Tips, tricks, techniques for the Nikon N90s?

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Tips, tricks, techniques for the Nikon N90s?

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studio460

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I finally received my used Nikon N90s and MB-10 grip from the Ebay seller. I can't believe its condition! She said it was "mint," and damned if she wasn't lying! It looks like it was never even used! Even though I can't find any visible signs of wear, or even use, the camera shipped with nothing more than the body itself, MB-10 grip (attached), and a Nikon body cap. No boxes, manuals, or any other accessories.

But, I'm so thrilled! My, how wonderful it is to look through the viewfinder of a film camera again! Big, bright, and beautiful! Hey! I finally have a "full-frame" camera! I do have several other, older Nikon film bodies, but nothing as recent as the N90s (I don't even know where they are at the moment).

I have many questions for you other N90/N90s/N90x owners . . .

1. What's the best focus technique when using single-point AF on this camera? Since there's only one focus point (center), I assume it's the same, focus, keep shutter half-pressed, re-frame procedure. Any anomalies to its focus point I should be aware of?

2. I can't find a PDF manual for the N90s at Nikon USA's website. Does anyone know where to get one online?

3. The body shipped with the MB-10 grip installed. No battery door (the one that goes on the body) was included. Is this still an available part?

4. I pulled the battery tray from the MB-10 (which appeared super-clean), and inserted four 'AA' batteries, and turned the camera on. Thankfully, everything appeared to work, and the motor drive fired off frames at an ample rate. But, is there nowhere else to stick additional batteries? I guess the MB-10 doesn't service any additional power reserve, it simply provides for a vertical shutter release.

In general, the N90s' control layout appears similar to my old N6006 bodies, so I figured most of that out, and set the basic stuff up already (aperture-priority, matrix-metering, drive mode, etc.). But, I'm sure you Nikon afficionados have a lot of hidden knowledge about the camera that's still new to me. Really can't get over how beautiful and bright my FX lenses appear on this thing!

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Take a look at this beautiful Nikon film body (photos by the seller):

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

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I don't own the camera, but here's a manual.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/nikon/nikon_n90_af/nikon_n90_af.htm

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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Thanks, NSX. I saw that site, but thought it was one of those pay-to-play, user manual download sites (this one is by donation). I guess I'll PayPal him the three bucks he's asking anyway. I suppose the N90s predates Nikon's manual-on-PDF-available-for-anyone to-download-for-free policy?

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

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No problem, enjoy the camera. That's where I got the manual for the Mamiya DSX1000.

I have taken about 12 frames or so now, but I wish I had a more modern Nikon SLR instead. I'd love a F100.

B and H still sells them new(!).

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Is it really necessary to make another thread about your N90? Why can't you add this to the one you've already created?

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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NSXType-R said:
No problem, enjoy the camera. That's where I got the manual for the Mamiya DSX1000.

I have taken about 12 frames or so now, but I wish I had a more modern Nikon SLR instead. I'd love a F100.

B and H still sells them new(!).

Well, N90s seem to be a dime a dozen. Most sell for less than $50, even in excellent condition. God, I know. I mentioned in another thread that I actually witnessed a guy at Samy's Camera in L.A. buy a brand new F100 for like $700. Really nice-looking ones sell on Ebay for only about $200.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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NikoDoby said:
Is it really necessary to make another thread about your N90? Why can't you add this to the one you've already created?

I guess I thought it was different "enough." Plus, I put the other thread in the wrong sub-forum. Can you fix this?

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Yes I can relabel it but for future reference let's try to keep similar/same subjects (like your brand new used N90S) to a single thread.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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NikoDoby said:
Yes I can relabel it but for future reference let's try to keep similar/same subjects (like your brand new used N90X) to a single thread.

Will do. But I was specifically trying to get some advice on the camera rather than compare the viewfinders. Should I keep typing in this thread? It'd actually be totally fine with me if you just deleted the other thread in its entirety, leaving this one intact, if that's an acceptable option.

Posted 2 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Yes that's fine I was just pointing it out that's all. People complain that we keep repeating the same topics over and over again. We are still a very small forum. Didn't mean to "rain on your parade".

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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NikoDoby said:
Yes that's fine I was just pointing it out that's all. Didn't mean to "rain on your parade".

Thanks. Sorry for cluttering up the forum with my N90s joy!

So, back on-topic . . . Oh, duh. I just read up on Ken's site again. Ken said that the MB-10's vertical shutter release doesn't work with the N90, but it does work with the N90s (I didn't notice the "on" switch on the grip).

Okay, one more . . . does the N90s have exposure compensation for TTL flash output? I thought I remembered my N6006s having exposure compensation for flash photography. I don't think the N90s does with the SB-23 I have, but possibly with an SB-25. I generally want to either shoot daylight fill-flash, or slow-sync flash, but I always prefer the TTL exposure to be anywhere between -0.3 to -1.7 EV from its "computed" value.

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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No exposure compensation for flash on the body. You have to manually set exposure compensation on the flash unit itself.

Motor drive in H setting is 4.5FPS, like the D90, you go through a 24 exposure roll of film faster than you can say Nikon F90x. :D

The MB-10 just replaces the in body batteries, and as for the camera battery door, you should be able to find one on ebay. I cannot find a part number of the battery door (which also holds the batteries), so you'll just have to search for F90X/N90s battery door.

Everything about the camera is very straight forward unless you use the MF-26 back, which allows for bracketing and other fancy stuff we take for granted on DSLRs.

The [O] button allows you to switch between wide area and circle AF mode, with the wide area being best for moving subjects.

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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By the way, this is what the battery loader/door looks like.

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

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studio460 said:
Well, N90s seem to be a dime a dozen. Most sell for less than $50, even in excellent condition. God, I know. I mentioned in another thread that I actually witnessed a guy at Samy's Camera in L.A. buy a brand new F100 for like $700. Really nice-looking ones sell on Ebay for only about $200.

Yes, I've noticed B and H selling one for $89. The only issue is, will I utilize it enough to justify the purchase? $89 is a good bit of money for someone who makes no money in the first place. :D

Thanks though.

The F100 is selling for $749 at B and H, brand new.

Sigh, I don't wish to waste money, but I'd love to get an "interim" model SLR between the DSLR and the FM2.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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PB PM said:
No exposure compensation for flash on the body. You have to manually set exposure compensation on the flash unit itself.

Thanks, PB PM! Yeah, I kinda figured there was no TTL compensation on the body. I have to dig through my stuff and find any old Nikon flashes I may still have or buy an old SB-28 or something. Will the N90s' TTL work properly with modern flashes, like the SB-800? Plus, the N90s' TTL should work with an SC-17 cable, too, right?

PB PM said:
The MB-10 just replaces the in body batteries, and as for the camera battery door, you should be able to find one on ebay. I cannot find a part number of the battery door (which also holds the batteries), so you'll just have to search for F90X/N90s battery door.

Yeah, I think I'll just live with the MB-10 as my "battery door." The camera is nice to hold with the MB-10 attached, actually. Thanks for posting the battery holder pic!

PB PM said:
The [O] button allows you to switch between wide area and circle AF mode, with the wide area being best for moving subjects.

Yes, that's probably the most "exotic" setting on the camera. That's precisely the kind of focusing advice I was seeking. Thanks again!

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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NSXType-R said:
Sigh, I don't wish to waste money, but I'd love to get an "interim" model SLR between the DSLR and the FM2.

I know exactly what you mean, NSX! I also have an FM2 and some N6006 refurbs I bought back in the day. Always lusted after that N90, though. I mainly bought the N90s to shoot black and white.

Posted 2 years ago #
kanuck

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PBPM I see you use eneloop batteries from Sanyo. I didn't know about them until somebody on this forum brought them up a few months ago. Now I have them in my F100 and SB-600. Throw some of these in your N90s studio460 you won't regret it. :)

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

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studio460 said:
I know exactly what you mean, NSX! I also have an FM2 and some N6006 refurbs I bought back in the day. Always lusted after that N90, though. I mainly bought the N90s to shoot black and white.

Yeah, the issue is, my cousin gave me a Canon Elan, an autofocus film SLR. I don't have batteries for that because they use the shrunken AA size ones, but the N90 uses AA batteries. But the thing is, if I get a Nikon N90 or so for 89 bucks or so, I can justify getting a 70-300 VR or a 50mm 1.8. Which I could use on my D40 if I wanted to.

You see where I'm taking this? :D

On the more serious side, I've really only shot 3 full rolls, only 1 of which came out decently. The first time I decided to ignore the meter because I didn't think of it, the second time I loaded it completely wrong and nothing came out, and the third time was the charm.

Going at 4.5 frames per second for a while is going to be quite expensive!

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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NSXType-R said:
But the thing is, if I get a Nikon N90 or so for 89 bucks or so, I can justify getting a 70-300 VR or a 50mm 1.8. Which I could use on my D40 if I wanted to . . . You see where I'm taking this?

Ya kinda lost me there, NSX. Just be aware that while AF-S lenses work like a charm on the N90s, VR lenses work, but the VR won't be active. Also, $89 is a tad high for an N90s body, unless it's in EXCELLENT condition.

NSXType-R said:
Going at 4.5 frames per second for a while is going to be quite expensive!

Yes, indeed! This camera feels like it shoots its 4.5 fps "faster" than my D90 does. Also, screw-drive lenses focus noticeably faster on the N90s than on my D90 as well. Exceedingly good focus sensitivity in low light, too. Good little camera, this N90s!

Nikon SB-series Flash Compatibility with the N90s:

As mentioned before, I had already picked up an SB-23 on Ebay for my N90s, since there's no built-in flash. Small and ultra-compact in its design, the SB-23 will be my always-on-the-camera, "utility" flash unit. It's TTL-capable, but nothing more advanced than an "off," "manual," and "TTL" three-way, selector switch on the back.

So, now I'm looking to buy an N90s-era compatible TTL flash unit with slightly more capability. Although the SB-23 is TTL-compatible, it doesn't allow for any type of fill-flash exposure compensation. So I went looking for a flash unit, capable of variable exposure compensation (up to +/- 2.0 EV), while still employing TTL.

The Winner: The Nikon SB-27

Built in a cool, compact form-factor reminiscent of flashes of older generations (the "sideways" flash head design), the SB-27 seems a capable, TTL flash unit, optimally designed to be paired with the N90s.

According to the Nikon SB-27 user manual (which Nikon USA still has available online PDF from), this flash unit, which was marketed along with the N90s at the same time, does NOT have "matrix-balanced TTL fill-flash" capability. But, it DOES have "3D TTL multi-segment balanced fill-flash." And, I was able to determine from the manual that the SB-27 does in fact permit flash exposure compensation from -3.0 EV to +1.0 EV in 0.3 increments. Hooray!

Posted 2 years ago #
NSXType-R

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What I meant was that if I get a N90s, I can get lenses that work on my D40 as an extra excuse, that's all. :D

How come you didn't get a SB600? New flashes should work with older bodies.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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kanuck said:
PBPM I see you use eneloop batteries from Sanyo. I didn't know about them until somebody on this forum brought them up a few months ago. Now I have them in my F100 and SB-600. Throw some of these in your N90s studio460 you won't regret it. :)

Thanks, kanuck! I'd like to give those a try! Where do you order those from? What chemistry are they?

NSXType-R said:
What I meant was that if I get a N90s, I can get lenses that work on my D40 as an extra excuse, that's all. :D

How come you didn't get a SB600? New flashes should work with older bodies.

Oh, gotcha! Well, I already own an SB-800 that I use with a Quantum Turbo battery and an SC-29 cable with my D90--this set-up is just kind of bulky, and I really wanted a much "stealthier" set-up for my film camera rig.

Compact Nikon TTL Flash Units Compatible with the Nikon N90s:

I got a used SB-23 (below) because it's super-compact (always wanted one of these little guys!)--a perfect substitute for not having a built-in flash. I love this little flash, and Ken Rockwell raves about its robust battery life. It's the perfect size to Velcro a small soft box onto it, too. Will use this flash for my artsy "hot-flash-on-camera" type shots. Compact is good, because I have to be kind of low-key where I'm planning to shoot with this particular set-up. Unfortunately, this bare-bones flash unit won't accommodate any flash exposure compensation (and neither will the N90s body).

Nikon SB-23

I also love this Nikon SB-27 flash unit (below). It even has a built-in, mini-bounce card! Gonna get one of these for its flash exposure compensation capability (-3.0 EV to +1.0 EV). Plus, I like that it's also smaller and more compact than my SB-800.

Nikon SB-27

01 July 2010 Update: I just ordered a brand new Nikon SB-27 for $64.99, including shipping, from an Ebay reseller. Apparently, it's an import from Japan, where they're still manufactured, and sold new. However, large online retailers like B+H don't carry it. The Ebay seller shows a quantity of, "more than 10 available," so, if you're interested, these cool little Nikon TTL flash units can still be had new, for not too much green! Woohoo!

Nikon MS-8 replacement battery holder for N90s: Nikon part no. 4670
Happily, my missing battery holder is a currently stocked replacement part at B+H. It's $19.95, and it's the authentic Nikon "4670" part, manufactured by Nikon for the N90s.

Nikon MS-8 (part no. 4670)

Posted 2 years ago #
PB PM

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studio460 said:
Thanks, PB PM! Yeah, I kinda figured there was no TTL compensation on the body. I have to dig through my stuff and find any old Nikon flashes I may still have or buy an old SB-28 or something. Will the N90s' TTL work properly with modern flashes, like the SB-800? Plus, the N90s' TTL should work with an SC-17 cable, too, right?

I use my SB-800 on my F90X and it seems works just fine. I haven't developed any of my film yet though (I like to take in 4-5 rolls at a time), so I cannot say how well it works.

Posted 2 years ago #
studio460

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Received my brand new SB-27 last week. Darned if it it wasn't brand new, with factory-fresh, protective plastic film all over the unit, inside of a pristine-looking, Nikon retail box. Although I wouldn't necessarily make any other photo equipment purchases from this seller, I just checked, and they still claim "more than 10 available." They shipped quickly, and the unit was exactly as described--I would definitely recommend this seller, at least for this specific purchase (just look for the one selling it for $64.99).

Tried it out today at work, applying a -1.7 EV exposure correction on the SB-27 itself, slow-sync on the camera, and in "3D multi-sensor balanced fill-flash" TTL mode, with an 18mm 'D' lens. By the way, the photo of the SB-27 is deceptive . . . this flash unit is HUGE! Yes, it has a lower "profile," and that does help me, but make no mistake, the body of this "compact" flash unit is quite large.

But, I have a totally unrelated question for all you fellow N90/s/x owners . . .

When I first loaded my roll of Tri-X, I pulled the leader out to the "red line" as indicated in the user manual, and closed the back. But no automatic take-up activated. Thinking I did it wrong, I loaded another roll. Same thing. Now, I still have that same roll loaded, and I'm trying to finish the darned thing so I can take it out and have it processed. But since it never "took up" its first frames, I'm still only at 35 exposures (since it's film, I've been extra-judicious with my shooting.). But anywho, any tips as to why the automatic take-up, upon film-load, isn't engaging?

Posted 2 years ago #