The world’s first DSLR to offer movie recording to photographers, is the D90 feature-packed or just trying to do too much?
Gone are the times when cameras simply took photographs. In a world where there’s an increasing demand for products that can multi-task, it was inevitable that this ethos would eventually creep into the DSLR market. We already have camera-phones, all-in-one printers and PDAs, but for the most part, it’s taken several generations of evolution to get the balance right when it comes to performance. Often, if a product claims to be capable of fulfilling more than one purpose, it turns out to be a jack of all trades, yet a master of none. Is this the case with Nikon’s latest DSLR? Read on to find out.
Back Face
The Nikon D90 supersedes the D80, and brings with it a host of new features. The newly developed 12 3MP DX-format CMOS sensor is kept dust-free thanks to the in-built sensor cleaning system and offers Live View and movie shooting capability, with the latter function being new territory in the DSLR domain. To make the experience of using these new modes as pleasurable as possible, the D90 features the high-res 920,000 dot, three-inch TFT LCD that’s found on higher-spec models in Nikon’s range of DSLRs (four times the resolution of the screen on the D80).
Nikon’s reputation for excellent build quality is upheld with this camera, which feels solid and reassuringly weighted - poles apart from the ‘toy-like’ build of some of the entry-level models from other manufacturers we’ve seen come to the market of late. We’re yet to encounter a Nikon DSLR that doesn’t fit like a glove in the hand: the D90’s rubberized ergonomic curves provide plenty to get hold of for a comfortable day-long shooting experience.
Seasoned Nikon aficionados will be accustomed to the manufacturer’s logical approach to control layout, and won’t be disappointed with the user interface on the D90. All the controls are well-placed, easily accessible and intuitive to use, making the camera incredibly easy to operate.
On the top panel of the camera body, you’ll find a handy LCD panel that allows you to keep tabs on your shooting settings, ISO, Drive mode, image quality and number of shots/battery power remaining - to name a few - as well as providing the interface where you make quick selections using the dedicated buttons adorning the body in conjunction with the main Command dial. Visually impaired users are catered for too, with an info button on the back of the camera generating a display of your settings on the three-inch rear LCD, which becomes interactive if a button relating to a function (eg, ISO/WB) is pressed while the display is active.
The viewfinder offers a marginally larger field of view than that on the D80, increasing from 95 per cent to 96 per cent. It’s bright, displays a range of settings and features a comfortable surrounding rubber eyecup and diopter adjustment. Through the viewfinder you can also see the D90’s 11-point AF system, which is quick to find a lock and - like the camera’s bigger brothers - uses a 3D-tracking mode to maintain a lock on moving subjects while you’re shooting. This system looks great on paper and performs pretty well in practice too, although a few more AF points would improve its accuracy even further. As previously mentioned, you’ll find an array of dedicated buttons adorning the D90’s body - in a very similar layout to the D80 - making it quick and easy to alter settings including Drive mode and Metering, as well as accessing Live View and/or the video recording mode via the Lv button on the back for the camera. An additional Exposure Compensation button is located next to the shutter release and is having to take your eye away from the viewfinder. Settings are simple to fine-tune: you just need to press the button relating to the relevant setting, then rotate the main Command dial to scroll through the options displayed on the top panel or on the larger rear LCD. This system works very well in practice and - in our opinion - is far less complicated than the methods employed by some of the D90’s competitors.
Top Face
Down the left-hand side of the LCD you’ll find a set of five buttons, three of which each perform multiple functions (with the exception of the Playback and Menu buttons). The Help/Protect button also allows you to alter the WB setting, the Zoom out/Thumbnail button accesses the ISO sensitivity options and the Zoom in button allows you to change the image quality. To do this, you’ll need to press and hold the buttons and rotate the main Command dial to scroll through the options displayed on the top panel/rear LCD.
All of the connection ports on the D90 - including DC In, USB, HDMI, AV and GPS/Remote - are grouped together on the left-hand side of the camera body, under two robust rubber doors that protect against water and dust ingress.
As you’d expect from a camera of this class, the D90 sports a built-in pop-up flash unit, which sits atop the camera and can either be triggered manually, or will activate automatically in Auto or some of the preset shooting modes. The camera offers a comprehensive selection of flash modes that should cater for most situations, providing a superb level of control over the output. Results are clean and aesthetically pleasing, although you still have the option of attaching an external flash unit (purchased separately) if you want to maximize your creative options. Photographers who already own an external flash gun will be pleased to learn that the D90’s built-in flash can also function as a commander when shooting with one or more compatible wireless flash units.
In use, the intuitive user interface and ergonomic styling come together to deliver a superb handling experience. The D90 is responsive, with the AF system being quick to lock onto most subjects - stationary or moving. The combination of the information seen in the viewfinder, on the top panel LCD and the three-inch rear display means you’re never out of touch with your current settings and the several methods available to fine-tune your settings are all simple to change.
The D90 ’s Live View mode is - as aforementioned -activated by a single button press. Here, the high quality of the rear LCD is particularly evident, making it a joy to use. As well as an almost full-screen view of the scene in front of the lens, key settings like aperture, shutter speed, ISO and number of shots remaining are displayed along the bottom, as well as your WB setting and image quality at the top, among others. Half depressing the shutter release focuses on your subject and fully depressing it takes the shot. Alternatively, once you’ve focused, pressing the OK button in the centre of the four-way multi-selector begins recording.
The D90 offers several different quality settings for movie recording (including 72dpi) and you have the option of turning sound recording on or off. As photographers, we’re no experts on video capture, but to us the quality looks very good: movement in the D90’s movies is pretty smooth, colors are vibrant and detail is sharp, however we did notice that panning causes the verticals in your image to skew until you come to a stop again, even when moving relatively slowly. The sound quality is ok, but we suspect this will take a bit of work to perfect in a future incarnation of the D90. You’re also limited to around five minutes of recording time at the highest quality setting and, while the camera can be set to control things like exposure automatically during recording, Auto WB is disabled, so you need to perfect your setting beforehand. It’s a bit of a mixed bag really, but a fun feature that amateur moviemakers should get a lot of enjoyment out of, with a bit of patience.
Still images, however, are simply stunning. The photographs the D90 is capable of producing are vivid and accurately colored, with superb clarity and exceptional detail that serve to complement the excellent handling this camera delivers. The dynamic range in JPEGs is very good, however extra shadow and highlight detail is retained if you turn on the excellent Active D-Lighting feature, which does make a perceptible difference in high-contrast scenes. The camera’s Auto WB option is generally accurate. However we found images shot in shady lighting were a little cool by default. Shooting RAW files obviously delivers the maximum flexibility when it comes to perfecting the look of your images, and more advanced users won’t be disappointed with the amount of detail that the Dgo’s RAW files retain.
The features the D90 borrows from its prestigious semi-pro/pro-grade siblings certainly add weight to the camera’s newly developed qualities, and will no doubt help to increase its appeal to consumers. Throw in the superb VR kit lens, and you have a very tempting proposition indeed. It’s astonishing to see how much the D90 has evolved when compared to the D70, to which it owes its heritage, a fact that serves to highlight just how much you’re getting for the price of this camera. With the good but yet to be perfected Video mode aside, this is a solid, well-made piece of kit that handles extremely well and produces fantastic images. What more could you ask for?
Contenders
Sony Alpha 350
Boasting a 14.2MP sensor, Live View and a 2.7inch articulated LCD, the A350 is formidable opponent. It is much cheaper than Nikon D90’s and includes Sony Super SteadyShot, but lacks video capability.
Canon EOS 450D
The 450D features a 15.1MP sensor and DIGIC 4 processing, but only nine AF points in comparison to the D90’s 11. It is faster, however, delivering 6.3 fps compared to Nikon’s 4.5 fps.
Technical Data
Model: Nikon D90
Megapixel: 12.3 (effective)
Max. Resolution: 4,288 x 2,848
Sensor Info: 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor
Lens Data: By lens
Zoom: By lens
Focus/Macro: By lens
Shutter speed: 30 to 1/4.000 sec.
ISO Sensitivity: A, 200-3,200, Hi & Lo mode
Exposure modes: Auto, P, A, S, M, six presets
Metering Options: A, RE, SS, FF, RC, FC, RE+FC, SS, RER
Connectivity: USB 2.0, AV, HDMI
Weight: 620gr (excl. batt)
Dimensions: 132, 102, 77 mm
Batteries: Li-Ion
Storage: SD, SDHC
LCD: 3”
View Finder: Eye level pentaprism, single-lens reflex.
Verdict
Features (9/10)
Live view, video capture, a three-inch high-res LCD, built in flash with commander mode and VR kit lens.
Build Quality (10.10)
The camera body is robust, ergonomically shaped and rubberized in all of the right place.
Handling (9.10)
The layout of the controls is intuitive, with most key function just a button press or two away.
Quality (9.10)
Still images are beautifully detailed, accurately colored and certainly won’t disappoint.
Value For Money (9/10)
We think the RRP is justified, considering the number of features Nikon has packed into this camera. Throw in the VR kit lens and it is tempting package indeed.
TOTAL (9/10)
This is a superb mid-range DSLR that advanced amateur photographers will get many years of satisfaction.
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