Very good AF system (accurate and fast).
Good matrix metering system (although not perfect).
Quite good design, solid.
D.o.F.preview.
MB-10 vertical grip.
Accepts MF lenses with metering.
Spot metering.

MF-26 back for some important functions (very expensive).
Only specific cable release (expensive).
No metering-mode indicator in the viewfinder.
AE lock.

The camera which pushed Nikon forwards, specially for its AF system, faster and more accurate than the F4, the flagship of the company.
The AF system is really good, very fast and accurate. It is no perfect, but remember this camera was launched in 1994...seven years ago!
So, F-5, F-100, Eos 3, Eos 1V...can be even faster
Matrix metering system, quite good although my machine produces slightly overexposured slides (about 1/3 EV).
Design and construction: very good, the camera fits quite well in the hands, specially with the MB-10 vertical grip (very nice accesory)which uses...AA batteries! Wow!
Design and construction: for me, it is a very solid and well constructed machine although I'm not a pro. May be the F-100 better built? I think so.
Now, the black clouds:
*MF-26 back: a very useful accesory but also very expensive (thanks, Nikon!)
*Cable release: only Nikon MC-30, a very important accesory, again very, very expensive (thanks again, Nikon!).
*Auto exposure lock: if your subject is situated out of the center of the viewfinder and you are using a semi-auto or auto exposure mode, you need to keep slided one button close to the LCD panel...not very practical!
*There is no metering-mode indicator in the viewfinder, so it is easy to forget a setting not desired!

Anyway, a camera which will not fail you even in the most dark situations, very nice machine.

Good job, Nikon!

Customer Service

No problems in three years.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F-70
Nikon F-601
Nikon F-301
Canon Eos 100

Solid feel
Depth of field preview
Ergonomic (for me)
Price

Heavy
Must have MF-26 for full capabilities
No mirror lock up

My biggest gripe is this great camera doesn't have a mirror lockup (MLU) feature. But on the other hand, neither does the F100, which cost about $400 more than the N90S. I was going after an F100 until I compared the features of the N90S to the F100. The differences were minute, especially for $400 more. I believe Nikon should really consider altering the F100 or N90S to have MLU because the N80 has it, but the N80 is lacking in areas the F100 or N90S excel. The N90S has a very solid feel to it, even though it lacks the alloy frame the F5 and F100 are built around. I purchased a Nikon neck strap before the camera came in the mail which was a big mistake. If you plan on carrying this camera, especially with a flash, around your neck you better get a strap with excellent padding. It is NO lightweight. The N90S feels very natural to me but it might be burly to someone with small hands. I had a Canon EOS-5 a couple of years ago and the biggest difference are these:
- The EOS-5 has a very fragile feel to it
- The EOS-5 had a whisper drive compared to the N90S's screaming drive. The N90S is very loud compared to the Canon
- The N90S has a Depth of Field preview which is handy
- The N90S can hit up to 4.3 fps with fresh batteries and shutter speeds above 1/250 compared to the EOS-5's 5 fps
- The N90S doesn't have a built-in flash unlike the EOS-5, but that's not necessarily a bad thing

The bottom line is that if you want all the snazzy features like MLU, depth of field preview, fast fps, high shutter speeds, etc., save your money and buy an F5 or EOS-1V. If your going to spend that much though, you might as well get the digital SLR. I'm just getting back into photography and I'm poor so I had to settle for the N90S. I wanted a Nikon because of their solid products and reputation and I'm not disappointed with this product at all. After I get back into photography full swing I'll probably upgrade to an F5 and use the N90S as a back up. I would recommend this camera to someone who has had experience with SLR's before and knows the process of photography beyond just point and shoot. I give it a value rating of 4 because it lacks MLU and only 4.3 fps compared to the cheaper EOS-5's 5 fps. I give it 5 overall because of the quality and because I have to validate spending $700 on it!

Customer Service

Haven't needed it, yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS-5

*Built like a tank
*Options
*F mount

*Auto bracketing non existent without expencive back
*AF hunts sometimes

First I have the N90, not the N90s. I got it with in three months of it introduction. Since then it has been in over 50 countries around the world and has never been babied. Takes great pictures. The metering is spot on. This camera with the MB-26 back is a wonderfly versital camera. I have banged it and tortured it, and it still works flawlessly. Along with my FA, it is the best camera I have ever owned.

Customer Service

Never had a problem

Similar Products Used:

Canon Elan IIE
Nikon 8008
Nikon FE
Nikon N70
Nikon FA

build quality, good af,
reliable AE, high flash
sync, shutter speed etc..

1 AF gunsight, need control back for multiple exp. $ auto bracketing, extremly
loud shutter, non AF with AF-S lenses, no custom settings, very loud rewind

it's agood camera but i'd expect more from a camera in this price range, though a serious contender with the vertical grip and control back, i think it just getting too old. gonna sell it soon

Similar Products Used:

fm2, f80, eos5

Quick Focusing, Great View finder

No mirror lock up

Easy to use, very accurate, If you can't make it to the F100 , well this one will do a good job for ya. Just not quite robust as the 100 , but alot less $$$.

Customer Service

Never Used

Similar Products Used:

N60, Canon AE1,

A bit old but GOOD AF, incl. predictive AF
Great build and ease of use
Fast motordrive (4.3 fps)
Accurate useful 3 metering modes (Matrix with 8 segments, Center weighted and spot).
Has most desirable pro features and other useful perks such as variable timer, DOF preview, quick servo mode change etc.

It's getting old in terms of comparable newer models now available. Lacks auto compensation (needs special back).
Too many bottons and dials to my taste

A mature, pro level camera with most features a pro will need. If you're shooting slide film in trickey situations you may miss the auto compensation feature (you need a special back).
I find it a great performer in terms of what's important to me: GREAT metering systems - very accurate and useful, The variable timer which help me get rid of the release cable if tripod mounted and the quite fast motordrive and continuous AF tracking mode - for action and wildlife. AF itself is a bit "oldie" by now but is still faster than many other models and is accurate.
Since the arrival of the F100 and the N80 prices dropped making it a "best value" Nikon.

Still - if you don't care much for plastic on your camera and don't need the fast 1/8000 sec. shutter you may want to look at the N80 which is more advanced, has a flash built in, better matrix meter and slightly faster AF. Its slower in shutter speeds but the price is way lower than the N90s.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N60, Nikon N50
Canon A2, Canon rebel g and 2000.

Well built
Value
Good amateur camera
Exellent flash interface
Good for eyeglass wearers
Tough

Not the latest in technology anymore.

This camera is a bargain. Don't get confused into thinking that the Nikon N80 is a better camera. It may have more whiz bang features but is no where near the camera that the N90s is. N90s is much better built. Gold contactors, sealing from the elements, better shutter.

It also focuses much faster than the N80. If the N80 is a replacement for the N90s, Nikon failed. So if you need a lighter camera with a built in flash buy the N80 but if you want a better long term investment that functions better than a F4, buy a N90s. As far as I'm concerned the N80 was built to compete with the cheesy Canon Elans and Rebels and there it does it's job well. But if you are, or are becoming a Nikon photography fan you will want to invest in the N90s. It will please you much better than the "consumer" class Nikons. I gave it only 4 stars in the overall rating only because Nikon makes the F5 which is the only 5 star camera for comparisons sake.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 6006, Olympus OM-1, OM-2, Om2s

Solid
Reliable
Durable

LOUD rewind
showing its age
need data back

I have used this camera for over 5 years, shooting thousands of rolls of film. It has proven to be a very durable and reliable camera, not so much as a hiccup in those years. My hand placement has worn out spots on the body over the years. Previously, I had been using a Pentax PZ-1 (another excellent choice, but a shortage of lens choices at that time forced me to trade it in.)

I mainly shoot outdoors, in all types of weather, in all climates. The N90S has proven itself repeatedly. Examples: in prolonged 110+ degree heat(Hermits Trail at the Grand Canyon), in below freezing temperatures (those wonderful snowstorms that visit the East Coast), in the rain, dust, etc.

Once I learned where the controls were, it became very easy to make adjustments as I needed to. I read some reviews about the shutter sticking, but I have never encountered this. The Matrix Metering works pretty good, and I rely on it when I need to grab some shots quickly. Autofocus is still as quick, and almost always dead-on (something about my aim being off..)

There are some things I wish it had:
Multiple exposures - Pentx had it but I need the data back for N90S
Multiple shots, first with 1/3 under exposure, second metered, third 1/3 over - this was a great feature of the PZ-1. I could take 3 rapid shots with the camera adjusting the metering.
Quieter film advance and rewind - the rewind is particularly noisy and gets only louder when indoors.

Overall,I have had a very satisfying experience with this camera, and would recommend it immediately to anyone with some experience in photography. I would not recommend this to a beginner/novice. Thats what the N60/65 is for.

btw, the price I paid is estimate, I don't remeber the exact price.

Customer Service

Never used

Similar Products Used:

Pentax PZ-1 (excellent)
Canono EOS Rebel (very cheesy, plasticy)

solid feel with grip

mirror jam( see bottom line)
no mirror lock
aperture select from ring, can't maintain aperture when using variable aperture zoom thus making studio light conditions difficult

i bought this camera second hand after hearing much abt the reliability of this camera and moving from manual to autofocus in nikon. after shooting less than a roll with it, the mirror jam and i have to off the camera and on it again to clear the problem. so i went back to the shop and got a refund. went to another shop and have my eyes set on a like new F90x. played with it and just before i was abt to pay for it, the mirror jam again. then the shop owner ( whom i already knew) said that this is a common fault for F90 cameras!!! i couldn't believe it. mirror jam is a common fault and worst of all, this time round he has to remove the battery pack(MB-10) to clear the fault. went home to verify this statement with nikon digest memebers and got a few reply that they have had the same problem and have to spend USD85 to change the shutter to solve the problem... parts only. truely dissapointed with nikon here.

Customer Service

never tried

Similar Products Used:

Pentax Z1
K1000
FE2
F80

Fast auto focus, excellent light meter and modes, high shutter speeds and flash sync, and has a very well balanced feel to it

The owner's lack of total knowledge on how to use every single feature, meter mode, or option available

It was time for me to get an autofocus. My eyes are getting bad and my doctor has no idea what a corrective eyepiece is. Sylvio's had an F4, N90s and others. The N90s felt good in my hands, it had a livable price range, and I got the body (used but in near perfect condition), 26 back, new Tamron 28-200 all for under $800 last year. I've used 6x7s, 645s, and various Nikon 35s. I love this body!

Without the manual I was able to use it immediately out of the store. Honestly I'll never use all the features, but what I do use works extremely well and has not let me down. I use this camera mostly for candid work while traveling with school groups, once even to shoot in an indoor concert hall with ISO 200 at maybe 1/2 sec @ f3.5 to end up with sellable 11x14 prints, camera perched atop my jacket on a railing. The camera was solid enough to give me a clean, vibration-free image. I'm a pro only because I make extra money selling my photographs, but I feel like a pro when I raise the camera up and say "hold it" and know that I have an image that is the best I could get with the enviornment that I'm in. I'm proud of my choice, even if it's an older model.

Customer Service

Never had a need to call; found everything I wanted to know via the www or forums!

Similar Products Used:

Should I have looked elsewhere?