Nikon D90 - any thoughts on movie mode?

[hammock monkey]

Hi,
I'm interested to hear anyones opinions on a Nikon D90, I'm sorely tempted to buy one but it'd be my first dslr and I'm not sure I'd be out of my depth.

I was heading for a canon 450d but the movie facility of the D90 has really interested me. I've only used my compact in movie mode just recently and love the results. As much as I want good photos its animal behaviour that I'm really interested in...and so for this purpose little movies seem far better.

I have a friend who has one, I've had a quick go with it and apart form being a bit heavy to drag over miles of hills etc it seems pretty amazing.

I think I'm talking myself into it but a word of advice from those that know what thye're talking about is always very welcome!

[Ed Tyler]

Monkey,

If you've had/have a chance to have a quick go with one then that will be the best test of all. Play it back on a large screen (i.e TV not the LCD on the camera.) to check the quality of the footage.

Personally I haven't even seen the D90, apart from the odd photo in magazines. I did read a write up about it and that did have a couple of paragraphs about the film function.

The guy was quite impressed with it but did say that if you were trying to film anything moving at speed it started to get a little jerky. He put that down to the way a camera records an image compared to how a camcorder records an image.

A friend of mine was really drawn by this function to record her daughters at horse shows but my advice to her was get a camcorder. She was more interested in recording than the photography side.

Hope this helps a little.

Ed

[hammock monkey]

Hi Ed,
thanks, thats exactly the kind of thing that I need to know about - I wouldn't expect HDTV quality but it seems pretty good from the examples I've seen my friend produce.
I'd guess it'll catch on pretty well, although maybe not with serious guys.

cheers

[ron1863]

If you are really interested in little movies then why not just buy a HD Video Camera instead of a DSLR

[kiff]

Originally Posted by hammock monkey

Hi Ed,
thanks, thats exactly the kind of thing that I need to know about - I wouldn't expect HDTV quality but it seems pretty good from the examples I've seen my friend produce.
I'd guess it'll catch on pretty well, although maybe not with serious guys.

cheers

I just upgraded from a D60 to the D90 I don't use it in move mode but have tried it out the picture in good daylight the quality blow my HD video camera away, it's very high quality the big let down is with the sound which is just pants, but it's only a inbuilt mic so can't complain really, for short filming were sound is not important but picture quality is then your find the D90 ideal

I really like the D90 it's well built and takes very good photos, I don't find it to heavy to carry round , but then I mainly have a macro lens attached.

[kiff]

Originally Posted by ron1863

If you are really interested in little movies then why not just buy a HD Video Camera instead of a DSLR

it blows most HD video cameras away

[hammock monkey]

thanks Kiff - thats exactly what I wanted to hear!

I want to use it primarily as a stills camera but occasionaly its nice to film things, this seems tailor made for the job.

Time to apply hammer to piggy bank!