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Nikon D90 Digitial Camera

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Thinking of a new camera?

I'm in the market for a new Nikon digital camera. I still love my Nikon D70 but the time has come to replace my trusty D70.

I have produced this series of lenses to examine the Nikon digital camera models I have shortlisted and hope they might help you if you're considering a similar purchase. They don't contain long lists of features; nor am I concerned about marginal differences between test shots. I am just a typical amateur photographer looking for a digital camera which will last me for the next 5 - 10 years.

This lens looks at the Nikon D90 DSLR - the obvious successor to my venerable D70.

Caveat: the views expressed are my personal opinions. Before buying you should check any specifications with Nikon if they are important to you.

Mt Alexander; Jenny Campbell , 2010
All rights reserved

What I Like
What I Dislike
The Alternative
My comparison
Body Only or Kit?
Sample Nikon D90 video
D90 on Amazon
Compare Prices with eBay

What I Like

(My Personal Assessment)

This is by no means a full feature list. I have concentrated on features I use or would use. I have also omitted features which are common to all the cameras I am considering

Built-in image sensor cleaning

Essential - it's lack is a major issue on my existing D70

12.4 megapixel sensor

2009 standard for prosumer cameras allowing images up to 4288x2848

Lens Compatibility

Compatible with all Nikon AF lenses

Hi-res monitor on back

3-inch super-density 920,000-dot color LCD monitor:

Shutter speed

Good range from 1/4000 to 30s

Movie mode

Not essential, but nice to have and high definition up to 1280 x 720/24 fps. See a sample movie at the bottom of this page.

Legacy lens support

Lens legacy lens support than the D300s but all CPU lenses can be used. No CPU lenses can be attached but the exposore meter doesn't work. (The workaround is to add a third party light meter to the flash hot shoe - I was taught to use a lightmeter so that would be fine for me.)

What I Dislike

(My Personal Assessment)

96% viewfinder

Viewfinder omits appx 100 pixels on each side - expected in cheaper cameras but not at this level

Mono audo

The internal microphone is mono only ... and ...

No microphone jack

... so the D90 is practially useless for recording audio

Some video quality issues

The video performance of the D90 has attracted a degree of criticism

Reasonably Expensive

US ESP $1,800

Reasonably Heavy

620g (22oz) - without lens and battery

Plastic body

Much of the weight saving compared to the D300s is achieved by having a less robust body. This probably is only an issue if you are a photographer whose camera is likely to take heavy knocks - for instance if you used it regularly aboard a sail boat

The Alternative

(Another Nikon digital SLRs I considered)

“The cheapest, lightest camera which delivers the features I need for stillls ... but not for video”

My comparison

Forthcoming: I need to analyse and write up all cameras before I make my comparison. Please come back soon.

My initial assessment against the Nikon D300s is that the difference in performance as a stills camera doesn't - for me - justify the higher cost of the D300s. However, the video performance of the Nikon D300s (based on the videos I have seen) is a class above that of the Nikon D90.

The Nikon D90 is also hopeless for audio, The internal microphone is only mono, of poor qulaity and picks up camera noise (ie from the AF motors). This can't be rectified by using a separate microphone because the Nikon D90 doesn't have a microphone jack.

Taken together I don't regard the Nikon D90 as a serious video camera - but the Nikon D300s looks as though it might be.

Body Only or Kit?

The D90 is available as body only or in a kit usally with one lens, occasionally with two. Clearly buying the body only is the cheapest but if you need lenses then the kits represent great value as the lenses are substantially discounted.

The kits can be such good value that even if you don't need the lens(es) it may be worth getting and selling an older lens second hand. For instance I have an 18-70mm AF-D lens which I could sell second hand and buy the D90 with the 18-105mm VR lens. That would get me a slightly longer zoom and VR. That may even be broadly cost neutral which would make it worthwhile. If you don't have an 18mm zoom already, the kit is even more tempting.

(The AF means the lens is suitable for autofocus cameras, and the S means it has a SlientWave motor - that is it is the most advanced autofocus mechanism offered by Nikon. The VR stands for vibration reduction which helps to reduce camera shake and give sharper photographs._

Sample Nikon D90 video

Want to know what a D90 can achieve in video mode? The "Eiger Movie" is a good example.

D90 on Amazon

Be careful, the "Frequently Bought Together" is just advertising from Amazon and is not the discounted kit. If you want the other items then you are best looking for them separately as you may be able to get them more cheaply than going for the Amazon bundle. It's worth browsing through exactly what kits and offers are available. To assist I've linked the single lens kit with the 18-105mm AF-S VR lens.

Nikon D90 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 06/03/2012)

The 18-105mm lens bundled in this kit has a really good reputation.

Usually ships in 24 hours

Compare Prices with eBay

It's certainly worth comparing prices with eBay but sometimes the cheapest Nikon products offered on eBay are grey imports from other markets (eg Hong Kong). The camera itself should be identical (but double check there aren't regional variations if you go for an import) but the guarantee may not be valid. You may also have to pay import taxes. Unless the saving is very large it's usually best to stick with suppliers who are based in your country.

Again the biggest discounts will be on Nikon kits (or bundles which include kits) as they include a manufacturer's discount.

D90 Key Features by Nikon USA

Your Thoughts

What do you think of the Nikon D90 digital camera and my assessment of it?

Reply

jmsp206 Dec 26, 2010 @ 12:51 am | delete

I would love to update my camera!If and when I do I will keep in mind the Nikon D90.

Reply

camerasuggestions Dec 24, 2010 @ 11:34 pm | delete

I've purchased the Nikon D90 camera for a month now, and it's just what I want, taking amazing pictures of scenery and portrait.

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Oct 13, 2010 @ 11:56 am | delete

Thumbs Up!

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susannaduffy Jul 20, 2010 @ 3:26 pm | delete

I'll know what to look for now. I'm pretty hopeless with cameras but I like the sound of the Nikon D90

Reply

susannaduffy Jul 20, 2010 @ 3:26 pm | delete

I'll know what to look for now. I'm pretty hopeless with cameras but I like the sound of the Nikon D90