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Canon 70D vs Nikon D90

Portability
59
Imaging
62
Features
84
Overall
70
Canon EOS 70D front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Canon 70D
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF/EF-S Mount
  • 755g - 139 x 104 x 79mm
  • Launched October 2013
  • Succeeded the Canon 60D
  • Later Model is Canon 80D
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Raise to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Replaced the Nikon D80
  • New Model is Nikon D7000
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Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Canon 70D versus Nikon D90, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the 70D (20MP) and D90 (12MP) but they possess the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The 70D was announced 5 years after the D90 which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a simple view of how the 70D matches up against the D90 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 70D over the Nikon D90

 70D D90 
LaunchedOctober 2013October 2008Newer by 62 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution1040k920kSharper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Canon 70D

 D90 70D 

Common features in the Canon 70D and Nikon D90

 70D D90 
Manual focus Dial exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to travel with your camera often, you should consider its weight and proportions. The Canon 70D features outer measurements of 139mm x 104mm x 79mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 3.1") and a weight of 755 grams (1.66 lbs) whilst the Nikon D90 has measurements of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") with a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Analyze the Canon 70D versus Nikon D90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the 70D compared to the D90.

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 70D and D90 is 59 and 60 respectively.

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by looking at specs. The image below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the 70D and D90.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Canon 70D to give you more detail with its extra 8MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The newer 70D will have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 70D
Portrait photography with Nikon D90
77
manual focus
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
62
focusing manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Canon 70D Street photography info
Nikon D90 Street photography info
68
screen articulates
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
offers touch to focus
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
54
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon 70D
Sports photography with Nikon D90
73
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
megapixel count good (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
45
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with phase detect autofocus
max fps very slow (4.5 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Canon 70D as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Travel photography camera
69
weather sealing
offers touch to focus
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
lack of Time Lapse mode
44
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 70D as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Landscape photography camera
69
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF/EF-S mount)
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
57
focusing manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 70D Vlogging information
Nikon D90 Vlogging information
69
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen capability
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes mic socket
lack of image stabilization
21
supports face detect autofocus
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Canon 70D vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 70D and Nikon D90
 Canon EOS 70DNikon D90
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon EOS 70D Nikon D90
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-10-31 2008-10-13
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 5+ -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 22.5 x 15mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 337.5mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 20MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2
Maximum resolution 5472 x 3648 4288 x 2848
Maximum native ISO 12800 3200
Maximum boosted ISO 25600 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 19 11
Cross focus points 19 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Canon EF/EF-S Nikon F
Available lenses 326 309
Crop factor 1.6 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Clear View II TFT color LCD Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.6x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/8000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 4.5 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 12.00 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/250s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (29.97, 25, 23.976 fps), 1280 x 720 (59.94, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (59.94, 50 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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 Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 755 gr (1.66 lb) 703 gr (1.55 lb)
Dimensions 139 x 104 x 79mm (5.5" x 4.1" x 3.1") 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 68 73
DXO Color Depth score 22.5 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.6 12.5
DXO Low light score 926 977
Other
Battery life 920 images 850 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model LP-E6 EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, remote) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $758 $1,199