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August 27, 2008: Nikon’s new D90 DSLR achieves a ‘world first’ in being the first DSLR camera with a movie shooting function that delivers genuinely cinematic results, including full depth of field control made possible by the DX-format sensor. Featuring a 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 12.3 megapixels, the D90 has a similar body to the D80 and comes with Nikon’s EXPEED image processor, which enables it to support an extremely wide baseline sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200. This can be increased to Hi 1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) and decreased to Lo 1 (ISO 100 equivalent). The new camera also employs the same Image Sensor Cleaning function as the D300 and D700 models.
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Front view of the D90 with the new AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR zoom lens.
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Back view showing the 3-inch, high-resolution LCD and main controls.
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Top view showing the illuminated LCD panels and flash hot shoe.
The ability to record video is the main feature that sets the D90 in a class of its own. The D90’s sensor, which is much larger than the sensor of a typical camcorder, ensures higher image quality and low-noise at high ISO sensitivities, even during movie shooting. Movie capture is further enhanced by the wide selection of Nikkor interchangeable lenses that are available, from fisheye to wide-angle to super-telephoto or macro.
First introduced in the D3 and D300 models, the D90 also comes with Nikon’s Scene Recognition System in which colour and brightness information from each scene is collected by the 420-pixel RGB sensor and applied to the camera’s auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance. This system has been integrated with a new Face Detection System, which applies the same processing to detected human faces. It also enables face priority AF in Live View mode and immediate zoom into people’s faces in playback zoom, where it can identify up to 10 faces.
The Live View system is similar to other recent Nikon DSLRs, with three contrast-detect AF modes that let you focus on any point in the frame. Face priority AF automatically detects up to five faces and focuses on the one that is the closest. Wide area AF offers a large AF area suitable for handheld shooting, and normal area AF provides focus with pinpoint accuracy when using a tripod. And when Nikon VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses are in use, photographers will enjoy the benefit of a VR-smoothed image in Live View mode.
The D90’s Active D-Lighting can restore shadow and highlight details that may be lost in high-contrast lighting by localising tone control while shooting. Four levels are provided, including a new ‘Extra High’ setting. Active D-Lighting can be used manually or set to Auto mode. It is also possible to bracket shots, allowing the capture of one image with Active D-Lighting and one without.
As well as Auto, P, A, S and M shooting mode, the D90 supports five Advanced Scene Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports and Night Portrait. These modes not only adjust exposure and image processing but also judge the optimum Active D-Lighting and Picture Control settings to obtain the best results. The D90 also recognises if VR (Vibration Reduction) is on or off and minimises noise even in dimly lit scenes. The built-in flash provides coverage for lenses out to 18mm and has a GN of approximately 17 (ISO 200 M) plus Nikon’s iTTL flash control, which can activate up to two groups of remote Speedlights. A wide variety of in-camera image editing functions is provided, making it easy for users to enhance images without the need of a computer. The D90 introduces several new retouch options: Distortion Control adjusts lens aberration, Straighten corrects inclination of the image, while Fisheye produces optical effects similar to a fisheye lens. The D90 also provides extensive playback functions, including 72-frame playback, calendar playback and histogram display for magnified portion of the image.
The camera will be offered in body-only and kit configurations with one or two lenses. The D90 will be offered as follows:
– Body only: $1549
– Body with 18-55mm VR lens: $1649
– Body with 18-105mm VR lens: $1849
– Twin lens kit with 18-55mm VR and 55-200mm VR lenses: $1899 All options are scheduled for release in mid-September. For full product and stockist details, visit www.nikon.com.au.
Image sensor: 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor with approx. 12.9 million photosites (12.3 megapixels effective)
Lens mount: Nikon F bayonet mount with AF coupling and AF contacts
Focal length crop factor: 1.5x
Image formats: NEF (RAW): JPEG ; RAW+JPEG
Image Sizes: DX format, 4288 x 2848, 3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424 Image Stabilisation: lens-based only
Dust removal: Vibration of low-pass filter in front of sensor, Image Dust Off reference
data acquisition (Capture NX 2 required) Shutter speed range: 30 to 1/4000 sec. plus Bulb; X-synch at 1/200 sec.
Exposure Compensation: ±5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Self-timer: Electronically controlled timer with duration of 2, 5, 10 or 20 seconds Focus system: Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module with TTL phase-detection, 11 focus points (one cross-sensor)
Focus modes: Single-servo AF (S); Continuous-servo AF (C); Auto servo, predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status, 2) Manual focus (M) with electronic rangefinder Exposure metering: 3D Colour Matrix Metering II (type G and D lenses); Colour
Matrix Metering II (other CPU lenses); Centre-weighted, Spot metering (approx. 2%) Shooting modes: Program AE, Shutter-priority AE, Aperture-priority AE, Manual; Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Close-up, Night Portrait)
Picture Style/Control settings: Four setting options: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome; storage for up to nine customised settings
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