Nikon D90 outed by USA Today (Update: Now official)

Sure, the Nikon D90 isn't going to be any huge surprise when it arrives at this point, but it looks like whatever ta-da moment Nikon had planned just got upstaged by USA Today, which is running its piece on the new cam just a little early, complete with quotes from Nikon's senior technical manager. Nothing we don't know about here: 12.1 megapixels, 3-inch Live View screen with HD video recording and a kit price of $1,299. Not bad -- and that HD video mode certainly sounds intriguing. At least detailed specs will still be a tiny surprise, eh?

Update: Nikon press release makes it official. Read it here.

[Coolbee8 @ Aug 26th 2008 11:34PM]

The spec has got to be one of the worst kept secret recently.

[D0rk @ Aug 26th 2008 11:41PM]

Hmm, this will be tempting when it comes out as a body only setup. Will probably sit around 1199 as a body considering the 18-55 is roughly $100 new.

I look at that nice, big rear LCD and cry at my D50's postage stamp sized LCD.

[D0rk @ Aug 26th 2008 11:43PM]

my mistake, didn't realize it was an 18-105 lens. Good hopes for me, should make the body only cheaper than the $1199 i thought, assuming it had an 18-55mm.

[Agnius @ Aug 26th 2008 11:47PM]

I wonder when Canon will step up the plate and give HD video to their SLR users... New 7D with HD video would want me to upgrade from venerable 5D. Otherwise, I don't see why to bother? What else can a new SLR do besides cramming more pixels, increasing ISO and dynamic range? Vibrating sensor? And, of course, having a cute model showing it off? Gimme something useful, so I don't have to drag a video camera along, and I might consider a new SLR! Nikon, you got my attention now!

P.S. I predict that eventually all the gizmos and gadgets will merge into a single "swiss army" device that will do it all, and it will get small enough to be taped on my nail or fit in a contact lens. Less is more in my book.

[Kasi Viswanath @ Aug 26th 2008 11:59PM]

Well, I would be more than happy, if all this (so far, "unofficial") features comes in a form factor and weight of a D40. Leave aside something on my nails!!!!!!!

If this happens, then Nikon has hit another Home Run!

[Kasi Viswanath @ Aug 26th 2008 11:48PM]

Butt, I though this is coming with the 18-105mm lens. In which case, the body only price might be much lesser than 1199. 899, anyone?

[xValentine @ Aug 26th 2008 11:51PM]

Is this the first DSLR to have an HD Video Recording ?

[Ethan @ Aug 27th 2008 8:02AM]

If it actually ends up having that feature, then yes, at least as far as Canon and Nikon are concerned. I can't speak for the Sony/Olympus/whatever DSLR crowd, but they're all a distant 3rd, at best.

[Will Colsher @ Aug 26th 2008 11:52PM]

try 999 or 1099

[Doug @ Aug 26th 2008 11:51PM]

meh

[gad get @ Aug 26th 2008 11:59PM]

Hmm... Should I get the XSi, D90, or D300? Tough decisions!

[Sharone @ Aug 27th 2008 12:01AM]

Unlike Canon cameras at least this one will focus properly.

[Thomas @ Aug 27th 2008 6:38AM]

I know what you mean, whenever I pick up someone's Canon the autofocus seems to be always really blurry unlike every Nikon I have ever used.

[Adam @ Aug 27th 2008 8:57AM]

Rubbish, my 450d works perfectly for focus

[Rascal @ Aug 27th 2008 12:13AM]

Detailed specifications and preview of the D90 here: http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond90/

[jrm @ Aug 27th 2008 12:13AM]

It's a testament to the readership/authorship of engadget.com that this item from today's USAToday didn't make it to the blog till after 11 p.m. Eastern time. Kudos all around!

[Nilay Patel @ Aug 27th 2008 12:27AM]

USAT posted this at 10:31pm EST, we had it up at 11:09. I'd say we're doing alright, wouldn't you?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Aug 27th 2008 12:37AM]

pwned

[whatsdamattau @ Aug 27th 2008 12:23AM]

Not bad with the video -- Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound

[sw @ Aug 27th 2008 1:22AM]

Looks good and all, i just can't work out why Nikon went with mono sound...can't be that hard to go stereo can it?

[David Hobby @ Aug 27th 2008 12:56AM]

Kickass d90 vid here: http://blog.chasejarvis.com/blog/2008/08/chase-jarvis-raw-advance-testing-nikon.html

[Schac @ Aug 27th 2008 1:43AM]

Um why don't you just look at the Nikon web site? http://chsvimg.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/d90/en/index.html all your answers are right here. I've been waiting for Nikon to come up with a mid-dlsr with live view. It's finally here!

[LstFenix @ Aug 27th 2008 2:02AM]

Just to let you know, the full spec sheet is up now on the Nikon website

[fauxhawked @ Aug 27th 2008 2:33AM]

info straight from Nikon:
http://www.nikon.com/about/news/2008/0827_d90_01.htm

[Ender @ Aug 27th 2008 3:07AM]

This settles it. I'm officially switching to Nikon.

[jmsbar @ Aug 27th 2008 3:29AM]

One thing to note with the video: It cant auto focus while recording.
You can always manually focus via the lens though.

I think this feature may cause some confusion with people moving up from a point and shoot.

[Johan S @ Aug 27th 2008 4:39AM]

The press release claims it can record HD 720p .. but then says that it's at 24 fps. 720p requires 60 frames per second. Anything less than 60 frames per second is not 720p.

[LondonConsultant @ Aug 27th 2008 5:50AM]

That's complete rubbish! It looks like a little ignorance can go a long way...

[Tom @ Aug 27th 2008 6:01AM]

No, if you check wikipedia, 720p can be any frame rate ..."The five 720p frame rates in common use are 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 Hz (or frame/s)" Admittedly a 60 fps video mode would be much nicer, but this is DSLR video v1.0, so I think its a very nice start.

[Peter @ Aug 27th 2008 7:01AM]

Johan - Do you have any understanding of the term "HD" at all? There are only 2 requirements for video to be considered High Definition. 1 - Vertical resolution must be either 720 (p)rogressive pixels or 1080 (i)nterlaced pixels. 2 - Aspect ratio must be 16:9. That's it. Frame rate is irrelevant, just like your comment.

[Adam @ Aug 27th 2008 8:57AM]

OHHHHHHHHH, total pwnage

[Can @ Aug 27th 2008 5:25AM]

Still 12-bit processing?
Duh.

[groggle @ Aug 27th 2008 7:11AM]

TARGETED AT ADVANCED AMATEURS. Guess my photo purists comment in the last postwas not so ignorant after all. Sweet vindication! Based on Chase's video review and blog, I'm in.

[Rob @ Aug 27th 2008 8:59AM]

Does anyone know if it has a jack for an external mic?