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Nikon D90 Review – Is It An SLR Camera, Or A Camcorder?
For the Nikon SLR enthusiasts, who have read the Nikon D90 reviews and learned that the new SLR captures not only still images, as every Nikon camera before it has, but also high-definition video, the news must have been bitter sweet.
On the one hand, the prospect of being able to capture video with the same device that allows you to shoot superb photographic images sounds mighty convenient. On the other hand, Nikon has entered a new game and set the course for all future mid to high end Nikon SLR models. The SLR camera then, is not so unlike the VCR recorder that suddenly found itself also housing a DVD player unit. One device, now forced to share two technologies.
It is not hard to imagine what might be bothering the Nikon SLR purists. Nikon’s engineering department must now divide its time between advances in digital photography, and the development of a video technology that extends its maximum recording time with each new model. The Nikon D90 shares a good deal of its digital photography technology with the much more expensive model detailed in Nikon D300 reviews – the same 12.3 megapixel sharpness, and the huge and bright 3.0-inch LCD display that formerly had Nikon lovers drooling.
Now Nikon’s user base can have the best parts of the Nikon D300 for significantly less cost. And they get high-definition video. But that begs another question. How much less expensive might the Nikon D90 have been had the video unit been left out of the design? I guess I must be one of those nikon purists I mentioned earlier because I’d gladly give up high-definition video in exchange for a more affordable camera.
I am sure I am not the only Nikon lover to wonder about this, especially as the video capability of the Nikon D90 has received some serious criticism. Mainly this stems from two problems present in the D90. The first is that auto focusing shuts off in video mode. So you can expect blurred portions of your video shoots if your subjects like to move around a lot. Well, unless you happen to be very adept at manual focusing – a skill that is called for less and less these days. The other problem is that you cannot see through the Nikon D90’s viewfinder in video mode. It blacks out. Instead you must use the LCD display to compose your shooting. All five to twenty minutes (in low resolution mode) of it.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t use the Nikon D90 to create fantastic video sessions of you kids playing soccer, or shoot memorable interviews with family members. You just have to understand the current limits of the technology. But you will have to stock up on high-capacity memory cards if you plan to get busy capturing video. You will need at least an 8-GB SD card for this.
And don’t forget that compared to the much cheaper Nikon D40, and even the slightly cheaper model discussed in Nikon D60 reviews, with its vibration-reducing 18-55mm Nikkor kit lens, the Nikon D90 is a huge step up. Not just in the performance of the camera body, but also in the optics. The kit lens for the Nikon D90 is the image-stabilizing 18-105mm Nikkor. This means you can photograph wide-angle to short-range telephoto and get some of the sharpest photos that you can imagine.
In summary, the Nikon D90 is a superb digital SLR which throws in a bonus in the form of high-definition video for those who would like to try their hand at mini movie making sessions.
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Stephen Carter runs Best Digital Camera Discounts, where, if you find a great price on a camera, there is a very good chance that the offer represents the lowest price you are likely to find anywhere. If you are not inclined to follow one of the recommendations for a camera made on this page, try browsing our top-rated digital camera listings, or use our search engine to find currently available offers.
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