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Nikon D90 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Nikon D90

    Main Features

    • 12MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 200 - 3200( expands to 6400)
    • 3″ Fixed Type Screen
    • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
    • 4.5 fps continuous shooting
    • 1280 x 720 video resolution
    • 703g. 132 x 103 x 77 mm
    • Replaced Nikon D80
    • Replaced by Nikon D7000
    $1,199.00
    or
    CHECK TODAY's PRICE

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    Nikon D90 Overview

    First introduced in October 2008 , Nikon D90 is a 12.0MP Semi-Pro DSLR camera with a APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor. Nikon replaced the older Nikon D80 with this model and later D90 was replaced with Nikon D7000. Follow the links to compare these cameras in detail:
    Compare Nikon D90 vs Nikon D80
    Compare Nikon D90 vs Nikon D7000
    or try our multi-camera comparison:
    Compare Nikon D90 vs D80 vs D7000

    Nikon D90 has an Overall Score of 60/100 and ranked #118 out of 200 in DSLR cameras (Top 10 DSLR), and ranked #321 out of 1166 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Nikon D90 Type Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

    Nikon D90 Compared to other DSLR Cameras

    Now let's get in to more details of our Nikon D90 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Face Detection Focusing
    11 Focus Points
    920k dots LCD Resolution
    Long Battery Life (850 shots)
    Top LCD Display
    Flash Sync Port

    Buy Nikon D90 from or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Image Stabilization
    No Articulating Screen
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 3.200
    Heavy Body: 703g
    No Environmental Sealing
    Nikon D90 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Nikon D90 has a Nikon F lens mount and currently there are 299 native lenses available for this mount. Besides providing one of the largest selection of lenses, Nikon F mount also has backward compatibility which means that you can use F mount lenses even dating from 1960s. It is also well supported by the lenses form third-party manufacturers.

    Nikon D90 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 88 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 73 lenses with weather sealing for D90 but bear in mind that D90 body doesn't have weather sealings.

    Here are some of the most popular Nikon D90 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Nikon D90 Lenses
    Model Focal Length on D90 Max Aperture Weight Focusing Price
    Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-300mm F3.5-6.3G ED VR
    27-450mm F3.5 - F6.3 550gr AF $696.95
    Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G
    105-450mm F4.0 - F5.6 425gr AF $133.99
    Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f1.4G
    75mm F1.4 290gr AF $376.95
    Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR
    120-600mm F4.5 - F5.6 1340gr AF $1,619.99
    Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
    225-900mm F5.0 - F6.3 1951gr AF $450.00

    Check our Nikon D90 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

    Nikon D90 Sensor and Photography Features

    Nikon D90 has a 12.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4288 x 2848 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. D90 has a native ISO range of 200 - 3200 which can be boosted to 6400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Nikon D90 is not the highest resolution APS-C camera. Sigma Quattro with its 29.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon D90 vs Sigma Quattro or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

    DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Nikon D90 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 73 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Nikon D90 here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Nikon D90's APS-C sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Nikon D90 Sensor Size Comparison

    Nikon D90 Physical Specs
    Nikon D90 weighs 703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz) and has external dimensions of 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.06 x 3.03″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 771g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 77mm, it also has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Nikon D90
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    Thickness Comparison

    DSLR Cameras

    Nikon D90
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    Here is the front and top view image of Nikon D90 with the dimensions:

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Nikon D90, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Nikon D90 Real Life Body Size Comparison


    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Nikon D90 with its main competitors:

    Nikon D90 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Sensor Weight vs D90 Thickness vs D90
    Nikon D7000 16.0MP - APS-C 780g 77g heavier 77mm equal thickness
    Nikon D7200 24.0MP - APS-C 765g 62g heavier 76mm 1mm thinner
    Nikon D5300 24.0MP - APS-C 480g 223g lighter 76mm 1mm thinner
    Nikon D3300 24.0MP - APS-C 430g 273g lighter 76mm 1mm thinner
    Nikon D80 10.0MP - APS-C 668g 35g lighter 77mm equal thickness
    Nikon D7100 24.0MP - APS-C 765g 62g heavier 76mm 1mm thinner
    Nikon D5500 24.0MP - APS-C 420g 283g lighter 70mm 7mm thinner
    Nikon D5200 24.0MP - APS-C 555g 148g lighter 78mm 1mm thicker

    Nikon D90 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Nikon D90 Other Features
    LCD and Viewfinder

    Nikon D90 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    D90 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. The viewfinder has a coverage of 96% and a magnification ratio of 0.64x. 96% coverage means that what you see in your viewfinder while shooting will slightly be different from the actual image.

    Max Shutter speed
    Nikon D90 can shoot continuously at max speed of 4.5 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash
    D90 has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing
    Nikon D90 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 11 points to choose from.

    Nikon D90 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Video Features
    With Nikon D90, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1280 x 720 at 24 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 1280 x 720 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

    D90 has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker.
    Nikon D90 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a DSLR camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Pentax K-1 Mark II or Nikon D750 in a similar price range.

    Connectivity and Storage

    You can connect D90 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery Nikon D90 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 850 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 881 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

    Battery Life Comparison in Semi-Pro DSLR Cameras

    Nikon D90
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Nikon D850 with its 1840shots is the model with longest battery life among Semi-Pro DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon D90 vs Nikon D850 or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

    Nikon D90 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Nikon D7000
    >>Compare to D90
    1920 x 1080 1050shots No No No
    Nikon D7200
    >>Compare to D90
    1920 x 1080 1110shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon D5300
    >>Compare to D90
    1920 x 1080 600shots Yes No No
    Nikon D3300
    >>Compare to D90
    1920 x 1080 700shots No No No
    Nikon D80
    >>Compare to D90
    None shots No No No
    Nikon D7100
    >>Compare to D90
    1920 x 1080 950shots No No No
    Nikon D5500
    >>Compare to D90
    1920 x 1080 820shots Yes No No
    Nikon D5200
    >>Compare to D90
    1920 x 1080 500shots No No No

    User Manual
    You can download Nikon D90's User Manual here

    Lowest Price
    Current Lowest price for Nikon D90 is $1,199.00

    What type of Photography is Nikon D90 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Nikon D90 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the D90 compares with the average DSLR camera.
    Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

    Nikon D90 for Portrait Photography

    Nikon D90 has a score of 67 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon D90 for Portrait Photography

    Nikon D90 for Street Photography

    Nikon D90 has a score of 59 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
    No Image Stabilization
    Large Body

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon D90 for Street Photography

    Nikon D90 for Sports Photography

    Nikon D90 has a score of 79 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    11 Focus Points
    Good Battery Life: 850 shots
    Good Ergonomics&Handling
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Average Continuous Shooting: 4.5fps
    Environmental Sealings
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon D90 for Sports Photography

    Nikon D90 for Daily Photography

    Nikon D90 has a score of 59 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
    Large Body
    703g
    Body Thickness 77mm

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon D90 for Daily Photography

    Nikon D90 for Landscape Photography

    Nikon D90 has a score of 53 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list.
    Live-view
    Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon D90 for Landscape Photography

    Nikon D90 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Nikon D90 compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of D90 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon D90 alternatives.
    Popular Comparisons of Nikon D90
    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Nikon D90 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Nikon D7000
    Nikon D7000
    Compare
    Nikon D7200
    Nikon D7200
    Compare
    Nikon D5300
    Nikon D5300
    Compare
    Nikon D3300
    Nikon D3300
    Compare
    Nikon D80
    Nikon D80
    Compare
    Nikon D7100
    Nikon D7100
    Compare
    Nikon D5500
    Nikon D5500
    Compare
    Nikon D5200
    Nikon D5200
    Compare
    Nikon D90 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras
    It would also be interesting to compare Nikon D90 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Nikon D90's price range.

    Samsung NX1
    Samsung NX1
    Compare
    Olympus E-M1 II
    Olympus E-M1 II
    Compare
    Sony A7 II
    Sony A7 II
    Compare
    Panasonic G9
    Panasonic G9
    Compare
    Fujifilm X-T3
    Fujifilm X-T3
    Compare
    Fujifilm X-H1
    Fujifilm X-H1
    Compare
    Panasonic G85
    Panasonic G85
    Compare
    Sony A7
    Sony A7
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon D90
    Does the Nikon D90 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Nikon D90 have RAW support?
    Does the Nikon D90 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Nikon D90 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Nikon D90?
    What is the Sensor Size of Nikon D90?
    is the Nikon D90 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Nikon D90 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Nikon D90 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon D90?
    Nikon D90 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Nikon
    Model Nikon D90
    Announced 2008-10-13
    Body Type Mid-size SLR
    Price $1,199.00
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Nikon F
    Number of Lenses 299
    Focal Length Multiplier 1.5×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Technology Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
    Screen Size 3″
    Screen Resolution 920k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage 96%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.64
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 4.5 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
    Max Flash Sync 1/200s
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 73
    DxO Color Depth 22.7
    DxO Dynamic Range 12.5
    DxO Low Light ISO 977
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size APS-C
    Sensor Dimensions 23.6 x 15.8 mm
    Sensor Area 372.88mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4288 x 2848
    Max Native ISO 3,200
    Max Boosted ISO 6400
    Min Native ISO 200
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 11
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 703g
    Physical Dimensions 132 x 103 x 77mm
    Battery Life 850 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model EN-EL3e
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS Optional
    Storage Type SD/SDHC
    Storage Slots 1
    LATEST HOLIDAY DEALS!

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