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Canon 500D vs Nikon D90

Portability
70
Imaging
53
Features
59
Overall
55
Canon EOS 500D front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
50
Features
52
Overall
50

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Canon 500D
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Expand to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 520g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Announced June 2009
  • Additionally Known as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3
  • Older Model is Canon 450D
  • Replacement is Canon 550D
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Expand to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Earlier Model is Nikon D80
  • Renewed by Nikon D7000
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Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Overview

Below is a extensive review of the Canon 500D versus Nikon D90, former being a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Canon and Nikon. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the 500D (15MP) and D90 (12MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The 500D was unveiled 8 months later than the D90 and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Canon 500D being a Compact SLR camera and the Nikon D90 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the 500D matches up against the D90 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 500D over the Nikon D90

 500D D90 
LaunchedJune 2009October 2008More recent by 8 months

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Canon 500D

 D90 500D 

Common features in the Canon 500D and Nikon D90

 500D D90 
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution920k920kThe same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to lug around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon 500D has physical dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") having a weight of 520 grams (1.15 lbs) whilst the Nikon D90 has sizing of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Check the Canon 500D versus Nikon D90 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the 500D compared to the D90.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 500D and D90 is 70 and 60 respectively.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by researching specs. The graphic here may give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 500D and D90.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You can expect to see the Canon 500D to render greater detail having an extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos far more aggressively. The younger 500D should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 500D
Portrait photography with Nikon D90
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detection focus
saves RAW files
62
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon 500D Street photography details
Nikon D90 Street photography details
59
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
54
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 500D Sports photography info
Nikon D90 Sports photography info
51
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect auto focus
max frames per second low (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (440 CIPA)
45
sensor size is good (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.5 fps)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 500D Travel photography information
Nikon D90 Travel photography information
54
good megapixels (15MP)
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
not so great battery (440 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
44
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 500D as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Landscape photography camera
61
focusing manually
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
good megapixels (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (440 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse function
57
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 500D
Vlogging with Nikon D90
27
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone support
21
features face detection autofocus
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Canon 500D vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 500D and Nikon D90
 Canon EOS 500DNikon D90
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 500D Nikon D90
Also Known as EOS Rebel T1i / EOS Kiss X3 -
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-06-08 2008-10-13
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 4752 x 3168 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 3200 3200
Max boosted ISO 12800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens support Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Amount of lenses 326 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT color LCD Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 4.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 13.00 m 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (20 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 520 gr (1.15 lb) 703 gr (1.55 lb)
Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 63 73
DXO Color Depth rating 21.7 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.5 12.5
DXO Low light rating 663 977
Other
Battery life 440 photos 850 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID LP-E5 EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $650 $1,199