Nikon D90 Review

Published Oct 13, 2008 | Richard Butler, Simon Joinson

1 Previous

2 Specifications

3 Next

Nikon D90 specifications


Price (body only)	• US: $ 999.95 • UK: £ 699.99 • EU: € 959.00
Price (with 18-105)	• US: $ 1299.95 • UK: £ 849.99 • EU: € 1164.00
Body material	Combination of aluminum alloy and plastic.
Sensor	• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor • 12.9 million total pixels • 12.3 million effective pixels • Supports high ISO sensitivities • High-speed data readout • Nikon DX-format sized CMOS sensor • Power-saving design
Dust Reduction System	• Image Sensor Cleaning • Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Image processor	Nikon EXPEED
A/D conversion	12 bit
Image sizes	• 4,288 x 2,848 (L) • 3,216 x 2,136 (M) • 2,144 x 1,424 (S)
File formats	• NEF (compressed RAW) • JPEG: Fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression • NEF (RAW) + JPEG • AVI M-JPEG • Up to 36 alphanumeric characters can be input using the camera monitor and multi selector (contained in Exif header)
Lens mount	• Nikon F mount with AF coupling and AF contacts • Approx. 1.5x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
Usable lenses	• DX AF Nikkor: All functions supported • Type G or D AF Nikkor: All functions supported (PC Micro-Nikkors do not support some functions) • Other AF Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported. • AI-P Nikkor: All functions supported except 3D Color Matrix Metering II • Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
Auto Focus	• 11 focus points (1 cross-type sensors) • Multi-CAM 1000 • AF working range: -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, normal temperature) • Contrast Detect in Live View (Tripod) mode
Lens Servo	• Single Servo AF [S] • Continuous Servo AF [C] • Manual focus [M], Electronic range finding supported • Focus Tracking automatically activated by subject's status in AF [A]
Focus Point	• Single point from 11 focus points • Center point narrow or wide zone • Liveview (Tripod mode): Contrast AF on a desired point anywhere within frame
AF Area Mode	• Single point AF • Dynamic Area AF • Automatic-area AF • 3D Tracking AF (11 points)
Focus Lock	Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
AF assist	AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1.6-9.8 ft.)
Exposure modes	• Program Auto [P] with flexible program • Shutter-Priority Auto [S] • Aperture-Priority Auto [A] • Manual [M] • Auto • Advanced Scene Modes (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portrait)
Metering	TTL full-aperture exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor • 3D Color Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); • Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 6, 8, or 10 mm dia. circle in center of frame • Spot: Meters approx. 2 mm dia. circle (about 2.0 % of frame) centered on selected focus point
Metering range	• 3D Color Matrix Metering: 0 to 20 EV • Center-Weighted Metering: 0 to 20 EV • Spot Metering: 2 to 20 EV • At normal temperature (20°C/68°F), ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens
Meter coupling	CPU (not AI)
Exposure lock	Locked using AE-L/AF-L button
Exposure bracketing	• 2 or 3 frames • 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV steps • ADL (Active D-Lighting) bracketing: 2 frames (one with ADL, one without)
Exposure compen.	• +/-5.0 EV • 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Sensitivity	• Default: ISO 200 - 3200 in 1/3 EV steps • Boost: 100 - 6400 in 1/3 EV steps
Shutter	• Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter • 30 to 1/4000 sec (1/3 or 1/2 EV steps) • Flash X-Sync: 1/200 sec • Bulb • Time (optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 required) • Release time lag Approx. 65 ms • Viewfinder blackout 120 ms • Tested to 100,000 exposures
DOF Preview	• Stop-down lens aperture by pressing button
Active D-Lighting	Can be selected from Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off
White balance	• Auto (420-pixel CCD, image sensor) • Presets (12) with fine tuning • Manual presets (five) • Color temperature in Kelvin (2500 - 10000 K) • White balance bracketing (2 or 3 frames in increments of 1, 2 or 3)
Picture Control	• Standard • Neutral • Vivid • Monochrome • Landscape • Portrait • Storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls
Image parameters	• Sharpening: Auto, 10 levels • Contrast: Auto, 7 levels • Brightness: 3 levels • Saturation: Auto, 7 levels • Hue: 7 levels • Quick Adjust: 5 levels (A multi-parameter adjustment) • High ISO Noise Reduction (High, Normal, Low, Off)
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Viewfinder	• Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder • Frame coverage Approx. 96% horizontal and 96% vertical • Magnification Approx. 0.94x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, –1.0 m^-1) • Eyepoint 19.5 mm (–1.0 m^-1) • Diopter adjustment –2 to +1
Focusing screen	• Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark II screen with focus frame • Superimposed on-demand grid lines over the viewfinder display. • "Vari-Brite" focus area display built in (The color used to highlight the active focus area (focus brackets) in the viewfinder display changes automatically in response to lighting conditions).
LCD monitor	• 3.0 " TFT LCD • Approx. 920,000 dots (VGA; 640 x 480 x 3 colors) • 170° viewing angle • 100% frame coverage • Brightness adjustment
Movie	• File format AVI (Motion-JPEG) • Image size (pixels) 640 x 424; 24 fps 320 x 216; 24 fps 1280 x 720; 24 fps • Compression: Motion-JPEG Audio Monaural on/off selection • Exposure: Determined with matrix metering utilizing output from the image sensor • Exposure lock available • Exposure compensation available in P, S, A, M modes • Maximum single clip length: 1280x720/ 5 minutes, others 20 minutes
LCD Liveview	• Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face priority is selected) • Face priority, wide area, normal area
Shooting modes	• Single frame • Continuous Low [CL]: 1 - 4 fps • Continuous High [CH]: 4.5 fps • Self-Timer • Delayed remote, quick response remote (optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3 required for remote shooting)
Self-timer	• 2, 5, 10, and 20 s
Flash	• Auto pop-up type (auto pop up in Auto, portrait, close-up, night portrait modes) • Guide no. 12/39 (ISO 100, m/ft.) or 13/43 with manual flash (ISO 100, m/ft.) • Guide no. 17/56 (ISO 200, m/ft.) or 18/59 with manual flash (ISO 200, m/ft.) • Sufficient to illuminate the picture angle of an 18mm lens
Flash control	• TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 • Auto aperture: Available with SB-900, SB-800 and CPU lens • Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22s • Range-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800
Flash Modes	• Auto, portrait, close-up - Auto and auto with red-eye reduction available with built-in flash - Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units • Night portrait - Auto slow sync and auto slow sync with red-eye reduction available with built-in flash - Slow sync and slow sync with red-eye reduction available with optional flash units • Landscape, sports - Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units • P, A- Fill-flash, rear-curtain with slow sync, auto slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction • S, M - Fill-flash, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction Front-curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction
Flash Accessory Shoe	ISO 518 standard-type hot shoe contact; Safety lock mechanism provided
Flash Sync Terminal	No
Flash compensation	• -3 to +1 EV • 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Creative Lighting System	• Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-R200 as remotes • Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400 • Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units
Playback mode	• Full-frame playback • Movie playback • Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback • Playback zoom (image size L up to approx. 27x, M up to approx. 20x, S up to approx. 13x) When one or more faces (up to 10) were detected with shooting, the faces are enclosed in white borders. When playback zoom is applied, different faces can be displayed by rotating the sub-command dial. • Slide show playback • Pictmotion • Histogram display • Highlights display • Auto image rotation • Image comment (up to 36 characters)
Retouch functions	D-Lighting, red-eye correction, trim, monochrome, filter effects, color balance, small picture, image overlay, NEF (RAW) processing, quick retouch, straighten, distortion control, fisheye
Languages	• Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) • Danish • Dutch, • English, • Finnish, • French, • German, • Italian, • Japanese • Korean, • Norwegian, • Polish, • Portuguese, • Russian, • Spanish • Swedish
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) Mini-B connector • PTP transfer protocol • NTSC or PAL video output • HDMI video out (version 1.3a, Type C mini connector provided) • Remote control / GPS terminal
Storage	• SD (Secure Digital) memory cards, SDHC-compliant
Power	• Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e (Approx. 850 shots, CIPA) • Included battery charger MH-18a • Optional AC adapter EH-5a/EH-5 • Optional Battery Pack MB-D80
Vertical Grip	• Optional MB-D80 multi-power battery pack
Dimensions	Approx. 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.)
Weight (no batt)	Approx. 620 g (1 lb. 6 oz.) without battery, memory card, body cap, or monitor cover
Operating environment	Temperature: 0 - 40 °C / 32 - 104 °F, Humidity: under 85% (no condensation)
Box contents	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio/Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-DC1 Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, LCD Monitor Cover BM-10, Software Suite CD-ROM (Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area)
Optional accessories	Remote Cord MC-DC2, GPS Unit GP-1, Photofinishing software Capture NX 2, AC Adapter EH-5/EH-5a, Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D80, Magnifying Eyepiece DK-21M, Eyepiece Correction Lens DK-20C, Eyepiece Magnifier DG-2, Eyepiece Adapter DK-22, Right-Angle Viewing Attachment DR-6, Semi-soft Case CF-D80, Wireless Remote Control ML-L3, Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15, Camera Control Pro 2

Tags: review, nikon

Prev page Next page

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Comments

All (1)


Just Posted! Our Nikon D90 review Oct 13, 2008	Nikon D90 plus hands-on preview Aug 27, 2008	Reviewed: Sony NEX-5N 16MP mirrorless camera Oct 4, 2011	Sony NEX-5N Review Oct 4, 2011

139	* This Week Through Your M4/3 2016.09.24 *
111	Question for FAS haters
96	K-1: for whom?
92	The image qualities of Sony vs Canon sensors
65	Translucent mirror of doom?
60	*This week with your a7x, 9/24/2016, part 1*
54	What if we DON'T want more megapixels?
49	Need a little help choosing our hiking camera. pix included
48	#300\|MONOCHROME THREAD\|POST YOURS 23sept-25sept-2016
42	For Vaughan B - this is what detail looks like
41	* Weekly Wildlife Thread 24th to 30th September 2016 *
39	M5 naysayers, educated opinions welcome
38	>>>Weekly Close Up (WCU)_23_September_2016_<<<
38	PART 2 This Week Through your m4/3 2016.09.25
37	EM1 II, recommended for pro video, are you kiddin....
37	Let's just keep it going
36	**Photo of the Week Sept. 23, 2016 - Sept. 30, 2016**
35	\) (/ Weekly "Is it ART? Thread 9/23 - 29 2016 \) (/
35	Give me some compelling reasons to upgrade from XT1 to TX2
33	X-T2 froze up at wedding.


Sadiqur_Rahman by Sadiqur Rahman from Ain't Going to Work on Maggie's Farm no More	Airborne by John Beavin from - How to respect the Flag and Anthem - (Portrait in Full Colours + A Border)