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Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90

Portability
64
Imaging
44
Features
39
Overall
42
Nikon D50 front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Nikon D50
(Full Review)
  • 6MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 620g - 133 x 102 x 76mm
  • Announced July 2005
  • Refreshed by Nikon D40X
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Announced October 2008
  • Succeeded the Nikon D80
  • Successor is Nikon D7000
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Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 Overview

Following is a complete comparison of the Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras and they are both built by Nikon. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the D50 (6MP) and D90 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The D50 was released 4 years prior to the D90 which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving in to a complete comparison, below is a concise summation of how the D50 scores vs the D90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon D50 over the Nikon D90

 D50 D90 

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Nikon D50

 D90 D50 
AnnouncedOctober 2008July 2005More modern by 39 months
Screen dimension3"2"Bigger screen (+1")
Screen resolution920k130kClearer screen (+790k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D50 and Nikon D90

 D50 D90 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon D50 has exterior dimensions of 133mm x 102mm x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") and a weight of 620 grams (1.37 lbs) while the Nikon D90 has dimensions of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") having a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view proportions comparison of the D50 compared to the D90.

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the D50 and D90 is 64 and 60 respectively.

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's difficult to imagine the gap between sensor sizes just by checking a spec sheet. The image below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the D50 and D90.

Clearly, both of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can expect the Nikon D90 to resolve greater detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The more aged D50 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D50 Portrait photography advice
Nikon D90 Portrait photography advice
53
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/500s)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no liveview feature
low MP (6 megapixels)
62
manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D50 as a Street photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Street photography camera
58
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lighter than competition (620g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
54
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D50 Sports photography features
Nikon D90 Sports photography features
38
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
45
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.5 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D50 Travel photography advice
Nikon D90 Travel photography advice
50
lighter than competition (620 grams)
built-in flash
missing Time Lapse function
low MP (6MP)
does not offer selfie friendly display
44
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon D50
Landscape photography with Nikon D90
46
has manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
small screen (2 inches)
no liveview feature
does not have image stabilization
low MP (6MP)
missing Time Lapse function
57
manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3")
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D50 Vlogging info
Nikon D90 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
21
provides face detect autofocus
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
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Nikon D50 vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D50 and Nikon D90
 Nikon D50Nikon D90
General Information
Brand Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D50 Nikon D90
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2005-07-23 2008-10-13
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.7 x 15.5mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 367.4mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 6 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 3008 x 2000 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 200 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Nikon F
Total lenses 309 309
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2" 3"
Resolution of display 130 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display tech - Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.5x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 3.0fps 4.5fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 11.00 m 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/500s 1/200s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
Highest video resolution None 1280x720
Video format - Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 620 gr (1.37 lbs) 703 gr (1.55 lbs)
Dimensions 133 x 102 x 76mm (5.2" x 4.0" x 3.0") 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 73
DXO Color Depth rating 20.9 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 12.5
DXO Low light rating 560 977
Other
Battery life - 850 pictures
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL3 EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2 to 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD card SD/SDHC
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $499 $1,199