How to Take Action Shots With a Nikon D90
Learning how to take action shots with a Nikon D90 is simpler than you might expect. The D90 was a landmark camera when it launched in August 2008 as a 12.3-megapixel DSLR. It replaced the D80 and was built for entry-level and intermediate photographers. It was also the first DSLR to offer video recording, which was a big deal at the time.
Even in 2026, the D90 still takes great action shots when you know which settings to use. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough.
Step 1: Set the Mode Dial to S (Shutter Priority)
Find the mode dial on the top right side of the camera and turn it to S. This puts you in Shutter Priority auto-exposure mode, which means you pick the shutter speed and the D90 automatically selects the right aperture to match.
Just got a D3500? See our Nikon D3500 beginner guide.
Shutter Priority is the best mode for action because you get direct control over how motion is captured. A fast shutter speed freezes movement. A slow one blurs it.
If you’re not comfortable with Shutter Priority, you can fall back to the Sports scene mode on the dial. It works, but it doesn’t give you control over individual settings.
Step 2: Choose Your Shutter Speed
Turn the main command dial to set your desired shutter speed. The speed you’ve selected shows up on the camera’s display, and the D90 adjusts the aperture automatically to keep the exposure correct.
For most action situations, 1/500 second is a solid starting point. That’s fast enough to freeze a runner, a dog catching a frisbee, or a basketball player mid-jump. For extremely fast subjects like race cars or birds in flight, bump it up to 1/1000 or even 1/2000.
Don’t be afraid to experiment. Take a few test shots at different speeds and check the results on the LCD. You’ll quickly get a feel for how fast your particular subject needs.
Step 3: Adjust ISO and Flash if Needed
Fast shutter speeds need plenty of light. If you’re shooting outdoors on a sunny day, you’ll have no trouble. But in low light (indoors, overcast weather, late afternoon), the camera might struggle to get a proper exposure at 1/500.
In that case, raise the ISO. Going from ISO 200 to ISO 800 or 1600 gives the camera more light sensitivity, which lets you keep using a fast shutter speed even when the light is dimmer. The tradeoff is a bit more image noise, but a sharp, slightly noisy photo beats a blurry, noise-free one every time.
You can also pop up the built-in flash for an extra burst of light, though flash has limited range and works best for subjects within about 15 feet.
Step 4: Switch to Continuous Shooting Mode
For action photography, you want to fire off multiple frames in a burst rather than one shot at a time. Find the release mode button near the bottom left corner of the camera back, next to the LCD screen.
Set the release mode to either Continuous High (CH) or Continuous Low (CL). In Continuous High, the D90 shoots at its maximum burst rate. Hold the shutter button down and the camera keeps firing for as long as you hold it (or until the buffer fills up). Continuous Low is a slower burst rate, which uses less buffer space and gives you more control over how many frames you take.
Step 5: Focus and Shoot
Half-press the shutter button to lock focus on your subject. For moving subjects, switch the autofocus mode to AF-C (Continuous Autofocus), which tells the camera to keep tracking focus as the subject moves. You can change this using the AF mode button on the front of the camera body.
Once focus is locked, press the shutter button all the way down and hold it. The D90 fires a burst of shots, and you can pick the best frame later.
Tips for Better Action Shots
Anticipate the action. If you know where the action will happen (a finish line, a goal post, a jump ramp), pre-focus on that spot and wait for the subject to arrive. This takes the guesswork out of autofocus tracking.
Use the center autofocus point. It’s the most accurate focus point on the D90 and locks on fastest. For moving subjects, keep the center point on your target and let Continuous AF do the tracking work.
For shutter speed settings, check our D3500 shutter speed guide.
For a look at the best Nikon bodies, see our top Nikon cameras guide.
Shoot in good light whenever possible. More light means faster shutter speeds, lower ISO, and cleaner images. Morning and late afternoon light also add warmth and dimension to action photos.
