Nikon Coolpix P90

Recording Features
Play, Edit, and Print Functions
Battery Information
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software

Recording Features

Vari-Angle LCD Monitor: The Nikon Coolpix P90 features a 3.0-inch Vari-Angle High-Resolution LCD which makes it easy to compose and share your pictures with family and friends. The P90's has a 3.0-inch TFT LCD monitor features approximately 230,000 pixels, an anti-reflective coating and a five-level brightness adjustment. The LCD monitor has approximately 97% horizontal and vertical coverage in the shooting mode and 100% coverage in playback mode. The vari-angle LCD will tilt and rotate out and up to a 90-degree angle and down to a 45-degree angle  enabling you to get those high-angle and low-angle shots.

Electronic Viewfinder: The Coolpix P90 also features a real-image 0.24" TFT Color LCD viewfinder featuring approximately 230,000 pixels. The incorporation of the high-resolution electronic viewfinder enables you to see through the lens in any type of lighting condition. The viewfinder has approximately 97% frame coverage vertically and horizontally during shooting mode and 100% coverage in playback mode. The viewfinder features a diopter adjustment function for easier viewing.

12.1 Megapixels CCD With EXPEED Engine: The Coolpix P90 features a 1/2.33-inch, high-density CCD imager with a total pixel count of approximately 12.70-million pixels. The effective pixel count is 12.1-million. Optimizing performance and color reproduction is an advanced new image-processing engine, EXPEED. EXPEED is custom-tuned for the Coolpix camera and applied optimized technologies render natural-looking pictures of incredible quality and quick response so you will not miss a shot.

Optics: The Coolpix P90 digital camera uses a wide-angle (26-624mm) Zoom-Nikkor glass lens (F2.8-5.0) for superb image quality. Every aspect of the lens manufacturing process is controlled by Nikon. The Zoom-Nikkor lens is designed for the specific camera and CCD combination. The Coolpix P90 uses a 24x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom lens that is equivalent to a 26-2496mm lens in 35mm photography. 

4-Way VR (Vibration Reduction) Stabilization: The Nikon Coolpix P90 offers a 4-Way Vibration Reduction (VR) Stabilization System.

• Optical VR Image Stabilization: Nikon's Optical VR Image Stabilization compensates for the effects of camera shake by moving the image sensor. This produces clearer, sharper results in lower lighting or unsteady conditions.
• Motion Detection: Motion Detection automatically detects moving subjects and adjusts the shutter speed and the ISO setting to compensate for camera shake and subject movement.
• High ISO 6400: High ISO 6400 capability gives you sharper results when shooting in low light or capturing fast-moving subjects. This creates new opportunities to take sharper, more natural-looking photos in lower light conditions. ISO 3200 and 6400 are available at 3MP or lower resolution.
• Best Shot Selector (BSS): Nikon's Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically takes up to 10 shots while the shutter is pressed and then saves the sharpest image.

Built-in Memory: The camera has a built-in 47 MB internal memory for storing still images and movies with sound.

Optional Recording Media: In addition to the built-in memory, images can be recorded onto SD (Secure Digital) or SDHC Memory cards. When an SD Memory card is inserted in the camera, the images are automatically recorded onto the card. When no card is inserted, the images automatically record to the internal memory. The camera can support SD cards from 128MB up to 2 GB; and 4GB to 16GB SDHC cards.

Still Image Size: The Coolpix P90 records still images in JPEG format. You have a choice of the following still image size/image quality options and movie options:

Shooting Modes: You can choose one of the following shooting modes:

• Single: The camera records one picture each time the shutter release button is pressed.
• Smile Mode: The camera detects a smiling face to shoot your subject automatically. The camera can recognize up to three smiling faces.
• Continuous: While the shutter-release button is head down, up to 25 pictures are shot at a rate of approximately 1.4 frames per second when the image quality is set to Normal and image size is set to 12M (4000 x 3000).
• Sport Continuous Mode: Sport Continuous Mode allows rapid, continuous shooting while you press and hold the shutter-release button fully. With continuous shooting, instantaneous movement in moving subject can be captured clearly. The ISO sensitivity is set automatically within the range of ISO 640 to 6400 while images sizes of 2048 x 1536 or smaller can be selected. The focus, exposure, and white balance settings are fixed at the values for the first picture in each series. You can choose from the following Sport Continuous Modes.
  • Continuous H (16:9): approximately 15 frames per seconds up to 45 frames max.
  • Continuous H: approximately 11 frames per second up to 45 frames max.
  • Continuous M: approximately 6 frames per second up to 45 frames max.
  • Continuous L: approximately 4 frames per seconds up to45 frames max.
• Best Shot Selector: The BSS is recommended for situations in which inadvertent camera movement can produce blurred pictures, or when parts of the image are prone to under- or over-exposure. When BSS is on, the camera takes shots while the shutter-release button is pressed, to a maximum of ten. The images are compared and the sharpest picture is saved to the memory or memory card.
• Multi-Shot 16: Each time the shutter release button is pressed, the camera takes 16 consecutive "thumbnail" images at a rate of about 7.5 frames per second, and arranges them into a single picture of 4 rows of 4 images each.
• Pre-Shooting Cache: When the Pre-Shooting Cache function is set to On, shooting will start when the shutter-release button is pressed down halfway for more than 0.5 seconds, and images (up to ten) that were recorded must before the shutter-release button is pressed down fully will be saved. Up to a maximum of 35 images can be recorded during the period when the shutter-release button is pressed down fully.
• Interval Timer Shooting: The camera shoots (up to 1,800 frames) automatically at specified intervals of 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, or 10 minutes.
• Self-timer: The camera is equipped with a 10 second and 2 second timer for self-portraits.

Blink Proof/Warning Function: The Blink Proof function is available when you are shooting in Smile Mode. Each time a picture is taken, the camera automatically take two consecutive shots. Of the two shots, the shot in which the subject's eyes are open take priority and is saved. When the camera detects that one or more human subjects have closed their eyes shortly after recognizing the faces and shooting them, the face of the human subject that may have closed his/her eyes is framed is displayed so you can check the shot picture and determine if you need to take the picture again.

Focus Mode: You can choose from the following focus modes.

• Autofocus: The camera automatically adjusts focus according to distance to subject. You can use this when the distance from subject to lens is 1.665 feet or more.
• Infinity: The Infinity Mode can be used when shooting distance scenes through foreground object such as windows or when shooting landscapes at ranges of 16 feet or more. The flash turns off automatically during this mode.
• Macro Close-Up: The Macro Mode is used for close-up shots. The camera can focus on objects as closes as 4.0 to 0.4 inches to the lens. The camera will focus continuously until the shutter-release button is pressed halfway.
• Manual: The focus can be manually adjusted for any subject that is a distance of 0.393" from the lens of the camera.

AF Area Mode: You can select between the following AF Area Modes to determine where the camera focuses.

• Auto: The camera automatically selects the focus area (1 of 9) containing the subject closest to the camera.
• Manual: You can manually select from 99 focus areas in the frame. Pictures can be taken while focus area selection screen is displayed.
• Center: The camera focuses on the subject in the center of the frame.
• Face Priority: When the camera recognizes a face (front view only), the camera will focus on the face automatically. Up to twelve faces can be recognized.

Focus Lock: The Focus Lock feature is used to focus on off-centered subjects in the frame while shooting in Center AF mode.

AF-Assist Illuminator: If lighting is poor, the AF-assist illuminator may light to assist the focus operation when the shutter-release button is pressed halfway. The illuminator has a range of about 13.0 feet at the maximum wide-angle position and 7.166 feet at the maximum telescopic position. You can turn this function on or off.

Exposure Modes: You can select from the following automatic and manual exposure modes.

• Auto Mode: This is an automatic "point-and-shoot" mode recommended for first-time users of digital cameras.
• Programmed Auto Mode: The Programmed Auto Mode is a simple point-and-shoot mode in which the majority of camera settings are controlled by the camera. The camera will automatically set the shutter speed and aperture. This mode is recommended for first-time users of digital cameras.
• Shutter-Priority Auto Mode: The Shutter-Priority Auto Mode allows you to choose the shutter speed and lets the camera select the aperture value for best results when freezing or blurring motion.
• Aperture-Priority Auto Mode: The Aperture-Priority Auto Mode allows you to choose the aperture value and lets the camera select shutter speed for best results when using to blur background or bring both foreground and background into focus.
• Manual Mode: The Manual Mode allows you to control exposure by adjusting the shutter speed and aperture manually. You can set the camera's shutter speed from 1/2,000 to 8 seconds and adjust the aperture value between F2.8 and 5.0.
• Scene Modes: The camera gives you the option of various Scene Modes. The camera settings are automatically adjusted to suit the selected scene. The Scene Modes include:
  • Portrait: Useful for photographs where you want the main subject to stand out clearly from the background.
  • Night Portrait: For shots that provide natural balance between the main subject and the background when shooting portraits under low lighting.
  • Landscape: For vivid landscape shots that enhance outlines, colors, and contrast in such subjects as forests and skyscrapers.
  • Night Landscape: A slow shutter speed is used to produce stunning night landscapes.
  • Sunset: Preserves deep hues seen in sunsets and sunrises
  • Dusk/Dawn: Preserves the colors seen in the weak natural light before sunrise and after sunset
  • Fireworks Show: Slow shutter speeds are used to capture the expanding burst of light from fireworks
  • Beach/Snow: Vividly captures the brightness of subjects such as snow fields, beaches or sunlit expanses of water
  • Party/Indoor: Shots include details of the background behind the main subject, or to capture the effects of candlelight and other indoor background lighting
  • Close Up: Used to capture vivid colors in close-up shots of flowers, insects and other small objects, with the background artistically blurred
  • Food: Use this mode take pictures of food.
  • Museum: Use indoors where flash photography is prohibited or in other settings in which you do not want to use flash
  • Copy: Provides clear pictures of text or drawings on a white board, business card or in other printed matter
  • Back Light: Use when light is coming from behind your subject or when your subject is in the shade but the background is brightly lit
  • Panorama Assist: Use to take a series of photographs that you will later join to form a single panoramic scene
  • Voice Recording: You can record vocals for the entire capacity of the camera's internal memory or up to five hours when using an optional SD memory card.
• Auto Scene Mode: The camera automatically selects one of the following scenes (Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Backlight, or Close-up) when you point the camera at a subject.

Exposure Compensation: You can alter the exposure from the value suggested by the camera, making pictures brighter or darker. You can adjust the exposure from -2.0 to +2.0 EV in 1/3 steps.

Exposure Lock: The white balance, exposure, and focus of the camera is locked at the values set with the first shot. All pictures taken in a series have the same focus, exposures, and white-balance settings while the camera's exposure is locked.

Metering: The camera features two Metering modes.

• Matrix: Camera sets exposure for entire frame; recommended in most situations.
• Center-Weighted: Camera meters entire frame but assigns greatest weight to subject in center of frame. Recommended for portraits; preserves background details while letting lighting conditions at center of frame determine exposure.
• Spot: camera meters area shown by circle in center of frame and ensures that subject in metering target is correctly exposed even if background is much lighter or darker
• Spot AF Area: camera meters selected focus area; available only when a setting other than "Center" is selected for AF area mode

Auto Bracketing: Auto Bracketing is used to vary exposure by a select amount over a series of pictures when it is difficult to guess the correct exposure. You can set the camera to vary exposure by +/-0.3, +/-0.7 or +/-1.0 over your next three shots.

ISO Settings: Sensitivity is the measure of how quickly the camera reacts to light. The higher the sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure. The camera features the following ISO settings - ISO 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, 3200, 6400, Auto (64-800), High Auto (64-1600), and Fixed Range (64-100, 64-200, or 64-400).

Built-In Flash: The Coolpix P90 has a built-in Speedlite flash with a range of 1.665 foot to 26 feet  (Wide angle) and 5.583 feet to 16 feet (Telephoto). You can adjust the flash output by +/- 2.0 EV in increments of 1/3 EV, changing the brightness of the main subject relative to the background. You can choose from the following flash modes:

• Auto: flash fires automatically when lighting is poor
• Auto with Red-eye Reduction: pre-flash fires before main flash to reduce red-eye effect
• Flash Off: flash will not fire, even when lighting is poor
• Fill Flash: flash will fire whenever a picture is taken
• Slow Sync: auto flash combined with slow shutter speeds
• Rear-Curtain Sync: flash fires just before shutter closes, creating effect of a stream of light behind moving subjects

In-Camera Red-Eye Fix: If the camera detects red-eye after the pre-flash has fired, advanced red-eye reduction processing is used to further reduce red-eye, slightly increasing the time required before the next picture can be taken.

White Balance: You can set the White Balance to Auto, Daylight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, or Flash. You can also choose Preset White Balance and use a neutral-colored object as a reference to set the white balance under unusual lighting conditions.

Image Optimization: When you are shooting your images, you can optimize your pictures by adjusting the following settings.

• Normal: suited for most situations
• Softer: softens outlines, producing natural results suitable for portraits or retouching on a computer
• Vivid: enhances saturation, contrast, and sharpness to produce vivid images with vibrant greens, reds, and blues
• More Vivid: maximizes saturation, contrast, and sharpness to produce crisp images with sharp outlines
• Portrait: lowers contrast while lending natural texture and rounded feel to skin of portrait subjects
• Black and White: shoot photos in black and white
• Custom: allows you to manually adjust the settings for Contrast, Sharpness and Saturation

Active D-Lighting: Active D-Lighting preserves details in highlights and shadows, creating photographs with natural contrast. The images taken will reproduce the contrast effect that is seen with the naked eye. This is particularly effective for shooting brightly lit outdoor scenery from darker indoors or taking pictures of shaded subjects at a sunny seaside.

Noise Reduction: The camera uses a noise reduction system to minimize digital artifacts in long exposures.

Distortion Control: When activated, Distortion Control corrects distorted images by reducing frame size.

Movie Mode: You can use the Coolpix P90 to make movies with sound (AVI). You can select TV Movie 640 (640 x 480) at 15 frames per second (fps), TV Movie 640 (640 x 480) at 30 frames per second (fps), Small Size 320 (320 x 240) at 15 fps, Sepia Movie 320 (320 x 240 sepia tone movies) at 15 fps, B&W Movie 320 (320 x 240 black and white tone movies) at 15 fps, and Time-Lapse Movie (640 x 480 still image intervals joined into a silent movie) at 30 fps.

Electronic VR: The Coolpix P90 offers a Electronic Vibration Reduction when recording video to reduce the effects of camera shake.

Voice Recording: Audio voice recordings can be recorded over the camera's built-in microphone and played back over the camera's built-in speaker. Audio recording will end automatically when the  internal memory or inserted memory card becomes full, or after 120 minutes of recording.

Play, Edit, and Print Functions

Copy: You can internally copy images and voice recordings between the camera's internal memory and an inserted SD-card.

Slide Show Playback: View pictures in the internal memory or on the memory card in an automatic slide show with about three seconds between pictures. Maximum slide show duration is 30 minutes without operation.

Thumbnail Playback: During playback, you can view multiple thumbnail images (4, 9, or16) at a time. While these "contact sheets" are displayed, you can use the multi-selector to highlight individual pictures. Highlighted pictures can be deleted, if desired.

Calendar Display: Calendar Display allows you to select and view pictures taken on a specific date.

Playback Zoom: During playback, you can enlarge a still image up to 10x. Once the image is zoomed, you can use the multi-selector to scroll around to non-visible portions of the image. You can record a new picture of the cropped image by pressing the shutter button.

Rotate Image: Recorded pictures can be rotated 90-degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise on the unit's LCD screen.

Hide Images: You can mark images as hidden so they do not appear during playback.

Editing Picture: You can use the Coolpix P90 to edit recorded pictures in-camera and store them as separate files. You can choose from the following editing functions.

• Quick Retouch: This editing function lets you create retouched copies in which contrast and saturation have been enhanced.
• D-Lighting: D-Lighting can be used to brighten dark or backlit subjects. While playing back an image, you can select the D-Lighting function, apply it, and save the corrected image without harming the properly exposed areas of the image.
• In-Camera Cropping: This feature allows you to crop out the part of the image you don't want and keep the part you do.
• Resizing Pictures (Small Picture): You can create a small copy of a recorded image. The copy will be stored as a JPEG file with a compression ratio of 1:16. You can choose from the following sizes: 640 x 480 (suited to television playback), 320 x 240 (suited to display on web pages), or 160 x 120 (suitable for email attachments). Calendar Mode: In calendar mode, images are grouped by date so pictures taken on a specified date can be displayed or printed separately.
• Black Borders: This function creates copies of your images with black lines along the borders of the pictures. Copies with the black frame are stored as separate files.

Voice Memos: Using the camera's microphone, you can record a voice memo during full-screen playback to be associated with a particular picture. Voice memos are recorded as long as the shutter release is held down, to a maximum length of 20 seconds.

Protect: The camera allows you to protect selected pictures from accidental deletion.

Multi-Language Menu: You can choose from 20 different menu display languages including English, Spanish or French.

Printing Pictures: You can print pictures stored in the internal memory or on the memory card by using the Print Set option in the playback menu. Using DPOF (Digital Print Order Form), you can designate which images to print, and how many copies to print.

Battery Information

Power Requirements: The Coolpix P90 is powered by the supplied rechargeable Li-ion battery (EN-EL5) which provides up to approximately 200 shots when fully charged. The camera also comes supplied with the AC battery charger (MH-61). For extended use and playback an optional AC adapter (EH-62A, sold separately) is available. The EN-EL5 takes approximately 2 hours to fully charge when battery is fully discharged.

Auto Off: When the camera is operated on battery power, the Auto Off mode will automatically turn off the monitor to reduce the drain on the batteries if no operations are performed for the length of time specified in the Auto Off menu. The time limit for the Auto Off mode can be set to 30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes or 30 minutes.

Inputs and Outputs Notes

USB/Audio-Video Output: The Coolpix P90 features a single proprietary jack on the bottom of the camera for connecting the supplied Audio/Video or USB cable. This one output allows you to download your photos to your computer or printer via USB, or view your photos on a TV via composite video. The USB interface is USB 2.0 High Speed compatible. The video output is NTSC or PAL compatible.

Supplied Software

Software Suite CD-ROM: The supplied Software Suite CD-ROM contains Nikon Transfer, Panorama Maker and related software. Nikon Transfer is used to copy (transfer) pictures from the camera to the computer and to perform such other transfer-related functions as making backups and embedding information in pictures as they are transferred. Panorama Maker is used for creating panorama images from the camera's recorded still images.

System Requirements: The supplied software will work with Windows and Macintosh. You computer will need to meet the following system requirements.