Nikon D90 box in the wild, anticipation is palpable

No matter where you fall in this crazy DSLR war between Canon folks, Nikon folks, Sony folks and "how do you turn this thing on?" folks, there's no denying the D90 has sparked quite a lot of interest from all the right places. The video feature is just plain exciting, as is Live View and that 3-inch LCD (oh, and we hear it also takes pictures), and Nikon could very well have a hit on its hands when it actually starts shipping the thing. Which is where this box comes in. A tipster says it popped up at his Best Buy, but he's getting the impression from inventory that it won't actually be for sale this week. We hope he's wrong, but we're almost out of week. Anybody manage to nab one of these yet? Another blurrycam pic after the break.

[From My Cube @ Sep 5th 2008 9:51AM]

is it really that hard to hold your hand still? Or is it that some many of todays youth already have the shakes from playing pocket pool a few to many times

[From My Cube @ Sep 5th 2008 9:55AM]

its ok, I suffer from "unable to edit post disorder"

[Kevin @ Sep 5th 2008 10:54AM]

the problem most don't realize is that in an indoor setting and without flash, you have to really hold your hand steady to get a clear shot. The shutter is open for almost a second due to low light. Imagine holding it steady with one hand on camera and the other on the product....

[Dino @ Sep 5th 2008 11:18AM]

Can't wait for the body only option!

[lankysob @ Sep 5th 2008 1:09PM]

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=NKD90

As for website reputation: I bought an LCD TV from this site a couple years ago, and (frustratingly) a D80 from them 1 month ago (before I left to go to China for the Olympics). Now, I need someone to take my D80 body off of me so I can upgrade to the D90.

[Best Buy Guy @ Sep 5th 2008 10:08AM]

We got 4 of them in at our store as well. It shows in the system as $9999 meaning its not up for sale yet. It shows in stock date as the 7th of this month. This may not be accurate but thats what the system says. We did play with it a little and the video feature is really neat.

[Segura @ Sep 5th 2008 11:02AM]

Sounds like a good deal. Buy for $9,999. Then go to Customer Service with a printout for Circuit City @ $1,299. Then get a price match and 10% of the difference. Comes out to $1,299 - $870 = $429. Sounds like a good deal to me!

[Richard Lai @ Sep 5th 2008 10:08AM]

The tipster should have used the D90 to take these photos - a hairdryer should let him peel off the seal easily. :)

[Ravi @ Sep 5th 2008 10:10AM]

I'm expecting them to launch it after photokina (23rd Sept -29th Sept)

[farfisa @ Sep 5th 2008 10:17AM]

They should launch it before--Photokina's where everybody finds out about what they should "wait for" [quotes used unnecessarily]. Get the impulse buys now, I say!

[farfisa @ Sep 5th 2008 10:32AM]

Having said that, all the stores in Canada seem to have its estimated release date as Sept. 29 or 30th. But that's Canada.

[JD @ Sep 5th 2008 10:20AM]

I ordered mine last week from ritz camera! I hope I get it soon!! Circuit City website says we can buy it now!!!

[shaun @ Sep 5th 2008 10:17AM]

You can place an order through circuit city today (for shipping) and it never says "for preorder". According to an earlier engadget post, they were releasing it for sale on Sept 5th (today).

[JD @ Sep 5th 2008 10:21AM]

Circuit City website removed it's presale date - which was Sept 7, and has a "add to cart" button. Hmm does this mean it's out?

[nicci @ Sep 5th 2008 10:45AM]

Omg, i have bought D80 couple of months back, i cant even return now. its seems so tempeting, but not in a mood to spend another 900 pounds for new will wait for some time to get the price down :(

[chuck.kramer @ Sep 5th 2008 10:24AM]

I ordered mine this week from Ritz Camera. According to UPS it was picked up this morning for delivery tomorrow!

[JD @ Sep 5th 2008 10:43AM]

You see it on your order status from the ritzcamera website?

[Eric @ Sep 5th 2008 10:28AM]

I'm getting one next year at work to slap on a microscope. We were going to buy two. One for stills and one for video. Nikon just saved us about $10,000.

[aag @ Sep 5th 2008 5:30PM]

eric, care to detail your use? Which 10K camera would that replace? I could only think of high-speed fluorescence cameras, but the D90 isn't likely to give enough sensitivity for single-photon recording. I ask since I just placed an order for two Olympus fluo cameras - but I might cancel those if you can convince me.

[elloh7 @ Sep 5th 2008 10:34AM]

I'm seriously considering an attempt to get a bestbuy card to finance this sucker. I love my D40, but it's seriously lacking in low-light capability. None. At all. I always wanted a D80, but something tells me this is a better buy...

[fxstb2002 @ Sep 5th 2008 11:25AM]

Seriously? The D40 is pretty good in low light, if you use something other than the kit lens. Have you tried the Canon 50/1.4 or the Sigma 30/1.4? Both are really good in low light.

[elloh7 @ Sep 5th 2008 2:26PM]

All I have is the 18-55 non-VR kit lens, and a 55-200 VR. Decent beginner lenses. I figure if I'm interested in blowing a grand and a half I might as well spring for a new body/lens kit, rather than a super-expensive lens.

[elloh7 @ Sep 5th 2008 2:35PM]

Also, being a Nikon body, the cannon lens does me no good. As far as I am aware, the mounts are not compatible in the slightest.

[Zwede_In_Exile @ Sep 6th 2008 2:45PM]

Elloh7, commenting on your thoughts on spending money on camera bodies vs lenses, I would argue (and I think most photo geeks would agree) that you SHOULD prioritize buying super expensive lenses. The reason being that the lens is always the weak link, and the easiest way to improve your experience. Rather than buying a new body with a kit lens, since yoiu already have a quite decent body, I would prioritize a better lens, such as a 24 - 70 or 70 - 200.

[JD @ Sep 5th 2008 10:40AM]

I called Ritz Camera and they said they will get the cameras in today and will be shipping them out either today or Monday. So it's out!!! The camera is OUT!!!

[John from Buffalo @ Sep 5th 2008 10:42AM]

Why are images always fuzzy?! Especially on the digital whore side? Like doesn't anyone care more than the 1998 .003megapixl camera with them?

jesus. even my iphone takes better pix.

[Hugh @ Sep 5th 2008 10:48AM]

Photo's of sightings like this are always fuzzy. What we need is solid evidence. Like a frozen D90 body in a freezer!

[happy_penguin @ Sep 5th 2008 11:50AM]

Why does someone always ask this question?

[Alex @ Sep 5th 2008 12:05PM]

Solid evidence, like a D90 sent back from the future to take photos of Sarah Connor/itself in the box.

"So THAT's where babies come from"

[distordz @ Sep 5th 2008 10:56AM]

See the test of Nikon D90 by Chase Tarvis on http://www.ilogan.info/?p=778

[groggle @ Sep 5th 2008 11:10AM]

I have my preorder in at Amazon! Gonna make my D80 a work camera...

[RK @ Sep 5th 2008 12:22PM]

I am going to wait for Canon 50D - sorry D90!

[JZ @ Sep 5th 2008 1:10PM]

Weird, I just called Ritz camera to order the D90 and they told me that it won't be out until November. But I want this now!!

[JD @ Sep 5th 2008 2:19PM]

I called twice and both time they said they will get it in today.

[Jesse @ Sep 5th 2008 2:31PM]

I got November too... a local Ritz... very rural though, clueless I'm betting.

[Stephen @ Sep 5th 2008 4:06PM]

I used Ritz's online chat to ask about it and the guy said they're receiving stock (D90+18-105VR kit only) today and should be shipping on Monday. He couldn't say if they were getting enough to cover all their preorders though. I still put an order in and can always cancel it if there's a delay. They don't take payment until they ship.

[lmw @ Sep 5th 2008 4:37PM]

I ordered mine yesterday from NFM $1279, shipment is coming Sept 15th.

[Brian @ Sep 5th 2008 6:15PM]

Well, I just went down to the Ritz store near me (it's a regional HQ as well) and they are putting out their D90's when they get them tomorrow morning (Sat). Can't wait!

[??? @ Sep 5th 2008 6:18PM]

Can someone PLEASE explain to me why the D90 is such a big deal? I mean, sans the whole shooting video, there really is nothing that stands out to me in comparison to, say, the D80 or equivalent Canon Xs.

[Bruce @ Sep 6th 2008 3:53AM]

Well for the D80 people there is the new 12MP CMOS chip from the D300 in there, live view for those who want it with the 3" LCD. So some people will want to upgrade for the better high iso settings that the sensor will give them.

The Canon XS is the entry level camera and does not match up well this this, the Canon that would best equal this one is the 40D or XSI. The XS has less MP, less AF points, shooting speed and other features found in this class.

[batura @ Sep 6th 2008 1:12AM]

The CMOS sensor from the D300 has significantlly lower noise at higher ISOs. The 3 inch LCD has enough detail for focus proofing. I have a D80 and I do some for-sale work and it just doesn't cut it in those two areas.

[Michael Scrip @ Sep 6th 2008 2:52AM]

The D90 is an upgrade to the D80 in every way. It's more than just a refresh. The D80 came out 2 years ago.

Scroll to the middle of the page below, and look at: Compared to the Nikon D80, major feature and specification differences

http://www.dpreview.com/previews/nikond90/

[Rogbog4299 @ Sep 5th 2008 7:36PM]

DSLR war! That’s right, it is war now. Canon, Nikon, Sony and all the others are put on notice with the D90. The video feature is exciting. This is a keeper.

[Mark Ballard @ Sep 6th 2008 2:43PM]

Bought mine today at Best Buy! Had to get manager's approval to sell today (9-6-08), on sale tomorrow for real tomorrow. (MA)

[MaskedPirate @ Sep 6th 2008 3:34PM]

I picked mine up from Ritz Camera at 10:00 this morning. They received a shipment of 3 via fed-ex and I was immediately over there to make sure I got one. I'll have pics posted soon; only of the box, and probably some indoor shots of the cat since we're weathering out the effects of Tropical Storm Hanna right now.

[MaskedPirate @ Sep 6th 2008 4:04PM]

Here are a couple shots. Even after only a few hours of playing with it, I would encourage anybody considering the camera to get one.
http://picasaweb.google.com/joeilltellyalater/NewNikonD90#

[SFBayArea @ Sep 6th 2008 4:31PM]

Guys,

any clue when the body-only will ship from Amazon and others ? I've got my pre-order for body only at amazon as I don't want the kit lens. I want to get the 18-200 VRII and I figure there is no point in the redundant zoom ranges.

V

[SFBayArea @ Sep 6th 2008 8:59PM]

I called a couple of Ritz Cameras here near Sunnyvale CA ... one said that it was on pre-order, the other one had it, so I went there. It is the kit :-( too bad as I want the body only (so I can buy the 18-200 VRII). The camera is really nice. I cranked the ISO to 3200 to test the noise ... very decent, totally usable to me, specially considering I'm upgrading from a D70. Movie mode is nice too, I shot a quick clip inside the store. The LCD is of course gorgeous. Too bad I want the body only ...

[MaskedPirate @ Sep 7th 2008 9:55AM]

My understanding from all the local camera stores (VA) has been that the kit is shipping/available now in waves. Originally I had pre-ordered and pre-paid for the body only at a local store, and that wasn't due to arrive until end of october. I didn't want the kit lens either at first because I already have a tamron 18-250 af-s that I love. But since I wanted the camera now, I figured I'd buy it and sell the lens for ~300 (seeing as it will go on sale by it self for 380 when it is released as a stand alone lens) if I didn't keep it. Turns out, I think I will keep the lens after all. It has less glass than my tamron, and while lacking the zoom range, I will use it for dimmer lit targets (ie: night time sporting events); while I'll still use my tamron for most every day shooting. For only 300 bucks more, I'd suggest trying the same approach as you can always sell the lens later and get the camera now. It IS an amazing camera. Best of luck!

[SFBayArea @ Sep 7th 2008 3:00PM]

Tks MaskedPirate ... it is indeed tempting to just go out and get the kit ... I've been trying to find out for how much the 18-105 will go for on retail but can't find pricing for it, where did you get the $380 from ?