Is the D90 good enough for pro photography?

roxics

roxics

Veteran
I need to make some money on the side and I'm looking to get into the photography business. I have experience doing photography and video professionally for another company, but I'm looking to do some weddings and events myself. Anything I should look out for with this camera? Any tips? Thanks
 
Yes

Yes

roxics said:
I need to make some money on the side and I'm looking to get into the photography business. I have experience doing photography and video professionally for another company, but I'm looking to do some weddings and events myself. Anything I should look out for with this camera? Any tips? Thanks
Click to expand...


Yes , the D90 is good enough for professional work. The 12 Mp CMOS sensor is about as good as it gets with APS-C cameras, the shooting speed 4.5 fps is enough for basic sports/action. The camera does not have the robust build or weather sealing of the top of the line pro cameras, but should be enough for most conditions.
I also have the D300, probably the most "professional" APS-C DSLR, and the image quality seems to be nearly identical.
 
Maybe it's not all that great for product shots, especially since you can get much higher definition when you hire a professional.

But for journalism and events, I'm sure the D90 can hold it's own aggainst cameras way over it's price range.
 
roxics said:
I need to make some money on the side and I'm looking to get into the photography business. I have experience doing photography and video professionally for another company, but I'm looking to do some weddings and events myself. Anything I should look out for with this camera? Any tips? Thanks
Click to expand...


It's more than good enough.

It's a great camera.
 
The D90 produces excellent still images, as good as my D300. But my D300 handles better, has a markedly better viewfinder, and has better weather proofing. Really, if it were just for stills I would strongly prefer the D300, the viewfinder being the prime reason.

For weddings, you might check out the Fujifilm S5 Pro... Nikon mount D-SLR based off a D200 body (IIRC). It has significantly better exposure latitude that lots of wedding photogs prefer as they don't need to worry about blowing out the highlights in white dresses while shooting in its RAW mode. It also delivers better skin tones. The claimed 12mp is a bit hokey, expect actual resolution that you'd get at 8-9mp.

But, if you want it for the video too, get the D90. It is absolutely capable of taking pro quality images. If you plan to manual focus through the viewfinder you'll want to have the focus screen swapped out by Katz Eye... mine is, like my D70s's, significantly off for critical focus and a dissappointment in general.
 
Thebes said:
The D90 produces excellent still images, as good as my D300. But my D300 handles better, has a markedly better viewfinder, and has better weather proofing. Really, if it were just for stills I would strongly prefer the D300, the viewfinder being the prime reason.

For weddings, you might check out the Fujifilm S5 Pro... Nikon mount D-SLR based off a D200 body (IIRC). It has significantly better exposure latitude that lots of wedding photogs prefer as they don't need to worry about blowing out the highlights in white dresses while shooting in its RAW mode. It also delivers better skin tones. The claimed 12mp is a bit hokey, expect actual resolution that you'd get at 8-9mp.

But, if you want it for the video too, get the D90. It is absolutely capable of taking pro quality images. If you plan to manual focus through the viewfinder you'll want to have the focus screen swapped out by Katz Eye... mine is, like my D70s's, significantly off for critical focus and a dissappointment in general.
Click to expand...

i'd dispute that last bit. i shoot all-manual using a katz eye on a d40 and had planned on similarly equipping my d90 until i took it for a spin with a nikkor 105/2.5 AIS last sunday and was able to get nearly everything in sharp focus just by eye and rangefinder LED (with the help of a dk-21m magnifier). results here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/74185915@N00/sets/72157608197116274/
 
Great to hear and very beautiful work theabsurdman.

I will definitely pick one of these cameras up. Now just to find some lenses.
 
One question:

I there any focus assistent to use when shooting video? I am using my 85 1.8 and 50 1.2 a lot and the focus is a real problem if you want short DOF.
 
Thebes, theabsurdman:

Regarding the Katz Eye focusing screens you all bought (although, I did just order a Nikon DK-21M magnifying eyepiece for my new D90 as well) . . . did you install the Katz screen yourself, have a local shop do it, or did you send your camera to Katz Eye for installation? Seems like a Katz Eye split/microprism is perfect for cine usage of this camera--really miss these kinds of focusing screens on modern DSLRs. Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Ralph Oshiro said:
Thebes, theabsurdman:

Regarding the Katz Eye focusing screens you all bought (although, I did just order a Nikon DK-21M magnifying eyepiece for my new D90 as well) . . . did you install the Katz screen yourself, have a local shop do it, or did you send your camera to Katz Eye for installation? Seems like a Katz Eye split/microprism is perfect for cine usage of this camera--really miss these kinds of focusing screens on modern DSLRs. Thanks!
Click to expand...

yes, i installed my own katz eye. see these links for info:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&thread=23165537
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=25985980

do note that the katz eye is not going to be relevant for "cine usage" as you cannot focus via the VF in live-view/ d-movie mode.
 
Last edited:
roxics said:
I need to make some money on the side and I'm looking to get into the photography business. I have experience doing photography and video professionally for another company, but I'm looking to do some weddings and events myself. Anything I should look out for with this camera? Any tips? Thanks
Click to expand...
what kind of answer or question are you asking for?.. sure it is.. good luck.. a good read here and crossing reduser as training and penitence you should have before any purchase adventure.. not because you're not going well w/ d90 or d5 mk2 (my favorite) but maybe you should prepare yourself for the job.. if not you wouldn't ask such thing..

let me say you something about.. some years ago.. more than 15 actually.. i did the same silly question.. that's why i'm saying what i'm saying now to you.. after a good filmschool.. (dvxuser and reduser are the best tech filmschool i can ever recommend to you)
 
I didn't install a Katz Eye, since my D90 is mostly for cine and I use my D300 more for my serious still photo work. On the D90 I focus, even for stills, with Live View. Perhaps theabsurdman got a better D90 than I did and there is some variance in tolerances with the prism... my prism is consistently off with focus, though the focus confirm light is spot on.
 
Thebes said:
I didn't install a Katz Eye, since my D90 is mostly for cine and I use my D300 more for my serious still photo work. On the D90 I focus, even for stills, with Live View. Perhaps theabsurdman got a better D90 than I did and there is some variance in tolerances with the prism... my prism is consistently off with focus, though the focus confirm light is spot on.
Click to expand...

some misunderstanding. i have a split-prism in my d40, not my d90 as so far i've found the latter's larger VF + rangefinder LED good anough to be able to manage without.

re. MF precision, this isn't a big priority for QC on primarily AF dSLRs it seems, and it's not unusual for it to be quite a bit "off". however, it can be fine-tuned using an allen key on the positioning cam under the mirror (you need to lock it up to get access). there are 2 of these, one for MF tuning and the other for AF. see this post of mine on dpreview for more details and a pic:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&thread=29978963

larger adjustments are also possible by shimming the focus screen.
 
For what it's worth i just came back from a paid gig. It went well and the client said i was very professional, despite resembling a japanese tourist with my yankees cap and consumer dslr. :-) (they didn't say that, i just felt a bit self conscious. The result looked really nice too btw. Sadly i had to deliver in raw so i couldn't control it all the way)
 
theabsurdman said:
re. MF precision, this isn't a big priority for QC on primarily AF dSLRs it seems, and it's not unusual for it to be quite a bit "off". however, it can be fine-tuned using an allen key on the positioning cam under the mirror (you need to lock it up to get access). there are 2 of these, one for MF tuning and the other for AF. see this post of mine on dpreview for more details and a pic:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1030&thread=29978963

larger adjustments are also possible by shimming the focus screen.
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for that! I had thought I had to get a Katz Eye and shim it if I wanted to correct it. I had been thinking of selling my D300 to help fund another camera, this will really help out if I do.
 
Almost all dSLRs on the market are "good enough" for professional use. Whether the D90 is the choice of professionals is another story. But, a professional photographer has the skill to make awesome photographs with pretty much any of these cameras.
 
pranic said:
Almost all dSLRs on the market are "good enough" for professional use. Whether the D90 is the choice of professionals is another story. But, a professional photographer has the skill to make awesome photographs with pretty much any of these cameras.
Click to expand...

Exactly!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top