The Daily Bubble Tea

Roughly two years after the D80 was announced Nikon announces the D90 to the world. The D90 inherits a few advanced features from Nikon’s pro-line as well as user friendly features from their entry model DSLRs.
Key Features include:

• 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS imaging sensor: Coupled with Nikon’s EXPEED image processing technologies and NIKKOR optics
• Continuous shooting as fast as 4.5 frames-per-second: Combined with fast 0.15ms power-up and split-second 65ms shooting lag
• D-Movie Mode—Cinematic 24fps HD with sound: Record cinematic-quality movie clips at up to 720p HD (1280 x 720 pixels) in Motion JPEG format
• Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200 [100-6400 on Lo1 and Hi1]
• 3-inch super-density 920,000-dot color LCD monitor: High resolution with a 170-degree wide-angle viewing
• Built-in image sensor cleaning
• 11-point AF system with Face Priority
• One-button Live View
• Nikon 3D Color Matrix Metering II with Scene Recognition System
• GPS geo-tagging: GP-1 GPS unit (optional) provides automatic real-time geo-tagging

Nikon D90 Press Release
Digital Photography Review’s hands on preview

Having borrowed so much from Nikon’s professional line I immediately became tempted to upgrade.  At $999.95 US for the body who wouldn’t be?  Then, reality slowly crept in and I began to think about the images I have produced using my D40.  I throw a lot of images on Flickr on any given week.  Out of those I would rate a handful as great.  I really don’t know if owning a D90 would make those mountains of images that I feel are average better or those handful I think are great magically become spectacular.  There is a certain satisfaction in working hard to create something wonderful without burning a hole in your budget in the process.

I’ll try posting a photo a day for two weeks.  Some of these photos may be ones already buried deep in my photostream, while others either taken by Cathy or myself on our recent trip back to Michigan.  They’ll be posted because I like them for some reason, maybe you will too.  Hopefully they won’t be so awful that I’m removed from your feed reader as a result.

Nikon announced a new model to replace their entry-level D40x [which discontinued production in December 2007]. The D40x was really only a megapixel improvement over the original D40 to put a model in the price gap that existed between the D40 and the D80.

The D60 is a 10.2-Megapixel camera and its kit comes bundled with the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization Lens [a step up from previous kits which had lens that lacked Vibration Reduction].

One feature the camera packs that the D40 and D40x lack is Nikon’s Active Dust Reduction System with Airflow Control to help the model compete with other companies who have entry level cameras with this feature.

A couple noticeable drawbacks that weren’t improved upon on the D40(x) that may be a turn off for buyers: The camera still has 3 focus points and lacks an internal AF motor [although given the target audience, this probably isn't considered a drawback].

All in all it appears to be a great camera for anyone making the jump from a point-and-shoot camera. As an entry-level model, it is nothing to trade your current DSLR for.

While they were at it, they also announced three new lenses to their line: The AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, the AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED, and the PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED.