Nikon D90

[Devaiah PA]

Yesterday I started using my new Nikon D90..

My first DSLR camera.

It took just one hour to learn using it.
The ease of use and access to the controls/settings is just child's play.:cool:

Will write more....

[KrishnenduKes]

We are eagerly waiting for a detailed review of your experience in text as well as in photographs. Thanks

Approved

[synn]

Deviah:

Congrats and I agree that the UI is very intuitive. That said, the AF system is pretty advanced and one needs to spends quite some time to learn its features before one can extract the best out of it.

Waiting to hear your detailed impressions.

[Bibudesh]

Congrats Devaiah for your Nikon! ..This camera has lots power hidden inside dude!. Share the pics soon .

Deviah:

Congrats and I agree that the UI is very intuitive. That said, the AF system is pretty advanced and one needs to spends quite some time to learn its features before one can extract the best out of it.

Waiting to hear your detailed impressions.

Advanced in what sense, I mean I have heard it is from the same league as D80 .. They have reworked the metering, since the metering algo starting from D40 till D80 was same.

[synn]

Not quite.

It has the same number of AF points as the D80, but the D90 sports 3D AF tracking that locks AF based on the color of the subject as well. It also has true AF tracking across the points. (You can see the camera switch points as the subject moves across the frame).

This would give you a primer on that: http://kenrockwell.com/nikon/d90/af-settings.htm

[hitanshu]

Congrats Devaiah on a fantastic camera!!

[Devaiah PA]

Advanced in what sense, I mean I have heard it is from the same league as D80 .. They have reworked the metering, since the metering algo starting from D40 till D80 was same.

After reading the review at dpreivew, below is what I understand and felt.

Though D90 came in as a replacement for d80...it is said that D90 is a scaled down version of D300 in a slightly modified D80 body. The main features additions are

12.3 MP CMOS sensor (D80: 10.2 MP CCD)
Dust removal system
Bigger, better screen (as D3, D300)
Live View with contrast detect AF
Movie Mode
Wider ISO range, upgraded AF system (3D tracking, face detection)
Active D-Lighting, vignetting control and extra retouching options
Automatic chromatic aberration correction
Picture Control presets
Faster continuous shooting and larger buffer
Pictmotion slideshows

Though the extra features will not make the user a better photographer, The cosmetic changes will help in HMI.


If more :confused: read http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond90/

[shutterbug]

Congrats Devaiah! D90 is a lovely piece of kit. What lenses are you using with it?

[Devaiah PA]

Congrats Devaiah! D90 is a lovely piece of kit. What lenses are you using with it?

18-105mm as a general purpose lens

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

a good choice indeed!

Anvancy

[Devaiah PA]

At first for me the most difficult part of understanding the Nikon D90 was the Auto Focus settings..

It is difficult because the settings are complex and very capable in giving accurate results.

For those who felt the same, here is a very good tutorial on Nikon Autofocus System...Check out all three parts of the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1dorRVdPuw

Using Macro lens will be fun with all these settings...

Might not apply for lower end 3 point AF system.

[Rockkyyy]

I own a 450D, recently I used my colleague's D90 with 50mm. I was really impressed with quality of the picture. I feel the quality is much superior than Canon. It has dedicated buttons for Shutter speed and aperture, i think even 550D donot have that. I am not saying this is the only advantage , may this is one of the many. I could easily get adjusted to camera in 10-15 mins
Over all I am really impressed with it. So far I was thinking I will upgrade to a Canon but D90 has made me think otherwise. I might bug a higher end model of Nikon - lets c :)

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

I own a 450D, recently I used my colleague's D90 with 50mm. I was really impressed with quality of the picture. I feel the quality is much superior than Canon. It has dedicated buttons for Shutter speed and aperture, i think even 550D donot have that. I am not saying this is the only advantage , may this is one of the many. I could easily get adjusted to camera in 10-15 mins
Over all I am really impressed with it. So far I was thinking I will upgrade to a Canon but D90 has made me think otherwise. I might bug a higher end model of Nikon - lets c :)

the D90 sits above the 550D.the feature you are talking is since the D90 has two control dials as opposed to one dial on the 550D.also the D90 shutter sounds wonderful.

My 550D shutter sounds like a female is sneezing.:p;)

Anvancy

[hitanshu]

I would go 100% with that.

The xx0D series of canon has much more menus for one to use than nikon D90 (everything happens with buttons) and one less wheel.

Wait till D7000 comes out!

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

I would go 100% with that.

The xx0D series of canon has much more menus for one to use than nikon D90 (everything happens with buttons) and one less wheel.

Wait till D7000 comes out!

It already came out.

http://vimeo.com/15859118

Best Buy are big devils..:p

Anvancy

[hitanshu]

in India - that is :D

http://nikonrumors.com/2010/10/15/nikon-d7000-high-iso-samples.aspx
I saw it - half an hour wasted in office and table covered with oodles of drooooool :D

[Devaiah PA]

Update and Lesson learnt.

I got the 18-105 kit lens along with my D90.
The focal length flexibility, reach and sharpness was good enough.
But after buying the Nikkor 50mm f1.8D I started inter changing the lens in the field very frequently. The 18-105 had a plastic mount and it started wearing out. Also in low light the f3.5/5.6 of 18-105 was no match for 50mm( I did not mind walking a few steps closer and moving back.

50mm lens on a 1.5 crop censor was not suitable for full length photography at closer distance.
So I thought of the 35mm f1.8, which approximately gives an field of view equal to 50mm on full frame. I was not into landscape and was never doing wide angle with my 18-105, it was always in the bag and the 50mm was always on the camera.

So I exchanged my 18-105 for the 35mm f1.8.

Wow, the 35mm gave me the field of view I needed. It was perfect for my needs.
Low light performance was very good.
But on my D90, 95% of the time the Auto focus failed to stick where I needed. It always back focused. 95% of the pics were unusable. In AF-dynamic mode/continuous mode the lens was crazy.
I came across similar complaints by other users. May be it worked with other models.

Because the lens is under warranty, I took it to Nikon service and showed them the issue with some shots taken right there. They shook their heads but were not knowledgeable to understand the problem and fix it. They do not have required tools either. I was asked to write to Nikon India. I know how honest the companies are towards Indian customers, even worse in case of consumer grade products. There was not point in wasting time with the company.

D90 does not have micro focus adjustment in camera. For a 15K consumer grade lens there was no point buying a D300s(which has micro focus adjustment) by spending 50K more.

Another important The 35mm was launched after D90. D90 does not have the lens profile in the camera, nor we can add new lens profiles to D90.

I got irritated when the shots went bad during Holi.

Took the lens back to the dealer. He knew the problem I faced, I had informed him right after my purchase 5 months back, he had promised to exchange. Now the price for the same lens is 12K :( .

Sold my 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8.....

Bought a Nikkor 50mm f1.4

First shot....
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5543165588_d95b6e9bc5_b.jpg

Yes it is cropped, I could not use flash too close to the kid.
But I am satisfied with the Lens.
It was launched in the mid 90s and AF works with an mechanical interface.
With D90 and above, I can use even a 25 years old lens with AF.
It saves some money.
It makes noise but nails the subject sharp.

Good Night!

[KrishnenduKes]

Thanks for the insight. I wonder why you had these issues with the D90. Normally the lens should have been compatible. Else they should mention incompatibility!

[Devaiah PA]

Thanks for the insight. I wonder why you had these issues with the D90. Normally the lens should have been compatible. Else they should mention incompatibility!

It is compatible with D90. It works but not accurately.

Other reasons might be:

1)Bad Copy of the lens
2)Consumer grade DX lens, does not undergo strict quality checks. Mass produces in South east asia.
3)Camera launched before the lens, D90 is not calibrated(does not contain lens profile) for 35mm f1.8 DX. Recently they released the in-camera distortion control data for D90 which includes 35mm f1.8.

4)My fate

[surya@64]

Update and Lesson learnt.

I got the 18-105 kit lens along with my D90.
The focal length flexibility, reach and sharpness was good enough.
But after buying the Nikkor 50mm f1.8D I started inter changing the lens in the field very frequently. The 18-105 had a plastic mount and it started wearing out. Also in low light the f3.5/5.6 of 18-105 was no match for 50mm( I did not mind walking a few steps closer and moving back.

50mm lens on a 1.5 crop censor was not suitable for full length photography at closer distance.
So I thought of the 35mm f1.8, which approximately gives an field of view equal to 50mm on full frame. I was not into landscape and was never doing wide angle with my 18-105, it was always in the bag and the 50mm was always on the camera.

So I exchanged my 18-105 for the 35mm f1.8.

Wow, the 35mm gave me the field of view I needed. It was perfect for my needs.
Low light performance was very good.
But on my D90, 95% of the time the Auto focus failed to stick where I needed. It always back focused. 95% of the pics were unusable. In AF-dynamic mode/continuous mode the lens was crazy.
I came across similar complaints by other users. May be it worked with other models.

Because the lens is under warranty, I took it to Nikon service and showed them the issue with some shots taken right there. They shook their heads but were not knowledgeable to understand the problem and fix it. They do not have required tools either. I was asked to write to Nikon India. I know how honest the companies are towards Indian customers, even worse in case of consumer grade products. There was not point in wasting time with the company.

D90 does not have micro focus adjustment in camera. For a 15K consumer grade lens there was no point buying a D300s(which has micro focus adjustment) by spending 50K more.

Another important The 35mm was launched after D90. D90 does not have the lens profile in the camera, nor we can add new lens profiles to D90.

I got irritated when the shots went bad during Holi.

Took the lens back to the dealer. He knew the problem I faced, I had informed him right after my purchase 5 months back, he had promised to exchange. Now the price for the same lens is 12K :( .

Sold my 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8.....

Bought a Nikkor 50mm f1.4

First shot....
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5543165588_d95b6e9bc5_b.jpg

Yes it is cropped, I could not use flash too close to the kid.
But I am satisfied with the Lens.
It was launched in the mid 90s and AF works with an mechanical interface.
With D90 and above, I can use even a 25 years old lens with AF.
It saves some money.
It makes noise but nails the subject sharp.

Good Night!

Very nice picture Dev, Can see the difference in quality when compared to ur previous glass.

[KrishnenduKes]

It is compatible with D90. It works but not accurately.

Other reasons might be:

1)Bad Copy of the lens
2)Consumer grade DX lens, does not undergo strict quality checks. Mass produces in South east asia.
3)Camera launched before the lens, D90 is not calibrated(does not contain lens profile) for 35mm f1.8 DX. Recently they released the in-camera distortion control data for D90 which includes 35mm f1.8.

4)My fate

I liked your 4th point!

[Devaiah PA]

Some fun now:

I could not stop sharing this video....
This would have happened to most of us.
Just see how a camera can bring out emotions....

I pray god to make my wife equally happy as the female in the video whenever I upgrade my camera or buy new lens :p

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb-3l0xrmlI&feature=player_embedded


I am posting it here, because the video show user experience at the first look of a camera. :cool:

[KrishnenduKes]

Man she is hysterical! I was not like this even when I got delivery of my R1!