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Behind-the-Scenes Film Out, by Photographers Who Advance Tested Nikon D90
Posted by Kit Eaton at 6:17 PM on August 27, 2008
Ok, so the much-rumoured Nikon D90 is now official, but over at Chase Jarvis Photography they know all about the camera: they were asked to "test the bejeezus out of the Nikon D90 for weeks-on-end prior to anybody even knowing it existed." Armed with a bunch of D90s taped-up to disguise their identity they piggybacked testing the device on top of some commercial photo shoots, looking at the D-movie 720p video recording, IS03200 shooting, the ergonomics... basically putting the advanced amateur-targeted cam through some pro-user tests, as the video shows.
The conclusion? It's excellent. As Chase puts it: "Nikon are listening to pro photographers, amateurs, and engineers alike, as a part of testing and adopting new products."
The particular favourites were the D-movie HD video feature. Since the cam can be attached to lenses that are way beyond the things normally bolted to the front of consumer video cams, you can control exposure, depth of field and image quality in new ways. "Sure, for us pros, we've got the RED camera. But for everybody else? This is the future." It's also ideal as a back-up body for photo journalists, the team suspects, simply because it's got so many bells and whistles and shoots video with audio. The image quality appealed to the team too, particularly the high ISO 3200 shooting which lets you take images in previously difficult lighting situations. Finally the lightness and ergonomics of the D90 tickled their fancy.
Are you jealous of these guys yet? I sure am. [ChaseJarvis.com]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Maatc
Posted 7:06 PM 27/8/08
hey,
if you add: &ap=%2526fmt%3D18 to the end of the URLs in the source and param part of the embed code it will play in hires...
Maatc
rpster
Posted 6:46 PM 27/8/08
want! oh, and looks like contrast detect af works in d-movie mode.
rpster
rpster
Posted 7:47 PM 27/8/08
nvm, nikon's site indicates no af whatsoever in d-movie mode
rpster
markcheng
Posted 8:33 PM 27/8/08
@rpster: but you can still rack the focus manually i presume right?
markcheng
macrumpton
Posted 9:28 PM 27/8/08
It is a little unclear if the movie was shot entirely on the D90. Very impressive if it was.
macrumpton
BigDogues
Posted 10:06 PM 27/8/08
Ummm, that was unbiased testing? Seemed more like a Nikon commercial to me.
BigDogues
thetickler
Posted 10:45 PM 27/8/08
I am a Canon 5D user. This is huge. This is amazing. I am sad for Canon and hope they step up their game very soon. Their 50D release felt so insignificant.
thetickler
Jason
Posted 10:25 PM 27/8/08
720p ISO 3200 video recording through a 1.4F 50mm... OMFG, I'm SOLD.
Jason
rudeadly
Posted 11:11 PM 27/8/08
I wonder if it'll suffer the same problems the RED has with tracking movement at any real speed whatsoever..
rudeadly
preskewl
Posted 11:10 PM 27/8/08
Time to upgrade my D40 to this bad boy, hopefully they will release the body only soon..
preskewl
Fuzz
Posted 11:04 PM 27/8/08
I wish I had a firstborn child so I could sell him for one of these . . .
Fuzz
jibbly
Posted 11:42 PM 27/8/08
@Jason: Where are you shooting, the dark side of the moon? ISO3200 is way too much light for f1.4 in any normal circumstance...er unless that's what you're going for.
I am diggity down with this camera.
jibbly
ppiddy
Posted 12:12 AM 28/8/08
I use ISO 1600 with a 30mm f1.4 fairly regularly if I'm shooting a wedding or in a bar or on the street in the evening. If the ISO 3200 on my 40D were clean, I'd be using that, too.
Nikon is clearly trying to win over photography nerds with USEFUL features. Canon is playing the megapixel game. Anymore I tell friends to buy Nikon if they're getting a new SLR system. The company just seems much more engineering driven than Canon right now.
ppiddy
screamlordbyron
Posted 12:45 AM 28/8/08
OT, I know, but what's that song playing in the video? Anyone know?
Back on topic, this looks like one bad-ass prosumer camera! I may have to finally give up my cherished Minolta film-era lenses and move over to the big N. Since I can't afford the 700 (or the much lusted after D3), this may be the winner.
screamlordbyron
flhrci
Posted 1:31 AM 28/8/08
@screamlordbyron:
umm. Maybe try "The Blakes".
flhrci
sdsviet
Posted 2:10 AM 28/8/08
dammit canon where's the 5dmkII with d-mode at?
sdsviet
BoinK
Posted 2:46 AM 28/8/08
Do you think Nikon will swap my D70 for a D90 if I ask real sweet like?
BoinK
nosauten
Posted 3:08 AM 28/8/08
This camera is freakin sweet! Dear Mr. Gizmodo...two words. "Monthly Giveaway!"
nosauten
discounteggroll
Posted 3:34 AM 28/8/08
**places pillow over crotch**
discounteggroll
taking_this_easy
Posted 4:25 AM 28/8/08
@BoinK: fleabay?.....
i wonder how they did video recording on an SLR..... anyone on gizmodo ready for a dissection?
taking_this_easy
mytmouse
Posted 5:27 AM 28/8/08
The video was shot on standard DV-cams. Chase Jarvis is up here in Seattle, I've shot with him before.
mytmouse
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
Posted 7:27 AM 28/8/08
Dunno if I'm more impressed with the camera, or with the fact that YouTube videos can be THAT clear...
Bokusatsu_Tenshi
screamlordbyron
Posted 8:31 AM 28/8/08
@flhrci Score! Thanks! :)
screamlordbyron
dryk
Posted 9:57 AM 28/8/08
I really hope I get the money together for one of these before I go to Europe in March. That is assuming it is out by that point.
dryk
aeroworks
Posted 7:14 PM 28/8/08
Anyone know the song they played in this video? i tried using "shazam" on my iphone but wasn't recognized..
aeroworks
uhm...Bob
Posted 9:30 PM 28/8/08
I can't tell whether I like this camera or not. That video was way too commercialish and not very technicalish. Much preffered the 3 photos taken by the d700, since proof is better than propaganda.
uhm...Bob