Understanding and Optimizing the Nikon D90 D-Movie Mode Image

[Kholi]

Like most equipment, from your blender to your laptop, understanding at least the basics will decrease a lot of frustration when using. My mission, to date, with the d90 has been just that: understanding how the D-movie mode works and what does, or does not, apply to the new feature brought to us by Nikon. Do not take my word as gospel, and please feel free to contribute and throw ideas back and forth between each other. This thread'll stay updated until there's no more to update.

Plenty of DVXusers, those who own the camera and do not yet, have contributed to findin' out more about this machine. We'll all continue to plod along to discover more. Hopefully, Nikon will offer some direct firmware upgrades to make our lives easier. Until then....

Outline Overview:

SECTION 1 -- Explaination of Nikon's New D-Movie Feature and how it affects the filmmaker, videographer and hobbyist.
SECTION 2 -- A breakdown of D-Movie "mode" features instructions on how to Lock Exposure and what's available in D-Movie Mode
SECTION 3 -- Explains how to achieve cleaner imagery and the ingredients necessary
SECTION 4 -- Theories on How to further Optimize the image, Custom Curves and how they relate and more.

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SECTION ONE

(not an image of the Nikon d90. Substitute for now. )



The Lowdown on Nikon's D-Movie Mode:

Simply put, it's not what we (most of us DVXusers) expected it to be. We all wanted, or thought that the camera would include, manual controls similar to its DSLR half and even assumed that Nikon's press release on ISO ratings and such meant that we would be able to control, in moderate amounts, aspects of the camera's image acquisition.

We were wrong, but that's okay. What you do have control over:

....-- Manual Aperture: In Aperture Priority (A) mode or Full Manual Lenses
....-- Picture Controls: Sharpness, contrast, saturation, etc. It all applies
....-- Custom Curves via NikonNX Software for maximum control during image acquisition (more on this in post four)
....-- Exposure Value (EV +/-) for quick and "dirty" adjustments.
....-- 720p or SD shooting modes
....-- Record! AT least this is manual right?

What youd do NOT have control over but you wish you did:

....-- *Seperate Manual ISO adjustment
....-- *Seperate Manual Shutter Adjustment

*Seperate -- Meaning that you can't adjust these two things independently, the camera does it for you. More details on this below.

So, it isn't the manual dream come true, by any means. You could very well say that the D-Movie mode was an afterthought, and that's okay. Because, the camera is a DSLR and not a dedicated video acquisition device.

Going along with it not being that, time to mention the 720p and Rolling Shutter:

Lackluster 720p and heartbreaking Rolling Shutter. The camera's 720p is subpar, producing jagged edges or anti-aliasing at corners and curves. The SD modes are even worse, making the option of shooting in anything less than 720p a bit pointless. To some, it's acceptable. To a lot of us it leaves much to be desired.

..............720p Raw Example: Train Footage

Rolling Shutter is enough to make you queasy. Whether it's bending a building in half during a pan or when a vehicle speeds by with a "gangsta lean", it's just not pretty in this application. It'll probably take more hurricane magic, the likes that are in the RED ONE, to minimize the skew to begin with so don't expect much out of it. Stabilization is a must, handheld isn't going to be your friend with this Camera. Glidecam, Monopod, even a Shoulder Mount setup out in front of the body will work. Otherwise, you're just going to have lots of jello in your footage.

..............Rolling Shutter Example: People Walking, Tripod (tamed example)

So, why would you even consider a Nikon D90 for anything serious?

A number of reasons. Let me tell you why I'm keepin' my d90:

....-- Inherent Interchangable Lens System: It's a DSLR. Changin' lenses is there from the get go. No 35mm Adapter required or wide angle adapters at all. Of course there's a certain limit to what you can attach to it, there's also a plethora of Nikon Mount lenses out there for you to play with.

....-- Inherent DOF and FOV Characteristics, and Sharpness: Again, no 35mm Adapter needed. No longer will people be fighting over Bokeh and Ground Glasses and all the silly things that come with 35mm Adapters. At least where the d90 and similar systems are concerned. It's now up to the user to choose wisely what glass will work for the project and what won't. As well, the glass (and admittedly the compression) is the only thing stoppin' anyone from a sharp or soft image. Choose your weapon. Razor Blade or a Butter Knife?

....-- Color Reproduction: Just look at the footage. Need I say more?

....-- Dynamic Range/ Latitude: The highlight handlin' on this camera is delicious. Not to mention that, here again-- despite the compression, the image holds up quite well when applyin' grades and corrections. It's quite simply a dream as far as Latitude goes, and I'll worry a lot less about blow outs because they're silky, unlike the harsh discolored blowouts of larger prosumer cameras.

..............Dynamic Range/Latitude Example: Fish Eye with a VW Golf (Overexposed in several areas, the highlights and detail still remain and blowouts are pleasant)

....-- Small Footprint: The size of a ten year old's foot. Try walkin' into a store with the smallest adapter combo (HV20 + Letus Mini) and stealin' some shots. I would be much more confident doin' it with something like the d90 over the look of the HV20+Adapter which draws lots of attention. And, you still get your DOF. Excellent.

....-- Great SD/Web/480p Content: I think it's totally acceptable as far as 480p goes. Some others might even think the 720p looks fine and, hey, each set'a eyes may see somethin' different. There are so many examples on the web of d90 footage now that we've learned how to manipulate the camera into being obedient that I think most people would be hard-pressed to say 480 isn't acceptable. If your final delivery is Standard Def? I say go for it.

..............720p Example: Flowers by stoiQa -- Speaks for itself. Vimeo's native display is about 480 (It's 360p actually), you can click the scale button to see it in Full 720 or download the clip then resize to 480 (853 x 480) at your leisure.

Alright, so what's the verdict?

The verdict is what you choose it to be. For a lot of people that are willing to jump through the hoops it's going to be the camera that allows them to make some really pretty pictures. Narrative, Documentary, Wedding, etc. Make your choice based on what those that allowed themselves to be cut on the bleedin' edge discovered. We did it for the community! Make your decision based on what you think and what you see. Don't let anyone else spend your money for you. That's my verdict, anyway.

Had enough? Then read on...