Nikon D80 Manual - It is quite incredible how Nikon have made it so difficult to obtain something as simple as a manual online.

If you wade through their site you can eventually get a PDF copy of the manual but it is a non-printable version. To get a printable version you have to go through a long winded registration procedure only to be told (as in my case as I live in Thailand) that your serial number is not in a region that permits downloading a printable version!

Ditto with their software Capture NX. I actually wanted to buy a copy but cannot find anyone who will actually sell me a registration key!

I believe the reason for all this must harp back to Nikon trying to protect its long established dealer network. A noble concept, as I'm sure that if I were a dealer I wouldn't want umpteen potential customers in my region purchasing products on the grey market

But Nikon simply has not been able to properly understand the way the Internet has changed the way people shop and the way customers want to receive continuing service.

In Thailand, for example, many Nikon products from lenses to camera bodies, are manufactured here and for reasons that I don't understand, a huge number of these products manage to slip out into this grey market, appearing in umpteen shops all over Thailand. Buying on the grey market usually means you get a poorly photo-copied version of an English manual, but its a genuine camera and lens and Nikon actually say that your world-wide guarantee is still valid!

You could say, why buy from a grey dealer? Why not go to a proper Nikon distributor, such as www.niksthailand.co.th? Well, it's not always convenient to visit the distributor, where you will be paying a premium price for the exactly the same thing (but I'm sure you'll get a proper manual!) and furthermore these grey dealers give all the impression that they are a bona-fide registered seller of Nikon products - they have proper Nikon signs, a big range of Nikon products, knowledgeable staff and above all, very competitive pricing. I've heard of reports of service that is off-hand at best and simply bordering on arrogance at the real Nikon appointed dealers.

In fact it is now clear to me that Nikon must tacitly approve of this grey market. It simply isn't credible that this number of shops can be selling Nikon products with all the proper Nikon signage, etc. without Nikon being aware of it and supporting it.

Nikon could embrace the Internet in a far more effective manner, ensuring many more happy customers. For example, allow any Nikon owner to register their full details on their website and to be able to download manuals and purchase software online. At the same time, the website could inform the new Nikon owner of dealers close to where he/she lives and offer to forward their details to the dealer/s of their choice (simple checkbox options). In so doing, the dealer becomes aware of a potential new customer in their area, can then send them details of new offers and products they have and in so doing build up a lasting relationship with a new customer.

Anyway, that's enough from me, but in the meantime, I've got a copy of a printable PDF version of the D80 Manual and also if you're going to try out the Capture NX software, I've got some training material that I managed to glean off their site. Help yourself from the download links below, just right-click the link and 'Save as':

Nikon D80 Manual, printable version, D80_en.pdf 9.6MB

Nikon D80 User Guide, D80-users-guide.pdf 740k (at www.KenRockwell.com)

Using Capture NX - examples, capture_nx_examples.zip 2.1MB, this file contains a set of Flash files illustrating Closeup, Landscape, Portrait and Wedding shots. Download this file and unzip the contents and run each 'html' file from your browser, the Flash file should then play in your browser ok.

Movie demonstrating use of Capture NX, Part1.mov 3.3MB

Movie demonstrating use of Capture NX, Part2.mov 5.9MB

Movie demonstrating use of Capture NX, Part3.mov 4.8MB

Movie demonstrating use of Capture NX, Part4.mov 8.2MB