though)... Weirdly both are rather cheap options for their own class!

BTW: Loved that grandson note. I just need a girlfriend to carry half the gear... And I am always going light! But hard to use 2 cameras and formats at the same time.



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[Prest_400]

Update: Should soon have an F80, 28-80 zoom, cable release and Kit bag... 53€ including postage.

I could scavenge more, but found this one nice and jumped for it. Afterall, summer will rush by and I want it for some informal shooting and don't want to wait weeks for cheap kits and saving just $15. Seen about 4 kits under 40€, 2 of them for 15€ back in May. Those machines just scream for getting them at these prices!

Now, I found a listing open to offers for a F601 (indifference) with a 50mm 1.8 non-D (I want!). Launched a 20€ offer for the lens, but will see. Also, a F80 body for 10€.

Will await a response. Most people don't bother with the receiving payment and shipping though.

Crap! Now I gotta find another bag because I came across another camera I forgot I had, an N60. Still loaded with film and good batteries. So, a new bag for my cheapo set! Oh, and now I need another Series E 50mm1.8.

I could send you the bag that will come with my F80 😀 too bad about being on the other side of the pond.

My original idea was to get a modern body and a 50mm lens, I've learned on the nifty fifty but I guess the kit zoom will be nice and good for the planned use.

Underwater shooting I got uncovered, perhaps will buy a single use one and ration the 27 exposures throughout the remainder of summer. Ain't cheap! Can get another F80 body for the price of one 😀

What a disaster! This just happened because my underwater P&S broke and I have a few rolls of film but no camera to get them through. 😛

 

[farlymac]

But Canon AS-1's should be pretty cheap. They hardly attract a bid on the charity sites over here.

I've been thinking of getting an F80s myself, mainly because you can't get that back on an N80 (besides the QD feature, you can print exposure info between frames). I did just recently get an N80 QD, but the latch on the door is broken, so it's always giving some sort of error. Time to break out the epoxy for a gluing session. At least both tangs are still with the camera, so it should go back together okay. Can't get the door off without removing the bottom of the camera. I guess that's what happens when you have to design a camera to a price point.

PF

 

[Prest_400]

But Canon AS-1's should be pretty cheap. They hardly attract a bid on the charity sites over here.

Indeed, specially in the US. Though between auctions and shipping, it ends up being a bit of effort. I'll track a bit though.

My F80 is still in the mail and hope it gets ASAP. I've rationalized a bit though and may just use the F80 + 28-80 for the while.

Instead of a 50 1.8 that will cost half a Benjamin (50$), I may just put that money for a weekend trip or more film. [Resist, Resist, Resist GAS]

It is tempting: cheap, probably a MiJ sample, 2 stops better than the zoom... But the zoom may be really decent and it's more versatile FL wise. At the moment It'll be a bright light camera and for a summer project. More battle in the field, don't want to baby it excessively.
Why? I've handled my Fuji 6x9 again and thought that I should use it more instead of getting more gear just because.

So far in the classifields I haven't seen any F80s, or if I did, it was highly priced. That between frame imprinting is a very interesting feature that lacked adoption... Instead we had the Quartz dates in the photo.

 

[yanchep_mike]

My F80 is still in the mail and hope it gets ASAP. I've rationalized a bit though and may just use the F80 + 28-80 for the while.

I have 3 of the 28-80 3.3 and all 3 are good performers even on D3 and D610 really sharp and with the hood have good contrast.
Just enjoy the F80 and put money towards film or whatever.

 

[Prest_400]

Well, it's home already. Quite an interesting impression. Light, plasticky with some sticky in a couple of corners but fine otherwise.
Length front to back of the F80 + 28-80 rivals my Fuji 6x9 😱 but the lightness is well received. Heard a few complaints about the finders (size, eye relief for glass wearers and brightness) but no problems.

Infact the 28-80 is rather OK. It's been a long while since I used zooms and it feels strange; versatility welcome! I passed on getting that 50mm AF. Will put that $$ into film or the CLA of my OM1, which has a 50mm and a different shooting experience.

Interesting that back in '04 when I began shooting as a kid, this machine was something unreachable. And how something so modern goes for such low prices.

I'm off to dinner and afterwards some fresh time of manual reading and settings checking. Load up Portra 400 and tomorrow I'll shoot.

 

[Austintatious]

The N80 and 28-80 do make a nice walk about kit.

Street Musician by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr

I have been pretty happy with the results.

 

[Prest_400]

Got to second Dave's use of the N80s for and by grandchildren. Got to shoot today in the beach (almost like a kid myself) and I got the camera to sea. Baptism of Water here.
Pretty fun and careless. Zoom helps a lot and AE is great to let me concentrate on composition and maintaining balance!

I got a mention of being crazy to use a DSLR like that 😂


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