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D90, what possessed Nikon to not make an articlating screen?

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Allan Brown

Allan Brown

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Why oh why did Nikon go to all the bother of having a video mode and not make an articulating screen?

Allan
 
My guess is because their primary goal is to make a reliable still camera. Articulating screens are a lot easier to break than built-in ones.
--
Cheers,
Bart
 
Big, hi res LCD > > > > > small low res articulated LCD
 
I agree with Jogger.

Whenever Thom Hogan makes guesses about future bodies, he takes a look at the parts that are already being used in cameras at the moment. Teh screen they chose is already sitting in the parts box in the factory. It is wuite good with rather high resolution.

Also, movie mode is almost a "simple" extension of live view. It is almost a simple software tweak to simply send that signal to the SD card in a recordable format.

Where do you suggest they get a flip out screen with 900,000 pixel resolution? Should they invent one, or should they get one from another camera maker? Yes, of course everybody will enjoy it when it comes, but it doesn't exist in their inventory at present. Also, they were in the process of introducing video into DSLRs. They need to have a feature to add in the future for the D400/D95/D3x or whatever they will be called.

Also, since it only has manual focus, the idea of simply turning the camera back towards yourself to take those fun "hey look at me and my buddy having fun at the party" type clips, will take more planning. People are still gonna have to use their mobile phones for that type of enjoyment.

Sort of opposite to what you suggest, it isn't the video function where most people will mostly need the articulated screen. People have been asking for articulated screens for macros and photo journalistic over head shots for a while now for STILL pictures. Those overhead shots are often taken with auto focus on. Macro shots can often force you onto your belly.

I don't think that having the perfect video camera was the reason for this camera at present. If anything it was more of a proof of concept version. Once they see the explosion of sales for this camera, will they have even more reason to upgrade the video features as needed. Teh articlated screen will come eventually.

Personally if I had to choose, I would rather have a higher resolution screen like they have now rather than a lower res articulated screen. But a High res articulated screen, mmmmm, THAT would be a nice feature. I'm not sure I would pay an extra hundred dollars for it, though.

Guy Moscoso
Jogger said:
Big, hi res LCD > > > > > small low res articulated LCD
Click to expand...
 
gmosc said:
I agree with Jogger.
Whenever Thom Hogan makes guesses about future bodies, he takes a
look at the parts that are already being used in cameras at the
moment. Teh screen they chose is already sitting in the parts box in
the factory. It is wuite good with rather high resolution.
Also, movie mode is almost a "simple" extension of live view. It is
almost a simple software tweak to simply send that signal to the SD
card in a recordable format.

Where do you suggest they get a flip out screen with 900,000 pixel
resolution? Should they invent one, or should they get one from
another camera maker?
Click to expand...
Actually the screen resolution and screen mechanics have quite little to do with each other. In any case Nikon buys the LCD component (or at least I'm not aware they would manufacture those).

LCD screen basically has the display module, control chip with video or high speed memory interface if there is integrated memory. connection/power cable and housing. Even in the high-reso screen the needed video data speed is quite low in todays standard serial data links (less than 30Mb/s) so that should not cause any problems in one-wire data transfer and thus not noteworthy extra problem when making flipping/rotating screen mechanics. Even the wether sealing is quite easy as this thin wire set is all you need to more through the camera shell.
gmosc said:
Yes, of course everybody will enjoy it when it
comes, but it doesn't exist in their inventory at present. Also, they
were in the process of introducing video into DSLRs. They need to
have a feature to add in the future for the D400/D95/D3x or whatever
they will be called.

Also, since it only has manual focus, the idea of simply turning the
camera back towards yourself to take those fun "hey look at me and my
buddy having fun at the party" type clips, will take more planning.
People are still gonna have to use their mobile phones for that type
of enjoyment.

Sort of opposite to what you suggest, it isn't the video function
where most people will mostly need the articulated screen. People
have been asking for articulated screens for macros and photo
journalistic over head shots for a while now for STILL pictures.
Those overhead shots are often taken with auto focus on. Macro shots
can often force you onto your belly.

I don't think that having the perfect video camera was the reason for
this camera at present. If anything it was more of a proof of concept
version. Once they see the explosion of sales for this camera, will
they have even more reason to upgrade the video features as needed.
Teh articlated screen will come eventually.

Personally if I had to choose, I would rather have a higher
resolution screen like they have now rather than a lower res
articulated screen. But a High res articulated screen, mmmmm, THAT
would be a nice feature. I'm not sure I would pay an extra hundred
dollars for it, though.
Click to expand...
 
Another precious thing to knock off your camera accidently.
Usefull but too gimmicky for my liking!
Never needed it before and i can't envisage ever needing it in the future.
Maybe morris is right though.

--
A dpreview browser.
 
Coolpix 5700, Canon G6, S1, A640... and I don't miss that articulated screen in a camera that it doesn't have it, because I have needed and used it very little.

I really prefer one good screen viewable from a wide angle, as those of Kodak V603. Kodak Z612, Nikon D80, and D300.

Just a matter of taste!

Saludos!

--
Please, excuse my poor english...
 
If the angle of view on the lcd is big, you tend to need the articulaiting sceen less. A flip out screen would be tremendously useful with the high res 3" LCD, especially with macro, but I fall into the camp of preferring a smaller "tighter" body and would rather have a better view finder experience.
 
Because it is not useful or wanted. I may go ahead and buy the D90 with the Movie Mode, but I would not buy one with the articlating screen.
ken
--

Nikon D50, 16-85 VR, 18-55 mm DX, 18-135 DX, 50mm f/1.4, 70-300 VR. PS Ele 4; PS Ele 6; 8 books on editing photos, and two books on the D50. SB-600.
 
I shoot with a variety of gear - too much gear to be exact. When Olympus first released their E330 with articulating screen (and introducing live view - which BTW, got panned by everybody....but daaaaaa, now everybody is doing it), I thought how strange it was to have an articulating LCD.

Well, after a year or so (as the price dropped), I figured I'd pick one up. Well, I've never looked back. Once you have an articulating screen - in particular when using live view or a video mode - you become spoiled.

In fact, when using the E330 indoors, I tend to use the live view mode 95% of the time (something I never thought I'd do) - but only because the articulating screen makes life so much more easy. The E330 comes in handy (using this screen) when shooting macro's, indoor interior architectural shots, and a wide variety of other situations that might prevent you from having to contort into all kinds of positions.

So never say never. If Nikon came out with something in the future that has an articulating screen, many naysayers would become believers.

Now remember, I'm an avid Nikon user (see profile), but I do give credit where credit is due. When Olympus came out with the sensor dustbuster feature, it was panned for a long time as a gimmick. Again...well now everybody is imitating it. When Live view came out - again, "another gimmick." Well again...everybody is wanting it. Now that Nikon has introduced high definition video in the D90 (which will be panned by competing brands), it too will eventually be adopted by all competiting future cameras. It's purely a game of leapfrog here.

But trust me - once you have an articulating LCD on your DSLR, you will wonder why they didn't do it previously.

--
As always - good shooting....

 
Diddlbiker said:
My guess is because their primary goal is to make a reliable still
camera. Articulating screens are a lot easier to break than built-in
ones.
--
Cheers,
Bart
Click to expand...
The articulating screens with the design like in PowerShot A720 IS are more protected.

See http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canona620/page2.asp

"The screen uses Canon's familiar 'vari-angle' design to allow it to be tilted to virtually any angle, and to be stored 'face in' to the camera body when not in use. Click on the thumbnail (left) to see the range of movement on offer."
 
I was expecting it, but I think jogger is right. Can't imagine that it would have added much to the final consumer cost of the camera. Not a big deal for me, but it's a surprising omission for a new DSLR I think.
 
It would make the camera a whole lot more desirable to me, I have an old Minolta A1 that the screen tilts up and down its great for low level and above the head shots. I would guess the reason for the design as is would be to keep it compact your more likely to see a tilt-able screen on the D300 replacement.
 
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