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Canon 6D vs Nikon D90

Portability
59
Imaging
67
Features
70
Overall
68
Canon EOS 6D front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Canon 6D
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 770g - 145 x 111 x 71mm
  • Launched February 2013
  • New Model is Canon 6D MII
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Superseded the Nikon D80
  • Updated by Nikon D7000
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Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Canon 6D and Nikon D90, both Advanced DSLR cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the 6D (20MP) and D90 (12MP) and the 6D (Full frame) and D90 (APS-C) possess different sensor measurements.

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The 6D was released 4 years after the D90 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the 6D scores vs the D90 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon 6D over the Nikon D90

 6D D90 
LaunchedFebruary 2013October 2008More modern by 53 months
Display resolution1040k920kClearer display (+120k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Canon 6D

 D90 6D 

Common features in the Canon 6D and Nikon D90

 6D D90 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Canon 6D comes with outside measurements of 145mm x 111mm x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") accompanied by a weight of 770 grams (1.70 lbs) while the Nikon D90 has specifications of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Compare the Canon 6D and Nikon D90 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view overall size comparison of the 6D and the D90.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 6D and D90 is 59 and 60 respectively.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizes just by going through a spec sheet. The image here will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 6D and D90.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 6D because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Canon 6D will produce extra detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The more recent 6D provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon 6D Portrait photography advice
Nikon D90 Portrait photography advice
80
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
has face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
62
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Canon 6D Street photography details
Nikon D90 Street photography details
63
sensor size is large (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
above average ISO range (25,600)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
54
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 6D as a Sports photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Sports photography camera
69
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
weather proof
great battery life (1,090 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
slow fps (4.5 fps)
lack of image stabilization
45
good sensor size (APS-C)
has phase detect AF
very slow continuous shooting (4.5 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon 6D
Travel photography with Nikon D90
61
great battery life (1,090 per charge)
weather proof
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly display
44
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 6D Landscape photography info
Nikon D90 Landscape photography info
73
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
great battery life (1,090 shots)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
57
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
good sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon 6D
Vlogging with Nikon D90
30
has face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does have mic socket
does not have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
21
includes face detect focusing
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic port
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Canon 6D vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 6D and Nikon D90
 Canon EOS 6DNikon D90
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 6D Nikon D90
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-02-12 2008-10-13
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 36 x 24mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 864.0mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 5472 x 3648 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 25600 3200
Max enhanced ISO 102400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Lowest enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 11 11
Cross focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF Nikon F
Available lenses 250 309
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 1,040k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology Clear View II TFT LCD Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 97 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.5 frames/s 4.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/180 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 770 grams (1.70 pounds) 703 grams (1.55 pounds)
Dimensions 145 x 111 x 71mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 2.8") 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 82 73
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 12.1 12.5
DXO Low light score 2340 977
Other
Battery life 1090 photos 850 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots One One
Price at release $1,699 $1,199