Nikon D90

Reviews

Review Index – (updated 03 August’09)

Camera Labs (Low noise as compared to the Sony Alpha A380)
“At 200 ISO the D90 remains almost 100% clean, but the Sony sample is already showing very subtle signs of noise artefacts, while again remaining softer overall. With the sensitivity increased to 400 ISO, the patchy artefacts of the Sony have become more apparent, and while pixel-peepers will notice slight textures on the D90 crop, it’s much preferred overall.”

Neutralday
“It’s hard to say enough good things about the D90, and if you can’t tell already, I came away quite impressed with this consumer priced DSLR camera that offers professional level results. There’s much to complement here, from extensive customization options and intuitive interface, to practically perfect handling, the D90 is jam packed with features and capabilities bound to please both beginners looking to move up, and experienced shooters looking for an affordable DSLR camera with few compromises.”
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Photography Review
“I have no reservations recommending the Nikon D90 to those looking to upgrade from a point-and-shoot or buy a backup for DSLR body for their Nikon system. For those choosing between the D90 and D300 – unless you need the D300’s all-metal, weather/dust sealed body or the longer-rated shutter, I’d recommend the D90 instead. The image quality is just as good and you can buy two D90 bodies for about the cost of one D300. Or put your savings into a pro lens or Speedlight flash.”

MacWorld
“While the D90’s video capability tends to draw the most attention, it’s important not to forget that it shoots exceptional still images, and scores over the D80 with its high ISO performance. The lower ISOs are mostly unchanged because they were already so noise-free, but the higher ISOs (1600 and up) are definitely cleaner, making the D90 an exceptional low-light camera.”
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Photocrati
“During extensive nature, action, travel and portrait photography, the D90 proved to be unusually fast, reliable and versatile. In terms of image quality, it was competitive with more expensive cameras. Aside from its numerous capabilities, this 12.3 megapixel model is also compatible with a vast range of accessories: most of the same types of optional extras available for professional cameras. All of that combines to make this a “best value” DSLR in my book.”

Buy-n-Shoot
“Overall, this camera is comfortable to handle and straightforward to use (given the appropriate level of DSLR knowledge) with stunning image quality making it well worth the investment.”
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Digital Photography School
“There are few cameras that can match the excellent optical and LCD viewing options of the D90. It has excellent image capture quality both in colour quality, dynamic range and resolution. If you want to shoot at ISO 400 and much higher, go ahead … this one’s a low light leader.”

PCAdvisor
“The Nikon D90 does, however, come with an in-camera retouch menu, continuous shooting of up to 4.5fps and 11-point auto focus. Its results are sharp and naturalistic, with any telltale grain almost invisible at its maximum ISO6400 setting.”
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Photoxels
“The Nikon D90 DSLR has lots of exposure flexibility and gives excellent image quality up to ISO 800. Higer ISO images are also relatively quite low in noise and very usuable. An advanced and knowledgeable photographer will be able to use RAW file format and noise reduction software to tweak out the best of higher ISO images. The Nikon D90 is a dream come true for the enthusiast: excellent image quality with low noise at high ISOs, instant response, and excellent handling.”

NeoCamera
“This is an exceptional DSLR. Image quality is great, with a 12 megapixels sensor capable of large prints up to ISO 1600 and even small prints at ISO 6400. The Nikon D90 always remains responsive with a very short shutter lag, perfect for candid and street photography.”

Photozone
“The HD video functionality of the Nikon D90 is surely only the beginning of upcoming video functions within DSLRs.
However, the AF in live mode isn’t convincing and the x-sync is a tad slow. We would have wished that Nikon included weather sealing for tough outdoor conditions, but you can’t have it all relative to the very competitive pricing.”

Shutterbug
“The Nikon D90 is going to change the face of digital capture and redefine what every new D-SLR must be and accomplish in the future. This is already apparent with Canon’s photokina launch of the full-frame, video capturing EOS 5D Mark II, whose body (only) is twice the price of the D90 and AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm lens.”

StevesDigicams
“The Nikon D90 is an amazing model. Not only will this camera confidently represent Nikon’s mid-level dSLR offerings, but it’s sure to set the tone for this category with excellent image quality, underrated burst performance, and plenty of Custom Settings.”

PCAuthority
“It works remarkably well, and JPEGs come out with very little colour fringing, essentially giving the stock lens a software upgrade. Autofocus is faster than the D80, too, although we found the autofocus point dancing around too readily in the default AF-A mode.”
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Digital Photography School
“The Nikon D90 packs a lot into a well balanced, attractive package. While I have noted some quirks of the camera, I’d use one in a heartbeat if I had more Nikon lenses. It’s a great combination building on Nikon’s excellent photo quality with the addition of High Definition video and some very well thought out photographic features.”

RegHardware
“Colour, contrast, resolution are excellent under a wide range of conditions. The AF system quickly locks onto a subject and there’s also a 3D AF tracking system, which works well, although like all auto systems, it can get caught out on occasions. But what really floored us was the performance at high ISO speeds, and even shots taken at ISO 3200 suffered from relatively little noise.”
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Time Magazine
“It’s two digital cameras in one, and that’s what makes this the first camera you should consider if you’re ready for a hefty upgrade.”

Paul Stamatiou
“The core still photography utility is fantastic and makes the D90 a great platform for any amateur photographer. Pick up a nice lens and filter and you’ll be very happy. That being said, I recommend you buy the D90 body alone and pick out your own lens.”
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PCWorld
“With its improved LCD, slightly larger frame of view, dust-cleaning sensor, enhanced 3D 11-point autofocus, an optional GPS attachment, and the ability to make a video here and there, the D90 definitely has an array of interesting features. And simply as a camera, the D90 turns out some of the best results you can buy.”
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Diggpoint
“The automatic Chromatic Aberration correction is just one example – without ever having to think about it, it instantly improves the results of every JPEG, regardless of the lens used.”

Popular Science (Compared to the Canon 50D)
“My overall preference is for the Nikon D90. It ultimately makes it easier to take good pictures, and does so at a lower price. For an underpaid photo hack like me, that’s a winning combination.”

Video Review at Crutchfield

Professional Photographer Mag
“The first day I had the D90 in my hands I couldn’t stop coming up with ideas for the clips I wanted to shoot. Setting out the next morning, I took a set of 36 clips at the 640×424 frame (3:2) setting, which I subsequently edited into a 4-minute movie in the iMovie HD program.”

Trusted Reviews
“Image noise generally well controlled, and low-ISO images are clean and sharp, but it is a problem on longer exposures, with shots over 1/10th of a second at 200 ISO showing some image noise and uneven color reproduction.”
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Wired
“One-touch info button and simple, descriptive help screens clarify deep, detailed menus. Toss out your camcorder; the 720p, 24 fps video capture on the D90 will trump its performance — especially in low lighting.”
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Think Camera
“The D90 is a trophy of a middleweight camera, with the D-movie HD video mode tagging on an extra medal or two. No other DSLR in the world has a video feature to match; which no doubt opens up a whole new world of possibilities.”
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Lets Go Digital
“The image quality is steady as a rock. Excellent color reproduction and superb dynamic range combined with Nikon’s 3D Matrix metering ensure an outstanding DSLR.”
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By Thom
“Despite some of my very pointed comments–especially regarding video–I actually like the D90. I grew to not like the D80 so much, as I found it an inconsistent camera in several respects. The D90 tends to fix those concerns.”
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CNET Australia
“Upon close examination, however, D-Movie was found to be severely underdone, although by 2012 it might be ready for prime time. Good thing then that D90’s photo taking base is so strong and competent.”
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Digital Camera Review
“And now the D90 arrives shooting D300-quality stills and packing a decent movie mode for about two-thirds the cost of the movieless D300. If you really dissect the D90 shots they might be a tiny bit noisier at higher ISOs than the D300, or it might just be my eyes are tired.”

DigitalJournalist
“Essentially, it’s as I always expected – a combo-cam still feels like “two” cameras. Obviously, adding video functionality to a DSLR reduces weight and helps with basic ergonomic issues. Nonetheless, the actual use of the D90, flipping back and forth between video and stills, wasn’t much different than having two separate cameras.”

LapTop Mag
“Even if you consider movie-recording a bonus, the D90 produces stunning photos, including in low light, and it has fast all-around speeds.”
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Digital Trends
“The D90 as a camera is terrific. It focuses quickly, has zippy 4.5 fps burst mode, has more adjustments than you could possible handle in a lifetime plus it takes fine photos with barely a hint of noise.”
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DigitalCameraInfo
“Setting video aside, though, there’s an awful lot to like about this camera, from its fast burst mode to its fine low-light performance for flash-free photos and a Live View mode that’s still not perfect, but does prove comfortable and convenient in certain shooting situations. For $1000 plus lens, you’re getting a camera you’re unlikely to outgrow or tire of, and we’d call that a pretty good deal.”
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DPReview
“The D90 builds on this by including many of the options from the D300. The automatic Chromatic Aberration correction is just one example – without ever having to think about it, it instantly improves the results of every JPEG, regardless of the lens used.”
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PhotographyBlog
“In use, the D90 felt extremely responsive, could lock focus quickly and confidently on virtually anything, while the meter handled almost any scene you threw at it very well, necessitating much less use of the exposure compensation function than I’m used to.”
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Pocket-lint
“The D90 is stuffed so full of new kit and clever tweaks I could be here for another week writing about them, suffice to say I’ve covered the major ones, but it is certainly no plain upgrade, this a serious new camera in its own right and well worth serious consideration.”
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ImagingResource
“The Nikon D90 seems to be a really excellent camera for the intermediate photographer, and a great choice as a full-featured, light weight body for those who own a Nikon D200 or D300. The addition of video is groundbreaking, and will open up new possibilities that will be fun to explore. My only major disappointment for the intermediate market is the lack of a higher frame rate.”

CNET
“Ultimately, the Nikon D90 gets high marks because it’s a fast camera that delivers a great shooting experience and first-rate photos for the money. If your budget can’t stretch quite that far, the D80 remains an excellent deal at its price. “
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LuminousLandscape
“This is clearly a first generation product. Nikon saw an opportunity to add video capability to the DSLR and did so in a simple manner with little intention of creating a new type of hybrid camera. The D90 is a stills camera (and a very good one) at a very reasonable price, that happens to also shoot moderate quality video.”

GoodGearGuide
“One inclusion that will please users who are regularly on the road is the slew of in-camera RAW editing options. You can tweak almost anything you want — including colour, exposure, white balance, sharpness and a host of settings — before converting to a JPEG in-camera.”
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DPExpert
“This camera is a joy to use. It feels right in the hand. The bright viewfinder displays all the shooting parameter information. The image quality is spectacular. Even the instruction manual and menu system speak quality and careful attention to the photographer’s needs.”

OutBackPhoto
“Excellent high ISO noise behavior, Live View is very useful (has now an extra button), Viewfinder is quite ok, Nikon D90 has full support for AEB (Auto Exposure Bracketing), Excellent value for the money, Video mode is a bonus.”

CameraLabs
“There’s no doubt the Nikon D90 is a very impressive DSLR, but like its predecessor, it’s more about enhanced features and superior handling, rather than greatly improved image quality. Don’t get us wrong, the D90’s stills look great, but they’re not a significant step-up from 10 Megapixel models.”
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KenRockwell
“The more I use the D90, the more I like it. For most people it can replace the old D300 at a much lower price. The D90 offers the same or better image quality, with many new features, in a lighter plastic package with the same vivid 3″ LCD and a much improved rear multi selector for faster handling.”

PopPhoto
“While the D90 offers a slew of upgrades and worthwhile additions, the groundbreaking feature is, of course, its 1280×720-pixel (720p) video capture.”

PhotoReview
“The test camera’s auto white balance failed to totally remove the inherent orange cast of incandescent lighting but came close to neutral colour reproduction with Fluorescent lighting. Both manual pre-sets over-corrected slightly but it was easy to tune out colour casts with the in-camera controls before taking shots and also to correct colour casts with editing software.”

DCResource
“Camera performance was excellent in all areas but one. Despite having a dust reduction system, the D90 starts up as soon as you flip the power switch. Focusing speeds are good if you’re using the viewfinder, but very slow in live view mode.”

PopSci
“Control freaks will love the D90’s multitude of fine-tuning features, such as the ability to adjust sharpness, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue—and save custom combination’s of those adjustments.”

ThinkCamera
“As an upgrade from the D80, the Nikon D90 positively flies; adding a chunkier new sensor, improved speed and picture quality, plus a bundle of modes and features. From a usability point of view, the informative visual information and display features from the D60 have also been adopted – making for ultimate ease of use.”
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ePhotozine
“As uninterested in video on cameras as I am, the D90 needs to be hailed as a ground breaker simply because it exists. For what it’s worth, it seems to work quite well.”

DPReview
“The control layout at the rear of the D90 has had a bit of facelift. Most of this is merely cosmetic (the buttons down the left side of the LCD are a now round and less recessed, making them easier to press and the multi-controller is much better), but there are a couple of new buttons.”