This was the last film slr I owned before I went digital with the D100. It was THE camera to have for weddings if you shot Nikon. I saved for months to buy mine to upgrade from the original N90. The s version had some additional features including the connections in the battery compartment for the vertical grip. I loved the N90s (and the N90 for that matter), rock solid performance and handling. I was so sad that Nikon didn’t base their first DSLR on this camera.

Nice. I bought my F90 in 1992? I think. I picked up an N90s privately, but it had to go in for servicing. I kept Fujichrome Provia in the F90 and either TMax 400 or HP5 in my N90s and in my FM2n. The addies in 'American Photo' just glowed over this camera.

There is a much better way to use G-glass. Choose P-Mode, than press Ps-button and choose Po for portrait-mode. It work like A-mode. Now you can change aperture with the control-wheel.

I agree completely. I got it mine for $40 too... added the MF-26 data back which give a bunch of additional features (interval, bracketing, etc). I then added the MB-10 grip and got a SB-24 flash and I think my total was still under $100. I've added 3 lenses... all cheap but surprisingly good AF-D 50/1.8, 28-80 and 70-210.

I recently purchased a nice example of the N90S. Looking forward to running some film through it and experimenting with that high shutter speed open aperture combo in daylight shoots. Nice work. I enjoy your videos.

Yes, that kind of SLR cameras from the nineties are amazing. Maybe too plastic, but the features are awesome. I do use a Canon EOS film camera from that era. Same glass as with digital, very good metering, AF... at an unbeatable price nowadays. BY the way, beautifully done pictures, mate. Keep up the good work.

Nice job Mac. I sold these new in the 90s when I worked at Ritz Camera. They're just brilliant. They LOOK like a brick, but they feel just great in the hand, and the interface is a masterpiece. Push a button with a left finger, then turn the dial with the right thumb. Or push a button with the right finger and still use the right thumb. It's a better dial layout than EOS had. (and I should know, as I have a 630 and an A2) I'm not sure I'd call this a step down from the F100, as they are not of the same vintage. Maybe a step down from the F4, but only in ruggedness and maybe prism interchange. It's a step up in technology and ergonomic design. I've been looking for a nice FM2, but they're too expensive for what they are; as you might say, the bookends of possibility are too narrow for its price. ($260+, and very few features)

Wow amazing work! I agree, I have this, and an F4. I feel this camera can do just about everything the f4 can.

Amazing camera ..I've got two of this...congrat for your great stream ! You kow your tools!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Nice Video! The Nikon F 90X / N 90S was and still is my favorite film SLR camera. I bought mine at the age of 17 brand new back in 1998. I've shoot amazing color slides with it! I still own it until today and it works absolutely perfect! I bought a second Nikon F 90X in 2001 because it was my favorite camera. The second one was never used and it still is NEW in it box! I love it!!! It is the first camera that can work with G lenses and was the first camera that supported lenses with internal motor! It was and is future proof!

Just discovered your videos a few days ago, really enjoying them. thanks

This was my first AF camera and I bought brand new in 1999. I was shooting weddings with my two FE2 bodies prior but needed AF. I think I paid about $1200 new. Still have it today along with my F100 and have the 85mm f1.8 and the 50mm AFD f1.4 too. Use them on my D3 now. Thanks for the review. Maybe I'll do one as well too.

I have one of those, i'm very satisfied. Thank's for sharing this video!

Agree and it was the first Nikon with Matrix Metering, and more important to Nikon than is usually reported, used my own F90X since new and still here today, stick on my 85mm f2 AIS and I'm in heaven, also anyone having doubts about reliability or build, I used this camera for almost 10 years doing Live Music and never let me down once. (I also own F90/F4s/F5/D1h/D200/D80/FG)

Great info ! thanks! Also great video, photos and really like how you worked with the subject! You seem to direct very efficiently and quickly.

Along with the superb and even more underrated F4s this camera is what a Nikon represented at one time, solid functional reliability. Everything that Nikon had made since the 70s worked with this camera, lenses I mean. One of the main reasons that in the late 70s I picked Nikon over Canon was that most of their AIS range had the same 52mm filter thread and the FM/FE range were made of brass and Magnesium alloy not plastic. One set of Nikon filters fitted all their lenses. When Nikon went digital their manual lenses could still be used. A Nikon's strong point. Sadly not these days. This camera maybe cheap as chips these days but at one time ( even in 1998 the price was still over $800.00 which represented the quality of the camera) it was anything but. A lot of the pros used it as their back up and go to camera because it had an infallible matrix metering and autofocus system even with its single AF point. That is all that was needed and not this farce of 151 X points all over the viewfinder of today's offerings. Good presentation. The model wasn't bad either. Thanks.

I bought my N90s and MD-10 grip new in the mid 90's and I still have it. It is still one of my favorites.

I bought my Nikon F90x with AF Nikkor 35-70mm for only 45 Euro in fantastic condition, and i'm very happy with the camera and it's results. Yes, this Nikon is very underrated in my eyes. Thank you for the video!👍

Enjoyed the video. After beating the hell out of nikon-fe2 for 14 years (long road trips through Asia, Africa, Europe), I moved onto a Nikon 90x (English version of 90s) in the 90's. Loved the spot metering on the 90x, traveled around Europe, a little bit of Asia and South America with the 90x. Both are great camera's.

Great shoot. Great light. Great exposures. Great images. Thanks.

Bought one of these when it came out and shot with it until I went digital in 2002 with the D1. The metering really was spectacular. I used a Nikon film scanner to digitize much of the film I shot with it and the images really are special. Unfortunately, I lost it in a move in 2018, along with my first camera, a Minolta XD-11, that I bought in 1981 and shot until I bought the N90s.

I love this camera so much! Great video and pictures Mac.

I used to have a Nikon fe2 in film days. When I really got back into photography I went with Pentax. But their,s just something about film. To me it tells a truer story about you are taking photo,s of. So I spotted a good deal just today on a n90s so think it will be the film camera I go with .

Yes in the UK it was branded F90 and F90X and is still much sought after together with the F801s. However, here is where I get criticized... Any of these bodies are much of a muchness and more depends on the lens choice.

Beautiful shots mac great job

Got try the F5 for me the best Nikon film camera they ever made I’ve got 2 of them 👌

Great review and shoot!

Stellar shots. Thx 4 sharing, Mac.

I've just (this minute) purchased one....... A little more than $40.... But comes with a year guarantee. Coming to the UK from Italy. The 8k shutter speed is what's sold it to me!! Thanks for this extra expense....... Especially at Christmas time!!! ;-) :-D

I own the N80 and I think it’s a wonderful thing. A lot of those Nikon’s don’t get the credit they’re owed but they can produce some wonderful shots.

@3:14 Always problematic to shoot when the sun is at your back. Pictures turn flat. Skin tones can be burnt. Very tough angle. Thing is, sometimes the location forces you to shoot form that angle...

The F100 was what replaced it. So not really below it. It was released after the F4s, and it was a more advanced body. Paired with a SB-28 speedlight and this was a killer combo for event work. I was one of those chumps that got their F90X and paid full pop for a new one. Best kept secret in film cameras imo right now.

FINALLY found a photographer in Charlotte haha - I grew up in Phoenix, lived in ATX and am now in Charlotte. Hope we run into each other at some point

I have the F75 /N75 in the UK. Used with my Nikon Sb 600 it's awesome. Its so light. I use it with a Nikon 24mm 2.8 afd. I don't use my 50mm lenses much. I have a 75 to 150 3.5 Nikon E series lens which I use on my favourite camera the Nikon FE.

Just bought one yesterday, can’t wait for it to arrive. Your review made my mind up. Am I right in thinking you really need a lens with an aperture setting ring when using this camera?

Video was entertaining so I subscribed 👍

I have its predecessor, the F801, called 8008 in the US of freakin' A. There's not much between them, the N90s is basically the early F4 in a different body, minus a couple of specs, and takes the MB-10 vertical grip. The F801 is lower spec than the N90, but still has that beast of a 1/8000th shutter and AM200 auto focus module found on the N90 and F4. If you can find one, the Kodak DCS460 digital back was built for the N90 and has a 6 megapixel CCD sensor. Not bad for 1995. :)

Love your work and reviews bro!!

I was one who bought one at £1000 UK pounds . Just loved it faster focus than the F4 had a host of features .the nikon F5 came out afterwards. Then the F100.The F90x/N90S was used by many pros.

Down the road in Salisbury NC here. About to buy one of these. Thanks for the info.

I loved and I'm loving this camera. It costed a lot of money and at the time It was just a dream for me.. Now I've purchased one for 40 Euros. Great video about it. Thank you.

in its day it was certainly not underrated but the best and most high-tech there was if you didn't want to lug an F4 :D inflation-adjusted price was something like 2500$ today-money for the body. I still have mine.

This is a great channel

This was my dream camera back in ninties when it was way beyond my budget. I finally bought one in mid 2000's (when my dream was F100😀) only to retire it due to digital revolution. I guess I'll brush the dust off it and put a roll of film or two through it again...

I own the F90x since 1995. It's for sure being underrated - but that kind of model shoot is always a silly cliche.

Great video and i am planning to get one and how is the autofocus when compared to F100 ?

Does this camera focus better than your f100? Seems like you have more shots in focus with this camera than the f100?

Great vid man. Loved the behind the scenes and interwoven final scans. Do you rate your film at box speed and do you set exposure compensation in conjunction with the spot metering? e.g CaucasIan skin maybe at +.5 to 1 stop over?

Hey Mac! Love your channel and your IG feed. Great shots with film. I just recently added film to my street photography kit, the Minolta CLE, Canon P, and Minolta XE-7. I'm looking to add it to my professional work in the next couple of months. Out of curiosity, do you ever shot Black or Brown women? I noticed that the majority of your work is with White women. I'm not asking from a racial perspective per se. So please don't take the question that way. I'm asking more from a photography perspective in terms of lighting and how you handle different skin tones. In my experience shooting, different skin tones and colour renders different when making photos and I'm curious as to your experience with this.

Yes! Astonishing what it sells for on the auction site vs. what it cost new 20 years ago. I still don't understand the green light on top, guess it was a 90's thing?

Hey Mac, it is possible to use G lenses in pseudo-aperture mode. Basically, you put the camera in Portrait mode, then you can change the aperture with the selection wheel. Check out kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iZaVidej2LymdIE.html

I just bought one but I can't figure out how to use the spotmeter. Is this only possible in manual mode or also in program?

Great review. Anyone know how to turn off the autofocus confirmation beep?

Mac / anyone else reading this - I know this comment is ages after the n90s/F90x vid got posted, but if you pick this msge up can you please let me know what Nikon lens was on the camera in the discussion at the end of the video? Thanks, Ian

I have one from eurpe version (f90x) ..one of the best reviews on youtbe,beautifull samples

Hello I had one a long time and never liked the form factor that did not fit well to my hands. At the same time I also had a F601 I used much more. After a certain time the plastic back finish layer became also very sticky.

I have a Nikon AF-D lens that will autofocus with my F401s but not with my F90x Despite having it in autofocus mode. The screen does dot show the AF icon. But with manual focus i get correct indicators. I don't know why?

Is it a good video camera as well?

Hi Mac, I totally agree with you about the N90s. It's known as the F90X outside of North America. See me talking about it in a Nikon group test here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/obKkrble29rUaKs.html

Hi, I saw this camera for 100$ and I'm new to photography, would you recommend it to a beginner?

I like the auto focus and the overall performance. Let's put it underrated otherwise the price will be raised. LoL

And of course it's full frame at $40 For full frame c'mon. So a prime lens retains not only its performance but its actual focal length! I thought the F801 was a great camera but this camera is a whole different ball game and if you pair it with the MB-10 what's not to like. I just wish we had these in the 80's in our low light television studio's during music video productions. Spot metering and autofocus in the tricky lighting but at least the film stock was up to it Scotch 3M 1000

Anybody know the name of the song half way through the video?

Can't say anything about the camera, since I'm not a Nikon or much of an SLR shooter in general, but I have one of those plasticky Canons knocking about from that era in case I want to shoot my old digital glass on film. Can't really fault those, so cheap to replace!

I agree. I love my N90s! Nice job on the video and those images! My N90/N90s gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/michiganclassics/albums/72157677624901137

Hey man I'm a beginner and i want to get a camera for me. I found a nikon fm, nikon f90x, nikon n2020, and a canon EOS 500 all at around 65$ can you please help me choose. I can't figure which one should i get the all manual fm or any of these AF cams. Please help me

Dunno for me i choose portra 400

What Nikon lenses pair well with this Nikon N90 or N90s?

Nada mas porque salió mi cámara le doy like.

Af-s and Af-d lenses. Use AA batteries. Perfect.

I'll be honest... I have both and the F100 is way better. I bought the N90S for $16 but having used it I would not pay more than $35 for this guy. It not that the N90S is a terrible camera, it just that the F100 is so much better and I rather put that money towards a used F100 or F5.

How are they for videos?

The answer, of course, is yes. I have the F90 - and it's just great. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pqx7eNOLvc7VgKc.html

the way you shoot and edit your photos I would have guessed they were digital, it's like you somehow removed any evidence of film within your photos

“The SLR camera underrated or otherwise” feels meaningless. A film body is just that: a light tight box that carries the film. The factors that affect the image, 1. Film emulation and surface area (size, the bigger the better) 2. Lens choice 3. light and 4. the thing that presses the shutter. Light box difference can affect ease of use, all else is sophistry.

Tuve la Nikon F90x y la F100 y la F4s y la F5 incluso un tiempo convivieron en el bolso las 4. Primero compré la F4s (usada de un fotoreportero que la estaba dejando de usar), poco tiempo después vino la F90x (, nueva cero kilómetro). Luego un par de años después vino la F100 y la F5 por último. Ya después de eso no compré más cámaras hasta hacer el salto de analógico a digital. Pero lo cierto es que si comparamos las prestaciones con la F100, la F90x está muy muy cerca, incluso en algún ítem era mejor, la F100 era más ergonómica pero mucho más cara, y realmente no ofrecía muchas cosas extras que fueran gran diferencia. Razón por la cual terminé comprando el batery grip MB10 para la F90x y allí la ergonomía mejoró casi a la de una f5. Recuerdo que aún siendo la más viejita era la preferida porque resumía en el tamaño compacto todas las mejores presentaciones de ese momento historico y no tenía nada que envidiar a las otras cámaras y además aportaba mejor ergonomía y era mas liviana. Nunca fue una cámara bien valorada en relación con sus hermanas mayores, y no sé porque? Realmente era mejor trabajar con la F90x a tener que hacerlo o con la f100 o con la F5. La F100 no ofrecía nada diferente y sin el grip era más incómoda. Y la F5 era una cámara increíble pero muchas veces uno prefiere trabajar con un equipo menos llamativo y no tentar a los amigos de lo ajeno, razón por la cual, la inmensa mayoría de las veces usaba la F90x y las demás dormían profundamente en el bolso. No niego que, la F5 era la cámara total. Concepto que Nikon después no dejo de usar al momento de definir la ergonomía de sus consiguientes modelos Profesionales digitales D1, D2h /x, etc. Lamentablemente para poder comprar la primera cámara tuve que desprenderme de la F5 y la F100 y no las pude conservar. Solo me quedaron la F4 y la F90x que siguen en la vitrina de los recuerdos y periódicamente se prenden se limpian y se disparan un par de veces más para mantenerlas en condiciones de uso inmediato!. Durante todos estos ya 21 años de fotografía digital, nunca se guardaron por completo y siempre cada tanto se le carga un rollo y a sacar fotos de carne y hueso!.