I can't remember when I bought my first F90X...but my 1st F90X was bought from a seller from Thailand, John, together with my Nikkor AIS 105mm f/1.8. Later, I have bought and sold at least 5 sets of F90X including my latest USA version N90S (18th June 2005: I just bought another F90X today! How much? Hahaa...a price that one can smile :-)). Most of the F90X that I have bought come with the battery pack (MB10) and databack (MF26). I still remember the price of a new F90X body before it discontinue (in year 2002) was RM2500 ~ RM2700 (US$710) street price, and the battery pack is around RM400 new (US$105), databack RM450 new (US$120). Meaning that a total complete new set would cost one RM3550 (US$935). Wow...that's quite some money...but still significantly cheaper than the F100 at RM4500 (US$1185) new, of course, price of F100 has also dropped much nowadays.

F90X is the last professional Nikon camera that use the old design (Nikon USA graded N90S as a professional camera, but in other places F90X is just a semi-Pro camera). Similar design to my F801S. In fact, the MB10 and MF26 can be used on my F801S though not perfectly match, but still useable. Of course, all the functions of MF26 are not useable in F801S.

* N90S is the designation used in USA, which is exactly the same as F90X in all other countries.

** F801S is exactly the same as N8008S

2nd hand?

My last piece of Nikon equipment that I bought new was my FM2T, which I sold off at no lost. The advantage of Nikon system is that they are many users around, and the 2nd hand market for Nikon equipment is plenty. Nikon stuff are quite ruggedly built and reliable, thus I have no worry buying used, but of course care and inspection still needed when sourcing for used old stuff.

F90X can be bought quite cheaply nowadays. 2nd hand price in Malaysia is around RM1000~1200 body only, or RM1400 with MB10 or MF26, or RM1550 with MB10 and MF26. MB10 separately is selling at around RM250 2nd hand, and MF26 is around the same price too. However, MB10 seems to be more popular and a must have accessory when compare to MF26.

Melting Back

A major problem with ALL F90X is the melting rubber back. Almost all the F90X that I have seen and bought have the melting rubber back. Even a very carefully use F90X will have the back melt. What really is a melting back? Hmm...the back of F90X is actually consist of the solid hard plastic coated with soft rubber, giving better feeling to the grab (thumb especially). The rubber coating has known to be a major design flaw by Nikon, and it will melt and becomes sticky after some times. It might be due to sweat or heat, actual reason not known. Once melt, the sticky back is very hard to use and give trouble using the camera. Thus, most will peel the rubber coating themselves and make the back showing/leaving only the hard plastic back. My local camera shop does this service for the cost of RM30, to peel off the rubber.

I remember some friends at the NikonList mentioning that Nikon USA used to give and replace new back for those who send in the old sticky back to them. I am not sure if Nikon has design a new back with better non-melting rubber or just replacing with new old stock of the same rubber plastic back that will melt after some short time, but the N90S that I bought just last few weeks (Dec 2004) has a perfect fine non-melting back. Even the MF26 is perfect too (those MF26 that I have seen and bought with F90X in Singapore are having melting back as well).

F90X with an AIS 85mm f1.4 manual lens

What really makes me buy and sold so many Nikon F90X? This camera is actually one of the best film Nikon, on the same league as the Nikon F100 and F5. Before the introduction of Nikon F5, F90X was advertised as the Professional Nikon by Nikon USA. It was once the best Nikon back in the 90s. Of course, by today's' standard, it is still a very capable camera, the AutoFocus is fast, strong, furious, and precise, and features are RICH. Here's what I like about the F90X:

    1. High speed sync at 1/250s

    2. Capable of AF in low light and using a cross type AF sensor

    3. Shutter speed ranging from 30s to 1/8000s

    4. Top LCD panel light illumination (blue light)

    5. FAST and Convincing AF (snap into focus precisely)

    6. Meter with manual lenses

    7. LOW PRICE in the 2nd hand market :))