D90 or Not?

Taylor Moore

Taylor Moore

Veteran
I have looked at a ton of D90 footage over the last few day. I am trying to decide if this is going to work for me.
I see such dynamic differences in the quality of the D-Movie...is it the camera or the user that is creating such a dramatic range of quality.
I understand there are limitations with the rolling shutter etc, but I can live with most of that.

Or should I just save my money and buy a HVX.

I watched the HVX vs D90 and actually like the D90 material better.

Thanx
 
I find that the auto mode takes a much larger dynamic range than my HV20 does. You can program in curves, and in theory you could match your choice of curves to the lighting conditions.

Most settings are automatic- you getmanual focus, EV control away from the auto settings, exposure lock, and if you have a lens with a manual aperture ring you can control that as you wish too (it seems that G lenses allow aperture control in aperture priority mode between widest and f8, but I am not sure it always honors this and you can't change it while AE-L is on).

Also, I am a big fan of the D90, but I would caution against it being one's only video camera. That said, I have shots from mine I could never have gotten in low light, or with large DOF and insufficient light and space for a DOF adapter.
 
D90 or Not.

D90 or Not.

Matthew Bennett said:
The camera does everything for you dont worry
Click to expand...

Hi Matthew...I really liked your work with it, as well as your demo. TO is my old stomping grounds, and I used to get away with doing crazy shoots pre 9/11.
Like spiralling a helicoper up the CN tower while shootig out of a MASH helicopter in the middle of winter(first pass it was so cold my battery froze on the Scopic) Got to the second pass and TO island saw what we were up to. Got the shot though.

The other one was a timelapse on the subway in the lead car.

Thanx
 
Hey Taylor,

The D90 is NOT a replacement for the HVX. Just think about sound alone! The HVX has 4 channels of high quality sound. And there are the extensive scene file settings, the recording options on various frame rates: The list goes on and on.
The HVX is a professional HD acquisition tool while the D90 a still camera with the amazing option to also record HD video.
If you looking for an alternative for the HVX wait for RED's Scarlett which will be released at NAB 2009.
I'm also looking into buying a D90, but only as an addition to my HVX.
One thing you can't beat is the price of course - a HVX with a 35mm adapter will cost you at least $7000 while the D90 including a zoom lens is only $1300.
But what do you think will happen if you show up on set with a still camera? You might lose your client.
I watched the HVX vs D90 and actually like the D90 material better.
Click to expand...
Well, I just think they don't know how to work the scene file settings.
 
So I'm assuming nobody has ever used a hv30/20 for commercial filmmaking use either? Cause it's not much of stretch when comparing a D90 body to a HV20 in terms of how they look.
 
Of course they have.

Lots of videos for pay have been shot on the HV20 and HV30.


But, if all things were equal you could just put a big ass matte box on the camera some rails, handles, wires, ect... and call it even.


I think we are at the beginning of a very interesting time.


I for one hope Nikon and Red Scarlett step up to the plate and hit it out of the park.


For now, doesn't the lack of fully manual controls, variable frame rates, and recording time put a bit of a damper upon things?
 
I agree. I pimped mine out to look more "professional" for video/film. Rails, matte and follow focus and eventually a monitor to go on the hot shoe.

I think people would see the same problems with the Scarlet body. It looked like a pocket cam. But because of it's specs nobody would dare say the you'd get a job turned down because how it looked.

I think a clients/producers chose you over your work not what you shoot with.
But don't think if you show up with a hi-8 cam that you'll still get the job done.
 
I think you guys are blowing this a little out of the water. I show up on client shoots with a XH-A1, I wouldn't show up with a D90. Mostly because I shoot long form stuff for clients where I need longer run times and more flexibility on the fly. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't show up on location for one of my own indie films with a D90 in hand. In fact I'm excited to get my hands on one and do just that.

I look at the limitations on the D90 as more of a challenge. It's kind of like shooting on celluloid all over again. Just with different obstacles to overcome. I think some of you guys have gotten kinda spoiled with video. :)
 
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