Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1934 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Nikon
• Model: D90 18-105 VR
• Released on: 2008-09-20
• Dimensions: 4.06" h x 5.20" w x 3.03" l, 1.37 pounds
• Display size: 3

Features

• Nikon proudly presents the D90! The D90 boasts a powerful 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, afantastic Expeed image processor and an amazing sensitivity of up to ISO 6400. You'll be able to take great photosin low lighting conditions without any loss in resolution, and view what you'reshooting before and after taking the photo on its easy-to-read, 3" LCD screen.The Live View mode means you can focus in on your scene directly on the screen,while scene and face recognition technologies ensure you never
• miss a thing. The D90 is also equipped with a high definition video mode, which is rare for aproduct in this category, as well as a host of image editing functions so youcan add your own personal stamp to all your creations. Like all the cameras inits manufacturer's product catalogue, the Nikon D90 hasa sturdy, lightweight aluminium and plastic casing, in addition to a burst modeof 4.5 frames per second! The D90 issupplied here with a compact 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED VR lens with a built-in V
• stabiliser that compensates for low aperture, reducing the risk of blur. Plus,the range of this lens - equivalent to 27-157.5mm on traditional cameras -covers a wider area to shoot sweeping landscapes, sporting events anddocumentaries. This lens even includes an aspheric lens with an ED coating andan SWM autofocus for improved focusing and image reproduction. The Nikon D90 was crowned "Best Digital SLR AdvancedCamera 2009" at the TIPA Awards.

Manufacturer's Description

The D90 – designed to fuel your passion for photography.
The D90 fuses technology from Nikon’s flagship digital SLRs with an array of sophisticated functions to help you achieve superior results. Its 12.3 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor and EXPEED image processing system offer outstanding image quality across a wide ISO light sensitivity range. Live View mode lets you compose and shoot via the high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor, and an advanced Scene Recognition System and autofocus performance help capture images with astounding accuracy. Movies can be shot in Motion JPEG format using the innovative D-Movie function. The camera’s large image sensor ensures exceptional movie image quality and you can create dramatic effects by shooting with a wide range of interchangeable NIKKOR lenses, from wide-angle to macro to fisheye, or by adjusting the lens aperture and experimenting with depth-of-field. The D90 – designed to fuel your passion for photography.

	D-Movie – a new shooting function Worlds First D-SLR Movie – D-Movie A new idea for D-SLRs, the D90 offers a movie function, allowing you to shoot movies in three different motion JPEG formats: 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels and 1,280 x 720 pixels. Now you can capture life’s moving moments with added drama by using many of Nikon’s NIKKOR lenses, including the AF DX Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED and the Micro-NIKKOR lenses. The shallow depth of field can give your movies a more creative and emotional impact. An additional benefit is the D90 image sensor, which is much larger than a typical camcorder for higher image quality and exceptional high ISO performance during low-light shooting.  New Advanced Scene Modes When you’re not sure which camera settings are appropriate, simply rely on the Advanced Scene Modes. Just turn the mode dial to the appropriate icon: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports or Night Portrait. Unlike traditional scene modes, the D90 will automatically optimize the exposure, image processing, Active D-Lighting, and Picture Control to get the most out of your subject matter. What’s more, the D90 has exceptional low-noise performance and accurately adjusts the camera settings whether VR (Vibration Reduction) is activated or not, so you can expect beautiful, crisp images, even in many low-light scenes.
	Improved auto focus performance The D90 demonstrates amazing autofocus accuracy by utilizing color and brightness information from its 420-pixel RGB sensor. When shooting in Auto-area AF mode, the camera quickly focuses on the main subject by detecting foreground, background and subject position. When using 3D-tracking (11 points) mode, the camera uses your subject’s color and brightness information to keep it in sharp focus as you change the composition.
	High Image Quality Newly Developed Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor The D90 incorporates a newly developed DX-format CMOS image sensor with technology directly inherited from the D300, Nikon’s DX-format flagship. With its 12.3 effective megapixels and extraordinarily high signal-to-noise ratio, the D90 delivers low-noise images with detail and tonal gradation beyond your expectations, while Nikon’s Integrated Dust Reduction System works to free image-degrading dust particles from the sensor’s optical low-pass filter.
	Expeed Nikon’s comprehensive EXPEED technology is engineered to make the most of the sensor’s rich, 12.3-megapixel data. The result — color, detail and high-speed processing inspired by the groundbreaking D300. The D90’s image-processing engine produces high-resolution pictures at remarkable speeds, better enabling high-speed continuous shooting. EXPEED also contributes to the outstanding performance of other powerful features, including Live View and the new Face Detection System.
	ISO 200 - 3200 The D90 gives you the freedom to shoot in a remarkably wide variety of lighting conditions, including dimly lit scenes, without worrying about image-degrading noise. ISO can be raised as high as Hi 1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) or lowered to Lo 1 (ISO 100 equivalent).
	Picture Control System Nikon’s Picture Control System allows you to customize the look and mood of your images. Choose from six settings: Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Monochrome and the newly added Portrait and Landscape. Try using the Quick Adjust* function to easily make further adjustments according to your needs and preferences, then save the settings as Custom Picture Controls.
	Advanced Functions
Scene Recognition System with the Face Detection System First introduced on the D3 and D300 flagship cameras, Nikon’s breakthrough Scene Recognition System is also featured in the D90. This unique technology utilizes a 420-pixel RGB sensor to analyze immense amounts of scene and color information in order to understand what the camera is about to shoot. Milliseconds before the shutter is released, the camera optimizes the autofocus, auto exposure, i-TTL control and white balance. The D90 also uses Nikon’s new Face Detection System to render human faces with a newfound sharpness and accuracy.
	Other features include: Sophisticated Auto Exposure Nikon’s 3D Color Matrix Metering II became one of the most highly acclaimed metering systems by delivering consistently well-balanced exposures — even in lighting conditions that confuse other systems. Further extending its exposure capability, Nikon’s Scene Recognition System evaluates each scene’s highlights, delivering even more light metering precision. Moreover, the D90 detects faces when using face priority AF, giving you ideal exposures of your human subjects. Incredibly Accurate Auto White Balance Auto white balance combines with Nikon’s Scene Recognition System to analyze each scene’s light sources, cross-referencing this information with 5,000 actual picture data examples from over 20,000 images in its onboard white balance database. Even under mixed lighting or difficult light sources like mercury vapor lights, the D90 calculates an ideal white balance for remarkably faithful colors. Playback Zoom Utilizing information from the new Face Detection System, the D90 detects up to ten human faces during playback. Select one face and the D90 zooms in for faster focus confirmation. Versatile, practical 11 point AF System Thanks to Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module, the D90’s 11-point AF system has fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame with the most sensitive AF sensor operating from the center. In addition, the D90 has versatile AF-area modes to handle most shooting situations. The center focus point can be switched from normal to wide according to the movement of the subject. Large bright viewfinder features 96% frame coverage The D90 has a precise eye-level pentaprism viewfinder with approx. 96% (centered) frame coverage and an easy-to-view 19.5mm eyepoint (at -1.0 m-1), so photographers can concentrate on capturing the moment. The built-in 16-frame grid display can be activated to align the horizontal and vertical lines in your image or assist in more pleasing compositions. 3-in., 920-dot, high-density colour LCD The D90’s 3-in., approx. 920k-dot LCD monitor provides unprecedented quality of image display. A wide 170-degree viewing angle makes it easy to confirm focus after shooting or during Live View. Quick responses and shooting at 4.5 frames a second The D90 captures crucial moments thanks to its impressive 0.15-second start-up time, 65-millisecond shutter-release time lag (CIPA standard) and ability to shoot at 4.5 frames a second for up to 100 shots*. *Normal-Large image setting, using a Panasonic Pro HIGH SPEED 2 GB SD memory card. Proven Endurance: Resiliant shutter units Reliability is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. That’s why Nikon subjected numerous D90 shutter mechanisms to grueling 100,000-cycle shutter-release tests with the unit fully assembled in the camera. Built-in, pop-up flash commands Advanced Wireless Lighting The D90 is equipped with Nikon’s i-TTL flash control, renowned for consistently accurate and balanced flash exposures. The built-in flash has an 18mm lens coverage and works as a wireless commander, controlling up to two independent groups of an unlimited number of remote Speedlights and providing incredible creative lighting control — on location or in the studio. Intelligent Power Management Because of the D90’s highly efficient energy-saving design, approx. 850 pictures can be taken on a single charge of the Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e. (CIPA standard, with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, with 50% of pictures taken with flash)

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

Top of Its Class
This is a superb camera that I have been happily shooting on since its release, and given the chance again now, it is still the camera I would choose. Why only four stars then? Let me explain.
The background to this camera is what makes it so great. They incorporated many of the features from the more expensive D300, and managed to fit it and more into its predecessor's, the D80, body. This includes most importantly the sensor in the camera. The sensor in the D90 is superb, and the 12 MP's are more than adequate for prints A2 size (this is the largest I have gone, but I am sure you can go bigger). Better than this is the noise handling of the sensor. The default setting is ISO 200, but the camera is perfectly usable up to ISO 1600, with very little noise present, and it is expandable beyond that. This gives really high quality pictures even in very dim conditions without the need for flash.
The shape and feel of the camera are great as well. It just fits and all of the buttons are exactly where they should be. This is really something you have to try for yourself holding it. The viewfinder is also just so big (96% coverage), and the weight of the camera is balanced without it being heavy.
These are the major things that set it apart, but you really begin to notice the small things the more you shoot with it. The top down display gives you all the information in a really nice and compact way. This small display is also the reason the battery life is so great, as you do not need the brilliant 3" screen every time you change a setting. It is possible to go on about the positives for a long time, but there are some drawbacks to keep in mind.
First of these is the video. Don't get me wrong the video in many ways is brilliant (first time seen on DSLR, and it is high definition 720p.) HOWEVER, you get a phenomenon called a rolling shutter, which gives the images a jelly like appearance(it wobbles if you move quickly). It is therefore really only suited to being kept on a tripod and everything moving in the frame rather than moving the camera. The sound is also only in mono and is not the best quality, and you have to manually focus during the video (though with some practice this is not too hard).
The other main thing while looking at this camera is that it is only an "advanced amateur" camera, and whilst it borrows heavily from the D300 it is not a D300 in a smaller body. The D300 still maintains a better build quality, better auto-focus (with proper tracking for sport), a higher frames per second, and a better processor giving higher quality pictures, and correspondingly it is matched with a higher body only price tag.
In saying all of that, this camera will be more than adequate for the majority of us, and you will love it if you use it. Leaving it on full auto and shooting will leave you happy, but it has so many options that you can tailor it to specifically suit your style, and the way you want to use it. Also don't forget that the sound of the shutter (actually the mirror rotating up) is addictive satisfyingly solid. For this price there is no better camera.

Most fun I have ever had with a camera
I am a professional photographer but to be frank you can't really lug around a D3 on holiday - too big and conspicuous. The D90 with the 18-105 VR lens is compact and light enough to carry around all day. It may have a plastic body against the D3, D3X, D300s and D700's magnessium but that really should not deter you.

I would say that you MUST read the manual that comes with the camera to get the best out of the camera. Yep I appreciate no one does read the manual but if you do you will be well rewarded and understand what excellent value for money the camera is. I believe that the sensor is the same as the D300 but you get it at a great price about 1/2 of the cost of the original D300.

Focusing is so swift and sharp and I reckon the images I get from this lens is better than those I get from my D3 with a 80-200 f2.8 lens.

I love the Live View option with video and though I recall complaints about the lack of autofocus I really did not have a problem shooting movies with the camera. Audio id excellent too and this camera gives you the best of both worlds, movies and stills.

I would add that if you can watch Laurie Excell's online seminar at Kelby Training which covers in about 60 minutes the most useful controls of the camera, then I recommend that as a great way to get to know your camera.

Great Mid-Range DSLR with Added Bonus of HD Video
As a DSLR newbie I thought long and hard about my purchase i.e. Canon/Nikon/Sony, lenses in future, accessories etc. and eventually settled for the D90 VR Kit.

After a month of casual use familiarising with the innumerable settings I have to say I am hugely impressed with the user-friendly design and image quality. The default settings are sensible and capture great images, but when you want to take control the camera allows you to do so with minimal fuss. As a beginner I especially liked the info button which explains the various menu options in more detail.

The LCD screen offers amazing clarity with 4x the resolution of most of its nearest price point rivals, making the live view option a real advantage when composing images. The only issue I found with this was the lack of a live histogram to check exposure but as this can be viewed after capture perhaps more an inconvenience than a real problem.

The kit lens provided is great for most general scenarios offering acceptable wide angle and zoom options but be aware that for Macro photography or sports for example you will need to expand your lens set and invest in a proper flashgun and tripod etc etc so if you're on a limited budget consider a cheaper body and invest in the glass instead.

HD Video is also a nice option but since there's no autofocus and it only receives mono sound the usability is limited for advanced shooting. But considering there is only one other DSLR camera which currently offers HD video (and that's a Pro level Canon comfortably costing four figures) you have to recognise this is an added bonus rather than a disappointment.

On the software side this package is a bit of a let down. Nikon do not provide their own full image editing program in the same vein as Canon, and the file transfer tool was clunky to install and didn't even recognise my camera as a device. Coupled with the baffling decision to not allow the D90 to be recognised as a USB flash device, I was left having to buy a card reader to transfer data. This wasn't actually a bad idea anyway, as I find this method much more user friendly. As an existing Photoshop CS3 user and with my card reader costing just £15, I hardly felt the impact of the sub-par software, but it's a consideration if on a budget. Also note that Adobe RAW support only exists on Photoshop CS4 for the D90, so if using a previous version like me, you'll need a .dng converter which, fortunately, is free from Adobe.

Overall, the minor niggles don't come close to detracting from the quality of the main product.