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Canon 5D vs Nikon D90

Portability
55
Imaging
55
Features
41
Overall
49
Canon EOS 5D front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Canon 5D
(Full Review)
  • 13MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • No Video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 895g - 152 x 113 x 75mm
  • Announced November 2005
  • Updated by Canon 5D MII
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Succeeded the Nikon D80
  • Updated by Nikon D7000
Photography Glossary

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 Overview

Below is a in-depth assessment of the Canon 5D versus Nikon D90, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the 5D (13MP) and the D90 (12MP) is pretty close but the 5D (Full frame) and D90 (APS-C) come with totally different sensor sizes.

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The 5D was revealed 3 years earlier than the D90 and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the 5D matches up vs the D90 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D over the Nikon D90

 5D D90 

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Canon 5D

 D90 5D 
LaunchedOctober 2008November 2005More recent by 35 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Canon 5D and Nikon D90

 5D D90 
Manually focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon 5D offers external measurements of 152mm x 113mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") having a weight of 895 grams (1.97 lbs) while 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).

Take a look at the Canon 5D versus Nikon D90 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the 5D and the D90.

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 5D and D90 is 55 and 60 respectively.

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor measurements purely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph here may provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 5D and D90.

As you can see, each of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 5D with its bigger sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field simpler and the Canon 5D will provide you with more detail because of its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs much more aggressively. The older 5D will be behind in sensor tech.

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 5D Portrait photography details
Nikon D90 Portrait photography details
65
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (13MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview
63
manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D Street photography info
Nikon D90 Street photography info
56
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
54
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Sports photography camera
55
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
decent megapixels (13 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
weather proofing
has phase detect auto focus
no liveview
low fps (3.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (800 CIPA)
46
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect AF
continuous shooting slow (4.5 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D Travel photography details
Nikon D90 Travel photography details
49
weather proofing
decent megapixels (13MP)
no Timelapse function
terrible battery life (800 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly screen
44
flash built-in
no Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Landscape photography camera
54
you can focus manually
change lenses (Canon EF mount)
decent megapixels (13 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no liveview
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery life (800 shots)
no Timelapse function
58
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 5D
Vlogging with Nikon D90
9
lack of video recording
21
comes with face detection focusing
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone port
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Canon 5D vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D and Nikon D90
 Canon EOS 5DNikon D90
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon EOS 5D Nikon D90
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2005-11-12 2008-10-13
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic II -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 13 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4368 x 2912 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Maximum enhanced ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Nikon F
Number of lenses 250 309
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames/s 4.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings External Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/200s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None Optional
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 895 grams (1.97 lb) 703 grams (1.55 lb)
Dimensions 152 x 113 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.4" x 3.0") 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 71 73
DXO Color Depth rating 22.9 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 12.5
DXO Low light rating 1368 977
Other
Battery life 800 pictures 850 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID BP-511A EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (10 sec (2 sec with mirror lock-up)) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II) SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Launch cost $2,780 $1,199