Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 3127 City: Richmond, V to the Izzay
Posted: Mar 13, 2009 9:45 am Post subject: DSLR: Break off Discussion - NIKON D90
Kind of a break off of key's thread, but here goes. Has anyone used or own one of these? I did some basic reading on the model and I've got a bunch of dumb noob questions.
My main question is, how viable is the Video capability of this camera? It seems with the (claimed) quality of the video, with a big enough memory card, one could use the unit for both HQ stills and HD Video.
I read there is a 5 minute limit on the clips, what other limitations would you face?
Does the video play live on the LCD display? or only after the fact like a DSLR still?
Other question is what would the video look like through the different types of lenses (zoom, fish)? Or is there only like 1 lens you can use to shoot vid?
Is the unit too much camera for a complete DSLR noob such as myself?
Rhawn, all I know is if I were to buy a "starter" DSLR that it would likely be the D90.
Seems to be a good longer term DSLR for the noob. Easy to use, but can do some of the serious "future use" stuff as you learn more.
As a total rookie I've used both D200 and Canon's Rebel line. The Nikon, even in D200 format, was much easier for me to use. It seemed more intuitive to me. I am slightly crazy, though. _________________
-no HD clip can be more than 5 mins.
-no auto focus
-lacking in detail in video mode
-'choppy' autofocus
-no control over white balance once you're recording
-720p, 24fps (not good for fast motion)
-has a case of the wobbles if you pan quickly. this is due to the type of sensor it uses. (again, not good for fast motion)
If you head over to www.vimeo.com and throw D90 into the search you'll find a bazillion clips of people playing around with the manual focusing on the camera using various lenses. And to answer your question, you can use any Nikon lens you want on that camera and shoot video with it. The 'look' of the lens won't change any from photo to video since video is just 24 photos per second. And from what I saw the videos on vimeo.com show a variety of lenses in use.
IMO based on what I've read in the above two links, I don't see the D90 video camera hurting HD camcorder sales at all, but the D90 is more than capable of providing great images so if you're in the market for a new DSLR then the video capabilities will just be a little added bonus.
Chavez- you aren't crazy, you're just comparing a bottom end DSLR to a mid/high range one The 5D mark II would be a better comparison to the D200/D300. _________________ www.TheLiquidPlayground.com
Integrity Wakeskates
Joined: 14 Jun 2006 Posts: 3127 City: Richmond, V to the Izzay
Posted: Mar 14, 2009 11:03 am Post subject:
scott a wrote:
If you head over to www.vimeo.com and throw D90 into the search you'll find a bazillion clips of people playing around with the manual focusing on the camera using various lenses.
This was a great idea. Thanks for it, and for all the info.
Here is what I found. Alot of shaky footage, like you posted. This guy (Roland Something) http://www.vimeo.com/user595627/videos seems to have done alot with the D90. He's used some add ons, like a steady cam and some after processing, but his results are amazing IMO.
Yeah, in the hands of the right person, the D90 will probably look great. I came across Roland's videos last nite when I searched vimeo myself and it looks like he knows all of the limitations and has found workarounds for most/all of them. _________________ www.TheLiquidPlayground.com
Integrity Wakeskates
I looked at the D90 and almost pulled the trigger before our big trip a few weeks ago. The video is what caught my attention first, but after closer inspection it is not going to replace an HD camcorder. The quality and features are just not there, and the 5 minute clip limit makes it novelty only.
Without that, the benefit of the D90 was that it was a good DSLR and had live view LCD, which to my knowledge is one of very few that did. One of the reasons I haven't purchased a DSLR yet was because I want to be able to hand my camera to a stranger and ask them to take a picture for us. I don't think people expect to have to look through the view finder, and certainly aren't going to understand zooming and focusing with the lens. The D90 at least corrected one of the 2 problems, and with the auto-focus lens would have been pretty good. Still I couldn't justify the cost over my Canon S5, which is in the Ultrazoom category.
Currently, I am waiting for a 1 stop solution for camera and video. Hopefully in a couple iterations they will spur some competition for HD video in DSLRs and there will be a viable solution in a few years. Still if I were going to buy a camera today it would be a D90, and not because of the video. _________________ You have just entered the twilight zone.
Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 2097 City: Federal Way / Bellingham
Posted: Mar 16, 2009 3:09 pm Post subject:
Every new camera will have live view, I believe Nikon's first was with the D90. You'll see it on every Canon newer then the 1D3. So that's quite a few cams.
Joined: 25 Aug 2003 Posts: 5283 City: New York City
Posted: Mar 21, 2009 5:17 pm Post subject:
My dad got a D90 for our africa trip at christmas and it is pretty incredible. Im not a camera genius, but I was able to figure out the basics pretty easily but it has a ridiculous amount of features to get crazy with
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The 5D mark II would be a better comparison to the D200/D300.
