For the Nikon SLR purists, who have read the Nikon D90 reviews and learned that the latest SLR shoots not only still images, as every Nikon model before it has, but also HD video, the revelation must have come as something of a mixed blessing.

On the one hand, the idea that you can shoot video with the same device that allows you to capture superb photographic stills sounds very convenient. On the other hand, 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 guess what might be bothering the Nikon SLR purists. Nikon's engineering department must now split its time between advances in digital photography, and the improvement of a video technology that extends its maximum recording time 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 sharpness, 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. And they get high-definition video. But that begs an obvious question. How much less expensive 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'd gladly give up high-definition video in exchange for a more affordable camera.

I doubt that I am the only Nikon fan to wonder about this, especially since the video capability of the Nikon D90 has received some serious criticism. Mainly 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 portions of your video shoots if your subjects are moving around a lot. Well, unless 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 have to use the LCD screen to compose your shooting. All 5 to 20 minutes (in low resolution mode) of it.

But that doesn't mean you can't 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 appreciate the current limits of the technology. But you will have to stock up on 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 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 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. This means you can photograph 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.

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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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