For the Nikon SLR enthusiasts, who have read the Nikon D90 reviews and learned that the new SLR captures not only stills, as every Nikon camera before it has, but also high-definition video, the revelation must have been bitter sweet.

On the one hand, the idea that you can capture video with the same device that allows you to capture superb photographic images sounds mighty convenient. On the other, Nikon has just embarked on a new course for all future mid to high end Nikon SLR models. The SLR camera then, is not so unlike the VCR recorder that suddenly found itself also sporting a DVD player unit. One device, now forced to share two technologies.

It is easy to imagine what might bother the Nikon SLR purists. Nikon's engineering team must now divide its time between advances in digital photography, and the improvement of a video technology which extends its maximum recording time with each release. The Nikon D90 shares a good deal of its digital photography technology with the higher end model detailed in Nikon D300 reviews - the same 12.3 megapixel resolution, and the huge and bright 3.0-inch LCD display that formerly had Nikon lovers drooling.

Now Nikon's user base can have the best parts of the Nikon D300 for significantly less cost. And they get high-definition video. But that begs another question. How much cheaper might the Nikon D90 have been had the videoing capability been left out of the design? I guess I must be one of those nikon purists I mentioned earlier because I would have no problem giving up high-definition video in exchange for an even more affordable camera.

I am sure I am not the only Nikon fan to wonder about this, especially as the video capability of the Nikon D90 has received some serious criticism. For the most part this stems from two problems seen in the D90. The first concerns the fact that auto focusing is disabled in video mode. So you can expect blurred portions of your video shoots if your subjects are moving around a lot. Unless, of course, you happen to be handy with the manual focusing - a skill that is called for less and less these days. The other problem is that you cannot see through the Nikon D90's viewfinder in video mode. It blacks out. Instead you must use the LCD screen to compose your shooting. All five to twenty minutes (in low resolution mode) of it.

But that doesn't mean you cannot use the Nikon D90 to capture fantastic video sessions of you kids playing soccer, or shoot memorable interviews with family members. You just have to understand the current limits of the technology. But you will have to stock up on high-capacity memory cards if you intend to get busy shooting video. You will need at least an 8-GB SD card for this.

And don't forget that compared to the inexpensive Nikon D40, and even the slightly cheaper model discussed in Nikon D60 reviews, with its image-stabilizing 18-55mm Nikkor kit lens, the Nikon D90 is a huge step up. Not only in the technology of the camera body, but also in the optics. The kit lens for the Nikon D90 is the image-stabilizing 18-105mm Nikkor, which means you can shoot wide-angle to portrait-range telephoto and achieve some of the sharpest photos that you can imagine.

In summary, the Nikon D90 is a superb digital SLR which throws in a bonus in the form of high-definition video for those who would like to dabble in mini movie making sessions.

To read the other articles on how to find the right camera for you, please visit Best Digital Camera Discounts.

Stephen Carter runs Best Digital Camera Discounts, where, if you find a great price on a camera, there is a very good chance that the offer represents the lowest price you are likely to find anywhere. If you are not inclined to follow one of the recommendations for a camera made on this page, try browsing our top-rated digital camera listings, or use our search engine to find currently available offers.

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