I Bought A 17 Years Old Nikon DSLR Combo For $220.

Can a 17-year-old DSLR still deliver stunning results in 2025? I put the Nikon D90, paired with the classic Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens, to the test! For just $220, this iconic DSLR has proven to be a surprising contender even in today’s tech-heavy world.

In this video, I’ll cover:
📸 How the Nikon D90 handles in 2025
🌟 The magic of the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 lens for sharp, vibrant photos
🛠️ Real-world performance for street and travel photography
💡 Why this vintage combo could be perfect for beginners or budget-conscious photographers
#photography #camera #photographer
@snappiness @PeterMcKinnon @MicroFourNerds @gearreallydoesntmatter @ReneBruunOfficial

PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY GEAR I USE

📸Every day camera:

📸 Steet & Travel Cameras

🅿️Street Photography Fujifilm Lenses

🎸Concert Photography

Lenses
Sony 16-35mm f/4.0 ZEISS
Sony 24-70mm f/4.0 ZEISS

The gear I use to produce my episodes:

- Bluetooth Grips
- Batteries

Sony A7III📸
Sony Lenses:
- Sony 16-35mm F/4 Zeiss

Audio🎙:

Studio Lights💡

[gdjaybee]

If the weight is not an issue to you, the venerable D300 is a great option with more features that are very useful. D300 is built like a tank, with awesome weather sealing, with additional battery grip and specific battery, it can get up to 8fps with tracking, 51 autofocus points. Best ergonomics and controls. If you want to stay with the same body type, the D7000 is a massive upgrade to the D90 with many features updated while staying with the D90 body and a tad lower weight. The D90 and the D300 share the same 12mp sensor, and the D7000 have the 16mp, and while the D7000 has more megapixel, you'll notice a major shift in color science and dynamic range; the D7000 has a more flat color profile; while the D90 and D300 has a more warm color profile.

[bobkrouse]

Shot with a D5100 for about 4 years then upgraded to a D7200. Love them both. I don't see me jumping on the mirrorless band wagon. Heck my vehicle is 20 years old and still gets me where I want to go.

[mploeg]

Excellent video! I am still a heavy user of the Nikon D300 and the Canon Eos 1DS miii, both from 2007. I have the D850 as well, which for sure is more capable in difficult circumstances but for 95% of the time the older ones are just fine if you know how to use them. I should add i don't shoot video. Recently my output is 50/50 analog/digital

[TylerDurden-ox]

I have a Nikon D90, D7200 and now an Olympus E-M10 IV mainly for travel. One thing that gets left out regarding mirrorless is the DUST. I have never had one dust issue with either DSLR shooting them since 2010 while the Olympus has to be cleaned quite a lot.

[leonardcasteel]

Last year I went from an Olympus E-420 to the D90. I needed a longer viewpoint distance, due to new glasses, and wanted a larger viewfinder. This has both. The more I use it, the more I like it and want to shoot more. I did not have that feeling with the Olympus with the 14-54 lens. Loved the lens, camera less so.

[Anhjun]

This D90 was my very first DSLR! Always been using Nikon DSLRs as my main cameras for professional shots ever since. OVFs ROCK!

[adambodhi]

I have a Nikon D500 and it is still an absolute beast. It takes the most beautiful photos and has enough power and usability to still be perfectly usable in 2025. Modern autofocus does make capturing some images much easier but it hasn't stopped me capturing anything I've wanted to capture.

[duringthemeanwhilst]

great video 🙂
I shot Nikon DSLRs from 2011 to 2018 (D3100, D90, D700 and then D800). My D800 then fell in the sea and I replaced it with a Fujifilm mirrorless kit.
But I always loved the D700 so bought one, and then another one a couple of years ago. My favourite lens of all time is the micro Nikkor 105mm f2.8G. I shot it on my D700 and just this month bought a D800E to shoot it natively on a high res Nikon body.
My days of hiking to locations are well and truly over so size and weight is less of an issue, and I really enjoy the DSLR experience once again. I get the advantaged of mirrorless and still use it the majority of time for birding, nature and any land / seascape work I still occasionally do, but for my macro work the Nikon DSLRs are kind of taking over 🙂

[t_elyk]

I’ve watched many of your videos and these photos are my favorite so far!

[solidsnake]

I have this camera and it has been a joy to shoot with

[nigelcliff]

Recently bought a Nikon D7100 with an incredible 978 shutter count for £160, I have Nikon fit lenses for my film cameras and despite the weight I'm loving it, If I'm out all day walking I'll take my Sony but for pretty much everything else the Nikon is great

[hauer]

My D50 dSLR is twenty years old this year and I still use to this day!

[rangersmith]

I own four Canon DLSRs (7D, 40D, 70D, 5D) and three Nikon DSLRs (D40X, D7000, full-spectrum modified D3100). I also own five mirrorless cameras and six 35mm SLRs. I really love shooting DSLRs, and probably my favorites these days are the D40X (CCD sensor) and the 5D. Both are super simple to operate and produce fantastic results -- fantastic to me anyway. And who cares what other people think.

[CJMohommed]

I still have two D90's. They are still solid cameras.

[AndrewLittleboy]

I bought a D90 new in about 2010 I think. Still looks brand new, only need a camera for photos. I was tempted by the newer Nikon cameras, even the Z8 but I’m still not sure about a 'mirrorless'? When I view the photo on my 43” tv they look absolutely fantastic.

[stevekellett]

Was the Fuji S5 Pro based on this Nikon ? I still use and love my S5.

[norbiger]

Thank you very much for your video. What is your opinion about the Nikon 35mm 1.8 DX lens? Can it compete with other 35mm APS-C lenses from other manufacturers?

[avsararas]

I am using this very same D90 until today and will continue to use until it dies. Especially for close up product shootings along with a SB-900 flash and F1.8 35mm lens. It provides the BEST light balance among all other cameras I have in hand (Canon EOS 5D MK II, III and IV - Nikon D750 - Sony A7 II). I have all those cameras for business needs btw. D90 is fast, snappy, produces natively small images in data-size and the light, white balance, I-TTL flash manipulation is peak.
Older gear gives you the best quality in photo world often times, like, you can shoot and still make decent money with a Canon EOS 5D MK II any day.

[MichaelWright-garden]

Very timely, I have bought a Nikon D300, my first Nikon but second DSLR, also have a Sony which I bought to use with my older Minolta lenses. I kept hearing about Nikon colours and wanted to see for myself. Otherwise I'm mirrorless, to enable use of older lenses and IBIS

[edc]

Great video. I stuck with Nikon DSLRS and besides a D850 and D500, I have several lenses. But, I love vintage Nikon DSLRS and enjoy using them. I don't worry about MPs so much. Besides a D3, D4, D700, I have a D200 and D80 and others. They are cheap now and you can get great deals with low activations if you are patient. The lenses are bargains now too. I did venture into Fuji and have a couple older models. I focus on composition and lighting more than new gear.