I would like to know if D90 capable of taking candid photos in situations such as inside coal-mines or dusty brickfields of India. I would like to replace my D200. If i am unable to get D300s for bucks, what are my options?
is D90 worth buying?
(43 posts) (14 voices)-
Posted 3 years ago #
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Welcome to the forum FUBAR. Sounds like you need a D700 for very low light photography but I guess it's too expensive for you. If you can only afford a D90 then I guess your only choice is a D90. I'd be hesitant to take it into a working dust filled coal mind or brickfields though. In those situations you'd need the weather/dust sealing of a D1 series.
That is SAND not paint!
credit: JoeMcNally.com/blog
Posted 3 years ago # -
Yeah, I would not shoot in those conditions without a dust and water sealed camera body, or with lenses that lack those features as well.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Namaste Fubar,
in situations where Americans will go for more expensive body, we poles try to find cheap solution. So go for d90, and get a plastic foil (same as You use on sandwiches), than simply wrap the whole camera - and here You go. I've seen this solution working for such environments over here in Poland. Another solution - back from the film days. Is just to put Your camera inside plastic bag and make two holes - one for front lens glass and second for viewfinder. Remember to seal the holes. I was actually using this solution myself back in the film days on Thar Desert.Posted 3 years ago # -
Namaste and Thank you. Wouldn't it be wiser to wait for a cam that replaces D90 with a weather/dust sealing in the next 2 months? I can't think of affording D700 at this point; the problem is, I am dependent on a strict budget.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I highly doubt the camera that replaces the D90 will have dust and weather seals.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I would love for the D90 replacement to have seals. Canon does have a semi sealed metal body for around $900 so why not Nikon?!
Posted 3 years ago # -
I'm not saying that they shouldn't, but they don't seem to want to do so. After all, it is just another reason to push Nikon users to the D300s, which for Nikon has better profit margins.
Posted 3 years ago # -
What if the D90 replacement also replaces the D300s and resides somewhere in between as far as price goes? Everyone thinks the D90 replacement is just around the corner, but why should we be surprised that Nikon isn't in a hurry to out-megapixel its DX flagship (notwithstanding the relative coolheadedness of most Nikon users when it comes to MP)?
If that happens, the weather sealing would make more sense.
Posted 3 years ago # -
The D300 has gone down a few $100 and the D2x is also great (and cheap on ebay!) As to the D90 wellll..... I've taken mine through Hell and water unprotected and it still works great, but If you go with it (being superior in image quality and Iso but not in hand controls or MPX) I do recommend wrapping it good. It still is more durable than it claims but the minute differences in every model and shooting situation may destroy it. My recommendation go for a used D300 (not D300s)
Posted 3 years ago # -
jonnyapple said:
What if the D90 replacement also replaces the D300s and resides somewhere in between as far as price goes? Everyone thinks the D90 replacement is just around the corner, but why should we be surprised that Nikon isn't in a hurry to out-megapixel its DX flagship (notwithstanding the relative coolheadedness of most Nikon users when it comes to MP)?If that happens, the weather sealing would make more sense.
Yeah, it does seem feature wise the D5000 is creeping into D90 territory anyway.
Posted 3 years ago # -
jonnyapple said:
What if the D90 replacement also replaces the D300s and resides somewhere in between as far as price goes? Everyone thinks the D90 replacement is just around the corner, but why should we be surprised that Nikon isn't in a hurry to out-megapixel its DX flagship (notwithstanding the relative coolheadedness of most Nikon users when it comes to MP)?If that happens, the weather sealing would make more sense.
It will be interesting if that happens in that regard. I can see Nikon dropping the D90 body, and having the D5000 replacement fill its spot in the lineup. That being said I cannot see a D90 taking the place of the D300/D300s, I strongly believe Nikon still needs a pro spec body in the DX lineup. I don't think something between the D90 and D300 would be able to do that, too much compromises on features and controls would happen.
Posted 3 years ago # -
It occurs to me that Nikon is most likely to replace the D90 and the D300s at the same time. They've both been very successful technically and in the market. I'd expect the economic availability of a new sensor with better specs to be the gating item. I'd also bet on $1,200 and $2,000 pricing to start with, dropping to $1,000 and $1,700 after initial demand is met. I'd also expect Nikon to keep the older bodies around for a while as since they still are desirable.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Nikon does not have enough factories to keep old models on the production line.
Posted 3 years ago # -
PB PM said:
I don't think something between the D90 and D300 would be able to do that, too much compromises on features and controls would happen.What features/controls on the D300 wouldn't port to a middle-of-the-road replacement? I might be missing something, but the big differences are weather sealing (like Niko says, Nikon may have to do this to compete with the T2i anyway), AF system (easy, just absorb the cost of the upgrade in the price hike), and controls. The controls on these two are not as different as you might think. I was expecting a long time getting used to the D90 after 2 years with the D300, but my experience was an absolutely painless switch (and now I don't have to lock the focus point selector ;-). I sometimes find that the mode dial has been accidentally moved from M, but it doesn't take long to find out. A D90 with the D300s's mode dial would fix that, and that's another easy upgrade and you don't lose because if you needed the mode dial you could get the D5000.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I doubt that Nikon will put magnesium body into d90 replacement - nikon is not eagerly following canon's business model. Also I wouldn't expect Nikon to release the d300s replacement together with d90 replacement. AFAIR this never happened before, so why should this happen right now, especially when d90 is at the end of it life cycle, and d300s is at the beginning. I would expect to get the d300s replacement in app. 2years, followed by d90 successor replacement.
kyoshi - as d300 is a good low iso camera, this can't be spoken of d2x - it's nice and cheap, but doesn't differ too much from d200 - at least in the high iso performance.
Posted 3 years ago # -
jonnyapple said:
What features/controls on the D300 wouldn't port to a middle-of-the-road replacement? I might be missing something, but the big differences are weather sealing (like Niko says, Nikon may have to do this to compete with the T2i anyway), AF system (easy, just absorb the cost of the upgrade in the price hike), and controls. The controls on these two are not as different as you might think. I was expecting a long time getting used to the D90 after 2 years with the D300, but my experience was an absolutely painless switch (and now I don't have to lock the focus point selector ;-). I sometimes find that the mode dial has been accidentally moved from M, but it doesn't take long to find out. A D90 with the D300s's mode dial would fix that, and that's another easy upgrade and you don't lose because if you needed the mode dial you could get the D5000.I have used them both, I and quickly sold the D90 after getting the D300. Yes many of the controls are on both, but you cannot compare the controls and how much easier they are to use on the D300 vs the D90. The D90 might be fine for you, but I shoot wildlife and a lot of action, I need to be able to change controls in a matter of seconds without having to look at the top control panel. I find the D300 better than the D90 in just about every way, in terms of controls and layout, and overall body design. Another big advantage is the 100% viewfinder in the D300.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I don't look at the D300s as a replacement to the D300, just a minor upgrade necessary to add video for competitive reasons. I don't think Nikon can wait two years without a response to the competition. The FX line is probably stable, with the addition of a D3x sensor in a D700 body.
I'll still bet Nikon's big deal is a new sensor with slightly higher MP, 1080p, better noise and ISO in DX (where the volume is) in both Pro and "prosumer" bodies, to be followed by a less expensive body with the same sensor. It would be interesting to see a poll of what people would want.
Posted 3 years ago # -
What do you change that makes you look at the top LCD? ISO is the big thing missing through the viewfinder by default, but there's a custom setting on the D90 to replace the number of shots remaining with the ISO setting. I don't like the feel of the smaller body (another upgrade--who says the D90 replacement needs to be the same size as the D90?), but as far as changing settings I meant what I said about a painless switch. I'm as fast 'on the draw' with a D90 [roll High Noon theme music].
The viewfinder I'll give you, but it's another easy upgrade. What else is missing?Posted 3 years ago # -
You have to look at the LCD any time you want to change metering modes. If you want to change dynamic or single point AF mode, you have to dive into menus, vs with the click of the knob on the D300. Those things are important to me as a wildlife photographer. Also, changing the drive mode is so much faster, no need to look at the top LCD of the D300 to do that like you must on the D90.
Posted 3 years ago # -
The metering mode issue is true to a point, PB PM. The Fn button is assignable on both bodies to any metering mode, and on the D300 the dof preview button can be assigned to the other (I had center-weighted as my default, spot assigned to function, and matrix on the dof preview button). As I got more comfortable starting each situation by metering a few different locations and then shooting M instead of A (which I used to use all the time), I stopped using matrix metering and switched to center-weighted all the time. This is why I don't miss that, and if I ever wanted spot again, I could assign it to Fn but I like on-camera flash settings there.
If I changed AF modes often the D90 would bother me. You're right about that.
And having settings banks was a nice feature that I miss sometimes, but that's just a software handicap.
Thanks for the conversation. I'm not trying to attack you; I was really just curious about what you thought was better about the D300. I love both of those cameras.Posted 3 years ago # -
I didn't think you were trying to attack me either. :-) I loved the D90 for general photography, I just couldn't justify having both. :-(
Posted 3 years ago # -
I agree with the difficulty in justifying having both the D90 and the D300s. I started with a D90 to save cash and I wasn't all that sure I'd like digital. Now too many lenses later there are features the D300s has that I'd like, but now spending $1500 for the same sensor is tough. Give me a bit more (sensor wise) and the decision would be easier. I can't quite justify a second body either.
Posted 3 years ago # -
It can be tough to justify. I have three bodies though, but one is an older film body, and the other is a 4/3s DSLR. What I could not justify was two $800+ DSLRs. Kind of makes me wish I'd kept my old D80. ;-)
Posted 3 years ago # -
PB - I also shoot wildlife, and to be honest don't see any problem with d90 - can set it up almost as fast as my d200. moreover, I actually like the idea of having less buttons, as this speeds up my process.
Posted 3 years ago #
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