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Is the Nikon P90 A SLR or Digital Camera?

I was at ritz camera looking for a new SLR camera and found the P90, but i was wondering why it was so cheap? Is it a Digital Point and Shoot camera or a SLR?

Public Comments

1. The Nikon Coolpix P90 is a digital camera, yes, but not a digital SLR. It's what most folks in the industry call an EVF (electronic viewfinder) camera. It has a non-interchangeable zoom lens, and while you do look through the lens when looking through the viewfinder, the view is electronic, not optical as it would be with a DSLR. In fact, it's very similar to the way camcorders work. The layout of the camera is very DSLR-like. I haven't used this particular model, but I have an older Canon EVF camera, and the controls were basically the same as my Canon DSLR. Some people like this sort of camera. You get features similar to that of a DSLR, in a more compact form. While the P90's lens is not interchangeable, it covers a 35mm equivalent range from 26mm to 624mm, which is about three lenses worth in DSLR-land. Of course, like a camcorder, it does this by using a much smaller sensor than a DSLR, so there's some compromise in quality. You're not likely to see much difference in bright sunlight, but the DSLR picture will be superior in low light. Other good features on the P90: optical image stabilization (really a necessity these days for longer focal lengths or available-light photograpy), higher ISO levels (up to 6400 with some limits), good resolution (12Mpixels... both of my DSLRs have lower pixel counts, most people will never need more), programmed, auto, and manual exposures, etc. On the down side, there's no RAW mode, which is usually included in Canon's EVF and higher-end P&S cameras (G series), along with pretty much everyone's DSLRs.
2. It is a P&S and it might be cheap because although it is only a few weeks old, it is getting very poor reviews. Almost all reviews say that it is below expected Nikon standards. Blurry images, slow focusing and noise are the common complaints.
3. Its indeed a Point and Shoot Camera but its not as some have stated. I don't say that its the best but its the best for amateurs/common man rather it rates far better than its contemporaries.
4. The Nikon P90 is part of the genre known as "bridge" cameras. They resemble a DSLR but suffer the same shortcomings as any other digicam - a tiny sensor, shutter lag and a non-interchangeable lens. The P90 offers almost as much manual control as a DSLR but due to its tiny sensor low-light performance is substantially poorer. This is the result of having 12,100,000 pixels stuffed into the 6.16mm x 4.62mm sensor. Compare that with a Nikon D90 with 12,900,000 pixels in a relatively roomy 23.6mm x 15.8mm sensor. I suggest a DSLR if you're serious about photography.