Additional content: watch our video review of the Nikon D90

See an example of the D90's HD video

We’re big fans of Nikon’s D60 digital SLR camera, which costs around £400, and the company still makes the £300 D40. The new D90, on the other hand, costs a whopping £850. So what do you get for the extra money?

For starters, a bigger camera. The D40 and D60 share the same plastic body, and are among the smallest SLRs available. The D90 is larger and has a shape more reminiscent of older film SLRs, with a bigger grip and more weight. This makes it significantly easier to hold, especially in one hand. There's room for a far larger, brighter optical viewfinder than the D60 and a huge screen on the back. There’s also room inside for a separate focus motor, so unlike the D40 and D60 this model can autofocus all of Nikon's AF lenses.

A button on the back starts the Live View mode that allows the user to compose images using the display. This is generally pointless, as the viewfinder gives a far better image and allows the camera to use its autofocus sensor almost instantly, but once in this mode the D90 can also record movies in high definition. Such clips are limited to five minutes, though, and you can’t autofocus during filming, so it’s more useful for creative projects than a family video. We’ve put an example of the D90’s HD video online at Vimeo.com - take a look and see what you think.

The D90 focused perfectly in our tests, and produced beautiful, pin-sharp images when used with a Nikkor 50mm standard lens. It’s supplied in a kit with an 18-105mm zoom lens that includes vibration reduction but which isn’t particularly bright. To get the best results we’d recommend buying the body alone and fitting a better lens, although this will increase the price significantly.

Although the Auto mode will turn the D90 into a great point-and-shoot snapper, you’d be crazy to spend this much, and carry around something so bulky, for snapshots: pick up a £300 camera and spend the difference on a great holiday to photograph.

For those who want full control for creative photos, though, the D90 offers professional features at a fraction of the price and is a joy to use.

Watch our video review of the Nikon D90

See an example of the D90's HD video