New Week Different Camera – Nikon N90s SLR

I’ve started a photography / blogging project I’m calling “New Week Different Camera”. The plan is to use a different camera each week. This will be the primary (but not only) film camera I use during the week. The goal is to try cameras I haven’t used recently / previously or don’t get regular use. After the week, I’ll list some information on the camera and summarize my thoughts.

The first camera is my Nikon N90s. I’ve written about this camera previously:

N90S Blog Post - Features

Details about the camera’s functions are listed on the earlier post.

For the project, here are the topics about the camera:

What is the camera: The Nikon N90s was an advanced SLR for the time. It has all the features of an advance camera. Nikon introduced the N90s in 1994 and discontinued it in 2004. It was proceeded by the N90/F90 version and replaced by the Nikon F100 starting in 1998. The N90s has a “classic” Nikon SLR look and feel. My copy has the accessory battery grip which adds to the weight / size but gives you flexibility with a portrait-oriented shutter release button.

Where did I get the camera: I purchased the Nikon N90s (body only) at Used Photo Pro “as-is”. UPP is a part of Roberts Camera located in Indianapolis. 

Used Photo Pro sells used digital and film cameras and accessories both online and instore. Cameras purchased in-store are “behind the case”, not in the case but in back and on a series or “as-is” shelves (recently labeled “Outlet”). The cameras on the “as-is” shelf are low / fixed priced but come with no guarantee. However, in my experience the cameras purchased “as-is” work but almost always have something wrong with them mechanically or cosmetically. If you have a question the UPP staff can answer them for you. “As-is” is only sold in-store.

How much did it cost: The N90s body cost $20. (I had plenty of F-Mount lenses to use)

Key features: Important features are on the previous blog post.

Plus / Negatives based on my experience: Pros = all advance features for an SLR, top speed of 1/8000, super-fast focus, ability to use all my F-Mount lenses &additional portrait-oriented shutter release button. Negatives = Very heavy (with battery grip), not stealthy (loud mirror slap) for street photography (what I primarily use it for) & difficult fitting in a shoulder camera bag with the battery grip attached. While advanced when introduced there were other cameras on the market with similar specs, so IMO it only differentiated itself you wanted a Nikon.

Nikon N90s without the battery grip

Thoughts / Will I use it again: Overall, a good-looking capable camera! Many similar features to the F100, F4 & F5 but clearly not as capable. More than likely I won’t use the camera all that much because I have the F100, F4 and F5 which have the same form factor but have more features. However, if I didn’t have any of the other cameras I’d use it regularly. 

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Images from the week:

Indianapolis Airport with Kentmere 400

Indianapolis Airport with Kentmere 400

Indianapolis Airport with Kentmere 400

Tipton, Indiana with Kentmere 400

Indianapolis with Lucky SHD400 at 200

Indianapolis with Lucky SHD400 at 200

Elwood, Indiana with Lucky SHD400 at 200

Elwood, Indiana with Kentmere 400

Elwood, Indiana with Kentmere 400

Indianapolis with Lucky SHD400 at 200

Indianapolis with Lucky SHD400 at 200

Indianapolis with Lucky SHD400 at 200

Nikon N90s 35mm SLR Film Camera

 

I recently purchased a Nikon N90s from Used Photo Pro in Indianapolis, sold in “as-is” condition. UPP has a section in their store dedicated to working film cameras and lenses, but these items come with no warranty. That’s because many of them have one or more issues—something might not work properly, or the gear may show significant cosmetic wear. In exchange for these caveats, prices are fixed and budget-friendly. A camera body typically runs around $25.

The N90s I purchased was fully functional except for one flaw: the top LCD screen was burned out. Fortunately, settings were still visible through the viewfinder, but the lack of a working top LCD display was a definite compromise. However, this body came with the MB-10 vertical battery grip, which made it worth purchasing.

I ran 2–3 rolls through the camera without issue, but I found the missing LCD confirmation annoying—especially when trying to verify or setting up metering modes, non-DX ISO settings, and exposure programs. Because of this, I didn’t put the N90s into my regular shooting rotation.

Then, a few days ago, I spotted another “as-is” N90s body at UPP. Mechanically it looked sound, though it had heavy cosmetic wear. The big plus? The LCD screen worked! I bought it and swapped over the MB-10 grip from the earlier body.

I took the newer N90s out for a street photography and really enjoyed the experience and using the N90s. It’s fast, comfortable in the hand, and loaded with features making it a really nice camera to use. Some key specs include:

·       Lens mount: Nikon F-mount

·       Autofocus: Fast and accurate with single, continuous, and manual modes

·       Shutter speeds: Bulb, 30 seconds up to 1/8000

·       Flash sync: Up to 1/250 sec—ideal for studio strobes and consistent with many digital studio setups

·       Motor drive: Built-in, with film advance up to 4 FPS

·       Exposure modes: Program (P), Shutter priority (S), Aperture priority (A), Manual (M)

·       Metering: Matrix, center-weighted, and spot

·       Viewfinder: Bright and easy to work with

·       Custom settings: 17 user-configurable functions

·       Power: 4 AA batteries

The Nikon N90s was produced in Japan from 1994 to 2001. At the time, it was considered Nikon’s top-tier enthusiast camera—sitting just below the professional-level Nikon F4. It was eventually succeeded by the more advanced Nikon F100.

Here are photos taken with my Nikon N90s using Ilford HP5+ and Kentmere 400:

Ilford Kentmere 400 developed with Kodak D-76 1+1

Ilford HP5+ developed with Kodak D-76 1+1