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Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Model number: P90 | SKU: 9223743

This digital camera captures vibrant digital portraits and uses a face-priority AF that automatically isolates and focuses on up to 12 faces in a frame. It also features a high ISO sensitivity, multiple scene modes and optical image stabilization to ensure your digital captures remain crystal-clear in varying scene conditions. Learn more about the Nikon P90. (Flash demo)

Average Customer Rating:

3.9 out of 5 (80 Reviews)

57 of 80 (71%) customers would recommend this product to a friend.

Customer Reviews for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Review 1 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

5.0 5

Awesome 11/05/2009
By mine from Conroe, Texas

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

5.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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What's great about it: Everything

"This camera was recommended to me and was the best recommendation that could have ever been made. Took a picture of the moon and you can even see the craters"

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 2 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

1.0 5

Don't buy it! 10/30/2009
By Firedog2 from NC

Value for Price

1.0 5

Picture Quality

1.0 5

Ease of Use

4.0 5

Features

4.0 5

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Notice the white lines - they are supposed to be straight!

What's great about it: Size, weight, tilt view finder
What's not so great: Picture quality is AWFUL! Very grainy, straight lines are "hatch marked".

"I thought I had found the perfect camera that was just shy of a DSLR. It has all the features I wanted - light weight, tilt viewfinder, sports action mode, image stabilization, reasonable price - the whole nine yards. Then, I took some pictures. Anything that has a straight line to it comes out distorted and the overall quality is very poor - in the camera, on a computer, and worst on a TV. I am very disappointed because I really like the concept of this little camera. Spend the extra bucks and get yourself a true DSLR. I am going to."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Review 3 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

5.0 5

Awesome Camera 10/26/2009
By pstorrandy from scottsville, va

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

5.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

What's great about it: ease of use, awesome picture quality
What's not so great: zoom takes a little getting used to

"Have been looking for a camera to carry in the field with me for 2-3 years. Picked the Coolpix because of its MP and optical zoom ratings. For those having pic quality issues, read the manual. Choose the correct mode and the shutter speed for the type of pictures you're taking and the pic quality will be incredible! Have had the camera for about 3 weeks and taken about 1000 pics and been disappointed with only 4. Great camera for the money!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 4 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

4.0 5

Very versitile 10/21/2009
By Rross from whitehall, PA

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

4.0 5

Ease of Use

4.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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D5000

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Nikon P90

What's great about it: Diverse abilities, comprable to higher end DSLR's
What's not so great: Low light photos grainy if not done right

"My wife and I bought new cameras within 2 weeks of each other. Her the P90 (per my suggestion) and me the D5000. Both are 12 MP cameras and both have similar user interfaces. Like other people who have reviewed this camera, I too had trouble with taking lower light pictures, but I changed to a few different pre-programmed user settings and came up with some pretty decent shots. Being an photo-enthusiast, I'm no stranger to how cameras are "supposed to work," and Nikon is giving you your money's worth with this one.
RESEARCH THIS PRODUCT BEFORE YOU BUY IT!!!!! This is classified by Nikon as an "ADVANCED POINT & SHOOT." You might want to read up a little on what ISO means and how to use it, also, how to use shutter priority and what f-stop means. These are not things that you have to worry about on a standard point and shoot. If you don't want to, learn about this stuff then this isn't the camera for you. If you want to get the most out of this camera and utilize its full potential, than this is the camera for you.
So, we took our cameras out for a side by side.... P90 vs. D5000. As much as I hate to say it (cuz of how much more I spent on mine) the P90 puts out VERY comparable to my D5000. This camera is definitely worth the price."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 5 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

4.0 5

Very Good Camera 10/19/2009
By Tom34 from Robesonia, PA

Value for Price

4.0 5

Picture Quality

4.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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What's great about it: Zoom, Features, Outdoor picture quality
What's not so great: Auto Focus indoors, takes some trial and error

"I've had this camera a week now and I must say I understand why some people don't like this camera. I'm very happy with the picture quality of outdoor pictures. I've been able to take some very good indoor pictures, but it will take a while to get the right settings for different indoor lighting. I'm still tweeking it looking for the best possible setting.

The auto focus works well out doors, but indoors it can take numerous tries to get the focus window to turn green. Again, once you dial it in it seems to work better.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this camera, but all I have to go by is a 9 year old Sony with the floppy disc, so compared to that, I'm quite impressed.
It also helps if you have some knowledge of shutter speeds and ISO settings."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 6 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

2.0 5

You can do a lot better 10/16/2009
By egm from New Bedford, Mass.

Value for Price

2.0 5

Picture Quality

1.0 5

Ease of Use

4.0 5

Features

4.0 5

What's great about it: Long zoom
What's not so great: Pictures; isn't that why you get a camera?

"If you've never used other cameras in this class, you'll be happy with this one - just look at all the glowing reviews here from people who fit this description. Unfortunately, it falls down in the most important factor in a camera: the quality of the pictures it takes. Nikon makes excellent DSLRs, but its Coolpix line comes from a different division and doesn't have nearly the quality. People buy Nikon for the name without truly evaluating what they'll get. The Coolpix line is competitive at the lower end, but when you get up to this level you'll do much better with Canon or Panasonic (which I have now). The P90 isn't a total disaster, many people are happy with it, but they tend to be people who have no basis for comparing it with what else is out there for the money in 2009."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

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Review 7 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Top 1000 Contributor

Customer Rating

4.0 5

Could be better 10/09/2009
By VonJose from Waterfor, Connecticut

Value for Price

4.0 5

Picture Quality

3.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

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ISO 60 distance from subject is 15ft

What's great about it: Compact DSLR, ZOOOOOOOOM is great!
What's not so great: Grainy pictures., not good for indoors.

"I purchased this because of the price. features are at par with the highend cameras. The only thing i've noticed was the grainy pictures,

If you are a beginner, then this is ok. But if you want a higher quality picture get the Nikon D40. Pictures are better."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 8 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

2.0 5

All Looks, No Quality... 10/06/2009
By RWM1479 from Skillman, NJ

Value for Price

1.0 5

Picture Quality

1.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

2.0 5

What's great about it: Easy to use, 24x zoom, 3.0" LCD
What's not so great: PICTURE QUALITY IS HORRIBLE, Very Grainy, Auto-capture is bad.

"If your looking for a camera with amazing, superior, high-definition picture quality, then this camera IS NOT IT.

This Camera has the looks of something worth buying, until you get home and find out that a $10.00 disposable camera takes better pictures...

On the other hand, if you are still thinking of purchasing this camera, the controls are very basic. The features include all of your basic options and then some, making it perfect for amateur photographers."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

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Review 9 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

1.0 5

Washed out pictures 10/05/2009
By BeaverFood from Carmel, ME

Value for Price

1.0 5

Picture Quality

1.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

What's great about it: Features
What's not so great: Picture quality and short battery life

"The auto setting results in over-exposed pictures. I even have difficulty getting a good looking picture with my own settings saved to U1."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

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Review 10 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

1.0 5

READ THIS REVIEW!!!!!!!! 10/03/2009
By Danya from San Jose, CA

Value for Price

1.0 5

Picture Quality

1.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

1.0 5

What's great about it: IT LOOKS COOL
What's not so great: ITS SUX! WORST PICTURES EVER!

"okay, so i went to costco to buy this camera and i was soooo excited! Then when i was about to pick it up this costumer stopped me and he was like DO NOT GET IT! WORST CAMERA EVER...and i REALLLLLYY wanted it because it had amazing reviews...so i thought well ill try it and if the guy is right i can always return it. i went home all excited that i FINALLY got this camera. its an amazing size, it has an amazing screen...BUT IT TAKES DISGUSTING PICTURES! i thought okay...maybe i just have to learn how to use it...and i did learn...IT STILL SUCKED. it took grainy pictures and the video...UGH! the video looked liek those olden day videos were u couldnt see anything! IM NOT OVER DOING IT! its horrible...DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

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Review 11 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

3.0 5

Not the camera for me 09/16/2009
By williams2262 from North Carolina

Value for Price

3.0 5

Picture Quality

2.0 5

Ease of Use

4.0 5

Features

4.0 5

What's great about it: good price and easy to use
What's not so great: VERY POOR picture quality

"I bought this camera because i have twin 19 month old boys. I wanted something that i could use to get the action of them playing. This camera has poor picture quality. It produces grainy indoor pictures, where of course i take most of my pictures. I took this camera back and upgraded to the Canon Rebel SLR camera."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

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Review 12 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

5.0 5

Great camera for the price 09/07/2009
By kim321 from Littlestown, PA

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

4.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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What's great about it: Many features
What's not so great: None

"My husband bought me this camera for my birthday. He knew I wanted a camera like this because we own a boat and I wanted to capture the beautiful sunsets over the water. I have used it everyday since I've had it. It's great. I love to use the "Aperture" feature which allows you to take a close up picture of a subject and everything in the background is blured. I have already framed many pictures that I've taken. The Panorama feature is awsome and is easy to use. I burn thru the battery life quickly, so I will be getting another battery for a backup. Eventhough this camera has a lot of features, the book is easy to read and that makes the camera easy to use. It is hard for me to take a steady picture, so I love that this camera will steady itself before taking the picture. All you have to do is hold the button down half way and it will focus and steady the camera for you. I recommend this camera to everyone!"

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 13 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

5.0 5

I absolutley LOVE this camera!!! 08/27/2009
By MrsAdkins777 from Colorado

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

4.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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Alot of detail!

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Inside a restaurant that is dimly lit.

What's great about it: EVERYTHING!!
What's not so great: alot of learning....but thats ok!

"Ive had this camera for a few days and I love it! I havent learned about all of it yet but im getting there. The photos come out so beautiful. I was a little worried about getting this camera after I read some of the other reviews....but I figured hey why not...so I bought it. The screen does look grainy if you take a picture inside and thats the reason for my rating. But once its on the computer its very clear. I love how the screen is adjustable too. The manuel isnt that big to me but to others it is I guess. What did you expect with all the settings you can do? A paper thin user manual? haha"

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 14 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

3.0 5

Nikon Coolpix P90 not quite as expected 08/25/2009
By TravlynWomyn from Wherever I am parked

Value for Price

3.0 5

Picture Quality

3.0 5

Ease of Use

4.0 5

Features

4.0 5

What's great about it: Easy to handle, large tilt monitor, view finder, 24 optical zoom
What's not so great: Too much fiddling with controls in AF mode, grainy interior images, small images

"This camera met certain priorities for me - auto focus or manual, view finder as well as large, tiltable view screen.
Unfortunately, it takes a much smaller image than my lower-priced Sony H2 - nor does it permit lens filters or extensions as my Sony did, which is rather annoying as I prefer to use a circular polarizing or UV lens filter.

There are so many automatic settings that it's almost easier to forget them and use the manual settings instead. When I first bought the camera I was able to take decent indoor images - now, 3 months later, I have to reset the camera if I don't want pixelated images. I'm rather disappointed as it does not live up to Nikon's normal high standards.

I would recommend this camera to a beginning digital camera enthusiast - but not to anyone beyond average in photography skills."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

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Review 15 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

5.0 5

Excellent Camera 08/18/2009
By sheddon from NY

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

5.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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What's great about it: Easy to use
What's not so great: N/A

"Excellent Camera. Just make sure to put the camera on the correct settings and you will not have the problems other people are having. Love everything about it. I was in two minds after all the bad reviews, but I am glad i bought it. It is worth it. It has different light settings etc, so you have to put it in the correct settings. It has excellent zoom, etc."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 16 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

4.0 5

Simply Amazing! 08/05/2009
By allshewrote from Wisconsin

Value for Price

4.0 5

Picture Quality

5.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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What's great about it: Light Weight, zoom, outdoor picture quality, range of features
What's not so great: zoom has trouble focusing sometimes, flash

"I was debating buying this camera for a long time, I went to best buy twice and looked at it, not knowing if I wanted to buy it. WIthin the first day of using the camera I was in love!! Amazing picture quality, light weight, easy to use right out of the box and when changing the features to what you like. For people who dont like to read, the manual may seem huge, but I found no problems with it; It went through basic set up to changing the ISO and other features to what you like. My favorite is The heart scene mode. The camera sets the ISO and other features for you so all you have to do is adjust the zoom [ and sometimes the ISO] and then you can take all the pictures you want! I do not regret purchasing this camera at all, it is worth the money 100%. The problems people have had with this camera are based around the fact that they do not know how to properly adjust the settings to what they prefer."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 17 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

4.0 5

Good For First Camera 07/27/2009
By briesilver from Saint Louis

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

5.0 5

Ease of Use

2.0 5

Features

3.0 5

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What's great about it: light weight, long battery life, good price, takes great pictures
What's not so great: huge manual, slow shutter speed indoors, grainy indoor pictures, has trouble focusing sometimes.

"This is a great camera for beginners, i would not recommend this for professional photographers. Great battery life.Takes amazing pictures out doors & great macro pictures. Indoor pictures are grainy. Zoom is great but gets a little touchy about movement and has a hard time focusing at times. HUGE manual, but very helpful. Over all it is a pretty good camera."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

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Review 18 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

1.0 5

Bells and Whistles don't make up for poor picure. 07/26/2009
By BarnEStormer from Virginia

Value for Price

1.0 5

Picture Quality

1.0 5

Ease of Use

2.0 5

Features

5.0 5

What's great about it: Tons of features and powerful zoom
What's not so great: Poor image quality

"The Nikon Coolpix P90 has a wealth of features and a powerful zoom. If you want the maximum zoom this camera is great. The image quality is very poor for a camera over $300. I have been using it for 2 weeks under different conditions and my old Kodak Easyshare camera has much better picture quality. The burst mode shooting speed is very fast but the screen goes blank for a second at the beginning of the shot so any moving subject is lost before the burst begins. Also having to take the battery out of the camera and charge it in a seperate charger is very inconvenient.

In all the poor image quality and low ease of use far overshadow the features of the camera."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

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Review 19 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

1.0 5

Beware of this Camera! 07/23/2009
By Txslade from Dallas, TX

Value for Price

1.0 5

Picture Quality

1.0 5

Ease of Use

1.0 5

Features

5.0 5

What's great about it: High Mega Pixel, Features, Zoom, Price
What's not so great: Picture Quality, Focus, Ease of Use, LCD Screen, Auto Settings

"This is my honest review of the P90:

I am an artist (painter) and needed a high mega pixel camera to photograph my paintings for reproduction. I researched for 3 months to make sure which camera I wanted. I came to the conclusion that the Nikon P90 had every single feature I wanted and within the price range I had. I read some bad reviews but I figured it couldnt be that bad and I would give it a shot. I recieved this camera for my birthday last week. I have never been so excited.
This would best camera ever if not for one thing.... It is absolutely horrible at taking a picture. I read the manual twice and figured every feature out. I am not an idiot and not a pro photographer, but I have educated myself over the past few months studying eveything I can on photography and using manual settings on a camera.
Over 2 days experiemented with just about every setting and different types of lighting. Most were on a tripod. After taking 500 pictures I could only got 1 of what I consider decent to high quality ( and I am not pickey either). Every picture was grainy, blury, or really bad quaility. I was shocked. The camera did everything bad that people have written about on here plus some. I couldnt believe how it could be this bad. This camera seemed to do what it wanted no matter what you set it on. every setting seemed to do the opposite of what it should do (ISO, shutter speed, Etc..). The worst part is that the auto focus constantly is thinking and never actually focuses. 3 days in a row the camera after 50 or so pics, the focus just stops and kept giving me the red blink. changing modes and powering off would not make it work. I had to let it rest a few hours then try again. The LCD Screen is so grainy and you can not tell what your pictures will look like until you load them in the computer. I really wanted to make this camera work because I loved it so much. A family member couldn't believe it either and went outside (sunny) to do some test shooting with it. He came back and said, "Take it back".
Even if I was somehow able to make it work to photograh my art under perfect conditions, I was to afraid of how unreliable it would be to take any snap shot on trips to the museum or the zoo. Seriously my Iphone and my old 4MP HP Photosmart takes better snap shots.
I was so upset to take it back to the store, but I did. After returning it I went over to the demo model in the store. Now that I was well versed in using this camera I picked it up and tested it. The one in the store did the same things, so I am sure I did not just get a bad one. I tried it against several models and the difference was amazing. Every camera, even the cheap mini cams took a better snap shot right in the store and focused fast and easy. You can see the difference in the screens too. I am glad I am rid of that hunk of junk. I can't believe Nikon hasn't pulled it off the shelf it is so bad.

If you buy this camera, Please beware that at best it will be very difficult to get the shot! Save your receipt and remember Best Buy only gives you 14days on cameras and there is still a 15% restocking fee @ $399 thats $60. Luckily they gave me my full money back. Good Luck-"

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: No

1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Review 20 for Nikon Coolpix 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black

Customer Rating

5.0 5

So far, amazing!!!!! 07/22/2009
By imabblover from Talala, Ok

Value for Price

5.0 5

Picture Quality

5.0 5

Ease of Use

5.0 5

Features

5.0 5

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fav flower shot

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My fav firework shot

What's great about it: Price, features, ZOOM OMG, LOVE sports continuous setting, amazing!
What's not so great: It won't fit in my pocket....ha ha

"I've owned this for over a month. LOVE it. Wish it would fit in my pocket, that would make it sheer perfection! Its even great for an amateur, I've taught myself alot by reading the HUGE manual. Took me awhile to read it, but I love to play with it and just take several pics of the same scene in a row while makin adjustments so I can see the difference in settings. It has tons of different settings. I can't imagine getting something I'd like more. I'm very happy with it. At first it was scary, it did so many things it was overwhelming to me. I still don't have it all mastered but its fun learning and I love it."

Would you recommend this product to a friend?: Yes

1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

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