So What Happened to the D750 for filmmakers?

puredrifting

puredrifting

Major Contributor
I was hoping by now we would see a magnum opus of visual filmmaking achievement from a world class cinematographer using the D750 by now. I think the camera holds great promise for video/cinema but things sure got quiet for the past couple of months after it's release. Am I missing a link to something amazing shot with the D750? All I have seen is just some random test shots that look okay but nothing with killer lighting, camera moves, dialogue, etc. No Philip Bloom, Dave Dugdale, etc. reviews either. What happened? I still think the D750 is better than the 5D MKIII overall, it is sharper, has better features, Nikon's color science is at least on par with Canon's so why no love for the D750? I still may buy one as my next still camera that also happens to be able to shoot nice video.
 
There is very little info on this camera and it is quite frustrating to say the least. I'm hoping Andrew at Eoshd does a full review because he seems to be about the only person who has even discussed the video capabilities of the camera almost two months after its release. I was hoping to pick up this camera but the lack of vimeo tests has me holding back. Nikon isn't pushing the cam either because they want the video guys to buy the more expensive D810 for video. At this point, I'm thinking of renting the cam for a weekend and testing it myself since there is so little info out there. Get it together Nikon. You put a ton of work into improving the video mode and almost no effort into showing the camera off. The lack of vimeo content shows the lack of interest in this camera for video and that really Nikon's fault.
 
From what I am reading at FM, it looks like early serial numbers had the backlighted objects problem. The D750 is at the top of price range, not so sure I'd not rather get a Gh4 at the new price. Plus with the D72/90K or whatever due out in Feb., I am waiting to see what they add to video on it. Plus Olympus is rumored to be releasing an OMD E6 about the same time with 4K. D750 looks like it should have been 4K given the market. Will buy something in Feb., in the $1K - 1.5K range, exciting time.
 
JeffD7K said:
From what I am reading at FM, it looks like early serial numbers had the backlighted objects problem. The D750 is at the top of price range, not so sure I'd not rather get a Gh4 at the new price. Plus with the D72/90K or whatever due out in Feb., I am waiting to see what they add to video on it. Plus Olympus is rumored to be releasing an OMD E6 about the same time with 4K. D750 looks like it should have been 4K given the market. Will buy something in Feb., in the $1K - 1.5K range, exciting time.
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the D750 is FAR from the top of the price range. 3 other cameras are above it. and no I dont consider nikon DX cameras worthy. the handicapped power aperture control is the biggest fail they did and shot themselves well in the foot. the D750/810 finally has this and it should be standard on all their cameras.

from pro wedding videogs I work with, all say, 4k will really kick in, in a year. when I told I plan to sell D3 and keep my D3s and get a D750 and a D5300 (backup) he said very few have 4k tv and its just not worth it yet as its too early. dont get a GH4. prices will come down and better features. the GH4 is not an easy camera to work with as he uses that and an A7s. he mostly uses the A7s for the low light. and the GH4 is his back up. its not time yet for mainstream 4K.
 
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rocketman122 said:
the D750 is FAR from the top of the price range. 3 other cameras are above it. and no I dont consider nikon DX cameras worthy. the handicapped power aperture control is the biggest fail they did and shot themselves well in the foot. the D750/810 finally has this and it should be standard on all their cameras.

from pro wedding videogs I work with, all say, 4k will really kick in, in a year. when I told I plan to sell D3 and keep my D3s and get a D750 and a D5300 (backup) he said very few have 4k tv and its just not worth it yet as its too early. dont get a GH4. prices will come down and better features. the GH4 is not an easy camera to work with as he uses that and an A7s. he mostly uses the A7s for the low light. and the GH4 is his back up. its not time yet for mainstream 4K.
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If you shoot documentary, wildlife, or movies/TV the lack of electronic aperture control just means using the f6 = aperture ring control for “D” or cine lenses means that the lack of control is no big deal, so I disagree with your DX conclusion. Also Weddings are a very narrow segment of the video world, 4K scales down to much better 1080P or allows one to crop (especially important for wildlife). The D750 is touted as the “action” camera for Nikon (remember the press releases?), and the fact that it does not have slow motion at least at 96 if not 120 fps in 1080P cripples it for slow motion sports or BIF. Most top end (think Arri Alexa) are can produce 4K. Even still photographers/PJ’s will be using it to capture the decisive moment in action, and any wedding photography worth his/her fee will at least be using 4K as a “B” roll for 8 meg. for once in a lifetime shots IMHO.
 
I am shooting with the D810 and if the d750 has the same image then it's the best video camera below the C100 mk II. The image is very unique and pretty in terms of colours and large format DOF and high resolution, the three combined give audience the wow effect. The GH4 image is way off I don't care about specs but shooting with both the image is significantly worse, and the A7s is closer but the colours are the worst I've seen from any digital camera, plus of course the stills capability. So the d750 with a zucoto loop (to get around the lack of evfs in DSLRs) should be the best video camera under 5K, especially if you're into photography too.
 
JeffD7K said:
If you shoot documentary, wildlife, or movies/TV the lack of electronic aperture control just means using the f6= aperture ring control for “D” or cine lenses means that the lack of control is no big deal, so I disagree with your DX conclusion. Also Weddings are a very narrow segment of the video world, 4K scales down to much better 1080P or allows one to crop (especially important for wildlife). The D750 is touted as the “action” camera for Nikon (remember the press releases?), and the fact that it does not have slow motion at least at 96 if not 120 fps in 1080P cripples it for slow motion sports or BIF.Most top end (think Arri Alexa) are can produce 4K. Even still photographers/PJ’s will be using it to capture the decisive moment in action, and any wedding photography worth his/her fee will at least be using 4K as a “B” roll for 8 meg. for once in a lifetime shots IMHO.
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yes, youre right, but you see the steps in exposure. the D750 has the "power" aperture control which makes the transition slow and smooth. that why I think DX isnt worth. if you have cine lenses or modded D lens then great. but mine are D and G lenses and I just dnt feel like changing settings throughout a wedding everytime I change a lens from D to G and back.


@Ebrahim Saadawi from the (few) reviews, word is the D750 in video is as good or better than the the D810. I dont doubt its on the same level..better..eh, who cares. Im getting it because I have no use for 36mp for weddings and I prefer the tilt screen and better high iso perfromance (over low iso and higher DR isnt relevant so much) and I need it for still and video.
 
There was a video on a blog site comparing the D750 vs D810 where they compared the resolution but I can't find it anymore. I've tried googling it, but no go. The D810 video had finer details when cropped in and better DR. The D750 has that useful tilting screen and better low light sensitivity. I believe the D810 is still the Nikon flag ship for both stills and video.
 
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I think the issue is timing. Had the D750 come out a couple of years ago we'd all have been freaking out about it's capabilities. But with cameras like the LX100, the D810, D750, the FZ1000, all coming out quickly on the heals of the amazing GH4, the Pocket Cinema camera, and the C100, it's just hard to get too excited these days.

I've had the GH4 for a while now and love it. Picked up the D810 a couple of months ago... and IT'S FREAKING AMAZING at 1080 60p!!!! Just astounding image quality and 'feel' (and better at 1080 60 than the GH4 - GH4 at 4k is another story...). No complaints other than no optical viewfinder (which truly I've gotten used to now). And yet for video it's a bit of a yawn. I already had a great couple of cameras... here's another. That's the era we're living in; true bounty and endless choices. And it will only get better of course as more capable, inexpensive cameras become available. Bravo Nikon for finally getting back in the game, but it's a little late, really, as the flood gates have opened.
 
I wouldn't mind losing a small amount of detail if the D750 has the same image, noise pattern, aliasing performance, rolling shutter, colour reproductiom and the strength of the codec in grading. If it's that like the D810 but with even better ISO performance and a tilt screen for 1K less then I will get that, even if trades a bit of resolution/sharpness, it's great on the D810.

My only critisim for the D810 is that for some strange reason I just don't like ergonomics and user interface and button and size and weight when shooting video, it feels like using a highly customized Android UI vs Canon's simple and neat IOS. If that makes any sense! I still didn't get used to it after owning the D5300? For months and having the D810 for weeks. Perhaps it will go away with time! The other criticism is the lowlight performance, it's too noisy when compared to the 5D mk III, like a stop worse, but the actual look of the noise is better, but it's more. So I hope the D750 matchesbor bests the 5D. Third thing is lenses, the distance between the sensor and the mount is enormous, making it impossible to use any other lenses than Nikon's on it. This gives an advantage to the actual lenses as they can be adapted to any mount but gives a disadvantage to the bodies as it's limited to this glass. I can't use any of my glass on the D810 and It's a bit frustrating. Nikon makes wonderful lenses and it doesn't get much better than that in quality, but you'll have to buy Nikon lenses so take that into account. As suggested by another forum member amd lens expert "Andy Lee" on EOSHD I am probably getting the Nikkon 28-70mm f/2.8 manual with iris ring, which is loved in cinema and used on Bourne Ultimatum blockbuster, it covers all the needs for shooting in a single lens and also lowlight. No IS though. A modern full frame Nikon 24-70mm or a 70-200mm with IS costs a lot. Keep that into consideration.

Other than these it's the best camera I've ever used and has more detail than the 5D, better colours, finer grain, better DR, and just better overall look which I much prefer over the GH4 I sold, it's just not a pretty image and I don't care for specs. This IS a pretty image. The stills are beyond what I thought was technologically possible without going to medium format. So that's a factor. I don't do stills much but these 36mp files with enormous DR and stunning skin colour makes me smile everytime I import one to my editor, every single time, I haven't smiled from a Canon image in years! :D
 
"Other than these it's the best camera I've ever used and has more detail than the 5D, better colours, finer grain, better DR, and just better overall look which I much prefer over the GH4 I sold, it's just not a pretty image and I don't care for specs. This IS a pretty image. The stills are beyond what I thought was technologically possible without going to medium format. So that's a factor. I don't do stills much but these 36mp files with enormous DR and stunning skin colour makes me smile everytime I import one to my editor, every single time, I haven't smiled from a Canon image in years! :D"

I have all but one lens in Nikkor FF, I may have to look hard at 750.
 
I can recommend the tamron 24-70 2.8 VR. Its not very sexy but does the job. Sharp, nice contrast. Have it on my d800e and use it for both stills and video.
 
JeffD7K said:
"Other than these it's the best camera I've ever used and has more detail than the 5D, better colours, finer grain, better DR, and just better overall look which I much prefer over the GH4 I sold, it's just not a pretty image and I don't care for specs. This IS a pretty image. The stills are beyond what I thought was technologically possible without going to medium format. So that's a factor. I don't do stills much but these 36mp files with enormous DR and stunning skin colour makes me smile everytime I import one to my editor, every single time, I haven't smiled from a Canon image in years! :D"

I have all but one lens in Nikkor FF, I may have to look hard at 750.
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Or the D810 if you love very large stills as well.
 
JeffD7K said:
"Other than these it's the best camera I've ever used and has more detail than the 5D, better colours, finer grain, better DR, and just better overall look which I much prefer over the GH4 I sold, it's just not a pretty image and I don't care for specs. This IS a pretty image. The stills are beyond what I thought was technologically possible without going to medium format. So that's a factor. I don't do stills much but these 36mp files with enormous DR and stunning skin colour makes me smile everytime I import one to my editor, every single time, I haven't smiled from a Canon image in years! :D"

I have all but one lens in Nikkor FF, I may have to look hard at 750.
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What is the one??? 13mm
 
Will certainly buy a D750 next week in Paris, France. I am wondering of how I can bundle it for videos: XLR entries, recorder ninja style, cage ????? I already hava quite a lot of nikon lenses. Thanks from Africa for your advices.
 
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