Nikon Coolpix P90 Review
Nikon’s Coolpix P90 is a camera that can not only make you smile but capture them as well … then shoots people only with their eyes open.
It looks a little like an interchangeable dSLR but it’s far smaller and lighter (500 grams). Then you look at the lens: a 24x Nikkor zoom — just try and find one for a dSLR!
The zoom at the wide end (as a 35 SLR equivalent) is 26mm and racks out to a tele setting of 624mm.
The CCD captures 12.1 megapixels and can seize a maximum image size of 4000×3000 pixels.
Nikon P90 Features
The 7.6cm vari-angle LCD screen rolls through a vertical arc of 135 degrees but does not swivel laterally (bummer!) … The turret finder is also an LCD — not an optical one.
External controls are relatively few, while the viewfinder menu confirms image size, ISO speed etc. The mode dial offers options of auto, Program AE, shutter or aperture priority plus manual. There are two custom positions that can store personal settings like ISO rating, white balance, metering mode etc.
Face detection: The P90 can detect as many as 12 faces in shot, locking in correct focus and exposure. Then there’s the Smile Timer, which releases the shutter only when the subject smiles. A Blink Proof function automatically shoots two sequential frames and saves only the shot with the subject’s eyes wide open.
The P90’s vibration reduction uses an optical system, built into the lens. This works on stills shooting but an electronic method is used to stabilise movie shooting.
Movies? The P90 only captures 640×480 pixel SD quality. A camera at this price level screams out for High Def video.
The ISO range can run up to 6400, but ISO 3200 and 6400 sensitivity can only be used with a smaller image size. At higher ISO levels you may also have to use the P90’s noise reduction feature — supported at shutter speeds of ¼ second or less.
Lens
The lens is well-corrected with only a little barrel distortion at the wide end of the zoom and no sign of any problems at the tele end. The camera as a clever menu ‘fix’ that can remove this problem in-camera: setting the camera to correct distortion gives you a final shot with the barrel distortion removed.
Continuous shooting of full size images can be made at a speed of 1.4 fps but if you’re happy with a smaller image size you can tap into Sports Continuous mode and shoot 45 1920×1080 pixel shots at 15 fps in the 16:9 aspect ratio. This would deliver impressive High Def movie clips of sports action.
A useful cache continuously stores the 10 frames immediately prior to firing the shutter, so you should never miss the peak of the action.
The P90 is close to a dSLR in style yet brings that experience without the penalties of weight and size.
I found in my tests the zoom’s range a whiz! The only thing you may face is that, in tele, over a long distance that atmospheric haze may spoil your shot.
A high quality compact digicam with a magic zoom!
Nikon P90 Specifications
- Image Sensor: 10.9mm. 12.1 million effective pixels.
- Lens: Zoom-Nikkor f2.8-5.0/4.6-110.4mm. 26-624mm (35mm equiv). 4x digital zoom.
- Focus Range: Normal: 50cm-infinity; macro: 1cm-infinity.
- Metering: 256-segment matrix metering, centre-weighted metering, spot, spot AF area.
- Vibration Reduction: Image sensor shift VR.
- Image Sizes (pixels): 4000×3000, 3264×2448, 2592×1944, 2048×1536, 1600×1200, 1280×960, 1024×768, 640×480, 3984×2656, 3968×2232, 2992×2992, 1920×1080.
- Movie Clips: 640×480, 320×240.
- File Formats: JPEG, WAV, AVI movie.
- ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 64 to 6400.
- Flash: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, forced on and off, slow sync, rear-curtain sync.
- Power: Rechargeable lithium ion battery, AC.
- Dimensions: 114×83×99 WHDmm.
- Weight: Approx. 460 g (minus batteries and memory card).
- Price: Amazon currently has the P90 priced at $359.99.
Tags: Digital Camera Reviews, Nikon Cameras
Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips.
Nikon Coolpix P90
The Nikon Coolpix P90 is a promising looking new super zoom camera with a big zoom and the ability to take a lot of shots very quickly.
The P90 features a 24x optical zoom lens (equivalent of 26mm to 624mm), optical image stabilization, 3.0 inch LCD display (vari-angle to allow you to angle it up or down) and 12 megapixel image sensor.
The Nikon Coolpix P90 features 15 frames per second shooting (it will shoot at this rate for 45 shots in a row - it’ll even start recording images before you hit the shutter release when in sports mode!) as well as ISO of up to 6400. it also has motion detection (to detect if your subject is moving and automatic adjustment of the shutter speed and ISO to compensate).
It also has the usual raft of ‘modes’ including ’smile mode’, enhanced face priority and blink detection.
Expect to see the Nikon Coolpix P90 in stores in March 2009 with a retail price of $399.95 USD. Amazon already have the Nikon Coolpix P90 available for Ordering.
Also announced by Nikon Today are the:
- Nikon Coolpix S630
- Nikon Coolpix S620
- Nikon Coolpix S230
- Nikon Coolpix S220
- Nikon Coolpix L19 and Nikon Coolpix L20
- Nikon Coolpix L100 (another super-zoom camera).
Nikon Coolpix P90 News Release Extracts
Powerful New Nikon P90 Unleashes Creative Freedom With 24x Optical Wide Angle Zoom, Vari-Angle LCD And Advanced Shooting Modes
Photographers seeking high performance with a long zoom in a compact body now have the ideal camera with Nikon’s unveiling of the new P90. As part of the flagship Performance Series of COOLPIX cameras, the P90 offers new features that include a 24x Optical Zoom, a new 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD monitor with tilt function and anti-reflection coating; and 15 frame-per-second1 (fps) high-speed capability (up to 45 frames). The P90 is the ideal photographic tool for photo enthusiasts, travel photographers and consumers with more advanced photography skills.
“Our portfolio of cameras is designed to ensure that any photographer, at any level can find the camera that feels right for them,†said Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. “The P90 blends the best of the digital compact and D-SLR camera worlds, allowing the more advanced consumer to really stretch their photographic capabilities.â€
The key to the versatility of the P90 is its 24x Optical Wide Angle Zoom-NIKKOR ED Glass Lens. This lens offers unbeatable compositional freedom, with its wide angle (26mm) to super telephoto coverage (624mm). The broad range lets consumers capture a variety of shots and scenes, ranging from sweeping landscapes to close-up action shots taking place on a sports field.
Additional features of the Nikon Coolpix P90 include:
12.1 megapixels for stunning prints as large as 20 x 30 inches, while retaining fine detail.
3.0-inch Vari-Angle High Resolution LCD and Electronic Viewfinder make it easy to compose and share pictures with friends and family. The new LCD, with anti-reflection coating, can tilt as much as 90 degrees upward or 45 degrees downward. This enables photographers to shoot from higher angles or from the hip, and thereby make the best use of the reach and range of the 24x zoom lens. The incorporation of the high-resolution electronic viewfinder enables consumers to see through the lens in any lighting condition.
4-Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Image Stabilization
- Optical VR image stabilization compensates for the effects of camera shake by moving the image sensor, producing clearer, sharper results in lower lighting or unsteady conditions.
- Motion Detection automatically detects moving subjects and adjusts shutter speed and the ISO setting to compensate for camera shake and subject movement.
- High ISO 6400 capability creates new opportunities to take sharper, more natural-looking photos in lower light conditions (ISO 3200 and 6400)2.
- Nikon’s original Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically takes up to 10 shots while the user presses the shutter, and saves the sharpest image.
Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual Exposure modes give ultimate control over images. The D-SLR-type mode-dial on the top of the camera offers consumers greater personal and creative control, in any type of lighting condition.
New Sport Continuous Scene Mode for shooting at up to 15fps1 (up to 45 frames). This high-speed capture setting helps photographers stay ahead of the action.
Smart Portrait System, which integrates the following to make it a snap to capture stunning portrait photos of friends and family:
- In-Camera Red-Eye Fixâ„¢, which automatically fixes most instances of red-eye.
- Enhanced Face-Priority AF, which can detect up to 12 faces from a variety of angles, including straight on, from the side, or even in a multitude of three-quarter positions.
- Smile Mode, which automatically detects when your subject smiles and releases the shutter.
- Blink Proof, which automatically takes two shots and saves the one in which the subject’s eyes are open.
The P90 will be available nationwide in March 2009 and will retail at $399.95.
Tags: New Cameras, Nikon, Nikon Cameras