slimjimmed
Well-known member
The controllability of iris and shutter on the d300s is the exact same as the d90. no difference.
$1499 and
- Thread starter Zim
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Michael Carter
Veteran
I've shot Nikon since the 80's, so I'll stay out of the Nikon vs. Canon debate - except to say, for DSLR video or a 35 adapter, the range of non-CPU used glass out there is pretty amazing. You can fully equip yourself with a range of fast manual primes for well under $300. WELL under. Look at the older Vivitar stuff, the Nikon series E, etc. Try an 80-200 2.8 AF, a tank-like lens with some real mojo/soul and available for under $500 for a beater that shoots fine. With JPEG compression, you just don't need a $1000+ lens. I tried an old sears 50mm and it looked good.
There are lots of people who just hate the DSLR look, that's fine. If you have enough light and a good eye for lighting and framing, you can get some really pretty shots that just can't be done with a video cam, and are tough to do with a DOF adapter. I even find the grain pretty pleasing when not overdone. And you can grade the sh*t out of it.
The two biggest failing to me are the compression (which really isn't terrible, esp. if you're delivering for SD or the web) and the jello.
Jello isn't just an issue with pans - shooting handheld you can get some bad wobble that really doesn't show on the LCD, but look at it in an NLE and it looks like you shot through a wobbling cranberry salad. And thats a drag - the sort of "whip pan" where you kind of "stumble" into your shot, a little "shake" before the shot settles in? That's part of the available vocabulary for filmmaking. It "says" something about intensity, energy, urgency - just can't do it with a D90, you get this sort of "just entered warp drive" effect. I'd have to say that's my biggest disappointment with DSLR video - you just can't be as "frenetic" as you might need for a given shot.
But there's a sort of soft & pretty look, with blown out highlights and short DOF, and some grain, that's been a part of my still shooting style forever (and I lost the damn grain when they killed all the fast tungsten films!!!) The D90 is the closest I've come to that look with affordable video gear. I'm kinda smitten with it. For now anyway...
There are lots of people who just hate the DSLR look, that's fine. If you have enough light and a good eye for lighting and framing, you can get some really pretty shots that just can't be done with a video cam, and are tough to do with a DOF adapter. I even find the grain pretty pleasing when not overdone. And you can grade the sh*t out of it.
The two biggest failing to me are the compression (which really isn't terrible, esp. if you're delivering for SD or the web) and the jello.
Jello isn't just an issue with pans - shooting handheld you can get some bad wobble that really doesn't show on the LCD, but look at it in an NLE and it looks like you shot through a wobbling cranberry salad. And thats a drag - the sort of "whip pan" where you kind of "stumble" into your shot, a little "shake" before the shot settles in? That's part of the available vocabulary for filmmaking. It "says" something about intensity, energy, urgency - just can't do it with a D90, you get this sort of "just entered warp drive" effect. I'd have to say that's my biggest disappointment with DSLR video - you just can't be as "frenetic" as you might need for a given shot.
But there's a sort of soft & pretty look, with blown out highlights and short DOF, and some grain, that's been a part of my still shooting style forever (and I lost the damn grain when they killed all the fast tungsten films!!!) The D90 is the closest I've come to that look with affordable video gear. I'm kinda smitten with it. For now anyway...
hepabst
Active member
I first bought my D90 with the video in mind. I have a LetusMini and a number of Nikon lenses I've collected so it just seemed natural to get a D90. After shooting some footage I found out like many have that it's not a sharp image and got a bit bummed out about it but quickly realized that the image is sweet and with great color.
Along the way I had been taking stills and a friend of mine saw them and asked if I would shoot(stills) a concert of his band. I got paid!! Which got me thinking about trying to make some money with my D90 and start saving money for the next best thing from Nikon.
I'm really interested in what Nikon is going to do with the update to the D700, if they do it. The D300s is a nice camera but not much different from the D90. So, I'm continuing with my D90 shooting stills and clips working on my photo/cinematic skills.
Along the way I had been taking stills and a friend of mine saw them and asked if I would shoot(stills) a concert of his band. I got paid!! Which got me thinking about trying to make some money with my D90 and start saving money for the next best thing from Nikon.
I'm really interested in what Nikon is going to do with the update to the D700, if they do it. The D300s is a nice camera but not much different from the D90. So, I'm continuing with my D90 shooting stills and clips working on my photo/cinematic skills.