D90 Tests and First Impressions

I have been poking around in the amateur arena with my old Nikon D60 for quite some time now. Having felt like I have progressed to the next level, it was time for a new camera body that could inherit my existing lenses.

Enter Nikon's D90 which replaced the old D80 (a great camera in it's own right). The D90 improves on the D80, featuring a 12.9 Megapixel DX sensor, 3 inch Live-View LCD screen, IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 in expanded), and Movie Capture at 1280x720 (720P) HD to name a few.

As a DSLR, it is a perfect choice for both amateurs and intermediates who want to start venturing into the Pro-sumer level of photography. There may very well be too many features for me to cover at this early stage. However, out of the box, with my existing collection of Nikon lenses, the results are stunning. Inclusion of Auto Exposure Bracketing, a feature missing from the lower models for shooting HDR images is welcomed. The camera feels sturdy and is slightly bigger than the D40 & D60 models, yet not as large as it's big cousin the D300.

At around $900 to $1000 (Body only) it's a good camera for stepping into the lower part of the mid-range, with plenty of features that won't break the bank and yet, will yield excellent photos and decent video. Check below to see some of my first photo samples shot in aperture priority, and some quick video tests.

These photos were taken with a combination of lenses including: 35mm, 50mm, 16-85mm, 70-300mm, using nothing but available light for the indoors (no flash).

Still lots to learn with the video, but it is very promising. Tripod is a must (I rushed thru the pan so there is some jitter), and you have to switch to manual focus. However, I did forget to lock off the exposure, so the camera would not adjust the brightness as you pan. Overall, I'm satisfied and look forward to exploring the video route in the D90 as well as shooting plenty more photos.

For More information on the Nikon D90, visit DP Review