Nikon D90 preoder $850 after $150 Live.com cashback

This is my first deal post, so be kind

As many of you know, the new Nikon D90 will ship in the next couple of weeks and is available for pre-order from a number of vendors for $999.99. If you are willing to wait 60 days for a Live.com CashBack you can get it for only $850:

1. Start at Live.com and click on the "J&R Music and Computer World" button, or go directly to the J&R store through the Live.com referral link
   
2. At the J&R site search for "Nikon D90" and order the body - $999.99 or kit - $1299.99, both with free shipping.
   
3. Complete your purchase and check out. Do not open any new windows or browse away from the session to ensure that you get CashBack.
   
4. Check your Live.com account to verify that the CashBack is there. Mine appeared within 2 minutes after checkout at J&R.
   

Don't know if this is required, but in order to minimize the risk of cookies not set correctly or having problems with CashBack processing, I always log into my Live.com account first, before using the referrer links. I would also strongly suggest searching for "Nikon D90" at the J&R site instead of using the direct links provided above.

delete. sorry!

delete. sorry!

i only show 15% CashBack? But thanks OP

That's the first I've seen of this camera though I've heard about it here and there. I think I'm in love. Too bad I have this D60 that I'll probably keep for a while.

I really want this camera. It looks like it's a huge leap above what the D80 could do. Too bad I'm over extended at the moment because of a certain deal website. :-P

Just FYI, this camera has about 1/2 to 2/3rds of a stop better noise performance than the D300, its bigger brother.

Nikon has refined their image processing pipeline since the D300 launched in August 2007, so even though the two cameras use the same sensor, this one will give you cleaner results at ISO 3200 and ISO 6400.

DPReview posted a sample gallery with pictures from a production D90 with the new 18-105mm VR kit lens. Imaging Resource also has a D90 preview with sample images, and you can use their Comparometer to compare the performance with other cameras.

DPReview also posted a Canon 50D image gallery, but that was met largely with criticism because the camera appears to have heavy banding, chroma noise and hot spots at ISO 6400, as well as visible noise at lower ISOs.

AaRdVarK said: I have a D40, which I love, and the D90 appears to be a dream camera for me. I only wish it wasn't 12MP. Ugh. Anyway, I'm trying to keep my finger off the trigger until a couple of comprehensive reviews come out to make sure there's no major issues.

But better noise performance than the D300? 90% of my pictures are at ISO 1600, so I'm really looking forward to this.

Yeah, I thought the d300's noise was flat out tops right now. I have a 20D and a couple of lenses and am debating if I want to ditch canon and go with nikon. I've heard their controls are more intuitive than Nikon but their engineering isn't up to par - until the last year or so when they caught up.

Any idea where the point about it being 1/3 to a 1/2 stop better than the d300 came from?

Would this work for the D3 as well? That is a $4500 camera and I would get $675 back?

How long do you think it will take for this camera to drop down to $850 as a regular retail price?

AlanS17 said: How long do you think it will take for this camera to drop down to $850 as a regular retail price?

I think it's going to be a hot seller, especially with the big gimmick of it being the first DSLR with video. I doubt it will drop anytime soon.

rizorith said: I've heard their controls are more intuitive than Nikon but their engineering isn't up to par - until the last year or so when they caught up.
Engineering of their bodies has always been superior on the consumer level than Canon. Nikon and Pentax know how to make a polycarbonate camera body feel solid; Canon's Digital Rebels have always felt like recycled Happy Meal toys by comparison.

Any idea where the point about it being 1/3 to a 1/2 stop better than the d300 came from?
D90 ISO 6400

D300 ISO 6400

In particular, compare the detail on the fabric in the pinwheel. The D90 retains a lot more detail.

ellisd said: The D300 has been out for a while, year?, and the price is barely $150 down from its starting point of $1799 to $1624.
That's because it is still the best semi-pro camera under $2000, hands down. Class leading noise performance and class leading 51-point autofocus with 3D-tracking; 6FPS standard and a class leading 8FPS with the optional battery grip. 100% viewfinder, on-demand grid lines, built-in wireless flash commander, class leading battery life, a proper ISO program mode, etc.

Very nice deal. I'm in for one.

I agree about Nikon bodies being superior. I've owned plenty of both brands (xsi, 40d, d60, d80, d300) and the Nikons always seem more solid and ergonomic to me. Better flash technology as well. The only place where they haven't always measured up is in sensor technology, and at least in the d90/d300/d700/d3 that's changed.

How reliable is the Live.com CashBack?

ellisd said: Would this work for the D3 as well? That is a $4500 camera and I would get $675 back?

There is no reason why not. Read the terms and conditions carefully, and follow the instructions even more carefully

The size/weight of the camera's is most important to me. That's why I went wit the XSI (I have small hands and like to travel light). If Nikon could have done a new smaller sized version I might have considered it. Just not liking the D40/60

Hot deal. I might have to look for some hidden funds to pay for this. Now anyone have a comparison chart between the D300 (which I've been wanting) vs the D90?

Thanks!

FatherTed said: The size/weight of the camera's is most important to me. That's why I went wit the XSI (I have small hands and like to travel light). If Nikon could have done a new smaller sized version I might have considered it. Just not liking the D40/60

I would prefer the D90 in the D60 body too, but the D80/D90 body is not bad at all. It doesn't feel huge like a 40D or the D300. Of course, lots of Photography types think anything smaller than the 40D/D300 sized cameras doesn't feel like a "real camera".

The XSI is nice though. That was my last cam. Doesn't feel quite as good in the hand to me, but certainly competent. I was put off by the lack of a decent stabilized travel lens, but now Canon is releasing their 18-200 IS, and hopefully that one will be a winner.

As a dedicated fan of photography, I too drool over the newest and best cameras. If I didn't already own (many many dollars worth of) Canon lenses and the XSi I would be very tempted to get this Nikon.

But for those of you who don't have thousands of dollars of disposable income to upgrade, and/or who look at the specs and the posts that dissect them and reel, always remember that pictures come from eyes; the camera only captures what the eye has already seen.

There is no doubt that better equipment can make getting the picture easier, but, as Ken Rockwell wrote (and convincingly demonstrates), Your Camera Doesn't Matter. And he's a Nikon guy. Enjoy taking tthe pictures, no matter what you have.

FatherTed said: halo0 said: AlanS17 said: How long do you think it will take for this camera to drop down to $850 as a regular retail price?

I think it's going to be a hot seller, especially with the big gimmick of it being the first DSLR with video. I doubt it will drop anytime soon.

Thats a fad which will lose it's luster quickly. You can only shoot for about 5 min. (Would burn out the sensor if you were able to do it longer). Canon will perfect this by next year when it will then really be usable.

It began as a constructive addition to the conversation and fell flat as Canon fanboyism. It's natural to have a favorite, but try to keep things in perspective. It's the nature of technology to progress. Nikon's next camera will be better, too. So what's the point of such a comment?

Personally, I find the video capture a little gimmicky, but I love the addition of HDMI output. However, video might be handy for notes or even for short supplemental clips even if it won't ever replace a true video camera. You also get the bonus of using any compatible lens for interesting effects, serious zoom, or serious close range. Plus I think 5 minutes only applies to HD video. I think you can record longer in lower resolution modes.

As much as I want this camera, I think I'll hold off until its predecessor comes out. I want to see what the refined versions of some of these features look like, bit the decision has very little to do with features. I think this thing is stacked in terms of features. It's more of a cost thing for me. I just got a good price on the D60 I have, and I shelled out the money for an 18-200 VR lens. I might as well get some use from it. When a new camera body in this series comes out in a year or two, then I can consider upgrading if I'm still into photography.

D300 hit $1500 since D90 came out