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My experience with the D90 showed that exposure compensation did not offer a satisfactory solution. I other words, the image was just getting darker without the tonality balance being adjusted to compensate for the blown highlights.

I certainly found a marked difference in that regard between the D300 - which I still had at the time - and the D90. All that talk about the D90 being the 'same' as the D300 is not entirely true. There are many similarities in 80% of situations (read: normal situations) in the way pictures look, but hit a more difficult situation (read: high contrasts) and the D300 is much superior in my view. As a matter of fact, I don't remember ever having blown highlights issues with the D300, unless I was really trying for the sake of testing. To me, the blown highlights issue - and way too often - was probably the main issue for not keeping the D90. I would be curious to hear from other D90 owners on this issue, and whether they are experiencing the same problems. Or maybe I had been spoiled by the D300?...

With the video, it was quite strange how much I initially wanted it, and how much I didn't care for it once I tried it. Once I played with it for a while I wished that the money that pays for the video in the D90 would have been better spent in having a better feature in the camera that is only related to taking photos. I don't know, faster fps or weather sealing, something along those lines...Especially after seeing how unpractical it is not to have auto-focus in video mode, I thought that I much prefer the videos taken by my p&s Lumix TZ15. Those Nikon promo shots featuring the video, with bokeh and all, look great in the ads. In real life, that's another story...But I'm no expert in taking videos, so maybe someone with some skills might find it useful.

To me the D90 should ideally have been just a D80 with the 3" VGA screen, new menu system a-la D90 and faster than D80 fps. That's it. That would have been perfect.

A.

I don't own either but I remember hearing that the D90 has a different tone curve by default. I would assume that it being the consumer level camera, would be pre-configured for higher contrast hence the blown out highlights.

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Graham
Flickr

Its really a lot of work and can get a little frustrating. But mostly I guess people really do appreciate it. For me I just think of it as diversifying my abilities.

Hi folks,

Up to you, of course, but may I suggest that this thread isn't the first place other members will look if they are trying to discover more about the video capabilities of the D90. Maybe a fresh topic or continuation of an existing one in the Nikon forum?

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Alright mate, right off the bat I want to congratulate you on having the courage to downgrade from what's arguably the best non-full-frame SLR out there to a much more modest 4/3rds model by Olympus!

I don't mean to bash the Olympus here, not in the least, but in truth it can't hold a candle to the spec-sheet of the D300. So for you to have accepted the personal limitations that the bigger camera burdened you with & then to have experimented with as many cameras as you did only to settle with the logical upgrade from your original E510 is just a fascinating story... photographically speaking!

I'm also glad you like the TZ-5 which I too believe is a fantastic lil' devil & I gave one to my girlfriend a month back for her birthday & she's not had a single complaint with it yet!


Right then, I'd also agree with you entirely on the idea that people ought to weigh in their camera-systems based on the availability & affordability of lenses for the same. And then to actually see how well a camera suits you, rather than just getting whatever has the best specifications or highest megapixels...

And it is with that in mind that I actually am planning on purchasing my first dSLR in the form of the Panasonic L1. It's an old camera, released over 2 years ago & is still more expensive than far better spec'd cameras from Olympus or Nikon or Canon... And while it would be happy to have a Zuiko glass on it being a standard 4/3rds mount... I'd be lying if I said I had any interest in the very well reviewed 12-60mm or 25mm pancake lenses over the *sigh* more expensive Leica alternatives simply for the presence of an Aperture Ring.

I am fairly in tune with most of the camera world offerings & have recommended the 450D & the E420 to friends of mine (both of whom got the respective cam) and am even now certain that I'll be responsible for another mate of mine getting the excellent D700 over the 5DmkII or the A900... So for all of them, when they realized that I myself will be aiming far lower on the spec-cards with an outdated model using a discontinued design all at a significantly higher cost (kit + 25mm f1.4 + maybe... eventually the 14-150 f3.5-4.6) they're all very much dismayed & a lil' confused. And I intend on retelling your story to them all explaining how there are more important things in photography than simply having the best spec'd cam. The form factor, the intuitive yet retro design & the tactile manual control when seen alongside the class-leading Leica optical performance have left me with no hesitancy at all...


And so finally, I'd like to thank you again for sharing your tale with us & I do hope that many prospective buyers read through your post & understand why someone would disregard an undoubtedly better camera for a more comfortable one...

Some excellent points made Ant1 and good responses.

I too have been reluctant to take my Sony a350 to various locations and have taken the Fuji s9600 instead. Trouble is, I got the s9600 as a trial to see if I liked the DSLR type photography of playing with settings rather than point and shoot. I loved the camera and it got me off to a good start - hence the a350 - but I can't get it in my pocket! So I am now saving for something like the Fuji F100fd or Panasonic FX500 so that I can take it anywhere and get a reasonable picture without attracting too much attention.

I know that my colleague's pictures with a top end Canon and mid-price lenses takes some very high quality shots, and I am getting there with the a350, but the truth is that most of my photos from the s9600 are more than good enough for family and friends to enjoy and appreciate.

It is a pity that some of these magazines don't have Ant's story summarised at the beginning to remind everyone what this is about. The top end DSLR is not the right solution for everything, no matter how good.

Well done Ant1.

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a350, kit lenses 18-70mm, 55-200mm.
Sigma 10-20. Cokin filters
Fuji s9600.

To get back to the OP's original points it seems that one of the major reasons why you disposed of the D300 was that it was too conspicuous and you didn't want to risk having it nicked? Doesn't this apply to any camera once you use it in public? Especially in a country or area which is renowned for street crime? To follow this argument to it's logical conclusion we would all be using cameras at home only and not daring to venture out with them. Doesn't anyone offer specialised camera gear insurance covering theft? I suppose they must do.
Even my humble D40 must seem like a good target to someone on the breadline or a hardened thief or opportunist.
If I was so worried about the possible theft of a pro-grade camera I would take a simple point and shoot compact on holiday and keep my D300 or whatever for domestic use. I certainly would not sell it!

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Nikon D300 D80 D40 18-55mm 18-70mm 18-135mm 55-200mm 18-200mm 28mm 2.8f 50mm 1.8f 85mm 1.8f
Panasonic DMCFZ28 Slik Pro 700DX

I know a little about a lot, a lot about little and everything about nothing.