Nikon N90s ... unsung $70.00 hero?

[Stuart John]

I bought mine new in 1996 with the MB10 grip. They were rather expensive back then. I used it for 18 months while working as a cruiseship photographer and sold it to a mate when I moved to another ship. He used it for another 4 months then the shutter gave out. It probably saw 100,000 exposures during that time. Not a bad camera at all but at the time I prefered the layout of the Canon EOS bodies. I bought another one a few years back with an mb10 and data back. I did not keep it for long as I traded it for an F801 and a 105 2.5 Nikkor. I was just using that F801 today. It has a nice clear viewfinder compared to my D80.

 

[ray*j*gun]

I have a 6006 and its great! I also bout it new. This is such a bargin body its pitiful. I use it if its raining along with some old pre-AIS Nikon lenses that nobody wants either. I always get great pics with it!

 

[PhotoJim]

My first Nikon was an F90 (bought when my previous system was stolen) and eventually I acquired an F90x (I finally sold the F90 a couple of years ago). I've got the MB-10 grip for it which makes it a great vertical shooter, and the MF-26 back which adds a lot of nice features.

The backs are prone to flaking - the newer backs don't have that problem. I got my F90's back replaced under warranty and put that back in storage. I sold the F90 with the F90x's back, which was alright but not perfect. The MF-26 has not been a problem at all, no peeling or flaking yet. At some point during production, Nikon solved that problem.

I agree that the F801s/N8008s is also a nice camera (I picked up one of those with a multi-control back a couple of years ago for about $40; I couldn't resist), but the F90x has much faster autofocus and a faster motor drive (4.3 fps). It is also the oldest consumer Nikon body that can autofocus AF-S/AF-I lenses (well, the F90 can too! And the F4, but that's a pro body.)

(Yes, I know Nikon USA alleged that the N90s was a "pro" body but I always considered the F, F2, F3, F4, F5 and F6 to be the pro bodies.)

 

[imokruok]

Another thumbs up for the N90s. Great body with a wealth of features, and Nikon's very solid matrix system. Plus, it works with the TC-16A teleconverter, which means I can put manual lenses on the camera and it will focus them!!

 

[Spleenrippa]

I just joined the club!
Won an auction this morning from Henrys (Canadian photo store) and scored a $40 F90x
Maybe not the smartest move, since all my Digital stuff is Canon... Oh well... Nikon film bodies seem (this is my first Nikon) to be quite impressive, and it was a helluva lot cheaper than an EOS-3/1n/1v.
Any suggestions for a nice portrait lens? The 105mm seems popular, but the amount of versions of it, Nikon terminology, etc. Is confusing. Will be spending some time tonight reading up!

 

[Keith]

I just joined the club!
Won an auction this morning from Henrys (Canadian photo store) and scored a $40 F90x
Maybe not the smartest move, since all my Digital stuff is Canon... Oh well... Nikon film bodies seem (this is my first Nikon) to be quite impressive, and it was a helluva lot cheaper than an EOS-3/1n/1v.
Any suggestions for a nice portrait lens? The 105mm seems popular, but the amount of versions of it, Nikon terminology, etc. Is confusing. Will be spending some time tonight reading up!

Wow ... cheap camera! I mean what the hell else can you buy for $40.00 that has auto focus, matrix metering etc etc ... the way these things are going sooner or later people will be paying us to take them away!

I'm currently looking for a 105mm f2.5 AIS or AI ... if you do a google search you'll find plenty of info about these lenses or check out the thread I started a few days ago. here

 

[css9450]

The MF-26 has not been a problem at all, no peeling or flaking yet. At some point during production, Nikon solved that problem.

I agree; I use the MF-26 on my N90S and haven't noticed any peeling. The original back peeled a little, I think, before I retired it in favor of the MF-26.

I used the auto-bracketing feature of the MF-26 a LOT.

Like some of the others, I'm astounded at the low prices the N90S sells for nowadays, considering I paid nearly $1000 for it in 1996. I used it continuously until I got my D80 in January 2008. It never missed a beat; its indestructable! I even dropped it right at the top of the stairs once and it rolled down, bump, bump, bump all the way to the bottom. Aside from a little crack in the plastic shell, it was unhurt.

 

[titrisol]

The N90 was quite expensive in 95 when I used one in the newspaper
It was IMHO better than the F4s that were the workhorse at the time
Getting one for 70 bucks is a real steal; if all the electronics work the N90 was a fantastic camera

It never ceases to amaze me that you can pick a up a camera like this for $70.00 ... I think I read they were around $1000.00 new?

It still functions like new, the viewfinder is impressive and certainly a close match for my FM3A! It has an extremely accurate spot meter and has plenty of useful functions without actually being the least bit over complicated!

 

[lorenzo1910]

I just bought a second F90X "set" for 91 € (F90X + 35-70 mm f/3.5-4.5 + MB10)
I think this camera is a "must have"...just twist on a 50mm f/1.8 AF and you can get very HQ pictures...

 

[bgb]

The F90x was on my list until i found a cheap F80 ... no complaints but I'm still looking for a F4 so i can use the manual focus lenses. F4 and even F5 are getting so cheap it's unbelievable
Do like the tele-converter idea very smart thinking 🙂