Giving up on D90

Sorry but I found it pretty good. And Constantin is looking great, congrats! :)

Thanks.

I'm just not happy with the workarounds required to get to the level of HV20+Letus combo. I wanted something smaller, but the D90 is just not there yet.
 
I think you'll be more satisfied with it if you refer to the noise as grain. ;-)

Personally, I can see the quality of grain working for many applications. Grain is an artistic choice. Noise is a technical problem. Grain doesn't bother bother me. it really makes your footage more reminiscent of 8mm film which is pretty cool. There's more of a nostalgic feeling attached to it for me.

Your taste in music is more of a problem than the noise. ;-)
 
I still think that if you add up all the factors,

price, availability of sharp, cheap lenses, size, data size, general invisibility to the public... the d90 is a nice tool for a filmmaker to have, and a serious deal for the dollar. The LEE FIX makes the footage into very passable HD as long as you shoot sharp, don't underexpose, and use grain, color, and great audio creatively.

If you were hoping to make money off of it, use it for an archival Kubrickian piece of perfection that will stand the test of time, use it to make a hollywood release film... no way man.
Use real film for that!

Use the d90 for light sketching+storyboarding..
 
Your taste in music is more of a problem than the noise. ;-)

Hey now!

I first heard that piece in one of my favorite films: Toto The Hero.

Don't get me wrong on the camera deal. I like the camera, I have the D80 and the D90 is better in every way. I also have the D3, so I can compare it to Nikon's top of the line. Photographically it is an excellent product. The D80/D90 is definately a take it with you everywhere cam.

With that said, the video implementation is not perfect. I bought the D90 specifically to replace my HV20+Letus mini combo. I was hoping to get similar video quality in a smaller form factor. I'm sure that with a bit more effort, superior results can be achieved. Since I got it to make videos of my kid as he grows up, and the HV20 seems like a better tool for that task.
 
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The upcoming Canon EOS 5D MkII seems really nice. I'm a Nikon user, fully invested, but wow.
 
Don't give up yet!

Don't give up yet!

Take a look at this short clip on my web blog:

http://www.jsendicott.com/page1/page1.html

It was shot in very low light in my living room, and there is very little noise in the image. I'm constantly being impressed with how well the D90 does in low light.

Have you tried the tricks outlined in the sticky at the top of the D90 page?
 
I don't have an issue with noise. I'd love to see noise in the video. My problem is with the extra heavy compression of the video. If Nikon would change the firmware to let me control the level of compression, my issues with this cam would be resolved.
 
Ahh, now I understand. And I agree with you about the compression. It is bad.
Here's to hoping Nikon will give us a great firmware update!
 
Don't worry guys ... nikon WILL COME THROUGH .... (wait for it) .... with another product for us to buy!

They are in business, after all (bastards)
 
I think you should donate this camera to charity. I just happen to know a good organization you can send it to. It's called I.L.L.T.A.K.E.I.T. They're supposed to be very good and they are located near by where I live. Ok, ok. I'll do you a solid and deliver it for you. Just send me the darn camera ;-)
 
Between the Lee method of jaggie correction and some recent test footage I've fallen back in love with my D90... I hadn't considered selling it, unless to get the 5DM2, but I've really got a new level of respect for it.

This test footage was shot at 28mm f2, monochrome, and I had to push the mid-tones 2-3 stops in post, and degrained it some too. Light, for the entire yurt, was a half-dozen candles and a couple of oil lamps. I could barely see... in the end, with pushing it because I'd wayyyy maxed out gain, it resolves nearly (within a stop or two) as well as I could see with my eyes. Its still noisey, but it really does capture the feeling of the location, and I'm just amazed.

http://www.vimeo.com/1968668

I'd buy mine again even if I still had to buy it with the kit lens, which I am definitely selling.
 
There's some magic to be done, some effort to be taken, but there are possibilities. Even with the D90. I'll take possibility for 1000 dollars, and not for 2700.
 
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