pabnj said:
The shear girth of a professional video camera makes it possible. The hinge, and swivel assembly is much larger than what you’d find on the back of a DSLR.

I was referring to the swivel LCD not the swivel viewfinder, which maybe is what you're thinking of.

The actual swivel hinge is smaller than it looks in this picture. The LCD rotates vertically on an even smaller hinge then the horizontal hinge you see in the picture.

I always keep the cover on my D90 screen (set to no review) and like having it firmly attached to the back of the camera. I'd even buy a D89(?) with no LCD, it would save space, weight and money.

I don't know of a secure way to hold the camera away from my body when taking a picture. I need to hold the camera to my face, eye to the viewfinder, elbows against my body, squeeze... I always shot slow film, so hand-hold technique was important. Now I can't make myself do it any other way, nor do I see any reasons to. I can understand papparazzi and journalists using it for reportage, but using an LCD is never the optimal solution for composition or vibration control (tripods not-with-standing - then I use a right angle finder with 2x magnification).

The shear girth of a professional video camera makes it possible. The hinge, and swivel assembly is much larger than what you’d find on the back of a DSLR.

I've also scratched my lcd, maybe that's because I'm actually considering a camera as a tool to do the job. as for the swivel screen on pro cameras... if they manage to make it unbreakable than I'm in for that, the other option is the changeable viewfinder, like it was in F5 and below.

ShadeofBlue said:
Swivel screen is awesome on a consumer camera, but I really don't think it would be able to handle the abuse many pros would want to be able to put it through..

Professional video cameras have had swivel screens for years now. The news guys I know abuse the hell out of them and I've never heard of a broken swivel LCD.

Jonny I also like that I can "close" the LCD screen for protection when I drop it into my camera bag. It's very rare but I have scratched an LCD screen too :^(

The Sony DSLRs sort of have a swivel screen. I wonder how well they've fared?

I can't tell you how many of those adjustable LCD no matter what the camera make that I've seen broken, or jammed. It is a great feature, and wished sometimes I had it on my D300. Since Nikon builds their pro level cameras to handle the abuse pros can put on a camera, for that reason alone I highly doubt an adjustable LCD will ever see the D4, or D400. My guess it would be a warranty nightmare for Nikon, and if they declined warranty repair due to abuse, it would be a publicity nightmare as well.

I use the protector that is included with my D300 and if more critical viewing is needed I will remove it to check the display, that works for me

Pete

Swivel screen is awesome on a consumer camera, but I really don't think it would be able to handle the abuse many pros would want to be able to put it through. I don't see how it wouldn't become the camera's weakest spot. At any rate, my dad has a pro photographer friend who was rather worried when the D5000 came out that this "feature" would migrate to the pro models. Personally, I don't think it will.

Demisthene Akatsuki said:
jonny, ive been really rough at times with my D300's display, its never been scratched.

Ditto on the roughness, but my D300's screen actually did scratch. I'm not sure how it happened, but it got a pretty obvious 3mm-long scratch right in the center. I use a screen protector on my D90 now.

friend of mine got the D5000 solely because he was sold on the swivel feature.

jonny, ive been really rough at times with my D300's display, its never been scratched.
As of late tho ive been using a screen protector on the D300 too,tho ive always used that on my D3x, its just easier to clean it that way imo.

I too would pick the D5000, maybe not because of the swivel, but because I hate the way the Rebels handle. Thin, annoying handgrip, confusing menu system, and the power button is on the wrong side.

NikoDoby said:
I hope Nikon puts the LCD on a "pro" camera soon. Yes I can hear a lot of you grunting but like it or not it's a very useful feature just like video on a DSLR.

When I played around with the D5000, I liked being able to swivel the screen around so that it's protected facing the camera body. The times I'm worried about scratching the LCD are not usually when I'm using it. Not to mention it would be nice for macro/tripod/above the crowd/worm's eye view kind of shots like you guys mentioned.

True... but a 3inch swivel LCD seems like it would add a bit to the bulk. I'm probably pro-swivel though. I wind up shooting lots of stuff where my face isn't in the viewfinder (mostly at ground or table level in low light)

Willis the D90 doesn't have an adjustable LCD :^(

From the review: "If we could only have a high-res display on the Nikon - perhaps on the D6000?"

You can... its called the D90 at last Christmas's price :)

Pete does the swivel LCD really sway people that much? The D5000 is a big hit for Nikon. Do you think the D5000's LCD alone is a big selling point for consumers?

I hope Nikon puts the LCD on a "pro" camera soon. Yes I can hear a lot of you grunting but like it or not it's a very useful feature just like video on a DSLR.

You know if don't know how many times I have placed these two Cameras on the counter and closed the sale on the D5000. In real life it offers a few key things:

Kit lens 18-55 does not feel as cheap compared to the Canon lens

Just holding both Cameras the Nikon feels overall better made also

Warranty better

Nikon has adjustable LCD

And at this moment it is $50.00 less

Have fun with your D5000

Pete

against the canon T1i. The D5000 wins but only by a whisker. Interesting that they preferred the menu layout of the canon and claim the D5000 can serve as a back up for D700 or D3X?!

http://www.h2hreviews.com/article/Head-to-Head-DSLR-Camera-Review-Canon-EOS-Rebel-T1i-vs-Nikon-D5000/Introduction-The-Matchup.html