The D90 scored some points here. I mean, a $1200 kit went toe to toe IQ wise with my $8000 kit. My fave shot of the night came from my M8, but my wife's favorite came from the D90. Which camera did I enjoy using more? Well, that would be my M8 as I LOOOOOOOVE using that camera. It’s an emotional thing shooting with a Leica. I have a bond with it. It is a part of me, as silly as that sounds.

After processing all of these concert images you may want to know the 100% truth on what differences I seen between my M8 and D90 files. Well, I would be lying if I said there were none. I would also be lying if I said the D90 files were better. The truth is, there was a little something extra to those Leica files. Some had the “glow”, and some had that “look”. Also, the D90 files required quite a bit of post processing in photoshop as the exposures were off a bit due to the stage lighting.

I used matrix metering at times when I should of used center weighted. For some shots I used spot metering and it worked well, but the matrix metering usually under exposed the concert shots.

I have had many people ask me for my camera settings during the show. Basically, I shot in “A” mode, shot the lens wide open every time, had the ISO at 2500 or 3200 when needed, and I shot RAW. Matrix Metering and Spot Metering were both used.

SPREADING THE LOVE - NIKON D90 AND 18-105VR - ISO 3200

I had ZERO issues with the D90 at the show. No hiccups, no slowdowns, no AF issues or problems. It just worked. It would of been nice to have a faster lens like an 85 1.4 or 200 F2 but again, I used what I had and it worked. Bottom line - there is no reason why someone could not take great images with the D90 and the included KIT lens.

I HAD A BLAST shooting this show AND watching the show. When I was not shooting I was dancing, tapping my feet and singing along. Seal is a performer that you really should not miss. I highly recommend seeing him live as it was a remarkable show. One I would love to see AND shoot again!

To read more about my time with the D90, as well as its video capability, read on...

GO ON TO PAGE FOUR OF THE NIKON D90 REVIEW -> PAGE 4

THE SEAL CONCERT AND THE D90

So there I was...my VIP pass around my neck with the D90 and M8 hanging on each side of me. In front of the stage..lights dimming..crowd roaring and my first time shooting a concert. I had a range of emotions going through me (to see the full report and all shots from the seal show, click here) but I was determined to get some great shots.

I am a believer in using what you have. If you have a camera that is an “el- cheapo”, do not feel bad. Shoot with it. Use it. Learn it. You can and WILL get great shots from it. Today most of us are wound up in to thinking that we have to buy the latest and greatest in order to get great shots. This is simply not true. I shoot with a Leica M8 because it is what I enjoy using the most, and after 12 years of being obsessed with digital photography I feel I deserve it. Anything to ease my gear obsessed mind.

My M8 may not be the best photo tool out there but I deal with its limitations. With the D90, my main limitation was the slow kit lens, but I knew I could come away with some amazing shots with it if I kept my head on straight.

So away I went. Snapping, shooting, crawling, squatting, kneeling, and sneaking between shoulders of the other fans. I did not want to be disappointed with my results, so I just went for it. After an hour my legs were killing me so I decided to enjoy the show and not worry so much about shooting.

At the end of the night I was back in my hotel room and I was smiling ear to ear when I started to open all of my shots. Both my M8 and D90 performed GREAT and I managed to get some pretty cool shots that even I was happy with. It was a great moment for the photo enthusiast in me. The reward we all want when we shoot something important to us. Great results.

See, I expected the worst. But for such a slow, cheap, plasticky lens, the 18-105 VR did VERY well. I guess it helped that the D90 was amazingly good at high ISO because mostly ALL of the images were shot at ISO 2500 and 3200! I guess the greatest compliment to the camera and lens came from SEAL himself when he told me that the picture of him above, with his guitar in hand is something he would have on his wall at home. He went on to explain how it would not matter what camera it was taken with, as the moment was captured. We laughed and talked about how we get all sucked into the hype of lenses and the mystique of the glass.

It is something that can get you to thinking. I mean, I took that shot with a middle range, non full frame Nikon DSLR with a CHEAP kit lens. I could have went to a Leica forum and said it was taken with my $5000 M8 and no one would have known any different. (Leica guys yelling right now, YEA RIGHT!)

The D90 did GREAT in a tough situation where no pro would of even DARED bring a D90, let alone an 18-105 lens. Hell, a pro would of had a D3x and 200F2 as well as the 14-24 and 24-70. Would my pictures of been any better if I had a kit like that? Different maybe, but not any better.