From time to time, people ask what the difference is between the N90 (which was sold for 2-3 years) and the N90s (which replaced the N90 in late 1994 and is still sold today in 1999). Chris Somers posted this concise yet complete list in the Nikon-Digest, and I turned it into a web page.

• N90s better weather sealing
• N90s faster AF (some people say "slightly" while others have claimed 25%)
• 4.1 fps Focus Tracking vs. 3.0 for N90 [From Nikon literature]
• From the "Technology Notes" of the N90s *marketing* brochure (Nikon Inc. USA, Code No. 8CE41701) the improved focusing speed between exposures (important for Focus Tracking) is due to:
• Shorter mirror movement time
• Shorter shutter charge time
• New coreless motor for faster film advance
• 2X faster CPU
• 25% faster lens drive
• Improved algorithms for focus detection
• N90s faster motor drive
• 4.3 fps in CH vs. 3.6 for N90 [From Nikon literature]
• N90s has more shooting data storage capacity ("more RAM")
• "When storing the maximum amount of data per frame, the N90 can only hold 2 rolls of 36 exposure film. The N90s can hold over 30. (The Datalink card for the N90s also holds more shooting data in its memory than that of the Datalink card for the N90.)" - Zack C Sessions <zsessions@worldnet.att.net>
• N90s shutter speeds in M, S, and Flexible Program exposure modes are selectable in 1/3 stops, while the N90 is only full stops.
• The shutter release on the MB-10 grip works with the N90s. The N90 needs a modification to make it work, and digest members from Japan and Germany have posted that their respective Nikon Corporations will do the service. No information as to the cost or what is modified. Also, Grays of Westminster in London have been repeatedly mentioned as providing this service.
• N90s has a 2-position OFF/ON switch, the N90 has the 3 position OFF/ON-silent/ON-beep. (The N90s can be programmed with the Datalink System to be(ep) or not to be(ep) 8*} sorry...)
• The N90 has a 2-shot self-timer selection (timer counts down from a fixed value - 10 sec. - then takes *two* exposures consecutively). This was eliminated on the N90s.
• Nikon only officially sanctioned AA-sized lithium batteries *in* the N90s. However, both the N90 and the N90s can utilize 2 CR-123A lithium batteries with the MB-10 grip and the (optional) MS-11 battery tray.
• The N90 supports red-eye reduction on the SB25, the N90s supports red-eye reduction on the SB26 - the two speedlights are very different in the way they accomplish this.

Chris' Darkroom - gallery of images by the man who came up with the above.

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