subject: Nikon D90 Digital Camera [print this page] One of the key attractions this month had to be the Nikon D90, which is also the costliest camera weve tested so far. Nikon has brought in the D90 to replace the trusted D80. The D80 was one of the best upper-entry level to midrange cameras from Nikon. The D90 then has a lot to prove before it can earn its place.
Going through the D90s key features, it certainly looks impressive. The D90 utilises a 12.3-MP CMOS sensor going up from the D80s 10.2-MP CCD sensor. The sensor size remains unchanged. Most entry-level cameras are supplied with an 18 to 55-mm lens which can be quite limiting to the kinds of photos you can take. We received the camera with a Nikkor DX 18 to 105-mm VR zoom lens. This makes a good all-purpose kit for wide-angle and telescopic shooting.
The shape and size of the D90 is somewhat larger than the D60 we saw a few months back. Its a bit heavier than the D60 and also the D80 itself. The body is plasticy, but feels extremely sturdy and the buttons are great as expected on any Nikon D-SLR. The D90 now comes with a 3-inch screen that is incredibly vibrant and crisp. The other thing that makes the camera interesting is the inclusion of Live View that allows you to use the LCD screen to focus. This is a feature rarely found on D-SLRs.
The D90 is undoubtedly one of the easiest cameras to operate, if you have that a basic knowledge of using a decent point-and-shoot camera. All the functions of the camera such as ISO, white balance, exposure metering and focusing modes can be accessed by holding down the respective buttons and rotating the jog dial. Shutter speed and aperture size have dedicated dials. Its very difficult to criticise the D90 on quality as well. The 12.3-MP CMOS sensor does its job well. Photos turn out crisp across the entire aperture range. The lens isnt made for macro photography, so youll have difficulty with up-close shots. Mind you, great close-ups can be shot by moving back and zooming into the target. Good depth of field can be achieved easily too. The flash is powerful and good enough for indoor photography every now and then. The Auto mode works well along with the autofocus feature. Focusing is instantaneous and there is no delay whatsoever.
There are a few autofocus hiccups every now and then, but nothing that cant be fixed using the other auto-focusing bracket modes. As expected from any D-SLR, the manual mode gives you total control of the camera. You wont be disappointed with the D90, if you like to select a scenario preset either a dial for doing that is present. Another new feature hardly ever seen on D-SLRs is video recording. The D90 can capture up to 1280x720 resolution videos at 24 frames per second. What makes it even more special is that you can zoom and focus manually while shooting videos. The video quality is great and the frame rate quite stable but you will need to buy a fast SD/SDHC card for it. Wed be lying if we said that we werent impressed with the D90. Its filled with surprises.
The Digital Camera is incredibly simple to use, it has the performance, the features and is undoubtedly miles ahead of the D80 in every aspect. Nikon has yet another winner on its hands and we highly recommend this if you have a serious interest in photography and also the money.
The Nikon D90 Digital Camera along with its lens is priced at a whopping Rs. 89,890. The body by itself can be bought for Rs. 69,950. This makes the D90 almost as costly as the D300. It makes better sense if you spend more and go for the D300 instead. Nikons lens are known to be cheaper than some other brands, so buying just a body and then a good lens can also be a good move. If you dont need the Live View or the video recording or even the small changes Nikon has made, then the older D80 is a better buy, especially with its more wallet-friendly price.
