Nikon has entered the serious ultra-zoom digicam market with the Nikon Coolpix P90, which combines a 24x optical long-range focal point with a 6.13 x 4.6mm CCD sensor with a successful resolution of 12.1 megapixels. It’s not the longest long-range focal point on the Digicam market (Olympus orders a lead with 26x on the SP-560UZ) and the P90 is a huge and stout camera. However, it has a couple of elements to draw in photographic artists who don’t need an SLR.
Key Features:
- Zoom: 24x optical
- Resolution: 12.1Mp
- Sensor size: 1/2.33in
- Sensor type: CCD
- Max. picture size: 4000×3000
- Document type: JPEG
- Awareness: ISO64-6400
- Capacity: 47Mb interior, SD, SDHC cards (MMC not acknowledged)
- Focus Types: Face identification, auto, manual, focus spot
- Typical Focusing: 50cm-infinity
- Close focusing: 1cm-boundlessness
- Metering types: Matrix, focus weighted, spot, spot AF region
- Exposure Compensation: +/ – 2EV in 1/3 stage increases
- Shutter Speed: 8sec-1/2000sec
- Flash: Built-in
- Screen: 3-inch articulated LCD
- Interface: USB 2.0
- Power: Li-Ion battery
- Size: 114x99x83mm
- Weight: 460g excl. battery and card
Handling
Estimating 114x83x99mm, the COOLPIX P90 is 10mm smaller and 5mm more limited than the most outstanding opponent the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS, so saw from the front it looks easily more modest – however the Nikon is 12mm thicker on account of a focal point barrel and viewfinder lodging which broadens outwards further. Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FZ28 is 4mm more extensive than the P90, however, 8mm more limited and 10mm more slender, making it the littlest of the three by and large.
The COOLPIX P90 feels genuinely light, weighing 490g with its battery, although Panasonic’s FZ28 figures out how to be lighter currently at only 417g with a battery. The two models fall way underneath the general haul of Canon’s SX10 IS which when fitted with four AA batteries tips the scales at 680g. Without a doubt as commented in our SX10 IS audit, its functional weight is just 20g lighter than Canon’s EOS 1000D/XS DSLR complete with battery and (as a matter of fact just 3x) pack focal point.
Ever the expert in ergonomics, Nikon has reasonably covered the P90’s grasp with an elastic completion that permits you to hold it safely. Interestingly, Canon’s SX10 IS might have a chunkier hold, however, its sparkly plastic completion feels very tricky in the test. The form quality is generally like the Canon and Panasonic super-zooms with the P90 feeling strong and all-around developed. In our view it felt the best-adjusted of the three, keeping away from the practically unfilled sensation of the FZ28 and the astounding heave of the SX10 IS.
Battery and Connectivity
The COOLPIX P90 is fueled by a thin 1100mAh Lithium-Ion battery pack which Nikon claims is great for around 200 shots under CIPA conditions. This is significantly lower than the 460 of the Panasonic FZ28 and the 340 or 600 of the Canon SX10 IS relying upon whether you’re utilizing Alkalines or NiMH rechargeables individually. Mains activity is conceivable with the discretionary EH-62A AC connector unit. The battery compartment furthermore houses an SD memory card opening, and close by the entryway, in the focal point of the body, is a metal mount string.
Behind a little fold in the upper right corner of the camera’s back are a consolidated USB and standard TV yield; unfortunately, like the SX10 IS, there’s no HD network here, yet a few adversaries are better-prepared in such a manner: Panasonic’s FZ28 offers HD yield utilizing a discretionary simple part video link, while the Sony HX1, Olympus SP-590UZ, and Canon SX1 are all sport HDMI ports.
A generally lengthy ‘nose’ area at the highest point of the body obliges a flash that springs up easily higher than that on the Canon SX10 IS/SX1 IS, permitting it to all the more likely keep away from red-eye. Like the Canon models and Panasonic’s FZ28, you want to lift the glimmer by hand physically. This dodges any undesirable shocks, although you truly do need to make sure to raise it when required, even in completely Auto modes. Like most super-zooms, there’s no glimmer hotshoe; the Canon SX10 IS/SX1 is the special case here flaunting one to interface outside flashguns, albeit the Olympus SP-590UZ offers remote command over viable flashguns.
Zoom Range
The 24x optical zoom range is the feature element of the COOLPIX P90, making it one of the longest super-zoom ranges available today. The 26-624mm identical reach zooms are more extensive and longer than the 18x (27-486mm equiv) of the Panasonic FZ28 and the 20x (28-560mm equiv) of the Canon SX10 IS/SX1 IS and Sony HX1. Barely beating the P90 in having the longest scope of all however is the Olympus SP-590UZ which flaunts nothing under a 26x zoom that begins at a similar 26mm likeness to the Nikon, yet stretches out somewhat further to 676mm.
While Nikon can’t guarantee the longest zoom available, the 24x scope of the COOLPIX P90 unquestionably isn’t prohibitive in any capacity. For sure, beginning at a nice wide point likeness of 26mm before zooming into a strong 624mm at the telephoto end gives you incredible compositional adaptability.
The central proportion of f2.8-5.0 is generally equivalent to match super-zooms, albeit somewhat more splendid at the fax end than the f5.7 of the Canon SX10 IS/SX1 IS. The nearest focusing distance of 1cm sounds amazing, however, is good enough with the present super-zooms: it matches the nearest focusing distance of the Panasonic FZ28, even though Canon’s SX10 IS/SX1 IS can truly concentrate at no cm with the subject contacting the finish of the lens barrel – clearly best utilized for illuminated subjects.
A manual focusing mode allows you to make fine changes utilizing the all-over buttons and the guide of an amplified region that either fills the screen or possesses a window in the center. You can likewise lock the concentration at vastness whenever wanted.
Lens
Like Panasonic’s FZ28, the P90’s lens cap clasps to the static external barrel of the focal point lodging, and as such annoyingly impedes the focal point from stretching out during power-up. Leaving the cap on while the focal point falls flat to go anyplace brings about a crushing followed by an advance notice to eliminate the cap before fueling now and again; why all super-zooms can’t have focal point covers that just clasp to the broadening a piece of the barrel like the Canon SX10 IS/SX1 IS, we don’t have the foggiest idea.
With the cap eliminated, the P90 broadens its focal point barrel by 16mm and is good to go in around 2.5 seconds. Zooming to the greatest central length broadens the barrel by an impressive 60mm and there are two zooming speeds relying upon how far you push the switch. We counted around 25 stages across the reach, and peculiarly while there was no reeling while going from wide to tele, there were very recognizable sways heading back in the other path.
Vibration Reduction
Nikon’s outfitted the COOLPIX P90 with Vibration Reduction facilities to balance camera shake, albeit not at all like the optical framework utilized on Canon and Panasonic’s super-zooms, also Nikon’s DSLR focal points, the VR on the P90 shifts the genuine sensor inside the body; we’ve seen a comparable framework utilized on Olympus super-zooms. Cunningly the framework can identify the level or vertical panning and consequently drop the adjustment on the pivot that is in conscious movement. Sensor-shift VR isn’t accessible in the film mode, however, which rather utilizes an electronic VR framework whenever wanted.
Shutter Speed
Conventional visual guidance would suggest a shutter speed of something like 1/624 to wipe out the camera shake, so accomplishing practically complete sharpness at 1/80 with adjustment demonstrates the framework is great for around three stops of remuneration.
The COOLPIX P90 offers screen speeds from 1/2000 to 8 seconds, with an additional 1/4000 speed open in Continuous H shooting mode. There are additionally ten exposure settings from f2.8 to f8 when zoomed out. Like most super-zooms, you have unlimited oversight over the two settings with the P90’s Manual, Aperture, and Shutter Priority modes; Program shift is likewise accessible. In each, a little thumbwheel is utilized to change the settings.
It is anyway critical to note we encountered more camera shake with the P90 when zoomed-in than rivals like the Panasonic FZ28 and Canon SX10 IS, expected part of the way to its somewhat less successful sensor-shift adjustment framework and its more extended central length.
The most extreme likeness 624mm is too long to even consider being balanced out by an anti-shake framework except if additionally combined with a sensibly fast shutter speed – which thus implies brilliant circumstances or knocking up the ISO awareness. As our outcomes here and in the gallery demonstrate, it is feasible to handhold at 624mm with VR under the right circumstances, yet don’t anticipate wonders – this is, all things considered, an extremely lengthy central length.
Screen
Round the back, you’ll track down a 3 screen with 230k pixels – a similar resolution as its opponents, yet marginally bigger than most: the Panasonic FZ28 and Olympus SP-590UZ both have 2.7in screens, while the Canon SX10 IS and the prior COOLPIX P80 have 2.5in models. Sony’s HX1 matches the 3in size of the P90 and again shares a similar 230k resolution.
Being used we observed the P90’s screen looked very coarse and less energetic than rivals like the SX10 IS and FZ28. It very well may be contended that 230k isn’t an adequate resolution for a 3-in screen, yet Canon’s SD 880IS/IXUS 870 IS demonstrates 230k/3in screens can look much better. So while the P90’s screen quality isn’t by and large awful, it’s only not quite as attractive as its adversaries.
Like the Sony HX1, the P90’s screen is mounted on a flexible stage that slants downwards dependent upon 45 degrees to permit a more straightforward review with the camera held upward. With the screen shifted out you can then contort it to confront straightforwardly upwards for outlining at low points. This gives the P90 (and Sony HX1) more prominent compositional adaptability than cameras with fixed screens like the Panasonic FZ28 and Olympus SP-590UZ. Neither the Nikon nor Sony can match the total adaptability of Canon’s screen on the SX10 IS/SX1 IS however which can flip and curve to confront straightforwardly up or down, also confronting the subject or back on itself for insurance.
Electronic Viewfinder
Like most super-zoom cameras, the P90 is likewise furnished with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) as an elective method for synthesis. As a 0.24in sort, it’s nearer in clear size to Panasonic’s FZ28, the two of which are predominated by the moderately enormous (however consequently coarse) perspective on the 0.44in EVF on the Canon SX10 IS.
Pressing the DISP button cycles between a spotless perspective on the organization, one with shooting data, and one with an arrangement lattice. These are repeated on the EVF which is flipped with the screen utilizing the screen button; unfortunately dissimilar to Canon’s SX10 IS/SX1 IS and Panasonic’s FZ28, there’s no live histogram choice
During playback you can see a splendor histogram, however, alongside a perfect perspective on the picture or one with shooting data, again cycled utilizing the DISP button.
Shooting Mode
Evading the pattern of most advanced cameras, the COOLPIX P90 doesn’t have a super-forced menu framework offering fast admittance to normal settings.
So beyond the flash, macro, compensation, and self-timer options got to utilizing the four-way control on the back, you’ll have to enter the primary menu framework. Picture quality, white equilibrium, responsiveness, and metering are all together on the principal page.
The customary PASM modes are joined on the fundamental mode dial via Auto, Sport Continuous (which shoots up to 45 lower goal pictures at up to 15fps), Scene (the decision of 16 presets chosen on-screen), Scene Auto (which utilizes Scene recognition to switch between six presets or Auto), the film mode and two client settings.
Scene recognition is new to the P90 and permits the camera to assess the subject before it and consequently switch between Landscape, Portrait, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Closeup, and Backlight. Following past tests with cameras brandishing scene recognition, we pointed the P90 at far-off mountains before going to confront individuals at last to an assortment of close subjects.
The camera effectively perceived the mountains and individuals, exchanging into the scene and afterward representation modes yet ended up being mistaken for close subjects in any event, when it was focusing at distances of only a couple of inches. It confused a dark PC console with a night scene and an opponent camera for an illuminated representation. As such it wasn’t as consistent an encounter as found on Panasonic’s FZ28 or Canon’s extremely most recent models (tragically excluding the SX10 IS).
Face Detection
Face identification functioned admirably on the P90 however and was supplemented by a smile and squint discovery options in the self-timer. If you set the previous, the P90 trusts that the subject will grin following a short commencement. Dissimilar to Sony’s smile detection which as a matter of course demands colossal excited smiles, we observed the P90 was very touchy with modest smiles setting off the shutter.
The P90 will keep on taking photographs when it recognizes a smile for up to nine shots, even though you can drop the interaction by pressing the shutter release. The Blink Proof choice again trusts that the subject will grin following a short commencement, yet when distinguished it’ll take two photographs one after another and reject any with flickering eyes.
Both the smile and flicker self-timer options functioned admirably, during ordinary shooting, we observed the P90 frequently cautioned of squinting eyes on representations when they were open; fortunately, it will not erase them in this occurrence except if you tell it to.
D-lighting Capacities
Like the organization’s DSLRs, the COOLPIX P90 offers Active D-Lighting capacities to consequently change the difference of pictures to keep away from lost detail in dim features of splendid features. The P90 offers High, Normal, Low, or the default Off choices. Practically speaking it tends to be very successful, particularly with emphatically illuminated subjects, yet any increase in shadow regions is done at the expense of expanded commotion levels – and recall these are as of now more regrettable than a DSLR.
Film Mode
The COOLPIX P90 has a film mode that is chosen from the mode dial and began by pressing the shutter release button. The greatest resolution of 640×480 pixels is accessible at 30 or 15fps, and there’s the choice of a lower 320×240 pixel mode at 15fps just, albeit in the decision of typical variety, sepia or highly contrasting.
All films are put away with mono sound in an AVI covering and you’re taking a gander at around 1MB each second utilizing the best quality 640×480/30fps mode. The greatest recording time is 25 minutes. Vibration Reduction becomes electronic just in the film mode and when you begin recording you tragically can’t change the optical zoom; just a 2x advanced zoom is available.
Being used, the best quality video mode is genuinely normal: it’s not terrible, however positive not a big deal. The video modes on rivals like Panasonic’s FZ28 and Canon SX10 IS however look better and both can work their optical zooms while recording.
Furthermore, the FZ28 gloats a 720p HD mode, while the Canon offers clear sound system sound. You can see an illustration of the P90’s best quality video mode to one side, which incorporates an exhibit of the advanced zoom towards the end; enrolled individuals from Vimeo can download the first record here.
One reward presented by the P90 however is a period pass film mode option which records up to 1800 casings at spans between 30 seconds and an hour; these are then gathered into a 640×480 film at 30fps, so if you record the full 1800 edges, the film will most recent 60 seconds. It’s great too in any case to figure out an opportunity to pass video choice when organizations like Canon eliminated the capacity on its most recent models. Sound recording is likewise conceivable on the P90 with documents enduring as long as two hours, memory allowing.
Other Modes
The P90 offers an assortment of drive modes. The essential Continuous mode shoots up to 25 full-resolution outlines yet at a sluggish 1.4fps. Fortunately like numerous digital cameras nowadays, there are high-velocity options that can shoot a lot quicker, yet at a decreased resolution and high responsiveness.
The P90 furthermore includes the Best Shot Selector highlight (BSS) of prior models which can take up to ten pictures while the shutter release is held, and the most honed is kept (by contrasting JPEG record size). A Multi-shot choice shoots 16 pictures at around 7.5fps and orchestrates them as thumbnails in a 4×4 course of action on a single picture. An Interval Shooting option allows you to shoot somewhere in the range of 30 and 600 pictures at times of 30 seconds to ten minutes separated.
The P90’s Continuous H mode chosen from the Sports Continuous mode on the dial can record up to 45 frames at a resolution of 3 Megapixels and a speed of around 11fps. We oversaw 45 frameworks in five seconds practically speaking, relating to a speed of 9fps. If you’re willing to drop to a 2 Megapixel 16:9 mode, the speed can increment to up to 15fps.
We oversaw 45 edges in 3.5 seconds, relating to a speed of 13fps. The two rates estimated might be somewhat slower than cited, yet are even more than quick enough to catch quick activity arrangements. One extra caveat beyond the decreased resolution is the moderately high working awareness of 640-6400 ISO, however again this is not all bad on rival models.
Sensor
At the core of the COOLPIX P90 is a 12.1 Megapixel CCD sensor estimated 1/2.33in; that is two a greater number of Megapixels than its ancestor in a similar surface region. The P90 has a similar sensor detail as the Olympus SP-590UZ, and both brag higher resolutions than their adversaries. Standard’s SX10 IS and Panasonic’s FZ28 both utilize 10 Megapixel/1/2.3in CCD sensors, while Sony’s HX1 has a 9.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor estimating 1/2.4in (although its ‘lower’ resolution is repaid by a wide margin predominant persistent shooting).
The P90’s sensor conveys pictures with the greatest resolution of 4000×3000 pixels, which can be printed up to 13.3×10 at 300 dpi. Seven lower goals and edited 16:9, 3:2, and 1:1 modes are available, and pictures can be recorded with one or the other Fine, Normal, or Basic JPEG pressure. There’s no RAW mode – you’ll require the Panasonic Lumix FZ28 or Canon PowerShot SX1 IS for that.
Set to 12M mode, these three pressure settings convey documents that ordinarily measure 5.8, 2.9, or 1.4MB individually. The P90 incorporates around 47MB of inner memory, even though you’ll need to furnish it with an SD memory card as soon as possible.
Controls
Image Source Photographyblog.com
More than most lengthy zooms, the Nikon P90 depends on its all-around planned menu framework as opposed to committed buttons to design the camera. There are so a couple of controls on the Nikon P90 that the Quick Start Guide needs an outline of the rear of the camera to show them all.
On the top front of the grasp, the Shutter button is exactly where you’d hope to observe it, encompassed by the Zoom control. The Zoom ring was one of the genuine frustrations on the Nikon P90. It is impossible to zoom gradually or with little advances. The zoom hops at the smallest poke, making it difficult to painstakingly create your shots.
Right behind those two fundamental controls is the chrome Power button with a little green LED in it. It’s recessed however we didn’t experience a lot of difficulties utilizing it. The LED was somewhat delayed to light while utilizing the Playback button on the backboard to control the Nikon P90 on without expanding the focal point, yet that is our main grumbling.
To one side on the top board is the Mode dial. It expands somewhat over the sloped back edge inside simple reach so you can curve it to some other setting with only your thumb.
There is a button to pop up the flash on the left half of the glimmer. However, there are no controls on the facade of the Nikon P90. However, there is a self-adjust help/self-timer light between the focal point and the grasp. Also, the amplifier is only close to that.
The right side has the AV/USB port behind an elastic cover and the left side has the speaker. The backboard is overwhelmed by the 3.0-inch, 230K pixel LCD. That is a major LCD for any camera and addresses a high resolution for a digicam if not a DSLR, but rather it’s additionally an enunciated LCD.
The explanation permits you to swing the Nikon P90’s LCD up 90 degrees so it’s opposite to the camera, permitting you to put the camera on the ground yet see what’s happening. It likewise permits you to swing it down 45 degrees to the camera, so you can hold it straight over your head in a group.
Like the Sony HX1’s LCD, you can’t swing it sideways, however, something entertaining about that. The cameras that truly do have LCDs that swing sideways, similar to the Canon SX1, were off-kilter to such an extent that I wound up shutting them in the customary situation on the back. What’s more, the two truly significant positions an enunciated LCD gives are low and high camera positions.
The switch button for EVF/LCD show is to one side of the EVF. On the left half of the Nikon P90’s EVF itself is the diopter change control. The EVF is hard elastic, not plastic. I would have favored delicate elastic so eyeglass coatings wouldn’t be risked, yet I experienced no difficulty with the hard elastic. To one side of the EVF is the Display button that cycles through the screen to show options.
At the extreme right edge of the top board is a Command Dial, one of our number one controls, acquired from DSLRs. The leftover controls are situated on one side of the Nikon P90’s LCD. The Multi Selector with an OK button in the middle is encircled by three more modest buttons. On top to one side is the Playback button, which likewise turns the camera on without broadening the focal point. Underneath the Multi Selector to the left is the Menu button to get to the menu situation and on the right is the Delete button.
The four-bolt fastens on the Multi Selector carry out twofold responsibility in Record mode. The Up bolt goes through the Flash modes (Auto, Auto with red-eye decrease, Off, Slow Sync, Fill-flash, and Rear-drapery sync). The Right bolt handles EV Compensation. The Down bolt shows the Focus modes (Auto, Infinity, Macro, Manual). Also, the Left bolt burns through the Shutter Release modes (10-and 2-second self-clocks, Smile clock, and Blink Proof).
Having the option to immediately set a long zoom to concentrate at vastness so it won’t sit around idly attempting to self-adjust on a far-off object at long fax central lengths is a major benefit. A few long zooms conceal this fundamental order, however, the Nikon P90 puts it right readily available.
Furthermore, the Macro mode demonstrates center reach by changing the blossom full-scale symbol in the presentation from white to green. That is exceptionally useful because dissimilar to certain cameras, the Nikon P90 can shoot full scale at central lengths other than wide-point.
The Smile timer is a fascinating choice to contemplate at whatever point you may be leaned to involve the typical self-clock choices for a gathering shot. Pressing the shutter button completely will defer the shutter somewhere around five seconds before Nikon P90 searches for a grinning face. If it observes one, it fires the shutter.
Squint Proof works like the Smile clock however makes two efforts if somebody flickers, then it thinks about the two shots and recovers the one without the squinting subject.
These may seem like little things, yet it’s uplifting to see some digicam propels showing up in more genuine cameras. Sony drives the way here with comparable facial recognition stunts as well as its Sweep Panorama and Handheld Twilight modes. A few organizations appear to be somewhat hesitant to incorporate highlights like these yet whenever you’ve utilized them, you miss them.
One thing we missed on the Nikon P90 was a hot shoe like the Canon SX1 or the Kodak Z980. If you will utilize flash by any stretch of the imagination, getting it off the camera improves things greatly. A long zoom’s flash, maybe, is to the least extent liable to get any activity. What’s more, you can continuously dial down the popup flash ability to fire a slave. So this isn’t basic, simply badly designed.
Pros of Nikon Coolpix P90:
- 24X Optical Zoom
- Optical Image Stabilization
- Electronic viewfinder
- Articulating Screen
- 26mm Wide Angle Lens
- 1/4000s High Shutter Speed
- Manual Focusing
Cons of Nikon Coolpix P90:
- No Wireless Connection
- No Environmental Sealing
FAQs
Is the Nikon Coolpix P90 a good camera?
The Nikon Coolpix P90 is a wonderful camera, unquestionably one of the most incredible super-zoom span cameras available, It is appealingly and reasonably designed, all-around made, performs well, and delivers incredible picture quality.
Is the Nikon Coolpix P90 a DSLR camera?
The Nikon Coolpix P90 isn’t quite as adaptable as a genuine DSLR camera regarding its key specifications, with a restricting most extreme shutter speed of 8 seconds and an aperture range of f/2.8-8.0.
How much is a Nikon Coolpix P90?
The Nikon Coolpix P90 costs $9900.
What year did the Nikon Coolpix P90 come out?
The Nikon Coolpix P90 was released by Nikon on February 3, 2009, as a superior adaptation of the Nikon Coolpix P80.
Final Words
For many people, the Nikon P90 will create sufficient results for normal print sizes, notwithstanding the overaggressive commotion concealment, yet Auto white balance will frequently dishearten, and the focal point could utilize a hood. Doubtlessly that the Nikon P90 is amusing to use, with a zoom that covers an astonishing reach and frequently creates pictures you’ll appreciate, yet the Auto white balance specifically makes it more challenging to focus on this 24x long-zoom camera.