Nikon D90
- 12MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
- 1280 x 720 video
- Nikon F Mount
- 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
- Revealed October 2008
- Succeeded the Nikon D80
- Renewed by Nikon D7000
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Lenses
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
60 Imaging
51 Features
52 Overall
51
Nikon D90 summary
Nikon D90 is Nikon's Advanced DSLR digital camera originally introduced on October of 2008. It features a 12 MegaPixel, CMOS APS-C sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4288 x 2848.
Nikon launched this model to replace the earlier Nikon D80 (Read Full Comparison) and then brought out the updated Nikon D7000 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to update this model.
The D90 is placed #57 out of 92 in Advanced DSLR cameras and overall #422 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please try out our Smart camera finder to get camera listings based on your customized requirements.
Here is a chart of multiple factors used in the rating system.
Nikon D90 history
The Nikon D90 is part of a family of cameras. You can view the full range underneath.
Nikon D90 Gallery
You can check the D90 from different angles in the gallery here.
Nikon D90 Pros and Cons
Below is a checklist of good and bad points of the Nikon D90 based on features which are generally regarded as necessary in a digital camera.
Nikon D90 Sensor details
The spec of the sensor on the Nikon D90 is 23.6mm x 15.8mm (APS-C). The 373 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4288 x 2848 pixels and aspect ratios of 3:2.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe CMOS sensor boasts 12 megapixels and includes a standard ISO range of 200 to 3200. This ISO can also be extended electronically to a high of 6400. RAW files are saved which means that you have wider margin for error.
The picture underneath illustrates the D90's sensor dimensions compared to other popular sizes. The D90 sensor comes with a crop factor of 1.5 and is displayed in green.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsTo get an understanding of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.
Nikon D90 dimensions
Nikon D90 weighs 1.55 pounds (703g or 24.80 ounces) and the measurement of the camera is 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0"). The weight of average Advanced DSLR camera is 776g and the Nikon D90 is similar compared to other rivals.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsHere is a shot of the Nikon D90 beside a softdrink to help you have a feel for its scale.
The top view just below will illustrate the button design on the D90.
Nikon D90 Lens specs
The D90 uses the Nikon F mount and has 315 lenses available on the market. Below is a small number of the lenses we have in our database which will fit the D90.
Nikon D90 Connectivity
The D90 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- HDMI Yes
- GPS Yes
Digital cameras which include NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can be used wirelessly with smartphones. You can send images and sometimes change settings without connecting directly to the camera.
Some applications even allow a Liveview and release the shutter if you are not close to the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external monitor. The majority of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.
Nikon D90 Video specs
The highest possible video resolution on the Nikon D90 is 1280 x 720 and it can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You should really strive for at least 1080p resolution for video recording. The camera does not offer a mic and / or headphone port which means you get little control over your audio. It is probably best to take a look at another model if you require decent audio in your videos.
Nikon D90 Weather Sealing
There is no environment proofing in the Nikon D90 so you need to be careful in wet and dusty situations.
Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder
The Nikon D90 features a 3" fixed screen supporting a resolution of 920k dots.
Unfortunately the screen isn't a touch screen. The D90 also has a builtin Top LCD screen so that you can instantly checkout camera settings.
Photography GlossaryThe View Finder specs regarding Nikon D90 are as follows:
- ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
- ViewFinder Coverage 96 percent
- ViewFinder Magnification 0.64x
In those sunny outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and challenging to view, viewfinders can be very useful.
Nikon D90 Shutter specs
Nikon D90 continuous shooting rate is 4.5 fps. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000s.
Nikon D90 Flash and Hot shoe specs
Nikon D90 has got both built-in flash plus external flash support. The maximum flash sync is 1/200s.
Nikon D90 Autofocus specs
Nikon D90 has got both Phase Detect Auto Focus and Contrast Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and exact when compared to Contrast Detect autofocusing. The camera features Face detection which can be helpful for people photography.
The AF system features 11 focus points to pick from. Nikon D90 includes manual focus if needed in low light conditions or you require more accurate control on focus.
Nikon D90 Battery life
The battery life (EN-EL3e) in the Nikon D90 is fashioned to last for 850 photos with respect to the CIPA measurements which is comparable with its competition. The average Advanced DSLR camera battery life is 909. Nikon D780 comes with the best (2260) battery life in this group of cameras.
Listed below is a listing of Advanced DSLR cameras with the best battery life:
Nikon D90 for specific forms of photography
The following bar chart gives a rundown of the Nikon D90 for specific forms of photography. To learn more, browse to the specific section underneath.
Nikon D90 as a Portrait photography camera
The Nikon D90 has a rating of 62 which is very good, and means the camera is a respectable pick to use for portraits. Photographing portraits favors greatly towards sensor size, support for RAW files & potential to utilize off-camera flash.
Nikon D90 Street photography highlights
Having a moderate points total of 54, the Nikon D90 is somewhat suited to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera offers a good balance of image quality plus portability.
Sports photography with Nikon D90
A bad sports photography points tally of 45 indicates the Nikon D90 is not appropriate for taking pictures of sports. A camera should have good tracking and continuous shooting for sports photography.
Nikon D90 Travel photography factors
Size is very crucial when selecting a camera for travel. On the whole, the Nikon D90 gets a bad 44 as a travel camera which is not appropriate for your vacations.
Nikon D90 Landscape photography info
If you are looking to purchase a digital camera for landscape photography, the most significant factor will no doubt be image quality. The Nikon D90 and it's modest grade of 57 for a landscape camera is somewhat adequate among it's competition.
Vlogging with Nikon D90
A camera for vlogging really should offer a moving display screen, microphone input and ideally image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Nikon D90 is not appropriate as a vlog camera as it gets a bad rating of 21.
Nikon D90 Alternatives
If you are interested in replacements to the D90, below is a number of the top placed cameras that fall in to the family of Advanced DSLR.
The diagram below gives you an overview of the D90 vs it's top ranking rivals listed earlier.
These are some more cameras you may check out as alternatives. To review a thorough comparison, visit the "compare" link.