D90 User Group (Thread IV)

[hossann]

hi guys, maybe i quite new and trying to get into this hobby.
Guess my mindset is rather different. Maybe i am comparing camera with other equipments. Thinking a older model maybe "outdated" and will not have much support as compare to newer model.

I have tried both D90 and D3100 at the shop. Weight issue is one thing to consider.
Maybe i should consider about the functions rather than the weight and the "age" of the camera.

Also D90 has AF motor (wonder if i got the terms right), which means 3rd party lens i can use with AF. But D3100 i think maybe not possible, got to manual focus, right?

Sorry guys, i think my questions and answers are really noob questions.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

hi guys, maybe i quite new and trying to get into this hobby.
Guess my mindset is rather different. Maybe i am comparing camera with other equipments. Thinking a older model maybe "outdated" and will not have much support as compare to newer model.

I have tried both D90 and D3100 at the shop. Weight issue is one thing to consider.
Maybe i should consider about the functions rather than the weight and the "age" of the camera.

Also D90 has AF motor (wonder if i got the terms right), which means 3rd party lens i can use with AF. But D3100 i think maybe not possible, got to manual focus, right?

Sorry guys, i think my questions and answers are really noob questions.

these kind of things are hard to say... Just like buying the last batch of a car model. Although the car works perfectly, you see the new model on the roads the following month, then you feel a sense of regret.

But D90 is a seriously capable camera, and the 'run-out' pricing is pretty attractive. I mean, it's like 40% discount from the new price when it first came out leh...

You can get to a lot more functions quickly with the D90 than the D3100. Many many things are just a button-press and dial-turn away. With D3100 you have to dive into the menus a lot more. But if you just wanna leave it in Auto or P mode, then you may not appreciate these differences.

 

[j0k3r]

Thks for the reply, for Q1, I mean as in change become darker or brighter. Cos, when tried the last time, it doesn't have any difference when changing the ISO.

1) Change in ISO should be visible. But ISO showsdifferent colours? I don't really understand. :dunno:

2) Yes

3) Tamron has 17-50, not 17-55. Nikkor has it. And yes, the Nikkor 17-55 is heavier than the 18-105. Tried it before. For the 17-50, I'm not so sure about it.

 

[hossann]

these kind of things are hard to say... Just like buying the last batch of a car model. Although the car works perfectly, you see the new model on the roads the following month, then you feel a sense of regret.

But D90 is a seriously capable camera, and the 'run-out' pricing is pretty attractive. I mean, it's like 40% discount from the new price when it first came out leh...

You can get to a lot more functions quickly with the D90 than the D3100. Many many things are just a button-press and dial-turn away. With D3100 you have to dive into the menus a lot more. But if you just wanna leave it in Auto or P mode, then you may not appreciate these differences.

Very true. I was impressed with the "GUIDE" function on the knob of the D3100. Hope i have not OT from the thread here.
I do agreed the pricing now is rather attractive.

 

[j0k3r]

Thks for the reply, yeah, I mean darker/brighter (does it means the white balance?)

1) ISO doesn't affect colour. If you're talking about white balance, then yes there should be a difference, but I don't know if the screen, in LV mode, can replicate exactly what will be captured/recorded when you depress the shutter release.

2) Yes

3) Tamron 17-50/2.8 or Nikkor 17-55/2.8?
Tamron should be about the same weight. Can check out www.photozone.de to see the weight.
The Nikkor, I'm pretty sure, is much heavier :sweat:

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

hi guys, maybe i quite new and trying to get into this hobby.
Guess my mindset is rather different. Maybe i am comparing camera with other equipments. Thinking a older model maybe "outdated" and will not have much support as compare to newer model.

I have tried both D90 and D3100 at the shop. Weight issue is one thing to consider.
Maybe i should consider about the functions rather than the weight and the "age" of the camera.

Also D90 has AF motor (wonder if i got the terms right), which means 3rd party lens i can use with AF. But D3100 i think maybe not possible, got to manual focus, right?

Sorry guys, i think my questions and answers are really noob questions.

D90 can auto-focus with lenses that have AF capability but no built-in motor. Just to summarize, you can probably classify the lenses into the following categories

a) no metering, and manual focus
b) metering and manual focus
c) metering and auto-focus w/o built-in motor
d) metering and auto-focus w built-in motor

D3100 would require lenses from category D to have full functionality.
D90 would autofocus with both Cat C and Cat D lenses.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Thks for the reply, yeah, I mean darker/brighter (does it means the white balance?)

white balance is to do with colour, not brightness.

if you're talking about 'brightness', in photography it's generally referred to as 'exposure'.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Thks for the reply, for Q1, I mean as in change become darker or brighter. Cos, when tried the last time, it doesn't have any difference when changing the ISO.

you need to understand:

a) The "Exposure Triangle" - relationship between ISO speed, aperture value, and shutter speed, in achieving correct exposure.

b) what the camera is doing in the various modes (P, A, S, M).

then you'll know why the 'brightness'/exposure doesn't change when you adjust the ISO speed.

 

[hossann]

D90 can auto-focus with lenses that have AF capability but no built-in motor. Just to summarize, you can probably classify the lenses into the following categories

a) no metering, and manual focus
b) metering and manual focus
c) metering and auto-focus w/o built-in motor
d) metering and auto-focus w built-in motor

D3100 would require lenses from category D to have full functionality.
D90 would autofocus with both Cat C and Cat D lenses.

That is Cat D lenses are more expensive.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Very true. I was impressed with the "GUIDE" function on the knob of the D3100. Hope i have not OT from the thread here.
I do agreed the pricing now is rather attractive.

if you ask my opinion, I think 'Guide' mode is a huge gimmick.
What the guide mode can teach you, you can learn from some simple books or spending some time going out to shoot and analyzing your shots.

 

[Smiles88]

Thks for the reply, for Q1, I mean as in change become darker or brighter. Cos, when tried the last time, it doesn't have any difference when changing the ISO.

I see. :think: I'm not so sure about tt. I only used the Live View once so far.:embrass:

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

That is Cat D lenses are more expensive.

usually that is the case, yes.
The brand of the lens also plays a part. Nikkor is generally more expensive than Tamron/Tokina/Sigma.

 

[alvin81]

only certain subjects or just about everything? Sometimes it's the contrast (or lack of it) that confuses the AF sensor.

Hopefully it's not a real 'problem' with your camera/lens.

Zerocool: Thanks for advising. Sad to say, it's everything. I got a feeling it's the lens. When I use the 50mm 1.4d, the focusing was very fast and accurate based on my situation focusing on the same subjects.

I think I left out another information, the issue happens more frequently when I am extend the lens fully to 105mm.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Zerocool: Thanks for advising. Sad to say, it's everything. I got a feeling it's the lens. When I use the 50mm 1.4d, the focusing was very fast and accurate based on my situation focusing on the same subjects.

I think I left out another information, the issue happens more frequently when I am extend the lens fully to 105mm.

you're using the center AF spot all the time? Or wide-area AF mode?

 

[alvin81]

you're using the center AF spot all the time? Or wide-area AF mode?

I tried spot and wide area. Both yield the same problem.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

I tried spot and wide area. Both yield the same problem.

poor thing.

Maybe you would like to meet up with us and we try to see if we can help you out.
Can check out this TCSS thread. We're meeting up tomorrow.

 

[alvin81]

poor thing.

Maybe you would like to meet up with us and we try to see if we can help you out.
Can check out this TCSS thread. We're meeting up tomorrow.

Ohh.. Thanks for the invite. But I will be going for the new cable car ride with my fiance. I'll PM you my mobile number. If you guys are ending late, I'll hop by! My fiance lives nearby.

 

[j0k3r]

Erm, ic, maybe I was using A mode that time so not able to see the differences, as it is already auto adjust accordingly. Will try M mode and see if it change or not..

you need to understand:

a) The "Exposure Triangle" - relationship between ISO speed, aperture value, and shutter speed, in achieving correct exposure.

b) what the camera is doing in the various modes (P, A, S, M).

then you'll know why the 'brightness'/exposure doesn't change when you adjust the ISO speed.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

Erm, ic, maybe I was using A mode that time so not able to see the differences, as it is already auto adjust accordingly. Will try M mode and see if it change or not..

bingo!

 

[j0k3r]

Yeah, me too, I seldom use LV too, it was my friend that is playing with it and asking why it doesn't change, but Canon 550D does change...

I see. :think: I'm not so sure about tt. I only used the Live View once so far.:embrass: