My Nikon D90 Review / Samples

[ukaskew]

The other thread turned into some completely unrelated Canon warfare, so I'm starting fresh with my thoughts on the D90 after two days of use as I know a few people were interested.

Obviously this is all compared to the D50, so I've never had Live View or anything remotely technological before!

Handling

As expected there are no real issues here. Similar build/size to the D50, slightly different grip but probably feels better if anything. Got a few nice little touches over the D50 as well, such as a button to illuminate both the screens (I no longer need a torch!) and the Info button which instantly shows you every setting and what you have it set to on the main LCD.

Only thing that was missing was a button to adjust the AF Area Mode (i.e. 3D, Single, Dynamic, Auto) but I've mapped this to the spare function button, so literally everything I need during the average day out is now available without going in the menus (off the top of my head, ISO, WB, Bracketing, Drive Mode, Metering, AF Type, Exposure Compensation and Image Quality are all mapped to buttons).

Features

The screen is the most obvious thing, and considering it makes no difference to your photos, it was strangely useful today. It's so detailed you don't need to zoom in to check everything is focused and ok, it's just there in stunning clarity and detail. Live View was a new one for me, but to be honest I can't see that I will ever use it (or would ever even look at it if it wasn't for the video mode), the Viewfinder is so bright and big that it's just not needed imo. Other than that, there are far more settings/features that I haven't even thought about yet, although I did try Active D-Lighting, which amazingly works quite brilliantly (essentially brightens up dark areas such as shadows, but does it very well)

I guess the resolution is the biggest jump from my D50 (6 >> 12.3), but that's not really something I've noticed/thought about, until/if I ever get some truly massive prints done I can't see a great deal of point in it (and anyway, the 6mps of my D50 never caused me any problems despite images being published at A3 etc)

Video

I know a lot of people can't see the point and are amused by the basic feature set (no autofocus, mono sound etc), but really, the video mode is a huge amount of fun and has masses of creative potential. If you use it like a handheld video camera it's not amazing by any stretch of the imagination, but used in a creative way with more of a film/documentary approach it has loads going for it. Particularly good is the fact that you can jump between video and still photos pretty much instantly. Take a photo, press the Lv Button, press OK and you are recording video, press Lv again and you are instantly back in stills mode.

Clearly my samples are rubbish (and they look 100% better on my PC before they reach Youtube), but it gives you a bit of an idea. It's quite interesting from a photography point of view as well, because all the normal settings can be used/adjusted when setting up, you are essentially just taking a moving photograph and it requires the same processes/creativity/ideas etc. Unfortunately I forgot my tripod and to switch the sound on for video #2, so I had to balance the camera on a fence post (and it's silent!)

[youtube]bfOBuTf15Vs[/youtube]
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhudQxile1M

[youtube]ZhudQxile1M[/youtube]
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=bfOBuTf15Vs

Samples

Can't see a great deal of use with these, but it's always nice to show I guess...

My newbieness got the better of me today, and I left the JPEG setting to Vivid when I had a play around, so excuse the radioactive grass after the first shot...

All in all, pretty darn pleased. It does seem to make everything that little bit easier, autofocus seems a little bit quicker and the additional focus points make it easier to experiment with some wacky framing when shooting motorsport and you don't have the luxury of re-framing. More than any of that though, the viewfinder seems much brighter/bigger, which really makes a noticeable difference, when I was shooting with the macro attachment yesterday it just felt more straightforward as you could see what you were doing far more clearly.

 

[dk]

LOL @ warfare, not really, just discussions, anyway, the d90 seems nice, although i don't think the pictures would have been any worse on your d50 really, i've probably experienced the same as you, moving up a camera doesn't necessarily mean better photos (to start off with anyway), but everythings a little bit easier to use and get the best out of.

Like the screen, we have both benefitted from that, its a huge improvement and makes the world of difference, more butttons means less using the menus, so quicker and easier, more settings, live view, which surprisingly has come in useful a few times and the zooming in live view is great to check your focus points and manually adjust if needs be etc.

So really, we've both done the same sort of thing, be it with different manufacturers, but we seem to have got the same benefits from the upgrade, just not sure the picture quality when posting on the web will increase as we are still using the same glass and mp doesn't matter that much as you say.

Be interested to see what you can make from the video mode, i've not got enough patience to set it all up properly and spend the time on it, liek with my photos i'm very much a very quick person and don't hang around taking my time, which is probably a big downfall.

Glad you like it though, it always sounded like it was going to be a great camera and it sounds like thats your experience so far.

Mines only been out a month and its had 2 firmware updates already............

 

[ukaskew]

Agree with most of that, won't really make any difference to the majority of my photos (I never expected it to) and to be honest unless you spent megabucks and went full frame I don't think you would ever really notice a huge difference.

Most of it is down to making everything quicker and more configurable. So although it won't improve my photos, I'm probably at the point now where it will help me to get photos I simply couldn't have got on my D50, particularly as far as Motorsport is concerned, as everything is just there ready to change/adjust.

Obviously the huge thing I've missed is the high ISO performance, as it's not something I've played with much yet but in time will probably be the biggest benefit. There are a lot of people on Flickr who have been more than happy to just bump it up to ISO800 or ISO1250 and beyond and still get perfectly acceptable poster prints out of them, so for low light I'm sure it will come into its own fairly soon, particularly as I did feel that my D50 was extremely inadequate in terms of doing what I wanted it to do when I was shooting the 24hr Race in September.

 

[dk]

indeed, i've been using iso 800 and 1600 and its really rather good. I haven't fired the flash from any of my indoor shots yet, something i definitely wouldhave done with the 350, i have even popped it up yet, for all i know it doesn't work lol.

Was going to ask for a flash for christmas, not so sure i will get any use out of it now so having second thoughts.

Did you buy the body only or with a kit lens?

 

[ukaskew]

indeed, i've been using iso 800 and 1600 and its really rather good. I haven't fired the flash from any of my indoor shots yet, something i definitely wouldhave done with the 350, i have even popped it up yet, for all i know it doesn't work lol.

Was going to ask for a flash for christmas, not so sure i will get any use out of it now so having second thoughts.

Did you buy the body only or with a kit lens?

Body only, so just got the 50mm 1.8 and Sigma 120-300 2.8 at the moment. With Christmas/Birthday money I'm hoping to get another Sigma 10-20 before I go to New York.

 

[dk]

what are you using for macro, preume the fowers were with a macro?

do you not feel limited not having anything between 20 and 120 except for the 50? or don't you need as it as you mostly take the long motorsport shots?

 

[ukaskew]

what are you using for macro, preume the fowers were with a macro?

do you not feel limited not having anything between 20 and 120 except for the 50? or don't you need as it as you mostly take the long motorsport shots?

I have a Close Up Filter (a +4), essentially just a magnifying glass that screws onto my 50mm 1.8 and turns it into a pretty reasonable macro lens. Very cheap and effective.

Never really given any thought about the gaps to be honest, I've never had anything that fills the 20-50 gap (I only took the 10-20 and 50 to NYC last time), if anything I like being limited anyway, forces you to be more creative. If I had funds I would just add more specialist stuff (maybe a dedicated macro, or a fisheye), I just treat gaps as a short walk!

 

[dk]

lol, so i can do with with my canon 50mm 1.8 then?

can you give me a link to what you have please, sounds interesting!

 

[Peperami]

Crikey, your pictures were good before, but those above look amazing!

And you've only had the camera a few days!

 

[Clart]

Impressive. Looks like virtually no noise in those panning photos too. Can't wait to get mine.

 

[ukaskew]

Impressive. Looks like virtually no noise in those panning photos too. Can't wait to get mine.

I've always wondered what/why that is. I always shoot at ISO200 but my really slow panning shots on my D50 were full of noise and grain when viewed full size (as if I was shooting at a much higher ISO). There certainly is some noise in these shots but the conditions were awful; horrible murky day with misty rain, but the noise is far less than it would have been on a clear day on the D50.

The main thing that I notice is that the cars stand out more against the background, I would usually put that down to the lens as that's really the only thing that makes a difference, but they generally seem to stick out a bit more. Again slightly odd, as apparently the in-camera JPEG sharpening is very very modest compared to the last gen Nikons apparently.

 

[ukaskew]

lol, so i can do with with my canon 50mm 1.8 then?

can you give me a link to what you have please, sounds interesting!

One of these

The dragonfly pics were taken with it and the 50mm in this gallery, and the first spider pic was with it and my D50 kit lens...http://www.chrisharrison.smugmug.com/gallery/2602037_zznf4

 

[dk]

bloody hell, those dragonfly pics are amazing, lucky to get that close!

For that money, might as well have a punt anyway.

thanks!

 

[Brasseye]

did you get the kit lens 18-105 ? if so what do you think of it ?

 

[ukaskew]

did you get the kit lens 18-105 ? if so what do you think of it ?

Body only for me, couldn't stretch the extra £120 for the kit lens, but I don't think I would have even if I could afford it, would have rather put it towards a Sigma 10-20 or something.

 

[k8ty]

Your pictures are amazing!!! I was wowed!

 

[MaLicE]

impressive images chris, really does seem to of taken your pretty much perfect images up a step!

goes to show though you had a budget body and still managed brilliant pictures, shows you know how to use a camera, plus you have some really good glass! hopefully getting the 120-300 sigma near xmas and hopefully a d3...

goes to show, some people have all the gear and no idea and produce boring photo's then some people like yourself go out and learn how to use what they have to the maximum before getting bigger and better stuff!

either way still stupidly impressed with your panning shots! really must try and get in to some more motorsport stuff!

 

[NOT! gary l]

Always in awe of you're pics mate, you have a real talent there.

Im currently looking for an entry level camera but dont know if i can justify the cost against the amount of time i have to actually use it.

Ive never driven anyting more than a point and click digital cam and even at that i struggle figuring how to set the date never mend macro's and ISO's

Well done, good stuff

 

[ukaskew]

Cheers peeps, comments always appreciated.

All going slightly mad at the moment, been offered some all expenses paid freelance work in Paris this weekend and then have some work for a car manufacturer coming up as well. So so chuffed, it's been reasonably quiet compared to last year but it's all just kicked off in the past few weeks, seriously thinking the credit crunch must be biting and people are looking for cheaper photographers.

 

[BenWall]

Cheers peeps, comments always appreciated.

All going slightly mad at the moment, been offered some all expenses paid freelance work in Paris this weekend and then have some work for a car manufacturer coming up as well. So so chuffed, it's been reasonably quiet compared to last year but it's all just kicked off in the past few weeks, seriously thinking the credit crunch must be biting and people are looking for cheaper photographers.

Really well done! Amazing to get some photo work. You taking the one in Paris?

 

[ukaskew]

Really well done! Amazing to get some photo work. You taking the one in Paris?

It is unbelievable, main aim for the next year or so is to just get a really good experience-filled portfolio together, so all these little jobs/competitions are doing wonders for that. To be honest I don't really 'get' it, I sit on Flickr and am blown away by the stuff I find on there, so I'm wondering why I'm getting any work. I guess most people feel like that to start with though.

Just got off the phone with the magazine about Paris, I've accepted it, they are just trying to get me a bigger budget as the costs are higher than expected (no cheap flights around at such short notice), awesome just to be asked though.

 

[Remedi]

Hats off to you mate. Your pics are quite inspiring

 

[BenWall]

Is it motorsport in paris? as your with the best on flickr with motorsport.

 

[ukaskew]

Is it motorsport in paris? as your with the best on flickr with motorsport.

Nope this is 'normal' photos in Paris, all good fun!

 

[JJ!]

Great review! Was tempted by the D90, but couldn't quite stretch to the body + a lens so settled for mine.

 

[BenWall]

when you say normal pictures, what's the event?

 

[ukaskew]

when you say normal pictures, what's the event?

PM'd

 

[Andy.]

Cheers peeps, comments always appreciated.

All going slightly mad at the moment, been offered some all expenses paid freelance work in Paris this weekend and then have some work for a car manufacturer coming up as well. So so chuffed, it's been reasonably quiet compared to last year but it's all just kicked off in the past few weeks, seriously thinking the credit crunch must be biting and people are looking for cheaper photographers.

Awesome! Hats off to you. :star: