Page 2
• PictBridge is a trademark. • D-Lighting technology is provided by P Apical Limited. • All other trade names mentioned in this manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon product are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Page 3
Introduction First Steps Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode Shooting Suited for the Scene Sport Continuous Mode PSAM P, S, A and M modes More on Playback Movies Voice Recordings Connecting to Televisions, Computers and Printers Shooting, Playback and Setup Menus Technical Notes...
For Your Safety To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to others, read the following safety precautions in their entirety before using this equipment. Keep these safety instructions where all those who use the product will read them.
Page 5
Should the insulation be damaged and the wires become exposed, take it to a Nikon- authorized service representative for inspection. Failure to observe these precautions could result in fire or electric shock.
Page 6
For Your Safety Use appropriate cables When connecting cables to the input and output jacks, use only the cables provided or sold by Nikon for the purpose, to maintain compliance with product regulations. Handle moving parts with care Be careful that your fingers or other objects are not pinched by the lens cover or other moving parts.
Modifications The FCC requires the user to be notified that any changes or modifications made to this device that are not expressly approved by Nikon Corporation may void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. Interface Cables Use the interface cables sold or provided by Nikon for your equipment.
Page 8
Notices Notice for customers in Canada CAUTION This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003. ATTENTION Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada. Symbol for Separate Collection in European Countries This symbol indicates that this product is to be collected separately.
Table of Contents For Your Safety... ii WARNINGS ... ii Notices ... v Introduction ...1 About This Manual ... 1 Information and Precautions... 2 Parts of the Camera... 4 The Camera Body ...4 The Monitor...6 Basic Operations... 8 The Mode Dial...8 The Command Dial ...9 The Multi Selector...10 The d Button...11...
Page 10
Table of Contents A Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode ... 22 Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select A (Auto) Mode ...22 Indicators Displayed in A (Auto) Mode ...23 Step 2 Frame a Picture ...24 Using the Electronic Viewfinder ...24 Using the Zoom...24 Step 3 Focus and Shoot ...26 Step 4 Viewing and Deleting Pictures ...28...
Page 11
c More on Playback... 54 Viewing Multiple Pictures: Thumbnail Playback ...54 Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom ...55 Editing Pictures...56 Enhancing Brightness and Contrast: D-Lighting...57 Creating a Cropped Copy: Crop ...58 g Resizing Pictures: Small Picture ...59 Adding Black Frame on Pictures: Black Border...60 Voice Memos: Recording and Playback ...61 Recording Voice Memos ...61 Playing Voice Memos...61...
Page 12
Table of Contents d Shooting, Playback and Setup Menus ... 86 Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu ...86 Displaying the Shooting Menu...87 q Image Quality...88 r Image Size...89 F Optimize Image...91 B White Balance...94 E ISO Sensitivity...96 G Metering ...97 C Continuous ...98 H Auto Bracketing ...
Page 13
Table of Contents Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu... 114 Displaying the Setup Menu... 115 a Menus... 115 c Welcome Screen... 116 d Date... 117 e Brightness... 120 f Date Imprint... 120 g Vibration Reduction ... 122 h AF Assist ... 123 u Digital Zoom ...
Page 14
Table of Contents Technical Notes...130 Optional Accessories ... 130 Approved Memory Cards ... 131 Image/Sound File and Folder Names ... 132 Caring for the Camera ... 133 Cleaning ... 135 Storage ... 135 Error Messages ... 136 Troubleshooting... 140 Specifications ... 146 Supported Standards ...
Introduction About This Manual Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon COOLPIX P80 digital camera. This manual was written to help you enjoy shooting with your Nikon digital camera. Read this manual thoroughly before use, and keep it where all those who use the product will read it.
Before taking pictures on important occasions (such as at weddings or before taking the camera on a trip), take a test shot to ensure that the camera is functioning normally. Nikon will not be held liable for damages or lost profits that may result from product malfunction.
Page 17
Notice Concerning Prohibition of Copying or Reproduction Note that simply being in possession of material that was digitally copied or reproduced by means of a scanner, digital camera or other device may be punishable by law. • Items prohibited by law from being copied or reproduced Do not copy or reproduce paper money, coins, securities, government bonds or local government bonds, even if such copies or reproductions are stamped “Sample.”...
Parts of the Camera The Camera Body Power switch/Power-on lamp ... 17 Mode dial...8 Built-in flash ... 30 X (Flash pop-up) button ...31 Microphone ... 61, 62, 68 Lens...135, 146 Self-timer lamp ... 33, 134 AF-assist illuminator... 27, 123, 134 Zoom control...
Page 19
Eyelet for camera strap ... 13 x (monitor) button ...13 Diopter adjustment control... 13 Electronic viewfinder ...24 s (display) button ... 12 Command dial ...9 Speaker ... 61, 67, 70 LCD monitor... 6, 12, 23 c (playback) button ... 28 d (menu) button...11, 63, 87, 108 Multi selector...10 l (delete) button...
Parts of the Camera The Monitor The following indicators may appear in the monitor during shooting and playback (actual display varies with current camera settings). See pages 12 and 13 for details on changing the monitor display. Shooting Shooting mode* ... 22, 38, 48, 62 Focus mode...
Page 21
Playback Date of recording ... 18 Time of recording... 18 Volume indicator ... 61, 67 Battery level indicator...22 Image quality*...88 Image size* ...89 Movie option* ...63 a) Current frame number/ total number of frames... 28 b) Movie length... 67 Internal memory indicator... 28 * Differs according to the selected option.
Basic Operations The Mode Dial Align the mode icon with the mark next to the mode dial. A Auto(A 22): Choose this simple “point-and- shoot” mode, suited to first-time users of digital cameras, in which the camera automatically adjusts settings. d Sport Continuous Mode (A 46): Choose this mode for high-speed...
The Command Dial You can rotate the command dial to select items from a menu screen or to select and configure any of the following functions. With Shooting Mode P (Programmed auto) S (Shutter-priority auto) A (Aperture-priority auto) M (Manual) With Playback Mode Thumbnail playback...
Basic Operations The Multi Selector This section describes standard uses of the multi selector to select modes, select menu options and to apply selection. With Shooting Display m (flash mode) (A 30) menu or move cursor up Display n (self-timer) (A 33) menu Display p (focus mode) (A 34) menu or move cursor down...
The d Button Press d to display the menu for the selected mode. Use the multi selector to navigate the menus (A 10). Menu options can also be selected by rotating the command dial. Press d again to exit the menu. Displayed when there are one or more menu items...
Basic Operations The s Button To hide or show monitor indicators during shooting and playback, press s. With Shooting 20 20 20 1/125 1/125 F2.8 F2.8 Current settings With Playback 15/05/2008 15:30 15/05/2008 15:30 15/05/2008 15:30 0004.JPG 0004.JPG 0004.JPG Photo information displayed Shooting data: Shows the folder name, file name, exposure mode, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, current frame number/total number of frames, and histogram for the current picture.
x (Monitor) Button Each press of x (monitor) switches to the LCD monitor or electronic viewfinder. Switch to the one that suits the shooting conditions. For example, use the electronic viewfinder in bright locations when it is difficult to see the LCD monitor. x (Monitor) Button Diopter adjustment of electronic viewfinder...
First Steps Charging the Battery Charge the supplied Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 with the supplied Battery Charger MH-61 before first use or when the battery is running low. Plug the charger in. Connect the power cable to the charger 1 and then plug it into an electrical outlet 2. The CHARGE lamp will light 3.
Page 29
Camera” (A 133), before using the battery. AC Adapter The AC Adapter EH-62A (available separately from Nikon) can be used to power the COOLPIX P80 from an electrical outlet. Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC adapter.
Inserting the Battery Insert a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 (supplied) into the camera. Charge the battery before first use or when the battery is running low (A 14). Open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover. Insert the battery. Confirm that the positive (+) and negative (–) terminals are oriented correctly, as described on the label at the entrance of the battery chamber, and insert the battery.
Inserting the Battery Removing the Battery Turn the camera off and confirm that the power-on lamp and monitor are off before removing the battery. To eject the battery, open the battery-chamber/ memory card slot cover and slide the battery latch in the direction shown 1.
Setting Display Language, Date and Time A language-selection dialog is displayed the first time the camera is turned on. Press the power switch to turn on the camera. The power-on lamp (green) will light and the LCD monitor (or electronic viewfinder) will turn on. The power-on lamp will turn off when the LCD monitor turns on.
Page 33
Select your home time zone (A 119) and press Edit the date. • Press the multi selector H or I, to edit the highlighted item. • Press the multi selector K to highlight the day (D), month (M), year (Y), time, minute, and date display order.
Inserting Memory Cards Pictures are stored in the camera’s internal memory (approx. 50 MB) or on removable Secure Digital (SD) memory cards (available separately) (A 131). If a memory card is inserted in the camera, pictures are automatically stored on the memory card and pictures recorded to the memory card can be played back, deleted or transferred.
• Do not turn the camera off or open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover until formatting is complete. • The first time you insert the memory cards used in other devices into the COOLPIX P80, be sure to format them (A 125) with this camera.
Basic Photography and Playback: Auto Mode Step 1 Turn the Camera On and Select A (Auto) Mode This section describes how to shoot in A (auto) mode, an automatic, “point-and- shoot” mode recommended for first-time users of digital cameras. Rotate the mode dial to A. Remove the lens cap and press the power switch to turn on the camera.
Indicators Displayed in A (Auto) Mode Shooting mode A displayed in A (auto) mode. Shutter speed (A 48) Aperture (A 48) Internal memory indicator Pictures will be recorded to internal memory. When memory card is inserted, C is not displayed and pictures will be recorded to memory card.
Step 2 Frame a Picture Ready the camera. Hold the camera steadily in both hands, keeping your fingers and other objects away from the lens, AF-assist illuminator, microphone, speaker and m (flash pop-up) button. Frame the picture. Position the main subject near the center of the monitor. Using the Electronic Viewfinder Use the electronic viewfinder to frame pictures when bright light makes it difficult to see the display in the LCD monitor.
Page 39
Digital Zoom and Image Quality When the camera is zoomed in to the maximum optical zoom magnification, rotating and holding the zoom control at g (i) triggers digital zoom. With digital zoom, you can magnify a subject up to 4× the maximum magnification of optical zoom (18×) for a total of up to 72×...
Step 3 Focus and Shoot Press the shutter-release button halfway. The camera automatically focuses on the subject in the center focus area. When the subject is in focus, the focus area will glow green. When digital zoom is in effect, and the subject is in focus, the focus indicator (A 6) will glow green.
During Recording While images are being recorded, the O (wait) icon will be displayed and the indicator for the number of exposures or movie length remaining will blink. Do not turn the camera off, open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover, or remove or disconnect the power source while these icons are displayed.
Step 4 Viewing and Deleting Pictures Viewing Pictures (Playback Mode) Press c. The last picture shot will be displayed in full-frame playback mode. Press the multi selector H, I, J, or K to view additional pictures. Hold down the multi selector H, I, J, or K to fast forward pictures.
Page 43
Playback Mode The following options are available in full-frame playback mode. Option Playback zoom View thumbnails Hide or show photo info Switch the monitor Record/play voice memo Switch to shooting mode Pressing c to Turn On the Camera When the camera is off, holding down c will turn the camera on in playback mode. The lens does not extend.
Using the Flash In dark locations or when the subject is backlit, you can shoot pictures with flash by raising the built-in flash. The flash has a range of about 0.5-8.8 m (1 ft. 8 in.-28 ft.) when the camera is zoomed out all the way.
Setting the Flash Mode Press the X (flash pop-up) button to raise the built-in flash. When the built-in flash is lowered, it is fixed to W (off). Press m (flash mode). The flash menu is displayed. Use the multi selector to choose the desired flash mode and press k.
Page 46
Using the Flash Lowering the Built-in Flash When not using the built-in flash, gently push to lower the flash until it clicks shut. Shooting When Lighting is Poor and the Flash is Disabled (W) • Use of a tripod is recommended to stabilize the camera during shooting and avoid the effects of camera shake.
Shooting with the Self-timer The camera is equipped with a ten-second and two-second timer for self-portraits. When using the self-timer, use of a tripod is recommended. Turn vibration reduction (A 122) off when using a tripod. Press n (self-timer). The self-timer menu is displayed. Use the multi selector to choose 10s or 2s and press k.
Choosing a Focus Mode Choose a focus mode according to the subject and composition. Autofocus Camera automatically adjusts focus according to distance to subject. Use when the distance from subject to lens is 40 cm (1 ft. 4 in.) or more, or 1.5 m (5 ft.) or more when camera is zoomed all the way out.
Setting the Focus Mode Press p (focus mode). The focus menu is displayed. Use the multi selector to choose the desired focus mode and press k. The icon for the selected focus mode is displayed at the top of the monitor. When A (autofocus) is applied, P is only displayed for five seconds.
Choosing a Focus Mode Using Manual Focus Press p (focus mode) to display the focus menu. • Use the multi selector to choose E, and press k. • The manual focus setting screen is displayed. Press H or I of the multi selector to adjust the focus.
Exposure Compensation Exposure compensation is used to alter exposure from the value suggested by the camera to make pictures brighter or darker. Press o (exposure compensation). The exposure compensation value will be displayed. Exposure compensation is not available in mode M (manual).
Shooting Suited for the Scene Shooting in the Scene Mode Camera settings are automatically optimized for the selected subject type. The following scene modes are available. The voice recording option can also be selected to record sound only. b Portrait c Landscape e Night portrait f Party/indoor...
Features b Portrait Use this mode for portraits in which the main subject stands out clearly. Portrait subjects exhibit smooth, natural-looking skin tones. • The camera detects and focuses on a face looking toward the camera (Shooting with Face-Priority → A 103). •...
Page 54
Shooting in the Scene Mode e Night portrait Use this mode to achieve a natural balance between the main subject and background lighting in portraits shot at night. • The camera detects and focuses on a face looking toward the camera (Shooting with Face-Priority →...
Page 55
h Sunset Preserves the deep hues seen in sunsets and sunrises. • Camera focuses on subject in center of frame. Off* * Other settings can be selected. i Dusk/dawn Preserves the colors seen in the weak natural light before sunrise or after sunset. •...
Page 56
Shooting in the Scene Mode k Close-up Photograph flowers, insects and other small objects at close range. • D (macro close-up) is selected for focus mode (A 34) and the camera automatically zooms to the position at the closest distance at which the camera can focus. •...
Page 57
m Fireworks show Slow shutter speeds are used to capture the expanding burst of light from a firework. • Camera focuses at infinity. When the shutter-release button is pressed halfway, the focus indicator (A 26) always glows green. Note, however, focus may not be set for near subjects, while the camera focuses at infinity.
Page 58
Shooting in the Scene Mode p Panorama assist Use when shooting a series of pictures that will later be joined to form a single panorama using the supplied Panorama Maker software. • Camera focuses on subject in center of frame. Other settings can be selected.
Shoot the first picture. The first picture is displayed in the first third of the monitor. Shoot the second picture. Compose the next picture so that it overlaps the first picture. Repeat until you have shot the necessary number of pictures to complete the scene. Press k when shooting is completed.
Sport Continuous Mode Shooting in Sport Continuous Mode Sports continuous mode allows rapid, continuous shooting while you press and hold the shutter-release button fully. With continuous shooting, instantaneous movements in moving subjects can be captured clearly. Rotate the mode dial to d (sport continuous).
Sport Continuous Menu In the sport continuous menu, you can select the continuous shooting type and the image quality and image size recorded. In sport continuous mode, press d to display the sport continuous menu and use the multi selector to choose the continuous shooting type. Types of Sport Continuous Shooting Type Maximum continuous shooting speed...
P, S, A and M modes Shooting in P, S, A, and M Modes By rotating the mode dial, you can shoot pictures in the following four exposure modes: P (programmed auto), S (shutter-priority auto), A (aperture-priority auto), and M (manual). In addition to allowing you to set the shutter speed and aperture yourself, these modes offer control over a variety of advanced settings such as changing the ISO sensitivity and white balance in the shooting menu (A 86).
P (Programmed Auto) Mode Shoot pictures with shutter speed and aperture value set automatically by the camera (A 48). Rotate the mode dial to P. Frame the subject, focus, and shoot. At default setting, the camera automatically selects the focus area containing the closest subject, from nine focus areas, and adjusts focus accordingly (A 102).
S (Shutter-Priority Auto) Mode Set the shutter speed and shoot pictures (A 48). Rotate the mode dial to S. Rotate the command dial to choose the shutter speed value between 1/2,000 sec. and 8 sec. Focus and shoot. At default setting, the camera automatically selects the focus area containing the closest subject, from nine focus areas, and adjusts focus accordingly (A 102).
When the camera is zoomed out, the focal length of the lens diminishes and the f-number decreases. When the camera is zoomed in, the focal length and f-number increase. The COOLPIX P80 has a lens with a focal length of 4.7–84.2 mm and an aperture of f/2.8 to f/4.5. 20 20 20...
M (Manual) Mode Set the shutter speed and aperture value, and shoot pictures (A 48). Rotate the mode dial to M. Press the multi selector K to activate the shutter speed setting. The active setting switches between shutter speed and aperture each time the multi selector K is pressed.
Rotate the command dial to choose an aperture value. Repeat steps 2 to 5 to modify shutter speed and aperture settings until the desired exposure is achieved. Focus and shoot. At default setting, the camera automatically selects the focus area containing the closest subject, from nine focus areas, and adjust focus accordingly (A 102).
More on Playback Viewing Multiple Pictures: Thumbnail Playback Rotate the zoom control to f (h) (thumbnail playback) in full-frame playback mode (A 28) to display pictures in “contact sheets” of thumbnail images. The following operations can be performed while thumbnails are displayed. Choose pictures Change number f (h)
Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom Rotating the zoom control to g (i) during full-frame playback mode (A 28) zooms the current picture in 3×, with the center of the picture displayed in the monitor. The guide at lower right shows which portion of the picture is enlarged.
• The COOLPIX P80’s editing functions may not be available for pictures shot with non-COOLPIX P80 digital cameras. • If a copy created using the COOLPIX P80 is viewed on a different digital camera, the picture may not be displayed or may not be transferred to a computer.
Enhancing Brightness and Contrast: D-Lighting D-Lighting can be used to create copies with enhanced brightness and contrast, brightening dark portions of a picture. Enhanced copies are stored as separate files. Select the desired picture from full-frame (A 28) or thumbnail (A 54) playback mode and press d.
Editing Pictures Creating a Cropped Copy: Crop This function is only available when u is displayed in the monitor with playback zoom (A 55) enabled. Cropped copies are stored as separate files. Rotate the zoom control to g (i) in full-frame playback mode to zoom in on the image.
g Resizing Pictures: Small Picture Create a small copy of the current picture. Small copies are stored as JPEG files with a compression ratio of 1:16. The following sizes are available. Option l 640×480 Suited to television playback. m 320×240 Suited to display on web pages.
Editing Pictures Adding Black Frame on Pictures: Black Border This function creates copies with Thin, Medium, or Broad black lines, along borders of pictures. Copies with black frame are stored as separate files. Select the desired picture from full-frame (A 28) or thumbnail (A 54) playback mode and press d.
• If a voice memo already exists for the current picture, it must be deleted before a new voice memo can be recorded. • The COOLPIX P80 cannot be used to attach voice memos to pictures shot with cameras other than the COOLPIX P80.
Movies Recording Movies To shoot movies with sound recorded via the built-in microphone, follow the steps below. Rotate the mode dial to D. Exposure count display shows maximum total length of movie that can be recorded. Press the shutter-release button all the way down to start recording.
The Movie Menu Movie options, Autofocus mode and Electronic VR settings can be changed from the movie menu. Press d in movie mode to display the movie menu and use the multi selector to modify and apply settings. Selecting Movie Options The movie menu offers the options shown below.
Page 78
The Movie Menu Movie Options and Maximum Movie Length and Frames Option J TV movie 640P (default setting) I TV movie 640 S Small size 320 N Time-lapse movieP Q Sepia movie 320 R B&W movie 320 * Movies can be as long as free space in the internal memory or on the memory card allows. All figures are approximate.
Autofocus mode Choose how the camera focuses in movie mode. Option A Single AF Camera focuses when shutter-release button is pressed halfway (default setting) and locks at this position during shooting. Camera focuses continuously until focus is acquired and locked. B Full-time AF To prevent sound of camera focusing from interfering with recording, use of Single AF is recommended.
Page 80
• To power the camera continuously for extended periods, use an AC Adapter EH-62A (available separately from Nikon) (A 130). Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC adapter. Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating or in damage to the camera.
Movie Playback In full-frame playback mode (A 28), movies are recognized by movie options (A 63). To play a movie, display it in full-frame playback mode and press k. Use the zoom control g (i)/f (h) during playback to adjust the volume. Rotate the command dial to advance or rewind the movie.
Voice Recordings Making Voice Recordings Audio voice recordings can be recorded over the built-in microphone and played back over the built-in speaker. Rotate the mode dial to y. Press d to display the scene menu, use the multi selector to choose E (voice recording), and press k.
Page 83
Operations During Recording Recording indicator File number Length of recording Progress indicator Press Reactivate the monitor Pause/resume recording Create index* End recording * The copied files can be played back using QuickTime or any other WAV-compatible audio player. Note that index points created with the camera cannot be used when voice recordings are played back on computers.
Playing Voice Recordings Press c in the voice recording screen (A 68, step 3). Use the multi selector to choose the desired sound file and press k. The selected sound file will be played back. Select sound file 0 0 6 1 5 / 0 5 / 2 0 0 8 1 7 : 3 0 0 0 7 1 5 / 0 5 / 2 0 0 8 1 8 : 3 0 0 0 8...
Operations During Playback Control icons File number Playback time Progress indicator Index Use the zoom control g (i)/f (h) to adjust audio playback volume. Use the command dial to advance or rewind the voice recording. Playback controls appear at the top of the monitor. Press the multi selector J or K to choose a control, then press k to perform the selected operation.
When a confirmation dialog is displayed, choose Yes and press k. Copying starts. Voice Recordings The COOLPIX P80 may be unable to play or copy sound files created with cameras other than the COOLPIX P80. No sound file. Message If there are no sound files stored on the memory card when c is pressed (A 70, step 1), the message No sound file.
Connecting to Televisions, Computers and Printers Connecting to a TV Connect the camera to a television using the supplied audio/video cable to play back pictures on the television. Turn off the camera. Connect the camera to the TV using the supplied audio/video cable. Connect the yellow plug to the video-in jack on the TV, and the white plug to the audio- in jack.
• To power the camera continuously for extended periods, use an AC Adapter EH-62A (available separately from Nikon) (A 130). Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC adapter. Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating or in damage to the...
Nikon Transfer will start. Windows XP When the AutoPlay dialog is displayed, select Nikon Transfer Copy pictures to a folder on my computer and click OK. To bypass this dialog in the future, check Always use this program for this action..
Page 90
Connecting to a Computer Transfer pictures when Nikon Transfer has finished loading. Click Start Transfer in Nikon Transfer. At the default setting, all pictures are transferred to the computer. At the Nikon Transfer default setting, the folder to which pictures are transferred is automatically opened when transfer is complete.
Page 91
Using Standard OS Operations to Open Image/Sound Files • Navigate to the folder on the computer’s hard disk to which pictures were saved and open a picture in the viewer supplied with your operating system. • Sound files copied to the computer can be played back using QuickTime or any other WAV- compatible audio player.
• To power the camera continuously for extended periods, use an AC Adapter EH-62A (available separately from Nikon) (A 130). Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC adapter. Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating or in damage to the camera.
Connecting the Camera and Printer Turn off the camera. Turn on the printer. Check printer settings. Connect the camera to the printer using the supplied USB cable. Turn on the camera. When connected correctly, the PictBridge startup screen 1 will be displayed in the camera monitor. Then the print selection screen will be displayed 2.
Connecting to a Printer Printing Pictures One at a Time After connecting the camera to the printer correctly (A 79), print pictures by following the procedure below. Use the multi selector JK to choose the desired picture and press k. The command dial can also be used to choose the picture.
Choose Start print and press k. Printing starts. Monitor display returns to that shown in step 1 when printing is complete. To cancel before all copies have been printed, press k. Printing Multiple Pictures After connecting the camera to the printer correctly (A 79), print pictures by following the procedure below.
Page 96
Connecting to a Printer Choose Print selection, Print all images or DPOF printing and press k. Print selection Choose the pictures and number of copies (up to nine) of each. Press the multi selector JK to select pictures, and press H or I to set the number of copies for each.
Page 97
DPOF printing Print pictures for which a print order was created in Print set (A 84). The menu shown at right will be displayed. To print, choose Start print and press k. Choose Cancel and press k to return to the print menu.
Creating a DPOF Print Order: Print Set The Print set option in the playback menu is used to create digital “print orders” for printing on DPOF-compatible devices (A 149). When the camera is connected to a PictBridge-compatible printer, pictures can be printed from the printer according to the DPOF print order you have created for pictures on the memory card.
Choose whether or not to also print shooting date and photo information. Choose Date and press k to print date of recording on all pictures in the print order. Choose Info and press k to print photo information (shutter speed and aperture) on all pictures in the print order.
Shooting, Playback and Setup Menus Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu The shooting menu of P, S, A, and M modes contain the following options. Image quality Choose the image quality (compression ratio) of recorded pictures. Image size* Choose the image size of recorded pictures. Optimize image* Control contrast, sharpness, and saturation.
Displaying the Shooting Menu Choose P (Programmed Auto), S (Shutter-Priority Auto), A (Aperture-Priority Auto), or M (Manual) by rotating the mode dial. Press d to display the shooting menu. • Press the multi selector H or I to select items and set functions on menus (A 10).
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu q Image Quality Choose the amount of compression applied to pictures. Lower compression ratios result in higher quality pictures, but also larger file sizes, limiting the number of pictures that can be recorded. Fine Fine quality images (compression ratio of 1: 4), suitable for enlargement or high- quality prints.
r Image Size Choose the size of pictures in pixels for recording. Pictures shot at smaller sizes require less memory, making them suited to distribution by e-mail or the web. Conversely, the larger the image, the larger the size at which it can be printed or displayed without becoming noticeably “grainy,”...
Page 104
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu Number of Exposures Remaining The following table lists the approximate number of pictures that can be stored in internal memory, and on a 256-MB memory card, at each combination of image quality (A 88) and image size (A 89) settings.
F Optimize Image Optimize contrast, sharpening, and other settings according to how pictures will be used or the type of scene. Normal (default setting) Recommended in most situations. Softer Softens outlines, producing natural results suitable for portraits or retouching on a computer.
Page 106
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu Customizing Image Enhancement Options: Custom Select Custom to make separate adjustments to the following options. Contrast Control contrast. Lower settings prevent loss of detail in highlights under harsh lighting or in direct sunlight. Higher settings preserve detail in misty landscapes and other low-contrast subjects.
Page 107
Shooting in Black-and-White: Black-and-White When Black-and-white is selected, the options described below are available. Choose Standard to shoot in basic black-and-white, or Custom to manually adjust contrast, sharpening, and filter effects. When the B&W + color option is enabled (w), one black-and-white picture and the same picture in full color are recorded simultaneously.
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu B White Balance The color of light reflected from an object varies with the color of the light source. The human brain is able to adapt to changes in the color of the light source, with the result that white objects appear white whether seen in the shade, direct sunlight, or under incandescent lighting.
Preset Manual Preset manual is used with mixed lighting or to compensate for light sources with a strong color cast (for example, to make pictures shot under a lamp with a red shade look as though they had been shot under white light). Place a white or gray reference object under the lighting that will be used during shooting.
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu E ISO Sensitivity Sensitivity is a measure of how quickly the camera reacts to light. The higher the sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure. Although a high ISO rating is suited for shooting pictures of subjects in action or in poor lighting, high sensitivity is often associated with “noise”...
G Metering Choose how the camera meters exposure. Matrix (default setting) Camera sets exposure for entire frame. Recommended in most situations. Center-weighted Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to subject in center of frame. Classic meter for portraits; preserves background details while letting lighting conditions at center of frame determine exposure.
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu C Continuous Capture motion in a series of pictures and apply Best Shot Selector (BSS). When Continuous, BSS, or Multi-shot 16 is selected, the flash will be disabled, and focus, exposure and white balance are fixed at the values for the first picture in each series.
Note on Continuous Shooting • The maximum frame rate with continuous shooting may vary, depending upon the current image quality setting, image size setting, and the memory card used. • Be aware that shooting will stop if the built-in flash is raised or lowered while you are pressing the shutter-release button fully in Continuous or BSS mode.
Page 114
• To power the camera continuously for extended periods, use an AC Adapter EH-62A (available separately from Nikon) (A 130). Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC adapter. Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating or in damage to the camera.
H Auto Bracketing Auto bracketing is used to vary exposure by a selected amount over a series of pictures, “bracketing” the exposure value selected by the camera or with exposure compensation. Use in situations in which it is difficult to guess the correct exposure.
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu G AF Area Mode Use this option to determine where the camera focuses. When digital zoom is effect, the camera will focus on the subject in the center focus area regardless of the applied AF area mode option. Face priority The camera automatically detects and focuses on a face looking toward the camera (Shooting with Face-Priority...
Center Camera focuses on subject in center of frame. Center focus area is used. Shooting with Face-Priority When Face priority is selected for AF area mode, or the Portrait scene mode or Night portrait scene mode is selected during shooting, the face-priority function will be applied.
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu Face Priority • When Face priority is selected for AF area mode, the setting will automatically switch to Auto if no face is recognized when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. • If no face is recognized when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway in Portrait or Night portrait scene mode, the camera will focus on the subject in the center focus area.
J Flash Exp. Comp. Flash compensation is used to adjust flash output by ±2.0 EV in increments of 1/3 EV, changing the brightness of the main subject relative to the background. -0.3 - -2.0 Flash output is reduced from -0.3 to -2.0 EV, in increments of 1/3 EV, to prevent unwanted highlights or reflections.
Shooting Options: The Shooting Menu Q Distortion Control Specify whether or not the distortion is corrected. Enabling distortion control reduces the size of the frame. Distortion at frame peripheries is corrected. Off (default setting) No distortion correction performed. Restrictions on Camera Settings Restrictions apply to the following settings in P, S, A, and M modes.
Page 121
ISO sensitivity When ISO sensitivity is set to 3200 or 6400, Image size cannot be set to M 3648×2736, E 3264×2448, D 2592×1944, I 3648×2432, G 3584×2016, and H 2736×2736. At these image size settings, selecting 3200 or 6400 for ISO sensitivity automatically switches the Image size setting to C 2048×1536.
Playback Options: The Playback Menu The playback menu contains the following options. D-Lighting Copy current picture with enhanced details in shadows. Print set Select pictures to print and the number of copies for each. Slide show View pictures stored in the internal memory or on a memory card in an automatic slide show.
Selecting Multiple Pictures The picture selection screen, as shown at right, will be displayed with the following menus: • Playback menu: print set (A 84), delete (A 111), protect (A 111), rotate image (A 112), hide image (A 112), copy (A 113) •...
Playback Options: The Playback Menu b Slide Show Play back pictures, stored in the internal memory or on a memory card, one by one in an automated “slide show.” Use the multi selector to choose Start and press k. To change the interval between pictures, choose Frame intvl, select the desired interval time, and press k before choosing Start.
c Delete Delete selected pictures or all pictures. Erase selected images Delete selected pictures (A 109). Erase all images Delete all pictures. Notes on Deletion • Once deleted, pictures cannot be recovered. Transfer important images to a computer before deletion. •...
Playback Options: The Playback Menu f Rotate image After shooting, set the orientation in which pictures are displayed during playback. You can rotate still pictures 90 degrees clockwise or 90 degrees counterclockwise. Select a picture in the picture selection screen (A 109), and press k to display the Rotate image screen.
h Copy Copy pictures between the internal memory and a memory card. Use the multi selector to select an option from the copy screen and press k. q: Copy pictures from internal memory to memory card. r: Copy pictures from memory card to internal memory.
Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu The setup menu contains the following options. Menus Choose how menus are displayed. Welcome screen Select screen displayed when camera is turned on. Date Set camera clock and choose home and destination time zones. Brightness Adjust LCD monitor brightness.
Displaying the Setup Menu Rotate the mode dial to z. • Use the multi selector to choose and apply settings (A 10). • To exit the setup menu, rotate the mode dial to another mode. a Menus Select a format for menu display. Text (default setting) Text labels for menus are displayed in list format.
Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu c Welcome Screen You can select the welcome screen to be displayed when the camera is turned on. None (default setting) Welcome screen is not displayed. COOLPIX Displays a welcome screen. Select an image Select a picture in the internal memory or on the memory card for the welcome screen.
d Date Set the camera clock and choose home and travel destination time zones. Date Set camera clock to current date and time. See steps 6 and 7 of the section, “Setting Display Language, Date and Time” (A 19), for more information. Time zone w (home time zone) can be specified and daylight saving enabled or disabled from Time zone options.
Page 132
The Clock Battery The clock battery charges when the main battery is installed or the AC Adapter EH-62A (available separately from Nikon) is connected, and can provide several days of backup power after about ten hours of charging. w (Home Time Zone) •...
Page 133
Time Zones (A 18) The camera supports the time zones listed below. For time differences not listed below, set the camera clock to local time. The table contains some locations that are not displayed on the camera’s time zone map. UTC +/–...
Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu e Brightness Choose from five settings for LCD monitor brightness. The default setting is 3. Brightness for the electronic viewfinder cannot be adjusted. f Date Imprint Date and time of recording can be imprinted on pictures. This information can be printed even from printers that do not support printing of date and time (A 85).
Page 135
Date Counter Pictures shot while this option is in effect are imprinted with the number of days remaining until, or the number of days elapsed since a specified date. Use it to track the growth of a child or count down the days until a birthday or wedding. Stored dates Up to three dates can be stored.
Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu g Vibration Reduction Enable or disable vibration reduction for shooting still pictures. Vibration reduction effectively corrects blur, caused by slight hand movement known as camera shake, that commonly occurs when shooting with zoom applied or at slow shutter speeds.
h AF Assist Enable or disable AF-assist illumination. Auto (default setting) AF-assist illumination will be used to assist the focus operation when the subject is poorly lit. Note that for some scene modes, AF-assist illumination turns off automatically. Disable this function. The camera may be unable to focus if lighting is poor. u Digital Zoom Use this setting to control digital zoom operation.
Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu i Sound Settings Adjust the following sound settings. Button sound Turn button sound on or off. When On (default setting) is selected, a beep will sound once when operations are completed successfully, twice when the camera acquires focus on the subject, and three times when an error is detected.
• Do not turn the camera off, disconnect the AC adapter, or open the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover during formatting. • The first time you insert the memory cards used in other devices into the COOLPIX P80, format them with this camera.
Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu n Language Choose one of 24 languages for display of camera menus and messages. Czech Danish German (default setting) Spanish Greek French Indonesian Italian Hungarian Dutch Norwegian o Video Mode Adjust settings for connection to TV. Choose NTSC or PAL.
p Reset All When Reset is selected, the camera’s settings will be restored to their default values. Pop-up Menu Option Flash mode (A 30) Self-timer (A 33) Focus mode (A 34) Exposure compensation (A 37) Scene Mode Option Scene menu (A 38) Movie Menu Option Movie options (A 63)
Page 142
Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu Option Custom of Black-and-white in Optimize image (A 93) White balance (A 94) ISO sensitivity (A 96) Fixed range auto (A 96) Metering (A 97) Continuous (A 98) Intvl timer shooting (A 99) Auto bracketing (A 101) AF area mode (A 102) Autofocus mode (A 104) Flash exp.
Shooting menu: preset white balance value measured using Preset manual (A 95) Setup menu: Date (A 117), Date counter (A 121), Language (A 126), and Video mode (A 126) r Firmware Version View the current camera firmware version. Basic Camera Setup: The Setup Menu Default value Default COOLPIX P80 Ver.X.X Back...
Technical Notes Optional Accessories Rechargeable battery Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL5 Battery charger AC adapter USB cable A/V cable Lens cap Battery Charger MH-61 AC Adapter EH-62A (connects as shown) Ensure that the power connector cord passes through the opening before closing the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover. Failure to observe this precaution could cause damage to the battery-chamber/memory card slot cover.
Approved Memory Cards The following memory cards have been tested and approved for use in the COOLPIX P80. All cards of the designated make and capacity can be used, regardless of speed. SanDisk Toshiba Panasonic If the memory card will be used with a card reader or similar device, check that the device supports 2 GB cards.
Panorama assist (e.g. “101P_001”; A 44), “INTVL” for interval timer photography (e.g. “101INTVL”; A 99), “SOUND” for voice recordings (e.g. “101SOUND”; A 68), and “NIKON” for all other pictures (e.g. “100NIKON”). When the number of files within a folder reaches 9999, a new folder will be created.
Caring for the Camera To ensure continued enjoyment of this Nikon product, observe the following precautions when using or storing the device: Keep dry The device will be damaged if immersed in water or subjected to high humidity. Do not drop The product may malfunction if subjected to strong shock or vibration.
Caring for the Camera The Self-timer Lamp/AF-assist Illuminator LED The light-emitting diode (LED; A 4, 33, 123) used in the self-timer lamp/AF-assist illuminator conforms to the following IEC standard: The Battery • Check the battery level when taking the camera out, and charge the battery if necessary (A 14). Do not continue charging once the battery is fully charged, as this will result in reduced battery performance.
• Images in the monitor may be difficult to see under bright lighting. • The monitor is lit by an LED backlight. Should the monitor begin to dim or flicker, contact your Nikon-authorized service representative. Notes on Smear When framing bright subjects, vertical comet-like streaks that whiten toward either end may appear in the display.
Error Messages The following table lists the error messages and other warnings displayed in the monitor, as well as the solutions for dealing with them. Display O (blinks) Battery exhausted. Battery temperature high Please wait for the camera to finish recording.
Page 151
Display Memory card is full. Out of memory. Error occurred while recording picture. Image cannot be saved. Camera has run out of file numbers. Picture cannot be used for welcome screen. Cannot copy picture. Camera has run out of file Sound file cannot be numbers.
Page 152
The copy option screen or copy sound file screen will be displayed. File not created with View file on computer or COOLPIX P80. other device. Disable Hide image • All pictures in internal memory/memory card setting to view images.
Page 153
Turn camera off and reconnecting cable. Turn camera off, remove and reinsert battery, and turn camera on. If error persists, contact retailer or Nikon-authorized service representative. Check printer. After checking the ink or solving the problem, select Resume and press k to resume printing*.
Troubleshooting If the camera fails to function as expected, check the list of common problems below before consulting your retailer or Nikon-authorized service representative. Refer to the page numbers in the right-most column for more information. Display, Settings and Power Supply Problem Monitor is blank.
Page 155
In the event of continued malfunction, contact your retailer or Nikon-authorized service representative. Note that disconnecting the power source as described above may result in the loss of any data not recorded to internal memory or the memory card at the time the problem occurred.
Page 156
Troubleshooting Shooting Problem Camera does not shoot when shutter-release button is pressed. Camera cannot focus. Pictures are blurred. Bright specks appear in pictures shot with flash. Built-in flash does not fire. Optical zoom cannot be used. Cause/Solution • When camera is in playback mode, press c or the shutter-release button.
Page 157
Problem Digital zoom cannot be used. Image size not available. No sound when shutter is released. AF-assist illuminator does not light. Pictures appear smeared. Colors are unnatural. Randomly spaced bright pixels (“noise”) appear in image. Cause/Solution • Digital zoom in the setup menu is set to Off. •...
Page 158
Troubleshooting Problem Pictures are too dark (underexposed). Pictures are too bright (overexposed). Adjust exposure compensation. Unexpected results when flash set to V (auto with red-eye reduction). Camera does not shoot continuously. Camera does not shoot with Multi-shot 16. Playback Problem File cannot be played back.
Page 159
• Battery is exhausted. • USB cable is not correctly connected. • Camera is not recognized by the computer. • Computer is not set to launch Nikon Transfer automatically. • If your computer is running Windows 2000 Professional, camera cannot be connected to the computer.
(W × H × D) Weight Specifications Nikon will not be held liable for any errors this manual may contain. The appearance of this product and its specifications are subject to change without notice. 0 to 40 °C (32 to 104 °F)
Supported Standards • DCF: Design Rule for Camera File System is a standard widely used in the digital camera industry to ensure compatibility among different makes of camera. • DPOF: Digital Print Order Format is an industry-wide standard that allows pictures to be printed from print orders stored on the memory card.
Index Symbols A Aperture-priority auto 48, 51 k Apply selection button 5 E Audio playback mode 70 A Auto mode 22–29 l Delete button 5, 28 c D-Lighting 57 o Exposure compensation 37 X Flash pop-up button 4, 31 j Help 4, 11 C Indicator 6–7 M Manual 48, 52 d button 11...
Page 165
D-Lighting 57 DPOF 149 DSCN 132 Dusk/dawn i 41 Electronic VR 65 Error messages 136–139 Exif version 2.2 149 Exposure compensation 37 Extension 132 File names 132 Fill flash 30 Fireworks show m 43 Firmware version 129 Flash 30, 127 indicator 32 mode 30 Flash exp.
Page 166
Index Optimize image 91 Panorama 44–45 Panorama assist p 44 Party/indoor f 40 PictBridge 78–84, 149 Playback 28, 54–59 full-frame 28, 29 menu 108–113 mode 9, 28, 29 thumbnail 54 zoom 55 Playback menu 108–113 Portrait b 39 Power switch 4, 17 Power-on lamp 4, 17, 22 Preset manual (white balance) 95 Print set 84...
Page 167
No reproduction in any form of this manual, in whole or in part (except for brief quotation in critical articles or reviews), may be made without written authorization from NIKON CORPORATION. Printed in Japan FX8D02(11) 6MMA5111-02...
Need help?
Do you have a question about the COOLPIX P80 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers