Nikon D80 body-only IN STOCK @ B&HPhotoVideo

[cyclohexane]

Nikon D80, body only.

For anyone who's interested in being an early adopter, despite risks of quality control issues and other bugs.

[Bonner]

Michael,

Enjoying yourself there in sunny Southern Cal?* Did you ever find out why the D200 was out of stock virtually all over the USA last spring?

Jim

P.S. Do you think they got this one right? (D80) The D70 had that firmware thing...

[cyclohexane]

I'm back in NorCal for a short spell, but will be in SoCal again soon.

As for the D200 being out of stock, I'm pretty sure it was simply lack of supply. Nikon didn't make enough D200's to meet demand, so... it was out of stock everywhere. I don't think it was "tweaking the banding problem" so much as there simply weren't enough cameras to go around. Heck, right now, can you find the D2XS?

And for getting the D80 right, well, I hope they did... though my D70 worked out of the box, even before updating the firmware twice.

[Nikonfreak]

The banding problem was only "really" a problem for a very few people.

Those that were setting ISO at 400 and then pushing the EV to +3 and +4 and shooting at flourescent bulbs to create the banding were probably some professionally paid bashers.

I had the camera in December and while I can reproduce the banding on my D200, I have yet to experience banding in any real world shooting and that's shooting at high ISO's in concert environments with strong lighting sources in the shots sometimes.

Did some cameras need tweaking? Sure. Overall, a bigger internet myth than reality or competitor paid bashers to knock a product in online forums. Probably much of what I suspect about some "quality issues" with third party lenses. That being said, I had issues with my Tamron 28-75 but only after years of hard use. A trip to repair corrected it, but I wanted a faster focusing lens and the Nikon 28-75 gave me that.

Much of what you see on some web sites, take with a grain of salt. Learn who the reputable photographers are and trust their judgement, not some recently registered clown that is up there bashing.

Julio

[cyclohexane]

I never said it was a big problem. I was just offering another explanation I've seen, as I don't know why the D200 was out of stock for a period of time. I'm willing to put money on "There just weren't enough" though. =)

[Nikonfreak]

Oh, I wasn't implying anything. I just know it was way over blown on the online community.

I wish we knew why Nikon's been out of stock on just about everything for such a long period of time.

It's driving me nuts. I want the SD 8A battery pack for the SB 800 flash and there are tons of people looking for the 18-200 VR lens still...and it's been out for 9 months. Come on... that's crazy.

Julio

[cyclohexane]

Sorry, I think I had one of those self-conscious moments re-reading my own post after seeing yours; I thought it overemphasized certain parts. LOL Yeah, banding was way, way overblown. I've gotten both my D70 and D2H to band, but I was doing it more or less on purpose (this was before the D200 came out), brightening underexposed images significantly. I love your comment on shooting flourescent bulbs at +3, +4 EV.

The damned nonsupply is hitting me with the BL-1 battery doors, plain MC-30 ten pin remotes, etc. Sooner or later, I'm going to need those...

[Nikonfreak]

I think I got the last MC 36 remote available in the United States. I ended up getting one from Ritz Camera and paid $50 more for it than B&H but I had to have it for a concert gig.

Hmm... I may have to break it out tonight as it looks like thunderstorms.... LOL Maybe go for some lightning shots.

Still though... if I could have gotten the basic cable release it would have been fine. Nikon really needs to do a better job of getting their product out there. What good is it to have incredible products in the lineup if nothing is available to buy... for nearly nine months.....

Julio

[cyclohexane]

LOL, "last MC 36 remote available in the United States". My local camera store (San Jose Camera) probably still has one, but it came in several weeks after you posted that you bought one. I think B&H Photo had a few recently, but I don't know if they still have them right now.

Yeah, we need products; I want my freakin' MC-30, and I don't want to pay through the nose on eBay. And yes, Nikon, we do know that we're being ungrateful gaijins... =)

[Nikonfreak]

3 weeks, we're ungrateful...

9 months and they're being ungrateful.

Julio