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Canon 550D vs Nikon D90

Portability
70
Imaging
58
Features
63
Overall
60
Canon EOS 550D front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Canon 550D
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 530g - 129 x 98 x 62mm
  • Announced April 2010
  • Additionally referred to as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4
  • Superseded the Canon 500D
  • Updated by Canon 600D
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Increase to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Revealed October 2008
  • Superseded the Nikon D80
  • New Model is Nikon D7000
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 Overview

Here, we are contrasting the Canon 550D vs Nikon D90, one being a Entry-Level DSLR and the other is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the 550D (18MP) and D90 (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The 550D was introduced 18 months later than the D90 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon 550D being a Compact SLR camera and the Nikon D90 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the 550D matches up vs the D90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon 550D over the Nikon D90

 550D D90 
RevealedApril 2010October 2008Fresher by 18 months
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Canon 550D

 D90 550D 

Common features in the Canon 550D and Nikon D90

 550D D90 
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to consider its weight and measurements. The Canon 550D has got outer dimensions of 129mm x 98mm x 62mm (5.1" x 3.9" x 2.4") and a weight of 530 grams (1.17 lbs) whilst the Nikon D90 has proportions of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Look at the Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the 550D vs the D90.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 550D and D90 is 70 and 60 respectively.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizing only by reviewing specs. The photograph below might provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 550D and D90.

All in all, both the cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should anticipate the Canon 550D to offer greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop photos way more aggressively. The more recent 550D should have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 550D
Portrait photography with Nikon D90
74
focusing manually
good resolution (18MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
62
has manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
provides face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 550D as a Street photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Street photography camera
60
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
54
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 550D Sports photography features
Nikon D90 Sports photography features
54
good resolution (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports phase detect AF
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (470 per charge)
45
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.5 frames/s)
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 550D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Travel photography camera
55
good resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse recording
bad battery life (470 per charge)
display is not selfie friendly
44
flash built-in
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 550D Landscape photography details
Nikon D90 Landscape photography details
63
focusing manually
switch lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is good (3")
good resolution (18 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
bad battery life (470 shots)
lack of Time Lapse recording
57
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 550D Vlogging information
Nikon D90 Vlogging information
31
provides face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with mic port
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
21
provides face detection autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon 550D vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 550D and Nikon D90
 Canon EOS 550DNikon D90
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 550D Nikon D90
Also Known as EOS Rebel T2i / EOS Kiss X4 -
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2010-04-01 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 measurements 22.3 x 14.9mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 332.3mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Full resolution 5184 x 3456 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Amount of lenses 326 309
Focal length multiplier 1.6 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,040 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT color liquid-crystal LCD Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder 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 4.0 frames/s 4.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 13.00 m 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/200 secs 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 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
Microphone 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 530 grams (1.17 lbs) 703 grams (1.55 lbs)
Physical 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 score 66 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.0 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 12.5
DXO Low light score 807 977
Other
Battery life 470 pictures 850 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E8 EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2 sec or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $1,199