C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →slr-35mm
The Nikon F90 (sold as the N90 in North America) is a prosumer autofocus 35mm SLR introduced in 1992, positioned between the semi-professional F-801s below and the flagship F4 above. It launched with 3D RGB matrix metering - a significant advance that factored subject distance data from D-type AF Nikkor lenses into its metering algorithm - alongside a 1/8000s top shutter speed and 1/250s flash sync. The F90 supported a wide range of exposure customization through a function menu unusual for its price tier, giving advanced amateurs meaningful control over the camera's automation. It was succeeded in 1994-1995 by the F90X (N90s), which refined the metering and improved continuous AF performance.
Reference
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profile →C41
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
About this camera
Nikon's 1992 prosumer AF SLR that brought 3D matrix metering to serious enthusiasts.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Nikon F (AI / AI-S / AF / AF-D) |
| Years | 1992-1995 |
| Shutter | 30s - 1/8000s, electronic vertical metal |
| Flash sync | 1/250s |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Meter | TTL 3D matrix / center-weighted / spot |
| Modes | Program, aperture-priority, shutter-priority, manual |
| Autofocus | Single-servo and continuous AF (screw-drive) |
| Battery | 4x AA |
| Weight | ~630 g (body only) |
Nikon unveiled the F90 in 1992 as the direct successor to the F-801s (N8008s). The principal engineering upgrade was 3D matrix metering: where the F-801s used a 2D luminance map, the F90 read distance data from D-type AF Nikkors and incorporated it into the exposure calculation, reducing the incidence of backlit errors. The body also introduced a function customization system - configurable parameters accessible through a dedicated button - that Nikon would carry forward across its professional lineup. In North America Nikon marketed the body as the N90, emphasizing its position as the nearest AF-compatible step below the F4 for working photographers. The F90 was relatively short-lived as a production model; by 1994 Nikon was already refining it into the F90X/N90s with improved AF predictive tracking and a 1/250s sync speed confirmed across all flash modes.
The F90 mattered primarily for bringing 3D matrix metering - previously exclusive to the F4 at much higher cost - into a body serious amateurs could afford. At the time, matrix metering was Nikon's most visible differentiator against Canon's expanding EOS lineup; the 3D variant's distance-weighted corrections represented a genuine improvement in difficult lighting. The F90 also normalized deep function customization in mid-tier SLRs: users could adjust AF priority, bracketing behavior, and exposure offsets in ways that had previously required stepping up to the F4. For film photographers today the F90 is a capable entry point into the Nikon AF ecosystem at modest used prices, though many buyers upgrade directly to the F90X or F100 for better AF performance.
Nikon F mount. AI-S lenses meter in center-weighted and spot modes; 3D matrix metering requires D-type AF Nikkors. AF Nikkors with screw-drive autofocus natively; AF-S lenses mount but will not autofocus on this body. Recommended glass: AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D, 28mm f/2.8D, 85mm f/1.8D, 80-200mm f/2.8D. Accessories: MF-26 multi-control back (data imprinting, interval timer); SB-25 or SB-28 Speedlight for full TTL flash; no separate motor drive required (built-in motor, ~4.3 fps with fresh AA cells).
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
View profile →C41
Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Nikon F90
Image coming soon