Nikon's new D90 in full, gory detail

So, Nikon finally fessed up to its new D90 prosumer DSLR, which means all that's left for us is to do is to pick through the spec sheets, drool on the product shots and imagine ourselves taking the film industry by storm with that D90-shot indie flick we're plotting.

INT. SUBURBAN HOME - DAY

BLOGGER sits at his computer typing. He looks inspired, witty, unkempt. The camera's short depth of field captures the writer in his element.

Oh, right, the tech specs:

• New 12.3 megapixel Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with Integrated Dust Reduction System.
• Low-noise from ISO 200 to 3200, ISO 6400 available.
• D-Movie mode records in 320 x 216, 640 x 424 or 1,280 x 720 in AVI format.
• Scene Recognition System based on 420 pixel RGB sensor for improved autofocus, autofocus and auto white balance, in addition to Face Detection.
• Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus with 11 AF points.
• 3-inch, VGA Live View LCD.
• 4.5 fps continuous shooting, 0.15 second startup, 65ms shutter release lag.
• SD / SDHC storage.
• HDMI output
• 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0-inches.
• 1 pound 6 ounces without battery.
• $1,299 kit price.

Nikon's new D90 in full, gory detail

Read - Nikon D90
Read - D90's "D-Movie" samples
Read - D90 tested out by Chase Jarvis

[yokken Posted Aug 27th 2008 1:55PM]

pretty dern nice, but if i want to shoot films, i'll bring a videocamera.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 27th 2008 3:55PM]

Good for you.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 28th 2008 12:42AM]

720p at 24 fps? Isnt 720p supposed to show 60 frames per second? If it doesn't that's not 720p is it? why not 5 fps then?

[roxics Posted Aug 27th 2008 7:54PM]

720p is just the resolution. 1280x720 (p)rogressive scan. The frame rate is independent. typically 24, 25, 30 or 60fps. But some cameras can do anything from 1-120+ frames per second. American 35mm motion pictures are shot at 24fps, European movies are shot at 25fps. Old interlaced video (VHS, TV broadcasts, ect) is 60i (interlaced frames per second, or 60 half frames per second).

Oh and another thing. I'm sick of people claiming 480p is high definition. It's not. It's standard definition. Only 720 and 1080 are HD.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 28th 2008 7:00AM]

See more Nikon D90 reviews at http://www.dprguru.com/?model=d90&mfg=Nikon
Cheers!

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 29th 2008 2:59AM]

Nikon needs to integrate the D90's video capability in all their higher end cameras - the D300, D700, and D3.

They also need to provide auto-focus capability, as well.

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 30th 2008 4:48AM]

Aimed at indie film makers? Are you high? Ever made a movie? Even with a 8gb SDHC card a film maker would go crazy. After 5+ takes of several scenes it would be time to switch cards. Too time consuming, wrong form factor. Just wrong.

Now, if you mean youtube indie film maker or 5 minute short subject film maker then Its actually overkill.

This is gimmick at its best. Leave the video to true camcorders. Let the masses play around with video on a p/s cam. Keep video out of DSLRs. As a Canon user I hope they dont follow suit and do this with, say, a 60D or XT?

[Michael Scrip Posted Sep 1st 2008 3:11AM]

Dude... relax.

When the D80 came out it was the same price. Now we've got the D90 and it added video. Just like Live View, which is shunned by many... YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE IT! It's still a great DSLR. Video doesn't make it any less of a camera... it's still better than the D80.

If you buy this camera specifically to shoot video, you're dumb. But, if you buy this camera to be a DSLR, you have the option to shoot some clips if you want to.

Think of it this way... you've got your D90 around your neck because, like most DSLR owners, you like to take great photos. Now you don't have to use your crappy camera phone or Flip video to shoot video. Most people don't even carry camcorders anymore anyway. This might actually get people to shoot more video.

I would shoot 99.999% photos with this camera. But being able to shoot HD clips or short Youtube clips would be a bonus.