WHAT’S IN THE BOX MAN???

HALT!!! After writing page one, you know, the one you just read...I realized I jumped the gun a bit on this write up. Here I am, already talking about the lens “character” - GEEEZ Steve, slow down! I am sure many of you reading this would like to know what the Nikon D90 kit comes with. I can not assume that everyone reading this review knows all about the camera, or what it comes with.

After all, many of you probably found this through Google searching for “Nikon D90 Review”! So, what does the camera come with? Here is the lowdown...

1. • One Nikon Kit Box - Fancy graphics to entice you to buy it at the store.
   

2. • Instruction Manual - its thick, but a good read. Will tell you everything you need to know to learn how to operate the D90.
   

3. • Software - you may like it, may not.
   

4. •  Cool as beans “NIKON DIGITAL” strap that will tell everyone around you that you have an expensive DSLR around your neck! Woo Hoo!
   

5. • The Nikon D90 Body itself.
   

6. • LCD Screen Protector.
   

7. • Battery to operate the Nikon D90.
   

8. • Battery Charger.
   

9. • Lets not forget the 18-105 VR lens (with the KIT only)

So when you buy the kit version you get everything you need to get started. Just charge the battery and get to shooting. The Nikon D90 is a feature packed camera. It pretty much has everything you could ever need in a DSLR body, and then some. Really. Here is the complete Nikon D90 list of features, many of which I would never use but nice of Nikon to include them:

1. • 12.3 Megapixel DX sensor (DX means it is a crop, not a FULL FRAME sensor - BTW, this is the same sensor as used in the more expensive D300)
   

2. • 12 Bit EXPEED image processing (this means, better image quality)
   

3. • Self Cleaning Sensor - YES! All DSLRS are starting this and it will keep dust blobs out of your images. This is a good thing. Love it!
   

4. • Instant on. Starts up in 0.15 seconds, 65 millisecond shutter lag. Basically it is ready to shoot as soon as you turn it on. Its fast.
   

5. • D-Movie Mode - High Def shooting! You can now shoot high definition movies with the D90. Manual focus once you start though. Shoot in 720P Hi Def. Cool. Beans.
   

6. • High ISO shooting is here. 200-3200 is usable and this camera keeps the noise low. At higher ISO you lose some detail due to the noise reduction in camera, but it is better than crazy noise ruining the image.
   

7. • 11 Area AF - Nikons multi-cam 1000 - 3d Tracking. The AF is fast and though not as complex or nice as the D300/D700 AF, it gets the job done. Shoot stationary or fast moving objects. The D90 can handle it. Can you?
   

8. • Active D Lighting - You can turn this on or off. Basically, if you shoot an image and your subject is too dark, turning on this feature will even out the scene. Adding some light to your subject with in camera software.
   

9. • Nikon color 3D matrix metering II - I have found this camera meters light extremely well as do most Nikons. Notice I said MOST. (Sorry D80)
   

10. • 3 Inch 920,000 pixel LCD display - Super sharp and bright LCD. Very nice and kills my Leica M8 LCD.
    

11. • LIVE VIEW - Want to shoot it using the LCD screen instead of the VF? Go ahead, this bad boy has Live View (as do most DSLR’s these days) - Great for video and macro applications.
    

12. • GPS capability - Buy the optional GPS1 unit and you can tag your shots with the location you took them at. Super cool feature.
    

13. • Extended battery life - About 1,000 shots per charge.
    

Yep, the D90 is feature packed and also includes gimmicks like face recognition, scene modes, in camera effects, in camera editing and more. Man, let me tell you. Learning all of the features of the D90 could keep you busy for several days, if not weeks.

The good thing is though, when I started shooting it I did not even look at the manual! It can be as easy or as complex as you desire. If you want a camera that you can just grab and shoot with, the D90 can do it. Want to learn it over time and use its advanced features? You can do that to! One thing that struck me about the D90 instantly was its nice color rendering. While not really lifelike or accurate, it can put out some colors that POP.

So with all of that out of the way I would like to share my thoughts on the camera and lens over the 3 weeks that I shot with it, including one very special night I had where the D90 was with me when I fulfilled a dream I have had for over 10 years.

When I purchased this camera, little did I know I would be shooting a concert with it, and even farther from my mind was that I would find a new camera bud to chat with about lenses, cameras and photography. A guy whose music I have listened to since 1992.

After a few e-mails back and forth about Leica cameras, (the music artist) SEAL asked me if I would like to shoot his show in Chicago (for my own enjoyment, not a hired job). He knew how much I loved photography and when he offered this I thought it was an April fools joke! After all, it WAS April 1st.

Well, it wasn't a joke and I had a show to shoot with less than 15 hours to prepare. All I had on hand was my M8 and this D90 and 18-105VR kit lens!!

My first time ever shooting a concert and I had no idea what to expect from this camera. I knew my M8 very well, but the D90 was new to me and even though I had experience with the D300, I knew the D90 would be a challenge.

I was NERVOUS!! Especially with such a slow kit lens and my M8 which is not known for it low light ability at high ISO. But I was also excited, and my wife and I headed out to Chicago for the show.

Want to know how it all turned out? Sure you do! Go on to page 3..

GO ON TO PAGE THREE OF THE NIKON D90 REVIEW -> PAGE 3