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 HD video, the news must have come as something of a mixed blessing.

On the one hand, the prospect of being able to capture video with the same device that allows you to shoot high-quality 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 not hard to imagine what might be bothering the Nikon SLR purists. Nikon's engineering team must now split its time between advances in digital photography, and the improvement of a video technology which extends its maximum recording duration with each new model. The Nikon D90 shares a lot of its digital photography technology with the much more expensive 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 acquire the best parts of the Nikon D300 for a much lower price. They also get high-definition video. But that begs an obvious question. How much cheaper might the Nikon D90 have been had the video unit been left out of the design? I guess I must be one of those purists 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. Mainly this stems from two problems seen in the D90. The first is that auto focusing is disabled in video mode. This means that you can expect blurred segments in your video shoots if your subjects like to move around a lot. Well, unless you happen to be very adept at manual focusing - a skill that is on the wane these days. The second problem is that you cannot use the Nikon D90's viewfinder in video mode. It blacks out. Instead you have to use the LCD display to compose your shooting. All 5 to 20 minutes (in low resolution mode) of it.

But this does not mean you can't use the Nikon D90 to capture fantastic video sessions of you kids playing soccer, or shoot memorable dialogues with family members. You just have to appreciate the current limits of the technology. You will, however, have to stock up on high-capacity memory cards if you intend to get busy capturing 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 vibration-reducing 18-55mm Nikkor kit lens, the Nikon D90 is a huge step up. Not just 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 photograph wide-angle to short-range telephoto and get some of the sharpest photos that you can imagine.

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

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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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