The Nikon D90 is one hell of a DSLR. When you consider that the image quality is comparable to the D300, then it’s clearly a smart choice for professionals who want to save a buck. It also makes an ideal choice as a backup camera. Factor in the D90’s ability to shoot 24 fps video and it’s a no-brainier for photojournalists. (Note: Canon jumped on the bandwagon, but Nikon was first.)

The D90 is fast, very responsive. Great build, feels substantial. Has a comfortable grip, well-placed controls, and a gorgeous 3? LCD monitor. No lag time when shooting RAW and JPEG files to the SDHC card.

I haven’t shot any videos yet, but from what I’ve heard it’s clear that the D90 doesn’t replace a camcorder. There are simply too many limitations, like not being able to use an external mic and being limited to shooting five minute clips. Panning without a tripod doesn’t cut it, either, unless you’re going for wobbly funhouse mirror effects.

That said, there are work-arounds for these issues. For example, if you want quality audio you can record your soundtrack independently with a digital audio recorder like the Edirol R-09.

It’ll be interesting to see what Nikon does with future DV-capable models.

I bought the D90 body without the kit lens and instead sprang for the 18-200mm AF-S DX VR zoom which adds considerable weight to the D90 body. I’ve ordered the MB-D80 battery pack which should balance the weight of the zoom.

The 18-200mm is not super fast (3.5 - 5.6) but fast enough. It’s an ideal walk-around lens, and a good choice if you don’t want to lug around two cameras or have to change lenses in the field.

The ISO range of the D90 is 100 to a whopping 6400.

There are plenty of features to be tested such as the Scene Recognition System, Live View, 3D focus-tracking, on and on,

Just my first impressions.

Video capacity is limited. No plug for an external mic.

The D90 offers superb picture quality, and the ability to shoot short HD movie clips. It was the first D-SLR to offer video. But it's not a camcorder, too many limitations, but a nice, flexible model for photojournalists.

sharpness, colors, built quality, LCD, GPS, battery life, price (is in euros BTW)

1600+ iso,

Brilliant machine

Customer Service

Not very happy from Nikon After Sales (took 20 days to replace a lens!)

Image qaulity,ISO performance,Uses the D80 accessories, function buttons, size, feel, and overall design. Price seems on par for what you get and the performance of this unit. I would recommend this to anyone looking to jump into the SLR game, It a great camera and value.

Video mode, no AF, depending on the file size you are shooting the camera can heat up and shut off, though this is a safety built in, who wants their camera heating up. Honestly most of us who pay for camera liek this want to capture still images and not video.

SD vs CF...Nikon make up your mind, one or the other, or two slots for either, or two slots for the same, but make up your mind.

I have had the D300 for almost a year,,,honestly I still prefer my D200 over that camera. I bought the D80 as a back up to my D200 and when Nikon released the 90 I decided to sell my D80 and replace it with the D90. I kept the vertical grip and placed it on the D90. My initial impression with this camera was it appeared to me that the image quality was slightly better than my D300, I placed my 18-200mm lens on this body and has been the only lens I have used on it thus far so everything is based on that combo.

I prefer the dedicated buttons on the 90 that would have been nice to have them in the same place on the 300. I do not use the live view alot but have found it nice on a few occassions, macro stuff and holding over my head, cumbersome but doable. Video mode, neat, but dont like it, if I wanted a camcorder I would by a camcorder, so I really do not base my review on the fact the camera can capture video, give it time and they all will.

Image qaulity and exposure are excellent versus the D300 where in bright light I have to bump the exposure comp down, this can get annoying at times. Noise at higher IS0s appears to be on par or a little better than the 300 to me. I have yet to read anywhere that Nikon says these are the same sensors, 300vs 90, I am not sure but if they are then if I was jumping into the SLR gane I would snag a 90 and use the rest for glass, the glass is what counts anyway and in a year or so the 90 will be old hat with something else taking its place, I have learned a lesson as I have progressed through Nikons SLR lineup over the years. People are going to yell at me, say I am crazy, whatever, my D200 still gets it done, and does it very well. I am skipping the next generation, I will wait for the D400's replacement if a 400 comes out. I sat at my computer one day and looked at hundreds of images I have taken with all these cameras, yeah there is a differance, but it is close.

Sure if you are shooting low light and shoot it a lot, the 300,90,700 are going to serve you well, I fell into the little cycle of hype, Nikon D3X, around 8000 dollars, whats next..My D200 is 10mp, I have never needed any larger, not for what I do, save the cash and get some glass,

The menu though not as detailed as the D300, which is to be expected, still is easily navigated, set, and has some cool effects you can add to the image in camera.

I could go on and on about features of this camera, but you can find those on the net, I suppose the purpose of writing a review is so ones looking to buy a camera can read and get a feel for how people use them think.

If I knew what I knew now I owuld have skipped the the D300 and opted for this camera instead, I still have my D200 and it serves me well. Based on the image quality and other features when I am using the 90 it seems like I am using an updated user friendly version of the D300.

Customer Service

Have not had to use it

Similar Products Used:

D70,D80,D200,D300,FujiS3

Ease of use
Quality of construction
battery life
works with virtually any Nikon lense
flexibility and internal features

Would like more frames per second

I’ve had my D90 for about a month now, with the packaged 18-105mm lense. I do a lot of news photos and for that purpose, this rig is rock solid in nearly all situations. The 105mm zoom gets you close and if not, the 12.3 mp is so clear, you can photoshop to get closer. Not my favorite method, so I generally carry a few lenses in my bag.
For outdoor sports in good light, I love this camera! Outside, for most casual photographers, just set it on the sports setting and shoot away. This camera is smart enough that you don’t have to think much about it in this mode, which is the hallmark of a fine camera. Remember, you’re the photographer, not the camera. For those of us who like to fiddle with things, this baby has got loads of high dollar toys.
Without flash, which is the ONLY way to shoot sports, it will shoot around 4 fps. If you are ever going to shoot any sport inside, get a faster lense. 2.8’s are more expensive, but it’s still cheaper than unusable shots. Again, inside with a proper lense, the D90 is a fantastic camera in bad light, especially considering it’s price. I carry a 2.8 24-70 and a 2.8 70-200 when I’m shooting indoor sports like basketball, volleyball or wrestling. The reason you don’t use flash shooting indoor sports is simply a matter of distracting players. I shoot from the floor and flash isn’t practical. Most high school gyms use the cheapest lights they can get, so prepare to experiment a lot to find what works. Get a good size memory card and fire away.
It has some very user friendly features, such as the giant LCD screen and well laid out controls. A great feature that no one has talked about is the battery life. On a D90, it’s superior to anything in it’s class. This is nice because I don’t need the powerpack bolted on the body, which adds a ton of weight. That means a lot on a long shoot.
For the features, quality, ease of use and price, the D90 is a great tool. It gives me pro quality abilities without spending thousands.

Similar Products Used:

Fuji S2 Pro
Fuji S5 Pro
Nikon D3

Where do I start?.
Build quality is superb and well suited for this level of camera.
Usual intuitive Nikon ergonomics make it an uncomplicated pleasure to use.
Lithium battery lasts "forever" even when using live view and video occasionally.
3" lcd screen is almost 'too good' to be true,fine detail can be seen at all zoom ratios.
New CMOS sensor has the lowest noise levels I've seen since the D3/700.
High ISO performance is incredible compared to earlier models(ie D200 etc).
New autofocus-A function works well-nice addition.
Live view included great for macro work.
Lightweight is a blessing for wedding photographers and extreme sports junkies alike making this the camera of choice for a large range of photographers and it's size favors a smaller bag/backpack.
Increased frame rate(4.5/FPS) is more useable for sports/high speed photography and now the AF system is capable of enabling this speed too.
Price is low for this level of features/functionality/quality.

Plastic body chassis.
(an aluminium alloy chassis would have been nice).

Contrast/phase detection AF in live view is slow.

No autofocus in video mode.(again I believe the intended use for video is artistic and not photojournalistic therefore an acceptable omission here-D90x?).

Exposure settings in video mode must be done BEFORE selecting video mode and can't be changed on the run.(see above).

This new Nikon is "BRILLIANT" what a step up into a new generation of digital imaging!.The improvements over previous models at this level and above are numerous and at a price point well below what you'd expect for this calibre of camera.
A lot has been said regards the video function of the camera and I believe there is a fundamental misunderstanding of it's intended purpose in this camera.The video function is perfect for making 'artistic' fine art(if you like) videos and not the semi-photojournalistic type of vids normally associated with video cams.
Using the video function is not a quick and easy matter of press the button and 'go',it requires time and thought and artistic intention(same as hollywood movie making styles),but if you use the focus pulling abilities of your Nikkor 'fast' lenses and careful consideration it can give you the ability to make amazing video grabs.If you are after a handycam this won't do the job especially where fast movement is concerned but I don't believe it was designed with that style of filming in mind.
Overall an outstanding piece of equipment!. Thanks again to Nikon for coming up with the goods yet again.

Customer Service

Never needed it in over 20 years of using Nikon equipment.

Similar Products Used:

D200.

Improved high ISO performance over the D300.

Keeps the same battery grip as the D80.

Use the larger and clearer LCD display that is a huge improvement over earlier ones.

A HD (720P) movie mode, which allows using Nikon lenses and superb low light performance, but see below.

SDHC card compatible.

Aside from the movie mode it's another DX Nikon.

The movie mode is really a tacked on accessory, and it wasn't explained very well in the manual how to use it. I finally figured out you go into Live View, prefocus the camera, and then press OK. The focus is stopped while filming, so any zooming or focusing has to be done manually.

The camera has to be moved as little as possible, as any side to side movement will cause the movie to "wiggle," and if it's moved back and forth quickly you'll get a nice waving motion that'll make you seasick. This is because the movie frames are being scanned off the CCD and can't keep up with rapid movement. This is a big problem that Nikon should have addressed before putting this camera on the market.

Used within it's limits the movies can be amazing, with the ability to use interchangeable lenses shots can be achieved that formerly required expensive professional video cameras. Independent movie makers, artists, and generally talented people will have a lot of fun with this camera, but the average user stepping up from a compact camera will likely see the movie mode as a step backward.

However, all the interest in this camera may be short lived, as everything I've heard and seen about the upcoming Canon 5D Mark II is that it will do everything the Nikon can do at a higher resolution and better quality.

The D90 is a mixed bird. Market wise it replaces the D80, yet offers slightly better image quality than the D300. In many ways it's a step ahead, and is the first DSLR on the market to offer a movie mode.

Anyone who's used the most recent Nikon DSLR's will be at home on the D90, and it even uses the same battery grip as the D80. It's main advances as a still camera over the D80 and D200 is a higher burst rate, better high ISO performance, and the much anticipated movie mode. However, the movies may be disappointing.

Customer Service

Have not used

Similar Products Used:

D50, D700, D200

The strengths are many:
1. Live View mode for shooting over your head, ground level, or around a corner.
2. new CMOS sensor with EXPEED processor equals less grain at higher ISOs
3. 5 minutes of Hi-def video in case you see Bigfoot.
4. Built in filters and active D-lighting (brings out shadows, increases dynamic range)
5. Uses the same batteries and battery pack as the D80
6. More menu options than the D80
7. More megapixels on a decent sensor!
8. Features a quieter (sexier sounding) shutter than the hand-claps from Sonys and Pentax.
9. VR lens included in kit, and it is normally a $400 lens!
10. 2% spot meter! Where's that on a Canon? Theirs is 3.8%!

1. Only 5 minutes segments of Hi-def video if you see Bigfoot.
2. Live View has to get the mirror out of the way for use. When you snap the shutter, there is noticable shutter lag, but only when using live-view.
3. Auto modes won't let you customize all aspects, like meter type or focus point.
4. So $1300 doesn't include a 1GB SD card? What, Nikon's buying power can't pick them up for $5 and include them in the kit?
5. 12MP: Canon's comparable new 50D has 15MP, Sony has one coming out with 24MP!

I bought the D90 kit to replace my D80 at weddings. Yes, I'm a wedding photographer. So why would a pro, who can write off any camera in his taxes, settle for a mid-grade camera? Size, weight, feel, and reasonable costs on accessories (MB-D80 battery pack is half the price of the one for the D300)! Prosumer cameras also seem to have far more usable whistles and bells.

Nearly two years ago, I chose the D80 over the D200, because the D200 felt (and weighed) much like a brick. When shooting a wedding, one has the camera around one's neck for 6 hours, so I really didn't want to add any chiropracters to my contact list. Besides, I baby my gear, and I don't need it constructed from Adamantium. Leave that for the paparazzi. The mid-grade line is also more user-friendly, with wonderful toys like Night-mode, perfect for capturing the newlyweds against white christmas lights with a star filter on the lens. The D90 has a cross filter in it's software! Now I don't have to keep that filter in my pocket, which tends to blur and halo the photos anyway. With active D-lighting, I have wider dynamic range than ever before.

The biggest reason for me to upgrade from the D80 was the noise reduction from switching to a CMOS sensor. Don't get me wrong, the noise is still there at ISO 800 with 65% unsharp masking, but it is a bit smoother and more natural than the D80, far less noticable. You have to look harder to find it, and no one will ever see it on their prints anyway.

The second reason for upgrade, is the 3-inch LCD screen, with Live-View capability. I sometimes shoot over the heads of the crowds at receptions, and with Live-View, I can now see what I'm framing, even if from a sharp angle. It is also easier for me to see if anyone blinked in that last group shot. The bride can squint a lot less now to view the photos on the 3-inch screen. NOTE: Set that LCD to -2 in the menu, if you want a closer representation of what you captured. That seems to go for most Nikon SLRs. While you are in the menu, increase the sharpening by a notch or two.

Video? Well, useful I suppose, but if video is what you are into, it won't replace a 29 frame-per-second video camera. However, if I find myself shooting nature photos in the woods of Washington state, and see Bigfoot, I will thank the makers for the Hi-def video option!

What would I change? How about a Custom setting on the Mode Dial? Portrait Mode is all well and fine, but you can't set it to center spot focus, or spot meter mode. Nor can you limit the auto-ISO maximum. I'm sorry, but I don't see myself choosing ISO 3200 very often, on anyone's camera. I emailed Nikon about it, and they emailed back within 8 hours, with a work-around: Set the camera to Aperature Priority (which I usually use anyway), set the NEW Picture Control to Portrait, and then cutomize everything I've mentioned so far! Now if I could just save it as a separate custom setting on the Mode Dial...

Unlike Canon, Nikons have a better, tighter spot meter, traditional names for their controls, and controls in places that make sense, like the On/Off switch next to shutter, rather than the back 40. I've slept in the Canon camp for years, but switched to Nikon when Canon bacame too cheap to include spot meters on $1000 Rebels and $1500 20Ds. When you Photograph a white-veiled bride against white backlit windows, only a Nikon 2% spot meter will do.

In conclusion: sharpen the photos a notch or two in the menu, lower the LCD intensity to -2, and it will be an awesome, easy to use camera that won't break your back or your credit line.

Customer Service

I emailed Nikon with a question about custom menus, and they answered back in a few hours, on a Saturday! Thanks Nikon!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D50
Nikon D70
Nikon D80

1) 12MP - Kind of like the street racer's rule: "You can't beat cubic inches".
The D70's crops very quickly ran out of pixels. Not so with the D90 crops.

2) The three inch display screen - Unlike the D70 screen, its actually usable outdoors. You must see one of these displays.

3) Better focus ability - Better than the D70 but they held back a bit from the D300's
screen full of focus points.

4) Multiple (up to 3, with compensation) - Nice feature. But I was hoping for time lasp.

1) Adobe doesn't have an ACR for it yet. Is this because Nikon tries to sell more of its poor software by not using any RAW standard and making everyone else scramble to catch up?

2) Live View - This would be a very nice feature if the mirror would stay up when an exposure is made. Maybe Nikon wanted to save something for the D90S.

3) D-Movie - Well if I put the 50mm F1.4 on it, set it on the tripod, manual focus, and
push the 'OK' button, the resulting MPEG is viewable and it would be fun to play with 'pulling focus' but then I would need to go under a hood outside.

4) Strap - For your 1000 USD you get a 4 USD camera strap without swivels.

5) Viewfinder - After 25 years, the F3HP still has a better viewfinder.

This is a step up from our very old (for a DSLR) D70 with 15K clicks on its odometer. So far, I like the DSLR improvements. I'm not sure how often I will use the video.

Similar Products Used:

Canon F1, Nikon: S2, F3HP, D70, and D200