Buying my Nikon D90 | The Big Foto

On my way to get big photos I started to look more seriously at photography sites before buying my first Digital SLR camera a Nikon D90 with the Nikkor DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6 VR lens by the second half of November 2008, I had no previous experience with that kind of cameras and not much with Point & Shot ones.

I haven’t had much time to learn and develop my photography skills so I am still not getting the same results that I show here on each post. But I have spent so many hours reading and trying to figure out what can be useful for me that despiste I am a novice I can share my thoughts and feelings about photography to help others and try to pay hosting expenses . I will try to share this on weekends and keep the rest of the week for fotos .

So today I am going to talk about my experience with my camera, but also sharing some big photos of Nikon D90.

Note: Nikon cameras show letter D before the number and Canon cameras put it after the number. So D90, D40, D700, D300, D5000 or D3000 are Nikon cameras and 5D, 500D, 7D, 450D or 40D are Canon cameras.

Why I bought Nikon D90?

My father is about retiring and he wanted to learn photography and own a Nikon camera with a lot of megapixels. He has never used a computer and he usually avoids tech related stuff. So I decided to share this hobby with him and to help him to learn photography and minimal photo processing with computers. The brand was decided by my dad preference and because at the time the new camera was Nikon D90 and I like things with many features to explore:

Nikon D90 marketing speech

12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS imaging sensor: Coupled with Nikon’s EXPEED image processing technologies and NIKKOR optics, breathtaking image fidelity is assured.
Continuous shooting as fast as 4.5 frames-per-second: Combined with fast 0.15ms power-up and split-second 65ms shooting lag, dramatic action and decisive moments are captured easily.
World’s first D-SLR with an HD movie mode: Record cinematic-quality 24fps movie clips with sound at up to 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixels) in Motion JPEG format, enhanced by NIKKOR interchangeable lens quality and versatility.
Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200: High signal-to-noise components and design deliver exceptional performance, even at high ISO setting.
3-inch super-density 920,000-dot color LCD monitor: High resolution, 170-degree wide-angle viewing guarantees confident image review and movie playback.
Built-in image sensor cleaning: Effective 4-frequency, ultrasonic sensor cleaning frees image degrading dust particles from the sensor’s optical low pass filter.
11-point AF system: Consistently fast and accurate autofocus, reinforced by the Nikon Scene Recognition System, delivers razor sharpness in a wide variety of conditions.
One-button Live View: Easy to use Live View activates access to 3 contrast detection focus modes including Face Priority AF.
Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II with Scene Recognition System: Nikon’s renowned 420-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II, teamed with the exclusive Scene Recognition System, evaluates images, referencing an on-board database of over 30,000 photographic scenes, for unmatched exposure accuracy.
Comprehensive exposure control: Five advanced scene modes plus Program Auto, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual.
Auto Active D-Lighting: Selectable and Automatic, Active D-Lighting optimizes details within shadows and highlights, taming high-contrast situations in real time.
Durable, high precision shutter: Testing to over 100,000 cycles assures shutter life and accuracy.
In-Camera Image Editing: Creative freedom stems from exclusive in-camera image editing, featuring Fisheye effect, Straighten and Distortion Control as well as D-Lighting, Red-eye Reduction, Image Overlay, Monochrome and more.
GPS geo-tagging: GP-1 GPS unit (optional) provides automatic real-time geo-tagging.

Nikon D90 Tech Specs

Image Sensor Format

DX
Image Sensor Type
CMOS
Sensor Size
15.8 x 23.6mm
Total Pixels
12.9 million
Effective Pixels
12.3 million
Image Area (pixels)
DX-format (L) 4288×2848 (M)3216×2136 (S)2144×1424
Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution
4.5 frames per second
Continuous Shooting Options

DX-format CH: Up to 4.5 frames per second CL: Up to 4 frames per second
LCD Monitor Size

3 in. diagonal
LCD Monitor Type

Super Density
LCD Monitor Resolution
920,000 Dots
LCD Monitor Angle of View

170-degree wide-viewing angle
LCD Monitor Adjustments
Brightness,7 levels
Shutter type

Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane
Slowest Shutter Speed
30 sec. in steps of 1/3 1/2 1 EV
Fastest Shutter Speed

1/4000 sec. in steps of 1/3 1/2 1 EV
Bulb Shutter Setting

Yes
Lowest Standard ISO Sensitivity

200 in steps of 1/3 1/2 1 EV
Highest Standard ISO Sensitivity

3200 in steps of 1/3 1/2 1 EV
Lowest Expanded ISO Sensitivity

Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent)
Highest Expanded ISO Sensitvity

Hi-1 (ISO 6400 equivalent)
Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options

Lo-1 (ISO 100 equivalent) in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV Hi-1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV
Storage Media
SD SDHC
File Format
JPEG: JPEG-baseline-compliant; can be selected from Size Priority and Optimal Quality AVI Compressed 12-bit NEF (RAW)
File System
Compliant with DCF 2.0 DPOF EXIF 2.21
Exposure Modes
Programmed Auto (P) with Flexible Program Shutter-Priority Auto (S) Aperture-Priority Auto (A) Manual (M) Auto Auto (flash off) Advanced Scene Modes
Advanced Scene Modes
Portrait Landscape Close-up Sports Night Portrait
Exposure Metering System
420 pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering II Center-weighted Spot
Metering Range
1) 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering); 2) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20 degrees C/68 degrees F)
Exposure Meter Coupling
CPU
Exposure Compensation
±5EV in increments of 1/3 1/2 1
Exposure Lock
Yes
Exposure Bracketing
Yes 2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
Shutter Release Modes
Single-frame [S] mode Continuous low-speed [CL] mode; 1-4 frames-per-second Live View [LV] mode Self-timer mode Continuous high-speed [CH] mode: 4.5
Movie Modes
Movie with sound HD 1280 x 720/24 fps VGA 640 x 424/24 fps QVGA 320 x 216/24 fps
White Balance
Sun Shade Fluorescent Incandescent Flash Preset Fine Tune by Kelvin color temperature setting Auto Auto (TTL white balance with 420-pixel RGB sensor) Seven manual modes with fine-tuning; Sun Shade Fluorescent Incandescent Flash Preset Fine Tune by Kelvin Color temperature setting
White Balance Bracketing
Yes, 2 or 3 exposures, in increments of 1, 2 or 3
D-Lighting Bracketing
2 exposures
Live View Shooting
yes
Playback Functions
Full frame Zoom Slideshow Pictmotion Histogram display Shooting data Highlight point display Auto image rotation Sound playback D-Movie playback Thumbnail (4, 9, 72 segments) Calendar
Interface
Hi-speed USB NTSC HDMI
Lens Mount
Nikon F bayonet mount
Compatible Lenses
1) DX AF NIKKOR: All functions possible 2) D-/G-type AF NIKKOR (excluding IX NIKKORlenses): All functions possible (excluding PC Micro- NIKKOR) 3) AF NIKKOR other than D-/G-type (excluding lenses for F3AF): All functions except 3D-Color Matrix Metering II possible 4) AI-P NIKKOR: All functions except Autofocus, 3D-Color Matrix Metering II possible 5) Non-CPU AI NIKKOR: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure modes A and M but exposure meter does not function. Electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is 5.6 or faster; Color Matrix Metering and aperture value display supported if user provides
Picture Angle
1.5
Viewfinder
-2.0 to +1.0 m-1
Viewfinder Frame Coverage
Approx. 96%
Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment
(-2.0 to +1.0 m-1)
Viewfinder Eyepoint
19.5
Reflex Mirror
Quick-return type
Focusing Screen
Type-B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with superimposed focus brackets and On-Demand grid lines
Interchangeable Focusing Screens

No
Viewfinder Magnification

Approx. 0.94
Depth-of-field Control
Yes
Autofocus System

Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including 1 cross-type sensor) and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft. 8 in.-9ft.10 in.)
Maximum Autofocus Areas/Points
11
Autofocus Sensitivity
-1 – +19 EV (ISO 100, 20°C/68°F
Focus Modes
Single-servo AF (S) Continuous-servo (C) Manual (M) with electronic rangefinder Live View autofocus; Face-priority, wide area, normal area
Single-point AF Mode
Yes
Dynamic AF Mode
Yes
Auto-area AF Mode
Yes
Focus Lock
AE-L/AF-L button Half press of shutter-release button (single-point AF in AF-S)
Picture Control
Standard Neutral Vivid Monochrome Portrait Landscape Nine User-customizable settings
In-Camera Image Editing
Trim D-Lighting Color Balance Image Overlay Filter Effects Distortion Control Monochrome NEF (RAW) processing Quick retouch Straighten Fisheye Small picture Red-eye correction
Built-in Flash
Yes
External Flash Shoe
Yes
Built-in Flash Distance
56 at ISO 200 ft.17 at ISO 200m
Dust-Off Reference Photo
Yes
Save/Load Camera settings
Yes
Nikon Creative Lighting System Compatibility
Yes Built-in Commander Mode 2 Groups: A/B 4 Channels: 1-4 TTL, Non-TTL Auto and Manual mode
Flash Sync Speed
Up to 1/200
FP High Speed Sync
up to 1/4000
Flash Sync Modes
Front-curtain sync (normal) Slow sync Rear-curtain sync Red-eye reduction Red-eye reduction with slow sync
Flash Control
1) i-TTL: TTL flash control by 1,005-pixel RGB sensor, built-in flash, SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash 2) AA (Auto Aperture-type) flash: Available with SB-900 and SB-800 used with CPU lens 3) Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 28, 27, and 22S 4) Range-priority manual flash; available with SB-900 and SB-800
Accessory Shoe
Yes
Self-timer
2, 5, 10, 20 seconds duration
World Time Setting
Yes
Date, Time and Daylight Savings Time Settings
Yes
Battery Type
Rechargeable
Battery / Batteries
EN-EL3e Lithium-ion Battery
AC Adaptor
EH-5a AC Adapter
Battery Charger
MH-18a Quick Charger
Image Comment
Yes
Battery Life (shots per charge)
850 shots (CIPA)
Tripod Socket
¼ inch 20
Approx. Dimensions
Width 5.2 in. (132mm) Height 4.1 in. (103mm) Depth 3.0 in. (77mm)
Approx. Weight
22 oz. (620g)
Supported Languages
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish
Supplied Software
Software Suite CD-ROM
Optional Accessories
MB-D80 Multi-Power Battery Pack, ML-L3 wireless remote control, DK-21M Magnifying Eyepiece, EH-5a AC Adapter, Capture NX2 Software, Camera Control Pro 2
Other
Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.
Supplied Accessories
- EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- MH-18a Quick Charger
- DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
- DK-21 Rubber Eyecup
- UC-E4 USB Cable
- EG-D2 Audio Video Cable
- AN-DC1 Camera Strap
- BM-10 LCD Monitor Cover
- Body Cap
- BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover
- Software Suite CD-ROM
*Supplied accessories may differ depending on country or area.

I decided to buy it in a local physical store due to proximity and services, among them monthly payments without interests. At the time I bought it there were 3 kits:

Nikon D90 with the Nikkor DX 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 VR lens 100%
Nikon D90 with the Nikkor DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6 VR lens 109.9%
Nikon D90 with the Nikkor DX 18-200mm f3.5-5.6 VR lens 149.9%

I discarded 18-55mm option because the range was small and with extra 9.9% I can get almost double range. I discarded 18-200mm option because when I hold the D90 with that lens the camera it weighted more than I expected.

Now there are more kit options at lower prices but I am happy with my choice Nikon D90 with the Nikkor DX 18-105mm f3.5-5.6 VR lens.