D90 VS 50D viewfinders

[katahdin]

Now, Almond.Butterscotch, who NEVER reads the manual that comes with cameras, may be surprised to find out, that the manual clearly states that the battery in your D90 has to have a charge to cause the view finder to be clear and bright. Buy the camera, plug in the charger, and while you're waiting for the battery to get hot, READ THE MANUAL!

[Mefistofeles]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

wrong and wrong. D3s is much better in low light than the D3. ISO102k. k as in thousand.

Also, there were 7 dSLRs before the D3 that were full frame.

Contax N Digital (2002)
Canon EOS-1Ds (2002)
Kodak DCS Pro 14n (2003)
Kodak DCS Pro SLR/n (2004)
Kodak DCS Pro SLR/c (2004)
Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II (2004)
Canon EOS 5D (2005)
Nikon D3 (2007)

I knew about the kodak but I didn't know it was full frame. That's new to me.I need to check my sources.

Maybe it has a 360,000 Iso... so what? it looks awful. The D3 looks better at Iso 1600 than the D3s... It's not about the numbers.


Good thing I'm not buying a D3x, or D3..

[Keleja]

This is indeed the case. I have been using Nikon for 2 years and my camera's viewfinder is "inactive" and shaded gray when not on. The camera store you were at was correct indeed.

[Dave R]

I have a D90 and believe it is a fine camera; however, I would buy the Canon 50D if I were you, and avoid the D90:

1. Since you are interested in the viewfinder, you should know that it is extremely difficult use the diopter adjustment control. All you have to work with is a tiny wheel, and I can only turn it by trying to slip my fingernail into one of the ridges and move it slightly. It’s a slow process to achieve the proper diopter, and you will find that you only want to do it one time, when you purchase the camera. That means you can’t hand the camera to a friend and expect the friend to be able to adjust the diopter. And if the friend tries to adjust the diopter you are not going to be happy about that.

I note, however, that the Canon uses the same mechanism, though I have not tried it.

This is a show-stopper for me and I would never have bought the D90 had I known that I would have this problem. I am continually passing my D90 to the younger people in my family to assist in picture taking and they have to endure my unique diopter requirement while trying to frame an image. My previous camera was a Nikon D50, which used a slide mechanism for the diopter adjustment control, and that mechanism was great.

2. You will never get comfortable with the menu system. I have had my D90 since the day it was introduced to the public and I shoot with some regularity, yet I still am puzzled by the menu setup. And if you shoot on an irregular basis, it’s even worse in terms of trying to remember how to use the menus.

3. The D90 will overexpose when in Auto mode. Because I use Aperture or Shutter modes, that is not a big problem for me as I adjust the exposure compensation - but it would be for those who do rely upon Auto mode.

4. There seems to be more Canon price competition and selection availability for camera body and lens than Nikon.

5. I use a Nikon SB600 Speedlight (flash) and it’s a must for indoor shooting so you should include one in any purchase. While it works well, the instructions are beyond comprehension. I mean that literally. Try to find out how to use it off-camera some time. You won’t.

6. I have no use for the primitive video system. I don't shoot video and if I did I would buy a video camera. The problem is that I paid for something I neither wanted nor use. Nikon could have used that money to produce a better still-image product.

In short, while I have a Nikon D90 and about two thousand dollars worth of separate lens (I like prime lens), I consider the move to Nikon to have been a costly mistake. At this point, however, I have too much invested in Nikon equipment to change vendors.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I have a D90 and believe it is a fine camera; however, I would buy the Canon 50D if I were you, and avoid the D90:

1. Since you are interested in the viewfinder, you should know that it is extremely difficult use the diopter adjustment control. All you have to work with is a tiny wheel, and I can only turn it by trying to slip my fingernail into one of the ridges and move it slightly. It’s a slow process to achieve the proper diopter, and you will find that you only want to do it one time, when you purchase the camera. That means you can’t hand the camera to a friend and expect the friend to be able to adjust the diopter. And if the friend tries to adjust the diopter you are not going to be happy about that.

I note, however, that the Canon uses the same mechanism, though I have not tried it.

This is a show-stopper for me and I would never have bought the D90 had I known that I would have this problem. I am continually passing my D90 to the younger people in my family to assist in picture taking and they have to endure my unique diopter requirement while trying to frame an image. My previous camera was a Nikon D50, which used a slide mechanism for the diopter adjustment control, and that mechanism was great.

You're complaining about, and basing a decision on, the DIOPTER ADJUSTMENTS?! Wow.

Originally Posted by Dave R

2. You will never get comfortable with the menu system. I have had my D90 since the day it was introduced to the public and I shoot with some regularity, yet I still am puzzled by the menu setup. And if you shoot on an irregular basis, it’s even worse in terms of trying to remember how to use the menus.

That depends. I cant get my head around any of the canon menus, partially because I just cant and partially because it seems to change from model to model. At least Nikon is consistent and organized.

Originally Posted by Dave R

3. The D90 will overexpose when in Auto mode. Because I use Aperture or Shutter modes, that is not a big problem for me as I adjust the exposure compensation - but it would be for those who do rely upon Auto mode.

I actually found that both the D90 and D5000 underexposed.

Originally Posted by Dave R

4. There seems to be more Canon price competition and selection availability for camera body and lens than Nikon.

And Nikon was, until very recently, offering huge discounts on bundles.

Originally Posted by Dave R

5. I use a Nikon SB600 Speedlight (flash) and it’s a must for indoor shooting so you should include one in any purchase. While it works well, the instructions are beyond comprehension. I mean that literally. Try to find out how to use it off-camera some time. You won’t.

Then you read the instructions wrong. It's actually really simple.

Originally Posted by Dave R

6. I have no use for the primitive video system. I don't shoot video and if I did I would buy a video camera. The problem is that I paid for something I neither wanted nor use. Nikon could have used that money to produce a better still-image product.

Well, considering video was intrinsic in the upgrade to the newer sensor, you *could* have gotten a D80, D60, D40 or D3000 for LESS, and without the primitive" video.

Originally Posted by Dave R

In short, while I have a Nikon D90 and about two thousand dollars worth of separate lens (I like prime lens), I consider the move to Nikon to have been a costly mistake. At this point, however, I have too much invested in Nikon equipment to change vendors.

You really need to lighten up. That, or cut your losses. Quit-yer-bitchin'.

[candleman]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I have a D90 and believe it is a fine camera; however, I would buy the Canon 50D if I were you, and avoid the D90:

1. Since you are interested in the viewfinder, you should know that it is extremely difficult use the diopter adjustment control. All you have to work with is a tiny wheel, and I can only turn it by trying to slip my fingernail into one of the ridges and move it slightly. It’s a slow process to achieve the proper diopter, and you will find that you only want to do it one time, when you purchase the camera. That means you can’t hand the camera to a friend and expect the friend to be able to adjust the diopter. And if the friend tries to adjust the diopter you are not going to be happy about that.

I note, however, that the Canon uses the same mechanism, though I have not tried it.

This is a show-stopper for me and I would never have bought the D90 had I known that I would have this problem. I am continually passing my D90 to the younger people in my family to assist in picture taking and they have to endure my unique diopter requirement while trying to frame an image. My previous camera was a Nikon D50, which used a slide mechanism for the diopter adjustment control, and that mechanism was great.

2. You will never get comfortable with the menu system. I have had my D90 since the day it was introduced to the public and I shoot with some regularity, yet I still am puzzled by the menu setup. And if you shoot on an irregular basis, it’s even worse in terms of trying to remember how to use the menus.

3. The D90 will overexpose when in Auto mode. Because I use Aperture or Shutter modes, that is not a big problem for me as I adjust the exposure compensation - but it would be for those who do rely upon Auto mode.

4. There seems to be more Canon price competition and selection availability for camera body and lens than Nikon.

5. I use a Nikon SB600 Speedlight (flash) and it’s a must for indoor shooting so you should include one in any purchase. While it works well, the instructions are beyond comprehension. I mean that literally. Try to find out how to use it off-camera some time. You won’t.

6. I have no use for the primitive video system. I don't shoot video and if I did I would buy a video camera. The problem is that I paid for something I neither wanted nor use. Nikon could have used that money to produce a better still-image product.

In short, while I have a Nikon D90 and about two thousand dollars worth of separate lens (I like prime lens), I consider the move to Nikon to have been a costly mistake. At this point, however, I have too much invested in Nikon equipment to change vendors.

seriously???

i had my sb600 working off camera on the same day i bought it.. its really simple.

Diopter?
thats something you adjust once and leave it prettymuch forever.

the menu system is very well structured and even colour coded.. what more could you ask for.


the D90 is probably the best bang for buck on the entire market today.
if you bitch about that.. i suggest you give up.

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by Mefistofeles

Maybe it has a 360,000 Iso... so what? it looks awful. The D3 looks better at Iso 1600 than the D3s... It's not about the numbers.

oh really? Nikon D700/D3 vs D3s High ISO Noise Comparison

or the click-frugal, "Sharpness-wise both images are very similar, but when you look at noise levels, Nikon D700 @ ISO 3200 is a tad better than Nikon D3s @ ISO 12,800, which is already remarkable."

At an ISO setting 2 stops higher than the setting on the D700 sensor (same as D3), the D3s is just barely worse than the D700 at the lower setting.

[CDa]

Mefistofeles and Shokinen,
Yes the D90 viewfinder is dark without a battery. I checked mine just now.
I guess it was by design and is not a flaw. I have been using my D90 for over a year and it is a pleasure to use it with a very bright viewfinder even in very dark situations.

Hey Keleja, I agree with OsmosisStudio. All of your gripes are not to do with flaws with the camera but due to not really understanding your camera. There is no digital SLR camera in the market which is easy and simple. They need to be understood well.

So I'd suggest, go over to a store and ask for a demo with the batteries and just buy it.

Enjoy you camera

[tobewan]

Come on guys, this has been very interesting but Mefistofeles is asking us "what gives with the viewfinders?" I'm sure he's (she?) gonna look at a whole lot of other things before he makes up his mind.
So what influences how bright the viewfinder is? Well apparently the focus screen is illuminated since turning the D90 on made it brighter. But there could differences in the focusing screens - maybe the matte screen on the D90 just looks different than the EF-A standard focusing screen on the 50D.
But my money is on the lenses! On the Nikon they had an 18-105 DX lens, on the Canon they had a full-frame 28-135 EF lens. Even though the speed of lenses is the same, it's bigger glass!
Mefistofeles - go back to the store and have them put on 50mm f/1.4 FX (nikon) or EF (canon) lenses on the cameras and then compare. (or have them put a canon EF-S 17-85 on the 50d) I'd be surprised if you see much difference then since the specs on the viewfinders themselves are almost identical.
I don't recall if someone mentioned it but also check to ensure that Depth of Field preview button isn't stuck on the Nikon. That might be stopping the lens down.
Good luck in your evaluation.

[Mefistofeles]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

oh really? Nikon D700/D3 vs D3s High ISO Noise Comparison

or the click-frugal, "Sharpness-wise both images are very similar, but when you look at noise levels, Nikon D700 @ ISO 3200 is a tad better than Nikon D3s @ ISO 12,800, which is already remarkable."

At an ISO setting 2 stops higher than the setting on the D700 sensor (same as D3), the D3s is just barely worse than the D700 at the lower setting.

really???? well... good thing I'm not buying a D3 or a D700, or a Mamiya, or [insert camera model other than D90 or 50D here]. ...

Originally Posted by CDa

So I'd suggest, go over to a store and ask for a demo with the batteries and just buy it.

Enjoy you camera

I would if I could.... but the only store that has both models, only has one D90 and I'm pretty sure it's broken, so I can't trust them.

My question remains... Which viewfinder is better?? D90 or 50D. Which one is brighter??