Yea, great stuff. I downloaded the footage and was very impressed. However, 1 clip, 12 seconds is 58MB, ...eeeouch. To be able to use your still lenses on your video shoots is a major plus. I just got myself a DOF adapter which gives you a "film" look and feel when shooting on your digital cam.

http://www.sonycreativesoftware.com/forums/ShowMessage.asp?ForumID=4&MessageID=615542Yup, here too in September![/link]

Grazie

Along with Canon 5D, Nikon has the D90 which shoots 24p with their lens ;-)

Details
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Nikon D90 Feature Highlights

Newly designed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with wide ISO sensitivity range
The D90’s 12.3 effective megapixels provides outstanding resolution, delivering images with extraordinarily defined detail. The extremely wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200 delivers incredibly low-noise throughout which can be increased to Hi 1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) and decreased to Lo 1 (ISO 100 equivalent) to expand shooting versatility. The camera also employs an Image Sensor Cleaning function that works to free image-degrading dust particles from the sensor’s optical low-pass filter.

EXPEED for smooth tones, rich colours and fine details
Nikon’s comprehensive digital image-processing EXPEED technology is optimised for the D90 to realise the high-quality, high-speed image processing capability EXPEED also contributes to the outstanding performance of other powerful features such as Live View and the new Face Detection System.

D-Movie: the world’s first D-SLR movie mode
In a world first for D-SLRs, the D90 offers a movie function, allowing you to shoot HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels), 640 x 424 pixels or 320 x 216 pixels movies at the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format. The D90’s sensor, which is much larger than the sensor of a typical camcorder, ensures higher image quality and exceptional low-noise, high ISO sensitivity performance, even during movie shooting. Capturing creative movie clips or the drama of life’s moving moments is further enhanced by the wide selection of incredibly sharp NIKKOR interchangeable lenses that are available, from fisheye to wide-angle to super-telephoto. And Micro NIKKOR lenses bring the magic of extreme close-up imagery to movie making.

Scene Recognition System integrated with Face Detection System
The D90 precisely reads the colours and brightness information of each scene from the 420-pixel RGB sensor, and applies this to auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance. The D90 also recognizes human faces using the new Face Detection System, data which is incorporated during calculation, resulting in faces with newfound definition and accuracy as well as enabling face priority AF in Live View mode and immediate zoom into people’s faces in playback zoom.

Easy-to-use Live View mode
One press of the Live View button activates the D90’s Live View mode, delivering a bright, crisp image to the 3-in., approx. 920k-dot colour LCD and allowing comfortable shooting without looking through the viewfinder. There are three contrast-detect AF modes that let you focus on any point in the frame: Face priority AF automatically detects up to five faces and focuses on that calculated to be the closest. Wide area AF offers a large AF area suitable for handheld shooting, and normal area AF provides focus with pinpoint accuracy when using a tripod. And when Nikon VR image stabilisation lenses are in use, photographers will enjoy the benefit of a VR-smoothed image, even in Live View mode.

Picture Control System: Customize the visual style of your images
Nikon’s Picture Control System enables users to customize the look and mood of images. Six original setting options are available — Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape — for easy customization of image preferences.

Active D-Lighting for smooth tone reproduction in high-contrast lighting
The D90’s Active D-Lighting accurately restores details in the shadows and highlighted areas, which are often lost in high-contrast lighting situations, by localizing tone control while shooting. There are four levels, including the new “Extra High.” Active D-Lighting can be used manually or set to Auto mode. It is also possible to bracket your pictures, allowing the capture of one image with Active D-Lighting and one without.

Versatile, practical 11-point AF system
Thanks to the Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module, the D90’s 11-point AF system offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame with the most sensitive AF sensor operating from the centre. In addition, the D90 features versatile AF-area modes to handle most shooting situations: Single-point AF is recommended for stationary subjects, dynamic-area AF for moving subjects, auto-area AF for spontaneous shooting and 3D-tracking (11 points) AF for when you want to change the composition after focusing on your subject.

Bright pentaprism viewfinder featuring frame coverage of approx. 96%
The D90 has a precise eye-level pentaprism viewfinder with approximately 96% (centered) frame coverage and an easy-to-view 19.5 mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m-1). The built-in 16-frame superimposed grid display can be activated to assist in the creation of better-balanced compositions.

Advanced Scene Modes for superior image quality
The D90 features Advanced Scene Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports and Night Portrait. These modes not only adjust exposure and image processing, but also judge the optimum Active D-Lighting and Picture Control settings to obtain the best results. The D90 also recognizes if VR (Vibration Reduction) is on or off and minimizes noise even in dimly lit scenes.

Extensive palette of in-camera Retouch Menus
The D90’s designers incorporated a wide variety of image editing functions, making it easy for users to enhance images within the camera. The D90 introduces several new retouch options: Distortion Control adjusts lens aberration, Straighten corrects inclination of the image, while Fisheye produces optical effects similar to a fisheye lens. Engineered for precision and durability Accurate exposures rely on precise shutters and the D90’s electronically timed shutter mechanism was specifically engineered for long, accurate service. To ensure this, D90 shutters, assembled in D90 bodies, underwent exhaustive 100,000 shutter-release cycle testing.
Nikon D90 Other Features

* Gives you quick response, with 0.15-second start-up, 65 ms shutter release time lag and 4.5 fps continuous shooting.
* 3-in., approx. 920-k dot high-resolution LCD monitor with wide viewing angle that lets you change composition of the frame during shooting from various angles and easily confirm your image during playback.
* Built-in flash with 18mm lens coverage, Guide Number of approx. 18/59 (ISO 200, m/ft., 20°C/68°F) and Nikon’s original i-TTL flash control; works as a commander; controlling up to two groups of remote Speedlights.
* Highly efficient energy-saving design allows approx. 850 images on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e. (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, with 50% of pictures taken with flash)
* Extensive playback functions offer ample options for viewing and selecting the right shot, including 72-frame playback, calendar playback and histogram display for magnified portion of the image. ? Versatile Pictmotion menu creates slideshows combining five choices of both background music and image effects.
* Compatible with HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output.
* Supports the Nikon Creative Lighting System when using the SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 Speedlight, or Wireless Close-up Speedlight System R1C1; ensures accurate exposures via i-TTL flash control.
* Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80 (Optional, in common with the D80) gives you the choice of using one or two Rechargeable Li-ion Batteries EN-EL3e or six R6/AA-size batteries to extend battery life.
* New optional Remote Cord MC-DC2 enables shutter release and long time exposures (bulb) remotely.
* With the new optional GPS Unit GP-1, location information such as latitude, longitude, altitude and time is automatically recorded to each image’s EXIF data.
* Included Nikon ViewNX image browsing and editing software lets you organize, label and select images as well as perform RAW image editing adjustments and conversions.
* Optional Capture NX 2 photo-editing software features patented U-Point® technology and powerful tools for quick and easy photo editing including enhanced RAW (NEF) Editing.

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Might want to look here before shooting with the D90.

http://s477.photobucket.com/albums/rr134/jamesmel9/?action=view&current=DSC_0012.flv

maybe i'm just getting too old for all this hype - i mean it might take exceptionally pretty static pics, interesting hd video, but to start raving over the 'possibilities' seems much more like sales hype than reality.

the next thing will be a full length feature shot entirely on such a camera, complete with rolling shutter effect and mono sound.

i can see the possibility of incorporating some shots in a fast paced video clip - but hell, it'd be cheaper and easier to hire some serious hd or film equipment to get that look.

i think i'm going to ignore all references to still 'video' cameras till someone can convince me that they are more than just another sales gimmick....

tired of hype, tired of a new model every six months, and tired of trying to persuade students that it really doesn't matter a flying f--k what you shoot on as long as the content is interesting enough to watch in the first place.

and ever so tired of style over substance, in nearly everything from magazines through to music.

yeah, i should be put out to pasture i know,

leslie

The main advantage is the new cmos chip and the choice of lens. 720P doesn't rock the world, but the ISO and color range is something to think about if you are running around outside a lot, merging stills and video color range becomes simple. But it does have its limits. ;-) The D90 viewer is a lot better that most cams, plus the camera firmware is "more" accessible if you like a challenge ;-) But vidcams are not disappearing. Next generation Dslr's will impact the med range vidcams a lot more that in the past for sure. "-)

Some D90 footage at night in NY... Doesn't look quite as nice at the Cannon post but who knows why...

NYC

Here's a portion of a review from Ken Rockwell's site:

Movies are easy. Tap the rear Lv button to get Live View, and tap OK when you're ready to roll.

Remember, the Canon 5D Mk Body-only prices are : US: $ 2,699, EU: € 2,499, UK: £ 2,299 vs, the Nikon D90 is only body prices are US: $ 999.95; UK: £ 699.99; EU: € 959.00. But the Canon has 21m vs 12m pixel, this is a major difference. The Nikon new cmos ic features at that price is a big deal, like the Canon features are at that price. My personal experience has been Nikon has "always" performed well in extreme conditions outside stated performance specks while Canons fail more within their speck's range.

The Canon 5D catures at 1920x1080 as apposed to the Nikon 1280.

Quoted from http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08091705canon_5dmarkII.asp

HD video capture
The EOS 5D Mark II is Canon’s first D-SLR to incorporate full HD 1920x1080 video capture. Once filming is started from Live View mode, photographers can fire off either single of continuous stills, with video capture continuing after the final frame is captured.

I'm waiting for a cel phone to come out with these specs then I can shoot, edit and deliver one device..... LOL

Grazie, I missed that one!

PVC has a great article on using the Canon 5D MkII for video, and they point out that unlike the D90 it has a full still 35mm frame of 24x36 mm [i.e. a 1.7" diagonal that makes for better-looking DOF than any 35mm format, not to mention 0.67" CCDs (aka 2/3")].

They also mention that the Reverie video in my (and Grazie's!) link above was shot at "a virtually noise-free 1600 ASA" in available light, occasionally assisted by small LED lighting. The camera is good for three more steps of sensitivity in video mode (i.e. 12800 ASA), that could make certain other camera owners RED with envy... :O)

The future is looking interestinger and interestinger...

And the announced worldwide general deflation will make gear more affordable too!

Brilliant absolutely awesome… I wonder where technology will go between cameras and camcorders

I just received my Dec. copy of Consumer Reports. They didn't like the Nikon D90 video:

"In fact, image quality trailed even the lowest-rated HD Camcorder in our Ratings, The Sanyo Xacti VPC-1000 (which records at 60 fps) and was closer to VHS tape." p.41

The didn't like the flickering with the pans, nor the lack of detail "even in the best lighting" . . .

I already own a Canon 30D with a nice set of full frame Pro L glass so I'm excited. It's also very interesting that Red through the Scarlet specs out the window and a completely new Scarlet is set to be announced 11/13. This news followed so closed on the heels of the 5D Mk II i don't think it's unrelated.