Nikon D90 What You Need to Know for Best Performance
Nikon D90 Battery Type & Replacements
The Nikon D90 uses a Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger.
The battery can not be charged via USB. This means a battery charger will be necessary. There are third party battery chargers available.
Memory Card Compatibility & Recommendation
The Nikon D90 is compatible with SD/SDHC memory cards.
That means compatible D90 SD cards can have a maximum storage capacity of up to 32GB.
My recommendation is to get a 32GB SD card with UHS-I. These cards will have the fastest transfer speeds, which improves compatibility with newer cameras and other devices.
Nikon F Mount Lens Compatibility
The D90 is compatible with Nikon F mount lenses. This opens up a wide range of lens possibilities. A full range of lenses exists including circular fisheye, ultra wide angle, perspective control, macro, telephoto, mirror, bellows, and all kinds of zooms.
There is a list of the best Nikon D90 lenses that covers lenses for all different types of photography.
The camera has an APS-C “crop” sensor that has been designed to use DX lenses. These lenses are smaller and less expensive than FX lenses, which are designed to be used on full frame cameras.
The D90 can also use full frame, ‘FX’, lenses. However, the downside to these lenses is that they tend to be larger, heavier, and more expensive than DX lenses.
Notable Features
- Active D-Lighting
- 4.5 fps continuous shooting
- Auto Active D-Lighting System
- Custom Setting Options
- Red eye correction
Sensor & Image Processor
The D90 has an APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sized sensor. This is paired with the None image processor.
Video Capabilities
The Nikon D90 can record video at 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) in Motion JPEG. The fixed screen on the D90 can make shooting video difficult.
The lack of a fully articulated LCD screen is a big drawback for video use.
There is no port for a external microphone.
Does the Nikon D90 Have Wireless? Wifi, Bluetooth, GPS?
Specs Table
| Manufacturer | Nikon |
| Model | D90 |
| MSRP | None |
| Body type | Mid-size DSLR |
| Max resolution | 4288 x 2848 |
| Other resolutions | 3216 x 2136, 2144 x 1424 |
| Image ratio w:h | 3:2 |
| Effective pixels | 12.3 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 13 megapixels |
| Sensor size | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | None |
| ISO | Auto, 200 - 3200 (plus 6400 with boost) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | None |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 6400.0 |
| White balance presets | 12.0 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (5) |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Image stabilization notes | None |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Fine, Normal, Basic |
| Autofocus | ['Contrast Detect (sensor)', 'Phase Detect', 'Multi-area', 'Selective single-point', 'Single', 'Continuous', 'Face Detection', 'Live View'] |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 11.0 |
| Lens mount | Nikon F |
| Focal length multiplier | 1.5× |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 920000 |
| Touch screen | No |
| Screen type | Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 96% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.96× (0.64× 35mm equiv.) |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000 sec |
| Aperture priority | Yes |
| Shutter priority | Yes |
| Manual exposure mode | Yes |
| Subject / scene modes | Yes |
| Built-in flash | Yes (pop-up) |
| Flash range | 17.00 m (at ISO 100) |
| External flash | Yes (Hot-shoe, Wireless) |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync |
| Continuous drive | 4.5 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) |
| Metering modes | ['Multi', 'Center-weighted', 'Spot'] |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| AE Bracketing | (2, 3 frames at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV, 2/3 EV, 1 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes (2 or 3 frames in either blue/amber or magenta/green axis) |
| Format | Motion JPEG |
| Videography notes | None |
| Modes | None |
| Microphone | Mono |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (Mini Type C) |
| Microphone port | No |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Eye-Fi Connected |
| Wireless notes | None |
| Remote control | Yes (Optional ML-L3 or MC-DC2) |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery & charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 850.0 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz) |
| Dimensions | 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.06 x 3.03″) |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes (by USB cable and PC) |
| GPS | Optional |
| GPS notes | GP-1 |