After making us and also all other camera ebthusiasts wait rather excrusiatingly long, the Nikon D80 is finally official and will soon be heading the stores. The camera is all set to hit the maket in september. Incorporating Nikon's latest digital and photographic technologies, this new high-performance interchangeable-lens digital SLR camera features automated operation and advanced features designed to satisfy any photographer with the passion to create beautiful photographs and preserve special moments.

The Nikon D80 features a whopping 10.2 megapixel (uh huh) DX format CCD, Nikon F lens mount, 3D Color Matrix Metering II, 11 area autofocus, 0.18 second bootup, 80ms shot response, and an SD slot as well. One of the highs of the camera is the high-resolution image processing engine. Also for the first time ever we have a high-end Digital SLR with an SD slot. With features like D-Lighting, Red-eye correction, Image overlay ,Monochrome settings (Black-and-white, Sepia, Cyanotype) and Filter Effects, all attributing for an optimizing overall exposure balance and ensuring a crystal clear image.

The Nikon D80 comes with an incorporation of a powerful built-in flash employs Nikon's highly robust i-TTL flash control for greater precision in flash exposure evaluation that achieves better automatic flash balance. Nikon is releasing a AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED lens for the D80, with a 4.3x zoom and Vibration Reduction II OIS. The D80 is due September, and will be priced at $999 body alone, or $1299 for the body with that 18-135mm lens.

Engadget Via Nikkon