The Nikon N90s

Moose22 · Dec 13, 2022

Henning Serger said:
Lots of professionals have used this camera together with their F4 and F5. For good reasons.
By the way: With the Meta 35 you can even also store the EXIF data of all your films, the F90X is recording the EXIF data!

I use Meta35 with my F6 when I'm interested in knowing what I've done. It was especially good to help me learn when dialing in some films, and when doing stuff where I'd bracket or mess with GNDs, though these days I've gotten lazy and haven't really worked DLing and attaching exif into my workflow when I do my own scans.

You can actually set custom settings using it on the n90s and F100, though that was never made to work for the F6.

What data does the F90X store? The F100 is more limited than the F6, which is pretty comprehensive.

Henning Serger · Dec 13, 2022

Moose22 said:
I use Meta35 with my F6 when I'm interested in knowing what I've done. It was especially good to help me learn when dialing in some films, and when doing stuff where I'd bracket or mess with GNDs, though these days I've gotten lazy and haven't really worked DLing and attaching exif into my workflow when I do my own scans.

You can actually set custom settings using it on the n90s and F100, though that was never made to work for the F6.

What data does the F90X store? The F100 is more limited than the F6, which is pretty comprehensive.

With my two F6 I am using the original Nikon MV-1 data reader for archiving all the EXIF data.

The Meta 35 is mainly used for my F90X. So I have access to
- which mode was used (P, S, A, M)
- which focal length was used
- which aperture was used
- which shutter speed
- which metering mode (Matrix, centre weight, spot)
- which ISO
- which exposure compensation
- flash usage.

Best regards,
Henning

Thesecondone · Dec 13, 2022

I came close to buying this camera but the plastic build threw me off even if it was robust. I couldnt see myself using it in the summer time with a lack of grip

Secondly,i remember i have a nikon n2000 that does about the same as this one.

Huss · Dec 14, 2022

Thesecondone said:
I came close to buying this camera but the plastic build threw me off even if it was robust. I couldnt see myself using it in the summer time with a lack of grip

Secondly,i remember i have a nikon n2000 that does about the same as this one.

i had the N2000. Excellent camera, but not sure that it does about the same as the N90s. Doesn't AF, doesn't have matrix metering or spot, doesn't have that shutter, doesn't have the fancy flash system etc .

If what you want is a really nice, noisy, affordable manual focus camera, then the N2000 is great. Thing is, the N90S is about the same money! Having owned the N2000 in the past, no way I'd pick that over an N90s.

Thesecondone · Dec 15, 2022

Huss said:
i had the N2000. Excellent camera, but not sure that it does about the same as the N90s. Doesn't AF, doesn't have matrix metering or spot, doesn't have that shutter, doesn't have the fancy flash system etc .

If what you want is a really nice, noisy, affordable manual focus camera, then the N2000 is great. Thing is, the N90S is about the same money! Having owned the N2000 in the past, no way I'd pick that over an N90s.

If you were to have the n90 again what lenses would you go after for auto focus?

Also, i stand corrected.

Ariston · Dec 15, 2022

These cameras work just fine with G lenses - you just can't use aperture priority or manual mode. But shutter priority is a very simple workaround - just set the shutter speed to where you get the aperture you want.

They are basically free cameras. I have bought three, all for less than $30 each. Cheaper and better than all the trendy point-and-shoots. And more reliable.

Helge · Dec 15, 2022

Shhhh! F90(s) and N/F80 is the best deals in Nikon AF cameras.
95% the camera functionality of the F100 and F6 and much lighter and easier to replace and have multiple of.
Low light focus is really not a problem. Especially if you have a flash with IR pilot light.

Huss · Dec 15, 2022

Helge said:
Shhhh! F90(s) and N/F80 is the best deals in Nikon AF cameras.
95% the camera functionality of the F100 and F6 and much lighter and easier to replace and have multiple of.
Low light focus is really not a problem. Especially if you have a flash with IR pilot light.

See now, I think the F90s/n90s is a better deal than the F80/F100 because it still has the metal latch on the camera back, instead of the breakable plastic than the 75/80/100 series uses. Just less to worry about. I know there is now a fix from a member on this site, but most people are unaware about that, and perhaps unwilling to deal with it or would just prefer to not have to deal with it.
The n90s also seems to be quite a bit cheaper than an F80, and of course way cheaper than an F100.

re. being much lighter than an F100 or F6? I guess it is lighter, but it is still a heavy camera and so for me wouldn't make any difference. Especially seeing that the more modern cameras do handle better. An F6 fits in the hand perfectly, and those haptic improvements really help. Of course it is so much more expensive that it shouldn't even be in the conversation! But facts are facts.

If weight is a concern, then the F/N75 is the one to get. That camera is so lightweight it does make a significant difference. Just don't put a heavy lens on it and mess it up!
At this point I think the F75 is about the same price as an F/N90s. And given that choice I'd pick the N90s.

Sirius Glass · Dec 15, 2022

Thesecondone said:
If you were to have the n90 again what lenses would you go after for auto focus?

Also, i stand corrected.

I have Nikon 28mm to 200mm AF zoom lens, Tamron 28mm to 300mm AF lens and a Nikon 20mm to 35mm AF zoom. I perfer D lenses and I avoid G lenses.

Helge · Dec 15, 2022

Huss said:
See now, I think the F90s/n90s is a better deal than the F80/F100 because it still has the metal latch on the camera back, instead of the breakable plastic than the 75/80/100 series uses. Just less to worry about. I know there is now a fix from a member on this site, but most people are unaware about that, and perhaps unwilling to deal with it or would just prefer to not have to deal with it.
The n90s also seems to be quite a bit cheaper than an F80, and of course way cheaper than an F100.

re. being much lighter than an F100 or F6? I guess it is lighter, but it is still a heavy camera and so for me wouldn't make any difference. Especially seeing that the more modern cameras do handle better. An F6 fits in the hand perfectly, and those haptic improvements really help. Of course it is so much more expensive that it shouldn't even be in the conversation! But facts are facts.

If weight is a concern, then the F/N75 is the one to get. That camera is so lightweight it does make a significant difference. Just don't put a heavy lens on it and mess it up!
At this point I think the F75 is about the same price as an F/N90s. And given that choice I'd pick the N90s.

The plastic latch on my multiple F80 has never broken.
I guess it’s mainly an F100 issue.

The price for the 90 and 80 is about the same. Free to cheap. Don’t ever pay over $50 unless it’s something special (exceptional condition plus data back etc.).
And no, it was the cheaper option that was lighter. Especially the 80 weighs less than many lenses. The 90 has some heft, but is basically indestructible.

neilt3 · Dec 15, 2022

Thesecondone said:
I came close to buying this camera but the plastic build threw me off even if it was robust. I couldnt see myself using it in the summer time with a lack of grip

Secondly,i remember i have a nikon n2000 that does about the same as this one.

If yours was an auto focus camera then you had the n2020 , looks the same as the n2000 but added AF .
I can't remember the specifications of them or what features they had , but they were very basic .
In Europe they were called the F301 for the manual focus camera and the F501 for the AF body .
Pretty much any of the other AF bodies would be a better option though !
I've the F90X if I don't want to use the F4 or F100 and for a light weight body I like the F80 .

Huss · Dec 15, 2022

Thesecondone said:
If you were to have the n90 again what lenses would you go after for auto focus?

It works best with my D lenses as all exposure modes work, but will also work with my G lenses in P and S modes. It will also work with my Sigma Art 50 and 35 1.4s. The thing with Sigma Art lenses is the later ones switched to electronic aperture control, and no film Nikon camera works correctly with those. Same as the Nikon lenses with the E apertures.

Patrick Robert James · Dec 15, 2022

I always liked the N90. Never owned one myself. The 8008 wasn't bad either. And the F4 was nice too, especially as a bridge camera between older manual lenses and more modern (at the time) autofocus lenses. None of them had autofocus that performed as well as Canon back in the day but these days, who cares? I've been thinking about picking up one of the above just for kicks. Have some fun.

Huss · Dec 15, 2022

The AF? Well it was working just fine focusing on peeps n stuff inside the store with an 85 D lens. Seemed just as fast as anything I've used. And waaay faster than I can focus a manual lens on an SLR!

Henning Serger · Dec 15, 2022

Helge said:
The plastic latch on my multiple F80 has never broken.
I guess it mainly an F100 issue.

Hello Helge,

unfortunately it is not only an F100 issue, as the F80 (N80) and F75 (N75) are affected as well. Same problem.
Heard of it from others, and I had it myself with an F80, which I bought as an intended present for a young film beginner. Just after I finished the test roll the plastic latch broke.
I still have that body, and I will probably try the new repair solution with the metal spare part offered by our member Plutonius.

Best regards,
Henning

Henning Serger · Dec 15, 2022

Huss said:
The AF? Well it was working just fine focusing on peeps n stuff inside the store with an 85 D lens. Seemed just as fast as anything I've used. And waaay faster than I can focus a manual lens on an SLR!

After 24 years of usage I can say the AF of the F90X is very fast and very accurate / reliable for static subjects. When I bought it new I did a sophisticated AF accuracy test in comparison to manual focussing with my FM.
The hit rate / keeper rate was highest with the AF of the F90X.

Well, for moving subjects the later, more modern Nikons F100, F5 and especially the F6 offer better performance. Not surprising.

Best regards,
Henning

ericB&W · Dec 15, 2022

Mine arrived just today with Mb10 , seems a very solid camera ,
is heavy and a little noisy compared to F-80 but gives the impression to
be a professional camera that lasts in years, while the f-80 seems a toy but i prefer
f-80 controls for the flexible program and exposure lock that remains locked without
keeping the finger pushed .
Anyway nothing beats Canons for speed of controls, with two fingers and without taking the eyes off the viewfinder one controls every thing with the back and frontal dial.

Huss · Dec 20, 2022

Helge said:
The plastic latch on my multiple F80 has never broken.
I guess it’s mainly an F100 issue.

Just check ebay and see all the F80s there with broken latches.

The N90/s is metal.

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2022

Huss said:
Just check ebay and see all the F80s there with broken latches.

The N90/s is metal.

I am not in the market for cameras that already have broken latches.

Huss · Dec 20, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I am not in the market for cameras that already have broken latches.

I am not in the market for cameras that are susceptible to broken latches.

Sirius Glass · Dec 20, 2022

Huss said:
I am not in the market for cameras that are susceptible to broken latches.

But I have never broken a camera back latch. Have you? If so, why are you so hard on the cameras? Are you in a war zone in Hermosa Beach?

Huss · Dec 20, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
But I have never broken a camera back latch. Have you? If so, why are you so hard on the cameras? Are you in a war zone in Hermosa Beach?

Ask Nikon why they changed to cheap plastic. And maybe you should ask all those seller w broken F100s and F80s how it happened?
It's a good thing that a member here is making parts to fix it, but I don't want to buy a camera that I may need to futz with like that.

But it's ok, there are plenty of cameras out there that do not have that worry. Like the $50 N90s. Heck, even that cute little EM has metal latches!

KerrKid · Dec 21, 2022

I think you should buy it. You’ll never miss the $50 and it’s a good investment. An heirloom. Do it. It will eat at you until you do. Plus it will keep you away from the N75’s which I’m trying to hoard.

Huss · Dec 21, 2022

KerrKid said:
I think you should buy it. You’ll never miss the $50 and it’s a good investment. An heirloom. Do it. It will eat at you until you do. Plus it will keep you away from the N75’s which I’m trying to hoard.

yeah but no but, I've been selling off cameras I don't use - like my F100s, F4s, F75, F80. So I'm down to one AF slr - the F6. And I hardly ever use that as I prefer RF cameras. So while this N90s is fantastic, it perhaps will never see the light of day...
Eh..

KerrKid · Dec 21, 2022

Huss said:
yeah but no but, I've been selling off cameras I don't use - like my F100s, F4s, F75, F80. So I'm down to one AF slr - the F6. And I hardly ever use that as I prefer RF cameras. So while this N90s is fantastic, it perhaps will never see the light of day...
Eh..

I wish I had your resolve. Good decision. I don't exactly regret buying all the cameras I have, but I think I would be just as happy with the SRT-101, Olympus XA2, and Yashica T4 Super D that I started with. I could have used the money to buy some nice primes for the 101.

I do love the look and feel of my Konica and Ricoh RF and ZF's, though. They are the only cameras that really draw me to them. I just wish the meters worked in some of them.

The Nikon N90s

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