What Body Material is the D80?

[Wowzer]

Specifically, I want to know if I can hang my push and pull Nikkor 80-200 2.8 off of the D80 without worrying about the mounts coming loose. I've heard that the more expensive nikon bodies has a metal frame, thus, the 80-200 can simply hang from those mounts without a tripod collar to support the weight. My D50, otoh, seems to have a plastic shell, thus needing to support the lens...otherwise, risk having the mounts get pulled out.

Just curious.

[Rex914]

According to DPR, it's still plastic like the D70/s.


Nobody quite does a quality plastic body like Nikon

[Wowzer]

According to DPR, it's still plastic like the D70/s.


Ah...too bad. I'd have liked to see a metal frame...

[K1W1]

My D50, otoh, seems to have a plastic shell, thus needing to support the lens...otherwise, risk having the mounts get pulled out.

Is this fact or are you just assuming that because it's plastic it's weak?

[Wowzer]

Is this fact or are you just assuming that because it's plastic it's weak?


Definitely not fact, but read about the plastic mounts and concerns over the 80-200's weight pulling the mounts out. IF this doesn't happen, why do they sell tripod collars/mounts for the push pull 80-200 lens?

Just curious...

[K1W1]

IF this doesn't happen, why do they sell tripod collars/mounts for the push pull 80-200 lens?

Just curious...

So the balance point of the body / lenses combination is more closely centred over the actual mount on the tripod. Otherwise if you mounted the camera to the tripod using the fitting on the base of the body the whole unit would be extremely front heavy and the front of the lens would tend to "droop" or worse cause the tripod to tip forward if it was not set correctly.

[buruburu]

When I held the D80, it felt weird in my hands. The Ergo was like any Nikon, but it felt significantly lighter than my D50, and much more plasticky than I would like. Which doesn't make sense, since the specs says that it weighs more.

[eduardofrances]

while the exterior is plastic it has a metal subframe and the lens mount of the camera is all metallic frame, I have seen many people using the d50 with the nikkor 70-200 f 2.8 repeatedly without a problem, you must remember (even with the, d200, D70s, D2X) those lenses have a tripod collar to mount the tripod there to avoid damage to the lens mount because of the bigger size and weight of the lens.

So the D50 will be able without a problem to use a big lens

[Wowzer]

while the exterior is plastic it has a metal subframe and the lens mount of the camera is all metallic frame, I have seen many people using the d50 with the nikkor 70-200 f 2.8 repeatedly without a problem, you must remember (even with the, d200, D70s, D2X) those lenses have a tripod collar to mount the tripod there to avoid damage to the lens mount because of the bigger size and weight of the lens.

So the D50 will be able without a problem to use a big lens


Ok, I wasn't sure if it was just the D50, or all cameras, as this is a heavy lens.

As for plasticy feel, have any of you tried the Sony A100? It just felt CHEAP! The plastic felt like a thin shell on top. My D50, in comparison, feels like thick plastic compared with the Sony. The A100 also felt so much lighter than my D50, but the specs show that is weighs more...very odd.