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The Nikon D90 is a marvellous hybrid of quality still and video capture. The Nikon D90 has an impressive 12.3 megapixels and a 3 inch crisp and clear high resolution LCD which has 170 degree viewing angles.

The 170 degrees of viewing opportunities work well in sync with Live View mode using the full 920,000 pixel display to ensure great previews and capturing of your photography.

Live View has been complimented with Face Detection; the ability to detect and track up to five faces in the frame and with a bias to focus on the eyes rather than the nose, a splendid idea.

Scene Recognition fine tunes white balance and exposure adding to Face Detect to ensure fantastic photography with human subjects, adjusting the skin tone’s light and dark areas minimalising the need to correct & edit after the photograph has been taken, this saves so much after-shoot-photoshop time.

There are three contrast detect modes to aid the results further; Face Priority, Wide Area mode and Normal Mode.
The Nikon D90 boasts a sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3,200, plus L1 mode (100) and H1 mode (6,400).

The D90’s 11 point phase detect Auto Focus system is arranged in a diamond pattern and includes 3D tracking which assist in keeping the target in focus.

VIDEO: The Nikon D90 has been gifted with video and is able to record movies in three modes: 1280×720 (16:9), 640×424 (3:2), and 320×216 (3:2).
In HD Mode, recording time is limited to 5 minutes per video clip and out of HD Mode it is limited to 20 minutes per clip. I suspect that this limit was implemented because of sensor heating that might begin to deteriorate the quality of the clip, so they cut the length shorter to ensure the highest quality.

Nikon’s frame rate is 24 frames per second and sound is recorded via monaural.
An estimate of the maximum file sizes for the modes are 588MB for the 1,280×720-size movies, and up to 2GB for the 640×424 movies.

The Nikon D90 has a new ‘rear status display’ which can be turned on with the Info Button. You can use the same button to activate the submenus. These include a number of different items which are well placed and in-tune with the enthusiast photographer and are great for quick access to the functions rather than having to sift through the menu to reach them. Included in the submenu are options such as High ISO Noise Reduction, Active D-Lighting, Set Picture Control, Long Exposure Noise Reduction, Assign Func. Button and Assign AE-Lock/AF-Lock button.

The Numbers: Snapping at an incredible 4.5 frames per second with a shutter lag of only 0.065 seconds. The battery boasts an incredible 850 shots per charge without live or video mode in use. You are able to enhance the battery life further by adding a battery grip (also aiding to made the camera more easily handled by those with bigger hands and those who shoot a lot in portrait mode) otherwise the standard EN-EL3e battery can be upgraded to the Nikon MB-D80 Multi-power battery pack that was originally designed for the Nikon D80.

Without the battery the Nikon D90 weights in at 620 g.

A superb idea from Nikon is the removable screen that covers the LCD. The idea is that the screen has minimal replacement cost if it were to be damaged or scratched. Remember to keep the protective screen clean though as it has a tendency to glare light off the dirty spots out in the sunlight. Obviously keeping your camera clean is a general idea so I did’t really even need to mention that.

Nikon has also gracing us with another great idea: Movie recording in Live view mode. Its as simple as clicking ‘ok’ in live view mode to start your recording.

The Nikon D90 is equiped with Image Sensor Cleaning, Scene Recognition, Active D Lighting and Picture control. You are able to do extensive retouching and straightening in-camera.

My conclusion: The Nikon D90 gets a 4 star rating (I’m a sucker for hybrids! And this one offers some great functions and features as well as comfortable handling.)