Let's take a look at auto focus first. Having 11 auto focus points is a good thing, but not necessarily perfect. While it's true, that most camera auto focus schemes will fail under both low light conditions, and images with very little contrast, not all fail as badly. The Nikon D80 seems to struggle with it's focusing approach more significantly than other cameras. If your a manual focuser by habit, then no big deal. Otherwise, one strike against the D80.

Suggesting that a $800 digital SLR camera produces soft images, is a somewhat relative statement, and should be taken in context. If your spending that kind of money on a digital camera, I would have fairly high expectations in terms of image quality. Sure, thanks to imaging software advances I can sharpen an image on my computer. But, not without introducing some distortion, and not to mention extra time effort on my part.

File this next nit pick under blatant cash grab. Nikon charges an additional $99 to buy the Capture NX software. A nice package to have, especially for fans of the wide angle lens. While there is other software out there that provides the same functionality, Nikon could have spoiled their new customers a little by bundling this one with the D80 SLR.

Minor details to some, but to others possible deal breakers. It's really for you to decide. How you take pictures and where you want to take your art are the deciding factors. Here's a few more morsels to gnaw on:

- ISO can only be changed thru the menu (too slow)

- dust removing system conspicuously absent (available in other cheaper SLRs)

- D80 seals are not exactly industrial strength quality

- new owners must be wary of dead pixel issues

- use of SD memory cards negates consumers existing CF card collection

- small grip for big hands