About shooting in Italy - -
H (Hien): Iʼve long dreamed of shooting in Venice. As a photojournalist, I always strive to convey the moment just as I see it with my own eyes. This demands a great amount of footwork to get acquainted with the location, and the time to establish a rapport with the locals. Shooting early in the morning with the D80 left an immediate impression on me. There was limited light, and that was comprised of a mixture of natural and artificial light. A film camera in such a situation requires complicated use of filters, whereas the
Anyone who takes photos understands the desire to capture precious moments the instant they unfold, and the need for a camera with the speed and precision to be always ready to shoot.
Y: I was also impressed by the speed and efficiency of operation. The placement and size of buttons and controls makes them easy to use. I also find the menus easy to understand, and intuitive to use. The solid feel of the camera body belies its compact size, it was easy to carry around and simple to use from the very beginning.
Hien Lam Duc
Born in Laos, Hien emigrated to France at the age of 16. He began his career as a photojournalist with a series on the Mekong River. Hien n o w l i v e s i n P a r i s a n d photographs around the w o r l d , w i t h p a r t i c u l a r concentration on Laos.
For every aspiring photographer –
High performance that satisfies
all shooting styles
produce beautiful results.
Y (Yves): I believe shooting in the cafe allowed me to clearly express my feelings about the location. I am always exploring how best to express myself based on the inspiration I draw from the actual scene. And for me, the light is the inspiration. I like to control the light in each shot, which of course includes capturing the mood of the natural light, while at times also taking advantage of reflected light or using flashes. The D80 produced images just as I envisioned them, performing perfectly throughout the trip.
Images from the D80 are of the highest quality, and I can edit them freely after the shot. The D80 can even perform in-camera editing, which only
H:I use the LCD monitor to confirm what I just shot and find the D80ʼs 2.5-inch monitor very easy to view. The display is bright, colors are excellent, and the high resolution is a practical benefit. I found this combination even helps me confirm sharpness. The playback and preview features are also easy to operate. You can zoom in or out using a single button, and itʼs easy to return to a full-frame view. Thereʼs no doubt that the ease of operation and quality of display makes the LCD monitor a useful tool, not only for checking shots and settings, but also for communicating with the people that Iʼm photographing.
– Hien Lam Duc
Impressions after completing the shoot - -
H: I was particularly taken with the quality of response, the ease of manual control, and the flexibility of settings and functions. Autofocus also delivered the precision Iʼve come to expect of Nikon SLR cameras. The viewfinder provides a clear view, and itʼs easy to change focus points to match the shot.
I shot with the D80 the same way I use my film bodies, and I felt completely comfortable doing so. The D80 is a performer that transcends distinctions between film and digital cameras.
•10.2 effective megapixel CCD image sensor
•Advanced image processing engine
•Improved 11-area AF system
•0.18 sec. start-up and short release time lag
•2.5-inch LCD with wide viewing angle
•Large, bright 0.94x viewfinder
•Nikon D-SLR build quality and fine ergonomic design
•D-Lighting, Filters effects and a wide range of image enhancement options
adds to the creative possibilities and makes digital easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
First impressions of shooting with the D80 - -
H: All functions respond immediately. The camera is ready to shoot the instant I turn it on, shutter response is excellent, and autofocus is fast and precise. Speed is of the essence to my style of photography. Thatʼs why the remarkable speed of the D80 captured my attention right away.
Yves Paternoster
Born in France, Yves studied photography in Amsterdam and began working a s a f r e e l a n c e p h ot o g r a p h e r.
About the 10.2 megapixel images - -
Y: Skin tones really come out great. They are accurately reproduced, even when shooting in soft light, or people with darker complexions. Iʼm also pleased with how sharp and clear shots came out, even when shooting with little light with which to work.
H: Even when shooting from the gondola in bright sunlight, the reds in my subject, the blue sky, and the black of the gondola were all accurately reproduced. I used the Landscape mode of the Digi-Vari Programs for this shot, and the outstanding quality of the contrast, color reproduction and smooth transitions all caught my eye. Thereʼs no doubt that the D80ʼs automatic settings can deliver satisfying results. With automatic settings like this, anyone can take professional-quality photos.
Y: One of the advantages of digital is in how it smoothes the photographic process. You can change settings at any time on a digital camera that are the equivalent of changing the type of film. A good example of this is the ability to change sensitivity. Digital is also more efficient than film. You canʼt confirm what youʼve shot with film until after developing the film, whereas digital allows you to accurately confirm whatever you want as you shoot. This point really struck me as I shot with the D80.
H: It sounds as though we agree that the D80 is a perfect camera for every aspiring photographer, as well as one that is capable of satisfying both a photojournalist such as me, and a commercial photographer such as yourself.
Cortina dʼAmpezzo
Venice