Built-in Chromatic Aberration correction

Like its more expensive siblings, the D90 features Nikon's excellent Chromatic Aberration correction. It's odd that Nikon isn't shouting about this feature from the rooftops, since it makes more difference to final image quality than a couple of megapixels here and there (Perhaps because it implies that lenses are not always perfect?). Basically, the system is consistent and reliable enough that you never need worry about lateral Chromatic Aberration again, which is lucky, since there is no option to switch it off. Quite simply, every lens you own or plan to buy, instantly becomes better.

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To show its effects, here are two images shot with the 18-105mm VR lens that the D90 is currently bundled with. The out-of-camera JPEG files are shown alongside RAW versions of the same images processed in Nikon's Capture NX 2 software, using the most similar settings as possible. The two images have then been aligned and overlaid - roll your mouse over the JPEG crop to see the difference between the images highlighted. Frustratingly, the View NX software that comes with the camera cannot correct Chromatic Aberration, so RAW files converted through that program may be worse than the out-of-camera results. Thankfully the in-camera raw conversion will correct the problem.

RAW (NX 2, CA correction off) JPEG
100% crop from converted RAW file Crop from JPEG. Mouse over to see difference.
RAW (NX 2, CA correction off) JPEG
100% crop from converted RAW file Crop from JPEG. Mouse over to see difference.