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Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100 Comparison

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Nikon D80

10 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CCD Sensor

Nikon D80
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Samsung NX100

15 MP | APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) CMOS Sensor

Samsung NX100
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Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon D80, which was introduced in September 2006 is a Advanced DSLR camera with a 10.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Samsung NX100, which was introduced in September 2010 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a 15.0MP APS-C sensor. As you can see, D80 is 4 years older than NX100. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D80 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2006-09-23
  • 10MP - APS-C CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 1600 ( expands to 3200)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 2.5" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 668g. 132 x 103 x 77 mm
  • Replaced Nikon D70 Compare

Samsung NX100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-09-14
  • 15MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Samsung NX Mount
  • Digital only Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 282g. 120 x 71 x 35 mm

Nikon D80 was replaced by Nikon D90. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D90 vs Nikon D80
Nikon D90 vs Samsung NX100

Samsung NX100 was replaced by Samsung NX200. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Samsung NX200 vs Samsung NX100
Samsung NX200 vs Nikon D80

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon D80 over Samsung NX100
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Viewfinder
Optical vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Dynamic Range
11.2 vs 10.7 higher dynamic range
Sensor Pixel Area
37.14µm2 vs 26.02µm2 42% larger pixel area
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily


Reasons to choose Samsung NX100 over Nikon D80
Image Stabilization
Digital only vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
15 MP vs 10 MP 50% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.5" 0.5 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
614k dots vs 230k dots 166% higher resolution screen
Weight
282 g vs 668 g 386 g lighter
Color Depth
22.6 vs 22.1 higher color depth
Low Light ISO
563 vs 524 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
1280 x 720 vs None Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D80 has external dimensions of 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.06 x 3.03″) and weighs 668 g (1.47 lb / 23.56 oz) (including batteries). Samsung NX100 has external dimensions of 120 x 71 x 35 mm (4.72 x 2.8 x 1.38″) and weighs 282 g (0.62 lb / 9.95 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100. Samsung NX100 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 12mm narrower, 32mm shorter and 42mm thinner than Nikon D80.

Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100.
Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Samsung NX100 is significantly lighter (386g ) than the Nikon D80 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 have the same APS-C sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D80
NX100
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D80
NX100
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon D80 nor Samsung NX100 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Samsung NX100's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon D80's 2.5" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D80 has a 10.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Samsung NX100 has a 15.0MP APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DRIMe Engine processor.

Samsung NX100's sensor provides 5MP more than Nikon D80's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the D80 and NX100 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 Cameras


Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that NX100 has a better overall score of 62, 1 points higher compared to D80's score of 61.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Nikon D80 61 22.1 bits 11.2 Evs 524 ISO
Samsung NX100 62 22.6 bits 10.7 Evs 563 ISO
Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D80 has an advantage over Samsung NX100. There are 309 lenses for Nikon D80's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 32 lenses for Samsung NX100's Samsung NX lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Samsung NX100 has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. On the other hand, Nikon D80 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 106 lenses for Nikon F mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Nikon D80 Lenses # of Samsung NX100 Lenses
Standard Zoom 33 4
Standard Prime 21 5
Wideangle Zoom 33 1
Wideangle Prime 48 11
Telephoto Zoom 53 2
Telephoto Prime 45 3
SuperZoom 30 1
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 4
Macro Prime 26 1
Perspective Control Prime 11 n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 n/a
TOTAL 309 32

What types of Photography are Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D80 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX100 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX100 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Optional External Viewfinder
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Samsung NX100 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
15 Focus Points
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX100 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Large Body
668g
Body Thickness 77mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
282g
Medium size Body
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Samsung NX100 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon D80 vs Samsung NX100: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D80 and Samsung NX100 scores compare:

Nikon D80
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #71 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #611 out of 1225 in all Cameras
Samsung NX100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #101 out of 128 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #429 out of 1225 in all Cameras

Samsung NX100 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D80 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Nikon D80
Nikon D80
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Samsung NX100
Samsung NX100
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Samsung NX100 vs Nikon D80 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D80 Samsung NX100
Brand Nikon Samsung
Announced 2006-09-23 2010-09-14
Body Type Mid-size SLR Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CCD CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.8 mm 23.4 x 15.6 mm
Area 372.88mm2 365.04mm2
Megapixels 10 megapixels 15 megapixels
Max Resolution 3872 x 2592 4592 x 3056
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 3200 ISO -
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 15
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Samsung NX
Number of Available Lenses 309 32
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.5" 3"
Resolution 230k dots 614k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic (optional)
Viewfinder Coverage 95% n/a
Viewfinder Magnification 0.64x n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No Digital only
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 13.00 m no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync 1/200s 1/180s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 3.0 fps 3.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution None 1280 x 720
Video Formats n/a H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 668g 282g
Dimensions 132 x 103 x 77mm 120 x 71 x 35mm
Battery Life n/a 420 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 61 62
DxO Color Depth 22.1 22.6
DxO Dynamic Range 11.2 10.7
DxO Low Light ISO 524 563
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