The Nikon D90 is a fantastic camera. It's Nikon's newest and best
DX format DSLR. I prefer it to the old
D300, which costs almost twice as much. That's the way it goes with digital cameras: new is almost always better, even for much less cost. The D90 has identical, or slightly better technical image quality than the D300, the exact same rear LCD, and adds several very useful ergonomic features for faster handling compared to the D300. These handling improvements will let you react faster to conditions, meaning you're more likely to get better pictures by being better prepared.
If you're considering a D300, forget it. Get the D90 instead.
The Nikon D90 is Nikon's newest and smartest DSLR. It has the same or better technical image quality as the D300 that costs much more, and it handles better and it makes movies, too!
The D90 is newer and better than the D300, for a fraction of the price, so long as you prefer the D90's lighter plastic body. Let's be honest: I've used my plastic D40 for years and it still works like new, so I don't see any reason to pay more for a D300's metal body unless you're shooting sports all day. All these cameras have metal lens mounts and are built to very high standards.
The more I use the D90, the more I like it. Compared to the old
D300, the D90 offers the same or better image quality, with many new features, in a lighter plastic package with the same vivid and accurate 3" LCD and a much improved rear multi selector for faster handling. The D90 also has better ergonomics than the D300 and D3, so it's easier to get where you want in the menus faster.
The D90 is super easy to use. As Nikon's newest camera incorporating over 60 years of continuous innovation, it's got more clever features, like a multiple-shot self timer, and a 72-image and calendar display if you keep zooming out on playback, than any other Nikon to date. It all works intuitively, and unlike the D3 and D300, I can operate everything with one hand. I have to waste a frame to shoot a picture to get it to play images if I can't hit the PLAY button, but I can get to all the menus and everything when set up as I like it in just one hand.
The only thing I miss from the more expensive
D3,
D700 and
D300 are the option to set
instant zoom on playback when hitting the OK button, and I do miss the 5:4 aspect ratio crop from the D3.
For you techies, as you can see at my
Nikon D90, D3, D300 and D200 Sharpness Comparison, for use in daylight, the D90 renders images
identical to the $5,000
Nikon D3. Of course the D3 shoots faster for sports, but the images are as good, the rear LCD is identical, and the D90 has a few new convenience features that weren't invented back when the D3 came out.
The D90 is worlds beyond the old
first-generation D80, which it replaces as Nikon's mid-line DSLR.The Nikon D90 is a D80 with Live View,
ADR, an almost three-dimensional 3" LCD, it can shoot movies, and has far more advanced ergonomics.
