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

On the one hand, the prospect of being able to shoot video with the same device that allows you to capture high-quality photographic stills sounds very 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 housing 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 development of a video technology that extends its maximum recording time with each new model. The Nikon D90 shares a good deal 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 viewscreen that formerly had Nikon lovers drooling.

Now Nikon's customer base can have 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 less expensive might the Nikon D90 have been had the videoing capability been left out of the design? I guess I must be one of those purists because I'd gladly give up high-definition video in exchange for a more affordable camera.

I doubt that I am the only Nikon lover to wonder about this, especially as the video capability of the Nikon D90 has earned itself some serious criticism. For the most part this stems from two problems present in the D90. The first is that auto focusing shuts off in video mode. So you can expect blurred segments in 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 on the wane these days. The other problem is that you cannot use the Nikon D90's viewfinder in video mode. It blacks out. Instead you must 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 cannot use the Nikon D90 to capture fantastic video sessions of you kids playing soccer, or capture memorable dialogues with family members. You just have to understand the current limits of the technology. But you will have to stock up on the high-capacity memory cards if you plan to get busy shooting video. You will require at least an 8-GB SD card to avoid quickly running out of memory.

And don't forget that compared to the much cheaper 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 get 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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