The Nikon D80 follows up the D70s in their line of mid-level digital SLRs. A 10.2 megapixel resolution is a significant boost up from the D70s's 6.1, and puts the D80's pixel count around the higher end of available consumer level technology.  The D80's fastest shutter speed is 1/4000 second which is a downgrade from the edge to the D70s's 1/8000 second when it comes to blur-free action shots, but 1/4000 second is still mid-range for this level of digital SLR.

The camera can shoot up to 3 fps for up to 100 consecutive shots, which amounts to faster picture capture than the D70s's 2.8 fps. Like any DSLR, the D80 has a bevy of shooting modes and automated optimization options (for white balance and exposure adjustment based on lighting and contrast conditions) accompany in-camera editing with features like red-eye correction, image overlay, and color filtering effects. The autofocus systems have received a boost up to 11-point (up from the D70s's 5), which should improve the camera's ability to track and focus especially on moving objects. Most digital cameras can connect to TVs for picture display, but the D80 also includes the Pictmotion system, which enables bells and whistles like music and fade effects for spruced-up slideshows directly from the camera.