NEWS / POINT AND SHOOT

Nikon Launches The Much-awaited D90

28 Aug, 2008, 1:37 pm IST | Laiq Qureshi | Point and Shoot

Nikon has announced its newest DX-format digital SLR, the D90, which features 12.3 effective megapixels and wide sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 3200. Furthermore, sensitivity can be increased to Hi 1 (ISO 6400 equivalent) and decreased to Lo 1 (ISO 100 equivalent) to expand shooting versatility. The camera also employs the Image Sensor Cleaning function that works to free image-degrading dust particles from the sensor’s optical low-pass filter. The D90 also comes equipped with a Live View and a new Face Detection System.


The D90 offers a movie function, allowing users to shoot 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) movies at the smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format. The D90 reads the color and brightness information of each scene from the 420-pixel RGB sensor, and applies this to auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance. The D90 also recognizes human faces using the new Face Detection System, data which is incorporated during calculation, enabling face priority AF in Live View mode and immediate zoom into people’s faces in playback zoom.


One press of the Live View button activates the D90’s Live View mode to the 3-inch, 920k-dot color LCD screen. There are three contrast-detect AF modes that let you focus on any point in the frame: Face priority AF that automatically detects up to five faces and focuses on that calculated to be the closest; Wide area AF that offers a large AF area suitable for handheld shooting; and normal area AF that 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, even in Live View mode.


Six original setting options are available - Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape - for easy customization of image preferences. Thanks to the Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module, the D90’s 11-point AF system offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame with the most sensitive AF sensor operating from the center. In addition, the D90 features versatile AF-area modes to handle most shooting situations: Single-point AF is recommended for stationary subjects, dynamic-area AF for moving subjects, auto-area AF for spontaneous shooting and 3D-tracking (11 points) AF for when you want to change the composition after focusing on your subject.


The D90 offers a movie function, allowing users to shoot 320 x 216 pixels, 640 x 424 pixels or HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels) movies at the smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format. The D90 reads the color and brightness information of each scene from the 420-pixel RGB sensor, and applies this to auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance. The D90 also recognizes human faces using the new Face Detection System, data which is incorporated during calculation, enabling face priority AF in Live View mode and immediate zoom into people’s faces in playback zoom.


One press of the Live View button activates the D90’s Live View mode to the 3-inch, 920k-dot color LCD screen. There are three contrast-detect AF modes that let you focus on any point in the frame: Face priority AF that automatically detects up to five faces and focuses on that calculated to be the closest; Wide area AF that offers a large AF area suitable for handheld shooting; and normal area AF that 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, even in Live View mode.


Six original setting options are available - Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape - for easy customization of image preferences. Thanks to the Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus module, the D90’s 11-point AF system offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame with the most sensitive AF sensor operating from the center. In addition, the D90 features versatile AF-area modes to handle most shooting situations: Single-point AF is recommended for stationary subjects, dynamic-area AF for moving subjects, auto-area AF for spontaneous shooting and 3D-tracking (11 points) AF for when you want to change the composition after focusing on your subject.


The Indian price is not announced yet, however, the D90 costs approximately $999.95 (estimated price) in the USA.
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