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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
90
Overall
75
Nikon D500 front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Nikon D500
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Bump to 1640000)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 860g - 147 x 115 x 81mm
  • Released January 2016
  • Old Model is Nikon D300S
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Bump to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Launched October 2008
  • Previous Model is Nikon D80
  • Renewed by Nikon D7000
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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 Overview

Let's take a closer look at the Nikon D500 and Nikon D90, both Advanced DSLR cameras and both of them are manufactured by Nikon. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the D500 (21MP) and D90 (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D500 was revealed 7 years after the D90 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a brief summation of how the D500 scores vs the D90 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D500 over the Nikon D90

 D500 D90 
LaunchedJanuary 2016October 2008Newer by 88 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen size3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution2359k920kCrisper screen (+1439k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Nikon D500

 D90 D500 

Common features in the Nikon D500 and Nikon D90

 D500 D90 
Focus manually More exact focus
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon D500 has got physical measurements of 147mm x 115mm x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") and a weight of 860 grams (1.90 lbs) and the Nikon D90 has measurements 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 Nikon D500 and Nikon D90 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the D500 against the D90.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D500 and D90 is 56 and 60 respectively.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to picture the difference in sensor dimensions only by checking out technical specs. The picture here will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D500 and D90.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Nikon D500 to show more detail because of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots way more aggressively. The more recent D500 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D500 Portrait photography advice
Nikon D90 Portrait photography advice
79
focusing manually
decent MP (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
63
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
features face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D500 Street photography factors
Nikon D90 Street photography factors
68
screen tilts
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
features focus via touch
weather proof
great high ISO (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
54
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D500 Sports photography highlights
Nikon D90 Sports photography highlights
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
decent MP (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
weather proof
better than average battery power (1,240 CIPA)
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
46
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
sensor has phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.5 frames/s)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D500 Travel photography highlights
Nikon D90 Travel photography highlights
68
better than average battery power (1,240 CIPA)
weather proof
supports bluetooth
features focus via touch
decent MP (21MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
44
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D500 Landscape photography details
Nikon D90 Landscape photography details
77
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
decent MP (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
no low pass filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proof
better than average battery power (1,240 shots)
2 card slots
lack of image stabilization
58
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D500 Vlogging information
Nikon D90 Vlogging information
31
has touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
comes with microphone support
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
21
features face detection autofocus
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external microphone port
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Nikon D500 vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D500 and Nikon D90
 Nikon D500Nikon D90
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon D500 Nikon D90
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-01-05 2008-10-13
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 5 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 4288 x 2848
Max native ISO 51200 3200
Max enhanced ISO 1640000 6400
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Min enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 153 11
Cross focus points 99 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Nikon F
Amount of lenses 309 309
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2" 3"
Resolution of display 2,359k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.66x 0.64x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/8000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 4.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 4K (UHD) 30p/25p/24p, 1080/60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, 720/60p/50p 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 860 grams (1.90 pounds) 703 grams (1.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 147 x 115 x 81mm (5.8" x 4.5" x 3.2") 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 84 73
DXO Color Depth score 24.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range score 14.0 12.5
DXO Low light score 1324 977
Other
Battery life 1240 shots 850 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL15 EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media XQD/SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-II compliant) SD/SDHC
Storage slots Dual One
Retail price $1,497 $1,199