Amateur Photographer Awards 2009
Enthusiast Level Digital SLR of the Year: Nikon D90
There isn't another magazine that tests quite as much photographic equipment as
Amateur Photographer. These awards are the result of a review of over 250 items and a year's worth of testing. The winners are the most outstanding products of the year.
Click here for the Nikon D90 Mini Site
Features of the Nikon D90 digital SLR
- 12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS image sensor with built-in self-cleaning sensor unit
- Low noise performance from ISO 200 to 3200
- D-Movie function offers Motion JPEG movies in exceptional D-SLR image quality
- Live View with 3-inch, 920,000-dot, high-resolution LCD monitor
- Extensive in–camera retouch functions
- Up to 72 thumbnails in 3.0” TFT screen, 920 DOT TFT with 170 degree viewing angle
- Calendar Playback mode (dates when pictures were shot)
- Slide show (by date)
- Built in flash which can control up to 50 flashguns when attached
- Energy saving mode with up to 850 pictures out of one battery
- HD 720P movie function (1280x720) 24 frames per second
- Live view with face detection/ scene recognition system
- Image sensor cleaning (4 cycles)
- Start up time 0.15 seconds
- Shutter release 65ms
- Active D-Lighting
- Advanced scene modes such as portrait and night portrait
- 13 onboard retouch menus such as fisheye and straighten function
- Supports HDMI output
- 5 choices for music + image effects within the D90
- Histogram for magnified areas within picture
Nikon D90 - 2 Year Warranty
To take advantage of the extended warranty you are required to register the product within 30 days of purchase. The camera or kit must have been distributed by Nikon UK & Republic of Ireland, through an official UK retailer such as Wex Photographic.
For details on how to register your product online please click here. Alternatively you can complete the in-box warranty slip or telephone 0800 408 5060 (Nikon UK).
Nikon D90 - 12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS image sensor
The Nikon D90 digital SLR features a 12.3 megapixel sensor which enables you to capture excellent, highly detailed images, which produce stunningly sharp enlargements. The built-in self-cleaning system on the D90 minimises the harmful effects of dust.
Nikon D90 - EXPEED Processing system + high ISO
The EXPEED processing system on the Nikon D90 delivers optimum performance and maximum image quality. The high ISO range of 200-3200 is extendable up to 6400 and down to 100, enabling fast shutter speeds and significantly reducing the risk of blurred images when shooting fast-moving subjects or taking pictures in low-light with your digital SLR.
Nikon D90 - Active D-Lighting
The Nikon D90 features Active D-Lighting, which ensures that every detail in both highlight and shadow is retained, producing beautiful images with excellent natural contrast. Active D-Lighting can be activated manually or automatically and features four levels, including Extra High.
Nikon D90 - Picture Controls and Scene Recognition System
Using the Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape Picture Controls, you can customise the look of your photos, whilst the Scene Recognition System with Face Detection System combines data from the camera's metering and AF sensors to deliver precise exposures and sharply-defined images. The Nikon D90 digital SLR recognises human faces for portraits or group shots and delivers natural-looking skin tones.
Nikon D90 - Advanced autofocus performance
The Nikon D90 digital SLR offers advanced autofocus performance with versatile Multi-CAM100 11-point AF system. This system produces fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame. AF-area modes handle most shooting situations and include 3D-tracking AF, which lets you adjust the composition of an image after focusing on your subject.
Nikon D90 - Live View mode with Autofocus
Live View on the Nikon D90 digital SLR enables you to compose your images via the LCD screen. Live View supports three AF modes; Face Priority AF for portraits (this function detects up to 5 faces in a frame), wide area AF for handheld shots, and normal area AF for shots with a tripod.
Nikon D90 - Innovative D-Movie function
The exciting D-Movie function on the Nikon D90 digital SLR enables DSLR users to shoot Motion JPEG format movies. The Nikon D90 offers a large image sensor (when compared to that of a typical consumer camcorder) and high-ISO sensitivity, resulting in exceptional image quality. The Nikon D90 enables photographers to use photographic techniques in making movies, using the wide range of NIKKOR interchangeable lenses, from fisheye to wide-angle to super-telephoto, and even extreme close-up with Micro NIKKOR lenses. The D-Movie function of the Nikon D90 digital SLR allows users to shoot 5 minutes of HD quality video, or up to 20 minutes of standard definition (SD) video.
Note: Autofocus is not available when recording movies.
Check out the following link for an example of what the fantastic D-Movie function on the Nikon D90 digital SLR can do: Nikon D90 Sample Video
Nikon D90 - Advanced Scene Modes
Using the advanced Nikon D90 scene modes you can automatically optimise camera settings, including the Picture Controls and active D-Lighting, for popular photographic styles, effects and locations.
Nikon D90 - High resolution 3" LCD monitor + bright pentaprism viewfinder
The Nikon D90 features a 3", 920k-dot, high-resolution LCD monitor with 170-degree viewing angle. It has never been easier to use and view the Live View function. The bright pentaprism viewfinder on the Nikon D90 gives 96% frame coverage and 19.5mm eye point for precise composition.
Nikon D90 - Quick response
The Nikon D90 digital SLR offers an approximate start-up time of 0.15-seconds, a 65-millisecond shutter release time lag and 4.5 frames per second, on the Normal-Large image setting, using a Panasonic Pro HIGH SPEED 2GB SD memory card.
Nikon D90 - Revolutionary retouching
The Nikon D90 features an extensive Retouch Menu, which offers a range of photo effects, including Fisheye, Distortion Control and Straighten. The original image stays intact and the digital SLR camera quickly and simply creates a duplicate image for you to edit and enhance in the camera.
Nikon D90 - Extensive playback functions
The Nikon D90 includes extensive playback functions such as Pictmotion built-in slideshow, a 72-frame thumbnail display, calendar playback and a histogram display that offers histograms of magnified sections of an image.