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Nikon D90 · Nikon Japan front photograph with the 18–105mm VR kit lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon D90
Photo 1 of 20

Nikon D90 · Nikon Japan front photograph with the 18–105mm VR kit lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon · Nikon DSLR

D90

Released September 2008

A 12.3-megapixel DX-format DSLR with a pentaprism viewfinder, 4.5 fps shooting and 720p movie recording.

Type
DSLR
Sensor
APS-C
Megapixels
12.3
Lens
Nikon F mount
Video
1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Body weight
620 g

What reviewers say

Both praise still-image quality, responsive viewfinder autofocus, direct controls and the detailed screen. Both find live-view autofocus slow and video limited by manual focusing and visible motion artefacts. Photography Blog particularly praises metering and Active D-Lighting; Cameralabs finds the extra resolution brings little improvement in detail over the D80 and recommends treating movies as a creative extra rather than a camcorder replacement.

From photographyblog.com and cameralabs.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type
DSLR
Sensor format
APS-C
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor dimensions
23.6 × 15.8 mm
Effective resolution
12.3 MP
Largest image
4288 × 2848
RAW recording
Yes
Standard ISO range
200–3200
Sensor detail
12.9 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats
NEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG; Cameralabs confirms 12-bit compressed RAW
ISO detail
Expanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO
Image processor
EXPEED

Lens and shooting

Lens mount
Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
4.5 fps
Lens detail
DX angle of view approximately 1.5× FX focal length; AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses permit manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Multi-CAM 1000 phase detection, 11 points including one cross-type; single, dynamic, auto-area and 3D tracking. Live view uses contrast detection with face-priority, wide and normal areas
Shutter
1/4000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second; tested to 100000 releases
Burst detail
High-speed continuous approximately 4.5 fps; low-speed 1–4 fps
Stabilisation detail
Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
Pop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 17 at ISO 200 in metres; commander for two remote groups; ISO 518 hot shoe
Exposure controls
P/S/A/M, auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB metering; ±5 EV compensation

Video

Highest video resolution
1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Video detail
Motion-JPEG AVI at 24 fps; 720p limited to approximately five minutes, 640 × 424 and 320 × 216 to approximately 20 minutes; autofocus unavailable during recording
Audio
Monaural movie sound

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
Optical
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
920,000
Tilting screen
No
Display detail
Fixed TFT with approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Pentaprism, approximately 96% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid

Connections and design

Battery life (maker's claim)
850 photographs
Body weight
620 g
Release detail
Nikon's original US announcement specifies September 2008 availability; Nikon Japan records 19 September there. Main retains the month without assigning the Japanese day to every region
Recording media
SD and SDHC cards
Ports
Hi-Speed USB, analogue AV output, HDMI mini Type C and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 or GP-1
Battery life detail
EN-EL3e; approximately 850 CIPA photographs with the 18–105mm VR lens and flash in half the exposures; optional MB-D80 grip
Charging
External MH-18a charger; optional EH-5a AC adapter
Dimensions
Approximately 132 × 103 × 77 mm
Weight detail
Approximately 620 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover
In the box
EN-EL3e battery, MH-18a charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-21 eyecup, UC-E4 USB cable, EG-D2 AV cable, AN-DC1 strap, BM-10 monitor cover, body and shoe caps; regional contents may differ

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Built-in autofocus drive for supported AF NIKKOR lenses
  • Pentaprism viewfinder and top status display
  • Built-in flash with wireless commander support

Cons

  • Manual focus during movie recording
  • Fixed rear screen
  • 720p clips limited to approximately five minutes

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
SonyAlpha DSLR-A200
DSLRAPS-C10.2Sony A-mount–532 gJan 2008
SonyAlpha DSLR-A300
DSLRAPS-C10.2Sony A-mount–582 gApr 2008
SonyAlpha DSLR-A350
DSLRAPS-C14.2Sony A-mount–582 gMar 2008

Sources

  1. nikon.com/company/news/2008/0827_d90_01
  2. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d90/spec.html
  3. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d90/inde
  4. nikonusa.com/press-room/nikon-d90-digital-slr-answers-
  5. photographyblog.com/pages/reviews/reviews_nikon_d90.php
  6. photographyblog.com/pages/reviews/reviews_nikon_d90_2.php
  7. photographyblog.com/pages/reviews/reviews_nikon_d90_6.php
  8. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90
  9. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/2
  10. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/3
  11. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/4
  12. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/5
  13. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/6
  14. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/7
  15. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/9
  16. cameralabs.com/nikon_d90/11

Photo: Nikon Japan front photograph with the 18–105mm VR kit lens; lens is not part of body specifications

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