Panasonic
My first impressions were ones of pleasant shock. The camera seemed smaller than in the pictures and if it seemed smaller, it seemed doubly more so in terms of weight. Compared to my SLR this thing is an absolute lightweight but very well built and certainly heavier than the smaller ‘in your pocket’ point and shoots. A great balance…although I wouldn’t want to drop it. Some strategically placed silicone on the housing would make this a bit more rugged without much if any impact on cost. Powerup is about as fast as you can bring the camera up to your face – amongst the best of the point and shoots. Controls are easy to use and I like the mini joystick for making on the fly adjustments in manual and scene modes. The menus are fairly well laid out although some items I had to resort to the manual to find their location for the first time.
The iA or Intelligent Auto function gave consistently above par picture quality, although I was always able to tweak it better myself (this could have been as much preference as anything). The AVCHD and HD movies worked absolutely flawless with my Transcend 16 GB SDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]. (NOTE:Make sure you lowlevel format these SDHC cards a COUPLE of times BEFORE first use). I do wish that you could use the normal shutter release instead of the dedicated movie button on the back face when in movie mode. I kept forgetting and tried to stop the movies using the shutter button instead of the record button. Minor nuisance, but will be overcome as I get my brain wrapped around the change in button locations.
The battery worked well past 300 stills and about 35 clips, so I am very pleased with it with the LCD display being used for most of the shots. I purchase another spare battery;Lenmar DLP006 Lithium-ion Digital Camera/Camcorder Battery Equivelent to the Panasonic CGR-S006A Battery, also available here at Amazon, and it appears to be working about as well as the original Panasonic (a great buy). The EVF or Electronic View Finder was very handy, although most of the overlaid information is very hard to distinguish in the small EVF. I CAN’T BELIEVE PANASONIC DIDN’T INCLUDE A RUBBER BOOT FOR THE EVF! Please someone, anyone, make it as an accessory.
The EZ or Extra Zoom function is quite handy. Using this feature, you can shoot at lower resolutions and get more effective zooming power out of the camera…over 30x and it works very well. The LCD screen is clear and crisp, but its performance in high ambient light is about average. Thank goodness for the electronic view finder mentioned above.
Image stabilization is the absolute best amongst my camera collection and is especially noticeable in low light and full zoom. I was pleasantly surprised how well I could take indoor pictures at night with a simple tweak of the exposure. Far better than any of my other point and shoots, although nowhere near my SLR.
The standard 3picture burst mode was fairly standard and unimpressive, but the 10pics per second for speed priority and 6 pics per second in image priority burst mode worked well for catching difficult shots like geese landing on the water and children jumping out of swings, but I still wish the resolution and picture quality was better in these modes. Still, for a point and shoot, it’s ability to catch the fast action is at the top of it’s class.
The lens cap interferes with zoom, but the camera will kindly remind you that you have left it on with a 17,000 volt discharge…just kidding…it will tell you on the LCD screen.
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The D90 isn’t just another DSLR joining Nikon’s Editors’ Choice–acquiring lineup (although it certainly delivers the same superb image quality); it’s also the first DSLR in the world to record video. Although the recording itself is clumsy, the 720p video appears aesthetical, and the 12.3-megapixel photos are even more in order. And with fast all-around accelerates, this mid-range DSLR is a winner.
Design and Interface
In an attempt to make DSLRs less intimidating, a few companies have loosed a few seriously lightweight models freshly. Suffice it to say, in sizing, weight, cost, and target user, the D90 isn’t among those cameras: At 2.4 pounds with the battery, 18-105mm lens, and SD Card, you’ll definitely prefer to apply the strap.
The good intelligence is that the D90 experiences hardy in the hands. As always, Nikon’s rubbery ergonomic grip and thumb indentation make it easy to hold. And for a camera so advanced, you learn your way around pretty quickly. The mode dial and dedicated exposure, autofocus, and continuous shooting options are self-explanatory, thanks to their accompanying icons.
On the back up, flanking the brightly 3-inch LCD, which was brought across from the higher-end D300, are buttons for playback, menu alternatives, white balance, and ISO, besides as a five-way navigational pad and button for switching between Live View and the optical viewfinder. We love the D90’s viewfinder, not just because it’s sharp, but because the rubbery lining arrives comfortable to press against our eye.
On the opposite side of the camera from the battery compartment and SD Card slot are power, A/V out, USB, and HDMI ports, the latter of which you can use to connect your camera to your HDTV and immediately watch clips. There’s also a port for the GP-1 GPS unit (price TBA), which allows users to geotag photos. Inside the camera, Nikon’s built-in sensor-cleaning system keeps dust off (this feature, also, trickled down from the D300).
Live View
The D90 has Live View, a standard feature in point-and-shoot cameras but, ironically, a premium one in DSLRs. This feature allows you to see the action in the LCD as you frame it and adjust settings. Unlike earlier DSLRs, we were able to focus just as easily with Live View as with the optical viewfinder. Taking pictures in Live View did cause shutter lag, all the same. Whereas the D90 snapped photos almost instantaneously when applying the view finder, about 5 seconds elapsed between pressing the shutter and being able to take another picture. It snapped the picture in time; then again the picture lingers on the screen for a few seconds before the D90 readies itself for another shot.
