Nikon D90

Front (7.75)
Those familiar with the Nikon D80 will feel right at home with its successor: the body measurements are precisely the same, with only minor design changes made to accommodate a Live View button and a few additional features.

The right hand grip, projects about an inch from the camera body. The surface is lightly textured but lacks the rubberized surface that really provides a secure handhold under adverse conditions. It’s decorated, of course, with the familiar Nikon red badge. On the front of the grip is the sub-command dial and, on top, the power switch and shutter button.

Between the grip and the lens are the auto focus illuminator lamp and the programmable Fn button (labeled nearly invisibly on the side of the lens mount). The viewfinder hump looms over the lens, with the Nikon name embossed in white. Below the lens mount to the left is the depth of field preview button.

To the right of the viewfinder are three small holes where the microphone is positioned, the only outward sign that this is, in fact, a video-enabled camera. Next to the mic is an infrared receiver to be used with optional wireless remote controls. Next down the right side is the camera name in raised silver lettering and, below that, the lens release button.

The familiar Nikon design remains unchanged with the D90.

Back (8.75)
To the left of the viewfinder is the delete button, with a trashcan icon printed on top and a red FORMAT label indicating that, when held down along with the similarly labeled metering button on top of the camera, the combination will launch the memory card formatting operation.

The row of buttons down the leftmost side of the camera back includes two single-function buttons (PLAY on top and MENU beneath it) and three buttons whose function depends on the mode you’re in. The question-mark-marked button provides in-context help on most menu screens, protects photos during playback and, while shooting, brings up the white balance controls. Next down is the playback zoom out/thumbnail control which, while shooting, accesses ISO settings. Finally the bottom button zooms in during playback and controls image quality settings while shooting.

Nikon didn’t mess with success when it comes to the LCD screen – it’s the same beautiful 3-inch 920,000-pixel display featured on the higher-cost D3 and D700. The camera comes with a clear snap-on plastic screen cover, not shown here.

Above the LCD is the optical viewfinder, framed by a comfortable rubber eyecup. The diopter adjustment control, for fine-tuning the viewfinder focus to match your eyesight, is to the right of the viewfinder. Moving right from here is the AE-L/AF-L control and the main-command dial.

The LV button launches Live View mode. Below this is the four-way controller, with an OK button in the middle. The focus selector lock lever shifts between L (lock) and open (the white dot). The "info" button at the bottom of this vertical row brings up a full-screen shooting information display on the LCD.

The 920-000-pixel LCD is a treat for the eyes when shooting
or reviewing your shots.

We trust the seal on the doors shown here
to resist inclement weather.

Right Side (7.25)
The right side offers another metal camera strap lug, a slide-back, spring-out door protecting the SD card slot and a small built-speaker behind a 7-hole grid. The memory card door doesn’t have a locking mechanism, but requires enough thumb pressure to make us confident it’s unlikely to open accidentally.

The useful monochrome LCD is lacking in lower-priced SLRs.

Bottom (7.75)
The battery compartment door on the left side opens easily with the push of a fingernail, but we don’t see a way the latch would open accidentally in normal operation. There’s no tab holding the battery in place so, if you open the door with the camera upside down, be prepared to make a quick grab as the battery heads floorward.

The tripod socket is made of sturdy metal, centered under the lens and surrounded by a ridged surface to assist in keep the camera stable when tripod-mounted.

The textured bottom helps hold the camera in place while tripod-mounted.