We took Nikon's 24x optical zoom monster for a walk in the park. Is there more to this compact camera than maddening magnification? Read the in-depth Nikon Coolpix P90 review here.
Review summary of the Nikon Coolpix P90:
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 Welcome to the land of Super Zooms, where fixed lens compacts roam the earth, granting us the ability to spy on our neighbors and capture the intricacy of the Statue of Liberty's armpit hair. The Nikon Coolpix P90 is up against the Pentax X70 and Olypmus SP-590 UZ, a growing legion of giant zooms with wide-angle lenses. We weren't overly impressed with the Coolpix P90's minimal controls and uninspiring features, but its image performance made up for it. In fact, the Coolpix P90's image performance is the best feature of this camera, in bright and low light. We liked the pivoting LCD and spinning thumb dial, but the menu system was drab and sparse and most Scene modes yielded mediocre results. The Coolpix P90 also felt a little cheap, but it was comfortable to shoot with. If you're looking for a Super Zoom that takes great pictures, the Nikon Coolpix P90 could be your ticket. Just be prepared to do all your shooting in manual mode. Release: March 2009. Price: $400.
Pros: Great overall image performance. Big zoom. Wide-angle lens crammed more action into shots.
Cons: Feels cheap. Limited external controls and features. Terrible menu system.
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Full Nikon Coolpix P90 Review:
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Design - Good
The Nikon Coolpix P90 is nearly indiscernible from most of its competitors, featuring a bulky, matte black chassis and rubberized grip, the standard for Super Zooms in this price range. This is a chunky little beast, and we had to lug it around in a small backpack because of its lumbering nature. However, the Coolpix P90 weighs in at just over a pound so it didn't feel like we were shackled to a mid-level DSLR. The weight reduction can be attributed to the Coolpix P90's plastic body, which felt a bit cheap in our hands. It was obvious that Nikon sacrificed a little structural integrity in exchange for additional controls and features.
That's where the 3-inch folding LCD comes into play, which we'll get to in the next section. The Nikon Coolpix P90 also has an electronic viewfinder, but it's a hard plastic box devoid of an eye socket-approved rubberized texture. We liked the migration of the thumb dial for easy manual adjustment and the oversized shutter button zoom toggle provided plenty of surface area. Nikon opted for a spring-loaded Flash, located directly above the lens, which is an optimal placement for an even spread of light. Surprisingly, external controls are fairly limited on the Coolpix P90, and we had to rely on menus anytime we ventured outside of a Manual mode.
The gargantuan 24x optical zoom lens is the centerpiece of this camera, extending a full three inches from the camera's body. Regardless, we think this is a sharp looking camera, and comfortable to boot. In addition to the tacky rubberized grip, the Nikon Coolpix P90 features a flared rubberized thumb rest, so comfort was never an issue. On the downside, the AV/USB port cover is flimsy and the tripod mount does not include a locking hole. Aside from those few gripes, the Nikon Coolpix P90 rocks a solid design.
Interface - Good
Like the mightier Sony DSC-HX1, the Nikon Coolpix P90 has a 3-inch foldout LCD that pivots upward and downward. We actually preferred the rotating LCD of the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS because it granted us the ability to hold the camera directly over our heads and shoot. Also, the PowerShot SX 1 IS allowed us to shoot down low while the camera was propped up on its side and maintain a decent viewing angle, which is something we struggled with on the Coolpix P90, given the LCD's semi-fixed nature. The Coolpix P90's electronic viewfinder offered a sub par picture and the chunky plastic block was not easy on the eye socket, so the foldout LCD proved to be the premiere monitoring option.
In terms of menus, one of the biggest glitches in the Matrix was the Nikon Coolpix P90's lack of a Function menu. Canon and Casio are miles ahead of this antiquated system, and Nikon is in dire need of an overhaul. All selection had to be made from within the main menu, which occupied the entire LCD, preventing us from viewing the image adjustments we made. Sure, diving into the main menu for more ancillary features like AF area mode and Noise reduction makes sense because those are not features we would use frequently. But tossing White Balance and ISO in the main menu just didn't sit right with us, so we call upon the king to order a Function menu for all.
External controls were limited as well, so our only hope was the four-way directional pad, which offered Flash, Exposure Compensation, Self-Timer and Macro settings, all of which can be found on most entry-level compacts. The Nikon Coolpix P90's sole saving grace was its thumb-mounted function dial, which allowed us to control the Aperture and Shutter speed, but nothing else. The Coolpix P90's interface is not bare bones, but it's pretty darn close to it for a hefty $400.
Features - Good
We weren't jazzed about most of the Nikon Coolpix P90's features because there was nothing eccentric or fresh to toil with. This camera's bread and butter is its gigantic zoom, so it seemed as though Nikon just stuffed a standard set of advanced controls in its hulking chassis and hoped for the best. In low light, we could only achieve up to an 8 second shutter speed and the aperture was a common f/2.8 f/8. In most low light environments we were able to soak in plenty of light, but for those extremely dim scenarios like moonlight or candlelight, the Coolpix P990 will falter. Fortunately, we could bring the ISO down to 64 to provide more detail, but we steered clear from the 6400 max level in order to avoid a storm of noise.
We did take advantage of the Nikon Coolpix P90's Sports mode, which allowed us to capture 15 frames per second and up to 45 frames consecutively. The catch is that images can only be captured at a 3-megapixel max resolution and the Coolpix P90 calls the shots when it comes to ISO. So, when there wasn't sufficient lighting our images were noisy beyond the threshold of anything acceptable. Other times, we experienced great success, as you'll see courtesy of the New York Knicks City Dancers later on in this review. Aside from Sports mode, we tested Portrait and Sunset, but our best success was achieved via manual tinkering rather than relying on the camera's selective brain.
We also took a stab at the Nikon Coolpix P90's Panorama Assist scene mode, but failed miserably. The Coolpix P90 regenerates a translucent display of the last 1/4 of the previous image and sets it at the left side of the LCD, so if people are walking in your way, it makes it exceedingly difficult to line up a proper panorama shot. We liked the bevy of color options, including Vivid, Portrait and Custom, which allowed us to adjust Contrast, Sharpening and Saturation. We could even apply monochrome filters to black and white images. The Coolpix P90 also takes standard-definition video and has a Blink Warning feature that replays the image and asks if the subject blinked or not. Again, nothing out of the ordinary for features on the Coolpix P90.
Hardware - Good
Basic imaging is the name of the game here and the Nikon Coolpix P90 has a 12-megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD. 12-megapixels seems to be the standard for 2009, so the Coolpix P90 had to compete somehow. Unfortunately, we wish Nikon capped the Coolpix P90 at 10-megapixels and focused more on perfecting the image quality. The big news is the Coolpix P90's 24x optical zoom lens, which is pinned directly against the Pentax X70 and 26x optical lens-bearing Olympus SP-590 UZ. Like the SP-565 UZ, the Coolpix P90 has an impressive 26mm wide-angle lens, which helped us frame a lot more in our shots without having to back into dangerous delivery trucks. Unfortunately, the Coolpix P90's zoom was extremely finicky and lacked that smooth, refined movement necessary for fine-tuning a shot.
The Nikon Coolpix P90 fired right up and snapped its first shot in just under 2 seconds with the next shot clocking in at 1.5 seconds shortly after, which is a good performance. The Coolpix P90 runs on a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery while the step-down Nikon Coolpix L100 runs on AAs. As far as shake reduction goes, the Coolpix P90 uses sensor shift Vibration Reduction for still images and Electronic Image Stabilization for videos. There's only one terminal on the Coolpix P90, and it double dips as a USB and AV jack.
Image Quality Very Good
The Nikon Coolpix P90 may not pack in a ton of versatile features or external controls, but we're damn sure about one thing, and that's the fact that the Coolpix P90 takes some great pictures. Given its smaller, entry-level sized 12-megapixel sensor, we had our reservations, but after viewing our shots on the bi screen, we had minimal complaints. We encountered the occasional fringing here and blown-out whites there, but for the most part, the Coolpix P90 produced sharp, detailed, natural looking images that look nearly professional scaled down. Of course, most of our success stemmed from shooting in Manual, Program AE or Aperture Priority mode because the Scene modes were far too unreliable. Our results in Sports mode were highly inconsistent, depending on the lighting, so manual adjustment is the way to go with the Coolpix P90.
Scene/Edge Test Battlefield Park
Color Test Tis the Seaz
Contrast Test - Alley
We're seeing sharp, crisp edges slicing through a nearly flawless sky in the first image. Colors are vivid and true and the detail within the columns is spot on. We do lose a little focus in the trees on the left side of the image, but for the most part this is a great image. Color had a tendency to run a little dull in certain lights, so we took advantage of the Saturation adjustment and went a full +1, which brought out the joy of Easter in Walgreens. We found that shooting in a variety of different Saturation settings was the best bet for attaining an optimal color performance. Finally, we had a little trouble with dynamic range, as evidenced in the third image. The building is still blown out at the sacrifice of a blue sky. The surrounding structures could stand to be more exposed, but we made numerous attempts without any improvements. Our advice is to avoid heavy contrasts.
Detail Test 2 AM 6 Train Splendor
Macro Test Battlefield Park Blades
The Nikon Coolpix P90 will crank out some beautiful detail when properly focused and exposed. The 6 Train to hell is captured in all of its glory, right down to the mystery crumbs occupying half of the focal plane. However, this image looks a bit yellow, and that's all on the Auto White Balance for not getting it's act together. The macro shot of the grass blades is a beautiful example of the exceptional detail the Coolpix P90 is capable of producing, but we're also introduced to a dash of fringing along certain blades. Still, both of these images are very good.
Portait Test Claudia in Portrait Mode
Portrait Test Claudia in Program AE
The first image was captured in Portrait mode, which boosted the ISO to 400, softening the overall image. However, we prefer the second image, which was captured at an ISO level of 64 because of the enhanced detail we attained. We understand that Portrait mode is designed to soften the skin tones of the subject, but it was a little too soft.
Sunset Test Jersey City in Program AE
Sunset Test Jersey City in Sunset Scene Mode
There's almost no difference between Program AE mode and Sunset Mode when it comes to shooting sunsets, aside from color. Both images have identical ISO levels of 64 and almost the same shutter and aperture ratios. But look at the rich hues in the Sunset Mode image. This was one of the rare occasions where a Scene mode trumped Program AE.
Indoor Light Test Max in Grand Central
Even indoors, the Nikon Coolpix P90 performed very well, maintaining a great exposure and adequate White Balance. We could have used a little more depth in this image, so this is where Aperture Priority mode and a tripod come in handy.
Zoom Test Times Square at full Wide Angle
Zoom Test Times Square at full Telephoto
Behold the power of a 24x optical zoom. At full telephoto the image is crisp and highly detailed, so the Vibration Reduction system is doing something right.
Sports Mode Test New York City Dancers
Sports Mode Test Madison Square Garden
Sports mode was hit or miss, due largely in part to the varying ISO levels. With a fast shutter, the Coolpix P90 was forced to jack up the ISO in order to compensate for low light. So, while the action of the Knicks City Dancers is delightfully frozen, the image of Madison Square Garden is a play on "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island La Grande Jatte."
Night Test Central Park Lights
Night Test Central Park Lights in Red Chroma Filter
Night Test Trump Building
Low Light Test Stand to Use
We experienced few roadblocks in low light, as long as we had our tripod handy. In Central Park, the exposure is great within most of the image, until we get down to the shadowy trees. If we boosted the exposure any more, the image would appear unnaturally bright, so dynamic range was also a minor issue in low light. The black and white version is charming, but the image lacks detail within the branches of the trees. We shot the evil Trump building in Aperture Priority mode on a tripod with a long shutter. We get some noise in the sky and fringing along lights, but exposure and detail look very tasty. Finally, we used an 8 second shutter speed for the urinal shot, and believe us, there was barely any light in there. The exposure and sharpness levels are impressive, but check out the small scattering of blown pixels dancing all throughout the image. In most low light environments, the Nikon Coolpix P90 will do the job.
Price and availability
The Nikon Coolpix P90 is available in stores now for $400.
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