D300s Jello on youtube

[Zim]

Zim, from reading your posts, you're covered in Nikon glass. Unless a different brand camera ships with the ghost of Bresson installed, it wouldn't be wise financially to change brands now.

I think the D300s is going to be able to make some nice films. D300s now to replace the D70s and next year the D400 to replace the D200.
I'm in a holding pattern right now.

 

[Ron Adair]

Buying a Nikon DSLR for video last year at this time was a fun test. Everyone was hoping for a firmware update or a hack to enable manual control. Unfortunately, that never came, and will never come. I would assume the same for the D300s. In fact if you are buying a Nikon for the video function, you might as well buy the D5000 because it shoots video exactly the same as the D90 and the D300s. I'm sure the D300s will overheat as much as the D90 as well. I've had the D90 overheat every single time I've tried to use it professionally. The only reason to get a Nikon DSLR for video is for 24p. The Mk2, GH1, T1i, and the K7 all blow away every other aspect of the nikon video except for the 24p. It's sad really, if DMovie just had manual control it would at least be predictable.

Correction on both counts: D300s video is much improved over the D90 and D5000. Stair stepping is gone, compression is much less heavy handed, and man, I can't be sure, but it sure seems like the sensor is more snappy. There's still jello, but for regular handheld, it seems like you don't get nearly as much wobble. In addition to these points, I just performed a test where I kept my D300s running for over 3 hours in live view, recording at various points through this. A contact told me his D90s would only allow 25 minutes or so of live view before they shut off. I had no issues, other than I had to replace the battery three times to perform the test for so long

Yeah, those interested in buying, would be best served if they just ignored "aperture control". I have this same function on the D90, and wouldn't ever use it. It is basically worthless.

Jim - I may be incorrect (forgive me if I am) but there was no form of exposure control on the D90 when it was released (except a hack where I was able to unlock the non-g aperture rings AFTER live view was started). The D300s solution, while not perfect, is a tremendous addition to the ability to manipulate your vids the way you like. Sure, we all continue to hope for more control. However, it's incorrect to say the manual/aperture controls on the D300s are worthless. They are quite usable, and allow a broad degree of manipulation that was previously not available.

If you want to see my first two tests that really only scratch the surface of what I feel the D300s can do, check em out here:

http://vimeo.com/adair/videos

They are the "Trails" and "Mud Bath" videos. Final vids are coming soon too...

 

[Ruzo]

I knew I saw some improvements...thanks Ron!