57 replies to this topic

[Deep6]

I did a quick overlay of the D80 and the D90 in PS.

Most of the buttons and dials are in exactely the same position. The only mayor difference is the selector and that is a real tricky one to mod.

Nice!

Yes, the (multi) selector and the Focus selector lock. I leave the focus selector unlock, but I do use the selector a lot. Looks like a new back is required.

[Phoenix1]

Well, then I'd say it's safe to say that for $1000 retail for the body, the D90 is a very good deal for a lot of people. About 2 years ago my decision was between the D200 and the D80, and I went D200, no regrets. If I were looking at D90 vs. D300, starting from nothing, I would probably opt for the D90, spend the difference on lenses, and probably not regret it.

I've seen a lot of discussion about D80 and D90 comparisons, but not a lot on D300 vs. D90. I have a D70 that is getting long in the tooth and am about to upgrade in contemplation of UW digital. I've been a Nikonos user for 30+ years but the gradual disappearance of labs plus the benefits of digital are pushing me to make the jump.

So: Which one? My initial take is that the $700 price differential buys a lot of lenses (or helps defray the substantial housing cost). Are there reasons I should spend the money on a D300 anyway?

Edited by Phoenix1, 29 August 2008 - 12:59 PM.

[craig]

Are there reasons I should spend the money on a D300 anyway?

I'll take a shot:

• 14 bit versus 12 bit
• Uncompressed RAW and Lossless compressed RAW versus compressed RAW only
• Compact Flash versus SD card
• Better autofocus section
• Nikon CLS commander mode

Of course, there's a frame rate advantage but that's questionable for UW shooting.

Of those, only autofocus would be a clear differentiator. CLS would only be useful of UW strobes turned out to support CLS effectively. The RAW differences are measurable but small factors. SD is more than adequate for the task but CF may be faster (particularly in loading images after the dive).

[DavidScubadiver]

For my two cents, if I were just buying an SLR (as I did in April), and there were a suitable housing for it, I would get this over the D300. Being able to house High Def Video with an SLR is just too sweet a deal. I love my D300. I really do. But I don't think I'll ever NEED the D300, whereas I definitely miss the flexibility of taking video when there is something that is just so cool to include with motion....

[Islandbound]

For my two cents, if I were just buying an SLR (as I did in April), and there were a suitable housing for it, I would get this over the D300. Being able to house High Def Video with an SLR is just too sweet a deal. I love my D300. I really do. But I don't think I'll ever NEED the D300, whereas I definitely miss the flexibility of taking video when there is something that is just so cool to include with motion....

From my understanding, the D90 video does not autofocus, you must focus entirely by hand.

[Alex_Mustard]

Had a play with D90 today. Nice little camera.

Alex

[loftus]

Had a play with D90 today. Nice little camera.

Alex

Did you play with the video?

[Viz'art]

Had a play with D90 today. Nice little camera

Me to yesterday, I was invited along with a few other for dinner with the folks at Nikon Canada, I was impressed by that camera video, low light performance and all that at this price tag .

Interesting direction the industry is taking, it seem to be heading into the grab a frame from the HD sequence phylosophy that me and some buddies where predicting a while ago.

[loftus]

A not too flattering D90 video clip demo
http://s477.photobuc...nt=DSC_0012.flv
It will be interesting to see how this compares with a similar 5DMKII clip

[JLambus]

Ok thats it i cant stand it anymore.... tomorrow im going to the camera store and asking to put thier d90 into my d80 housing... ill get back to everyone after that... i have an ikelite by the by. Thats ingeresting that everyone is saying how much they use the selector switch... underwater i almost never do.... the dials provide all the changes in ISO, shutter and aperture i need... along with pretty much anything else actually... why the use of the selector switch??

Edited by JLambus, 26 September 2008 - 02:51 AM.

[Deep6]

Ok thats it i cant stand it anymore.... tomorrow im going to the camera store and asking to put thier d90 into my d80 housing... ill get back to everyone after that... i have an ikelite by the by. Thats ingeresting that everyone is saying how much they use the selector switch... underwater i almost never do.... the dials provide all the changes in ISO, shutter and aperture i need... along with pretty much anything else actually... why the use of the selector switch??

I use the selector button for point of focus and to review a previous shot if I have a question about the exposure.. I have a Nexus (Anthis) housing for the D80. Rumor has it Toshi will release a D90 back for the D80 housing. Rather than modify my current box, I'll wait and see if a D90 back is issued.

Edited by Deep6, 26 September 2008 - 06:49 AM.

[Starbuck]

I watched the video link that LOFTUS posted. Why does the column appear to wobble when the d90 is panned? Will that be a limitation to DSLR HD video?

M.

[loftus]

I watched the video link that LOFTUS posted. Why does the column appear to wobble when the d90 is panned? Will that be a limitation to DSLR HD video?

M.

This is due to skew and slant of rolling shutter; something I was recently educated on by Drew. Drew mentions this in this thread
http://wetpixel.com/...showtopic=26569

[blimbo]

I got myself a D90 over the weekend (and a Tokina 10-17) and am very happy with it so far :-) A huge step up from my Canon G7.. the high ISO performance in superb.

Now waiting to see what the housing manufacturers do..

I've played with the video function - yes if you pan around really jerkily and shake the camera about then you do get that sort of effect. But even if that didn't happen, that filming style would give viewers a headache. If you're relatively slow and gentle with your movement it looks great.

[KirkD]

Ikelite just released the Nikon D90 housing:

http://www.ikelite.c...wo/nik_d90.html

I e-mailed sea and sea, as of last week, they had not discussed developing the Nikon D90 housing at that time.

Kirk

[tubino]

Saw STACKS of D90's at our local Costco, as a kit with 18-55 VR and 55-200 VR, all for $1399. Durn things kept jumping in my cart.

That's a lot of camera and lens for that money, IMO.

[Phoenix1]

This is comparing apples and oranges in a way, but for those that don't have a heavy investment in Nikon DX lenses, the new Canon 5D Mark II looks awesome. It's $2700 for the body only, but it has a full 24 x 36 CMOS sensor, 21 megapixel, water resistant, 10 minutes of HD movie capability (plus the ability to take stills during the movie). Looks like Nikon's "only digital SLR with movie capability" lasted about 3 weeks. I'm still tossing around the D90, D300 and 5D decision, but Canon makes a strong case even at the high price. Needless to say, they haven't shipped any yet (November) so there are no housings. But count on all the manufacturers to be all over this one.

[loftus]

This is comparing apples and oranges in a way, but for those that don't have a heavy investment in Nikon DX lenses, the new Canon 5D Mark II looks awesome. It's $2700 for the body only, but it has a full 24 x 36 CMOS sensor, 21 megapixel, water resistant, 10 minutes of HD movie capability (plus the ability to take stills during the movie). Looks like Nikon's "only digital SLR with movie capability" lasted about 3 weeks. I'm still tossing around the D90, D300 and 5D decision, but Canon makes a strong case even at the high price. Needless to say, they haven't shipped any yet (November) so there are no housings. But count on all the manufacturers to be all over this one.

Yes, you are mixing apples and oranges. Do a search on this site for DX vs FX or full frame vs cropped sensor. This is the decision to make.