Cameras: Nikon Coolpix P90 Digital Camera – Review – 77
A renowned manufacturer of professional and amateur dSLR cameras, Nikon also produces a respectable range of digital compacts. The P90 is a mix of the two, packing a digital compact camera into a lightweight dSLR-style body.
The P90 has a solid look and feel reminiscent of Nikon’s high-end dSLR family. The construction is good, with metal screen hinges, strap loops and a metal tripod socket. Rubber finger and thumb pads make the grip particularly comfortable, and the controls are smooth and responsive.
The lens is protected by a solid cap with a good locking mechanism to prevent it falling off in transit. The camera will refuse to power on if the lens cap is in place – an annoyance if you just want to view images but a power saver if something hits the start button inside your camera bag.
Image quality is good for a digital compact, with sharp edges and vivid colours. In high-contrast situations the colour depth can be amazing, and the P90 is the best compact camera with which I’ve ever shot a sunset.
Despite a large, quality Nikon lens, the P90 has a tiny 1/2.33-inch 12 megapixel image sensor. That many pixels in a small sensor is going to result in noise, especially when the lights dim. The P90′s lens does provide great zoom, but it’s not going to give you dSLR performance.
The P90 offers a wide range of shooting modes, including the full range of manual modes not found on lower end compacts (aperture priority, shutter priority, program, full manual). The preset shooting modes are useful, and the manual modes provide access to a number of optional settings that aren’t usually visible. Choosing the right mode for your scene can make a big difference, more so than on many digital compacts where the auto mode can handle pretty much anything.
The P90 features a variable angle LCD monitor. It doesn’t swing around horizontally and nor can it be flipped closed, as seen on several Canon models, but it does provide a good range of vertical adjustment. This is a real help when shooting from above or below eye level. The LCD’s resolution isn’t great, but images do appear sharp and colours are true.
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) is equal in quality to the monitor, though you can make out individual pixels when it’s right up against your eye. The EVF does provide dioptre adjustment, which some compact cameras such as the Pentax X70 do not. The bespectacled may find this a major advantage, as the EVF certainly has its uses.
Nikon’s Coolpix P90 offers a wide range of features and a zoom level uncommon among digital compact cameras. It’s not ideal for those who never leave the auto mode, however it makes a great choice for those who love to delve into manual settings but don’t want to stretch to dSLR hardware.
HARLEY OGIER
Tech Specs
Coolpix P90
Digital Camera
$1099
Effective Pixels: 12.1 million
Lens: 4.6-110.4mm (35mm equivalent 26-624mm)
Viewfinder: 0.24-inch TFT LCD, 230,000 dots, 
dioptre adjustment
Monitor: 3.0-inch variable angle TFT LCD, 230,000 dots
Shutter: 1/2000 to 8 seconds
Aperture: f2.8-f5.0
ISO: 64-6400
Exposure Metering: 
256-segment matrix, centre-weighted, spot, spot AF area
Internal Memory: ~47MB
Media: SD
File Format: JPEG, AVI, WAV
Flash: Built-in popup
Interface: USB,
 composite video out
Batteries: Rechargeable Lithium-ion, 
approx 200 images
Dimensions: 114 x 83 x 99mm
Weight: 490g with battery
PROS
- High image quality
- Variable angle LCD
CONS
- Some issues with noise
VERDICT
- A nice halfway house between dSRL and compact that doesn’t compromise on features
Contact
This Review is from Tone Issue #77.
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