May 26th, 2009 by 
calanan
Conclusion
Despite some minor misgivings about the Nikon D90 I loved working with it and in some cases I preferred it for my professional work - the image quality is that good.
I found the groundbreaking D-Movie mode is more than just a gimmick; if I owned a D90 I’d certainly shoot more video than I ever did with my point-and-shoot digital cameras. In the future I’d like to see Nikon remove the 5-minute HD video clip limitation and address the Jell-O video wobble issue.
I have no reservations recommending the Nikon D90 to those looking to upgrade from a point-and-shoot or buy a backup for DSLR body for their Nikon system. For those choosing between the D90 and D300 - unless you need the D300’s all-metal, weather/dust sealed body or the longer-rated shutter, I’d recommend the D90 instead. The image quality is just as good and you can buy two D90 bodies for about the cost of one D300. Or put your savings into a pro lens or Speedlight flash.
It will be interesting to see what Nikon does with its latest sensor technology. I imagine they’ll include HD video in the next entry level models (see our Nikon D5000 DSLR preview) and there are already rumors of D300 and D700 replacements that will include the D-Movie mode. A Nikon pro body with HD video might be tempting to pros looking to gain an edge over competitors - especially in the cutthroat wedding photography market.
Who Should Buy It
The Nikon D90 is an excellent choice for:
- Professional photographers who want a compact lightweight backup digital SLR- especially wedding photographers and others who want to include high-quality video in their repertoire.
- Serious amateur photographers looking for digital SLR features, performance and image quality in a smaller, moderately priced package.
This camera is not the best choice for:
- Hardcore pros who require the best available features, image quality, or a camera body that can stand up to lots of abuse.
- Serious videographers who want a single device for both video and stills will be disappointed by the rolling shutter “Jell-O” effect.
- end -
All photos copyright Michael Calanan and/or PhotographyREVIEW.com.
Michael Calanan is a professional photographer who specializes in editorial and portrait photography. You can see more of his work on his Web site, Calanan.com, or in his Flickr gallery.
Contents of the Nikon D90 Box
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May 26th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Well done with the review calanan. Very informative.
I’ll echo your remarks here…” I can admit my love for the Nikon D90. That’s right - I love it.” :O)
Rick
May 27th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Very nice review Calanan, I have seen some video examples from the D90 and was really impressed with the quality of the video. Personally I am waiting for Nikon to come out with a full frame D700 version with HD video which I will buy in a heartbeat but I was tempted to pick up the D90 in the interim. I started out with the D70 and moved up the ladder (D80 after and currently I shoot with a pair of D300s) but that D90 definitely looks like a nice piece of equipment.
Thanks for the review of this and congrats on that shot..its a great one!
May 28th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Quite an informative and thorough review, Calanan. It’s not what I’d use as I’m an amateur but I could see professionals interested in the D90. Out of my price range, too.
Appreciate the nice shots. Especially of that young lady leaping on opening page! Good work.
May 31st, 2009 at 11:47 am
that is one amazing capture, calanan!
very nice review. i wasn’t aware the D90 included some D300 features
May 31st, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Very nice! Look forward to more reviews and images!
June 1st, 2009 at 6:04 am
After reading this review to my daughter, she purchased this camera over the weekend. It is very informative and certainly had an impact on her decision to purchase.
I love the your opening shot. It looks like your subject is leaping from island to island across a vast ocean.
Thank you again and please keep us up to date and informed on other products.
I am looking forward to more Calanan reviews.
June 1st, 2009 at 11:24 am
Great shots! Your review is very technical for us amateurs, but the information is understandable - both pros and cons give us something to sink our teeth into before we add to our Nikon collection. Thanks for a well written and thoughtful article. I enjoy your photos; very diverse and always interesting.
June 18th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I own a D90 and yes, I love it. I’m not a pro, by any stretch of the imagination, but I develloped a love for photography and a need to go beyond point-and-shoot cameras.
I own Nikkon’s 50mm F1.8 (A VERY AFFORDABLE MUST!!!), a sigma 70-300mm (I’ll spare you the specifics) and the kit 18-55mm VR (had I known more, I would have bought the 18-105mm bundle
). That with a tripod, a few polarizing filters and the infra-red remote and I think I have a nice (serious enthousiast) starter kit.
I honestly didn’t buy this camera for it’s video capabilities, nor should anybody. Local stores sell affordable vid-cams that’ll do it on standard memory cards and won’t be limited to 5 minutes.
The article states that the camera dos not make the photographer. That’s right, but it help!!!
I can miss my composition, but the pic will still look good.
I’m sure that I won’t regret my purchase, except that it’s creating more need$… LOL
Good day all.
AC