Nikon Coolpix P90 user reviews

Pros Terrific zoom, fast speed, manual flash selection, great macro, nice battery size and life, light weight, user friendly, reasonable video

Cons No uv filter capabilities

Summary Got the P 90 to replace a coolpix 8800 and love it. The zoom is great, but it has to be stabilized with a tripod or on a railing for the long shots. I have taken pictures that I thought could never turn out but did. My students were suprised at the shots I got of them playing football half way across the playground using the sports mode. It's nice having a wide angle and powerful zoom all in one. The macro is much better than the 8800. It focuses much faster and gives much sharper pictures. Sometimes when I could not get close enough to flowers to use the macro I used the telephoto while leaning on a rail and they turned out great. It is also easy to adjust the white balance with the control on the back. It is fast enough that most of the pictures taken indoors turn out without flash. I like that you have to turn on the flash to use it. I like the large screen with the tilt capabilities for overhead and belt shots. The small but strong batteries make it fast and convient to take them on a hike, etc. and have plenty of picture taking capability. I stick one or two extras in my pocket whenever I go out. It has a wide variety of scene settings to choose from that help in certain situations. This is a great camera for the serious amerature. With the zoom, the speed, the macro, etc. I am very happy with this camera. Have had it for about 3 months.

Pros Dynamic zoom ability and features

Cons Lots of reading to decipher options and setup

Summary We had a small Nikon for 3yrs that I loved and it got broke. After much research we narrowed down to the P90 and a Canon; due to my previous experience I selected the P90 even though my husband wanted the Canon. We purchased 6 days ago, charged up battery and it's been going strong since. We've taken photos at a concert as well as the snow topped mountains with the great zoom. This camera offers alot of options so you really have to read in order to truly get the best out of it. So far I am happy and glad I selected another Nikon.

Pros 24x optical zoom, 4x digital, macro focus, 12 mgb, high res 4kx3k; powerful flash; long Batt. life, 16GB memory; Voice memos for photos; VIDEO (25 min.for t.v. , internet optimization; sepia tone, b&w and time lapse photography); Easy to use!

Cons Zoom focus capability has to be played with to get it right. The software that comes with the camera is strange - and forces you to go online- didn't work very well at all. Easiest just to use Microsoft XP software to view/edit.

Summary Review Summary statement: Amazing Camera! Easy enough to use for the novice, and advanced enough features to use for the expert. For the money it's got the best features, best digital zoom, battery life, video capabilities of any digital camera below $750 (but this camera costs about $350-$399; Note: memory card not included in that price ? don?t forget to buy an SD memory card, it will hold up to a 16GB card). I highly recommend this great NIKON camera for the novice or even highly advanced user on a low budget.

Camera Capabilities/features overview: 24x optical zoom, 4x digital,12 mgb, tilt lcd monitor, pop-up powerful flash; self-timer, long Battery life, internal memory: 47MB, external memory: 16GB large memory storage capacity; Audio/voice memos for photos; 12 different still photo shooting modes; VIDEO -6 different video modes: for t.v. , internet optimization; sepia tone, b&w and time lapse photography; light, compact and super easy to use!

Resolution ranges: The camera will take photos with variable resolution from 160x120, 640x480 (suitable for email photos) to 4000x3000. The manual provides a nice chart with easy to understand descriptions of when it's best to use what resolution (pg. 108) and what resolution to select when you are printing various size prints etc. Focal length of lens: 4.6mm-110.4mm

Voice/Memo's - You can also ad "voice memo's"/ audio recordings to any photo you take so you can describe or attach a verbal message to any photo!

Shooting modes: There are 16 different still photo shooting modes: automatic mode, highspeed sports continuous mode, portrait mode, and scene modes (landscape, night, sunset, dusk/dawn, fireworks, snow, close-up, food mode (unique!); panorama mode, backlight and panorama), manual modes, and for the more advanced user -you can also select shutter speed or aperature priority, programmed saved modes (selectable by user). For more advanced users you can choose ISO sensitivity with a huge range from ISO 64 to ISO 6400; White balance- you can adjust the while balance for different kinds of lighting situations.

Flash- the flash can be either set on automatic (6 multiple modes) (auto mode, red-eye reduction, fill flash, slow synch, rear-curtain synch)or you can manually select the flash to go on/off. The flash is powerful and works

Viewing photos- the camera has many photo viewing modes- you can view one photo on the large LCD display on the back of the camera - or you can view up to 16 thumbnail photos all at one time! Viewing photos/videos on t.v. - there is a USB/video/audio connector cable so you can view your photos/sound and videos/sound on a t.v. instantly!

Editing photos - the software menus on the camera will allow you to do some basic editing of your photos before you download them (Rotate the photo for viewing- contrast, optimization, light/dark,

Video- the camera has 6 video modes: two t.v. modes (15 & 30 frames per second), internet optimization, small size for email, sepia tone, B&W and time lapse recording (for showing a flower open etc). Recording time on videos is from 1 second to 25 minutes (depending on which video mode you select).

Info for advanced users: File formats: photos/jpeg, movies/AVI, Sound/WAV; resolution from 160x120, 640x480 (suitable for email photos) to 4000x3000; ISO 64 to ISO 6400; Shutter speeds: Continuous manual mode; 1/4000s to 8 seconds. Interface: Highspeed USB. Data transfer protocol: MTP, PTP. Video output: NTSC and PAL. Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery, AC adapter EH-62A optional. Weight: 16 oz (without battery). Operating temp: 32 degrees F. to 104 degrees F. Humidity 85% and below no condensation. Output directly to a printer (PictBridge).

Languages- the camera has 22 different language modes!

Note: Background Research: This Nikon P90 review was based on researched on CNET, Consumer Reports, PC Magazine, 2010 Digital Photography Magazine - Comprehensive Digital camera comparisons and ratings, over 100 hrs experience with this camera; and over 20 yrs. experience as a semi-pro photographer experienced in 35mm slr, medium format, large format cameras).

I took alot of time to write this review up- because I was so impressed with and grateful to have found this camera! Wish you the best in finding the right camera for you!

The NIKON P100 camera was not out yet when I bought my P90. You may want to compare their capabilities!
I'm suprised NIKON doesn't advertise this camera more! I'd bet it would become the most popular camera on the market!

Pros Great zoom range, Wonderful detail at 64-100 ISO, Great in good natural lighting. Very light compared to a DSLR. great exposure comp. Electronic Viewfinder.

Cons Poor in low light, time between successive shots, very slow manual focus, hot spots need management in bright conditions, No RAW format

Summary I've had my P90 for about 10 months now. I still am happy with it.

I tend to use mine on Aperture or Shutter priority to give me the most control which gives me great results. I also always try to have it on ISO 64, or up to 200 if the conditions warrant it. I can get away with these settings on 95% of the things I shoot and am extremely happy with the crisp images and spot on focus I get from this. The Exposure comp is great and fast and easy to use on the Priority settings I am in and get instantaneous feedback on the LCD or electronic viewfinder before I snap the shot if the exposure needs a tweak without losing depth of field or the Shutter Speed for an action shot. While I have it set on Auto-White Balance outdoors, I always manually control my WB indoors and get adequate results.

I do not like this camera indoors. It can typically take shots that are good enough, but I do not consider this a strength of the camera's by no means. The issue is that the sensor doesn't work well in low light. Things get grainy at ISO 800, even though the camera boasts it can go up to 6400. Both 3200 and 6400 are at 3 mega pixels only, and are so grainy that I'd use it only if I had to had a shot. Most of the time i'd just skip it. Indoors I have to use the flash to compensate for the poor low light sensor. Because of this you loose the natural lighting the environment and subject has been cast in. It is obvious flash has been used because its so strong, and I am of the school where it should be the opposite. It looks very amateurish. If I took more indoor shots, i'd probably make a diffuser for the flash and see if that softens the results.

I think the zoom is great. To me, its the selling feature of the camera. I can really get in close to my subject matter when i'd otherwise be restricted such at sporting events and with nature photography. While the camera is much slower at these zoomed in settings (a smaller aperture), you can still get some pretty stellar shots with the right lighting. The action/sports burst shots (15fps) can be nice if you just need the images for the web, but anything else and they are too grainy (because of it dropping from 12mp to 3mp).

So in the end, my review is this: It's a great camera but you've got to work with it. It's a point and shoot that you really can't just simply point and shoot with and get great results. A little set up time in making sure the settings match the environment and you'll get good results.

That said, I WOULD NOT buy this camera now. A new version of this camera has just been released by Nikon (P100) within the last month and while it has 2 less megapixels, it has a CMOS sensor that reads to be MUCH better than the P90's sensor in many ways. It also records video in 1080p HD.