Nikon Coolpix P90: Review

Posted to Digital Cameras 2009-04-26

Nikon Coolpix P90 Review:

If you are looking for the power of a digital SLR, but prefer the functionality of a standard point-and-shoot camera, then you may want to check out the Nikon Coolpix P90. The Coolpix P90 may be considered anything but your standard point-and-shoot. With a hefty optical zoom that places this camera in a league of its own, the Coolpix P90 may just be the perfect fit for photographers of any skill level.

Weighing 16.2 ounces, the Coolpix P90 can be considered one of the elite few 12.1 Megapixel digital point-and-shoot cameras that can offer its user a 24x optical zoom. This lens can handle anywhere from a 26mm wide angle to a 624mm telephoto shot, which provides photographers of any skill level the ability to capture a wide range of photos without ever having to change the lens. The Coolpix P90 also offers users a 3.0 inch LCD screen that can be tilted upwards as much as 90 degrees or down as far as 45 degrees, allowing you place the camera where you want it while still having a perfect view of the preview image. Unlike comparable point-and-shoots, the Coolpix P90
comes equipped with a viewfinder which allows users of all skill levels the ability to take photos with the view they feel most comfortable with.

Rating:

4.4 out of 5

Features

For those who like their camera to do all the work for them, then Nikon's Scene Auto Selector may just be the answer to the photo novice's prayers. With this feature the Coolpix P90 will recognize the scene and select from one of six pre-programmed scene modes for the best possible picture. It will choose from Portrait, Night Portrait, Close-up, Landscape, Night Landscape, or Backlit mode. The Coolpix P90 also offers users a solution to blurry pictures. No matter how hard you try, it can sometimes be nearly impossible to prevent your hand from moving when taking a photo. Nikon's answer to this problem is their 4-way VR Image Stabilization. This feature compensates for the effects of camera shake by moving the cameras image sensor which results in a clearer, sharper image. In addition to the image stabilization, the Coolpix P90 also offers Motion Detection, Nikon's Best Shot Selector (BSS) and a high ISO of 6400. The motion detection allows the camera to automatically detect moving subjects in the shot and will adjust the shutter speed and ISO setting to compensate for camera shake and image movement. The Best Shot Selector, or BSS, will take up to 10 shots while the shutter is pressed and will then save the best image. This camera also offers users the ability to take the best possible picture with the assistance of Nikon's Smart Portrait System. This feature combines in-camera Red Eye fix, Face priority, Smile Mode, Blink warning, and d-lighting. The automatic red eye fix allows the camera to automatically fix red eye whenever the camera detects it, nearly eliminating the need for the user to manually fix red eye in photos. Face priority allows the camera to focus on up to 12 faces at any given time which makes it perfect for those prized group shots at family gatherings or any other memorable event where your photos will contain more than just one subject. Smile mode will automatically trigger the shutter when your subjects smile and the blink warning will display a warning message if the Coolpix P90 detects that your subject has blinked. Lastly, the D-light option will improve the quality of dark or backlit images by improving brightness and detail if required. The best feature is the Coolpix P90's ability to offer users digital SLR functions in a point-and-shoot camera. This camera offers program, shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual exposure modes which allow the user to make adjustments to any of these settings making it particularly useful for the advanced user that doesn't always want to be required to carry around a hefty digital SLR in order to take quality photos.

Performance

The Coolpix P90 performs quite well for a point-and-shoot camera. Photos come out sharp, but photos taken at the cameras maximum zoom of 24x may not deliver consistent results. Although Nikon has included image stabilization, it may not be strong enough to negate shaking when at full zoom.

Summary

In conclusion, the Coolpix P90 may just be the perfect point-and-shoot camera that can satisfy the needs of both the amateur and advanced photographer. It is simple enough for the novice user while offering features that allows the advanced user the ability to "play" without having to bring along their digital SLR. If you are looking for the portability of a point-and-shoot with the added functionality of a SLR, then the Nikon Coolpix P90 may be the way to go.

Pros

24x optical zoom
3.0 in LCD Screen
Auto Scene Selection
4-way VR Image Stabilization
Smart Portrait System

Cons

There are no cons for this product