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Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90

Portability
71
Imaging
65
Features
85
Overall
73
Nikon D5500 front
 
Nikon D90 front
Portability
60
Imaging
51
Features
52
Overall
51

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 Key Specs

Nikon D5500
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 420g - 124 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2015
  • Succeeded the Nikon D5300
  • New Model is Nikon D5600
Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Push to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Revealed October 2008
  • Succeeded the Nikon D80
  • Updated by Nikon D7000
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Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Nikon D5500 and Nikon D90, former is a Entry-Level DSLR while the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both built by Nikon. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the D5500 (24MP) and D90 (12MP) but they come with the exact same sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The D5500 was revealed 6 years after the D90 which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D5500 being a Compact SLR camera and the Nikon D90 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go through a in depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the D5500 grades versus the D90 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D5500 over the Nikon D90

 D5500 D90 
RevealedJanuary 2015October 2008Newer by 76 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k920kSharper display (+117k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Nikon D5500

 D90 D5500 

Common features in the Nikon D5500 and Nikon D90

 D5500 D90 
Manual focus Very precise focus

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon D5500 offers external measurements of 124mm x 97mm x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") and a weight of 420 grams (0.93 lbs) whilst the Nikon D90 has specifications of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") along with a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs).

Examine the Nikon D5500 and Nikon D90 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurement comparison of the D5500 compared to the D90.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the D5500 and D90 is 71 and 60 respectively.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the D5500 and D90.

As you can see, each of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You can expect to see the Nikon D5500 to result in greater detail because of its extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more recent D5500 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 sensor size comparison

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D5500 Portrait photography features
Nikon D90 Portrait photography features
79
you can focus manually
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focus
saves RAW formats
62
you can focus manually
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Nikon D5500 Street photography highlights
Nikon D90 Street photography highlights
75
screen can move to multiple angles
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
features touch to focus
lighter than others in class (420g)
good ISO range (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
54
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D5500 Sports photography factors
Nikon D90 Sports photography factors
68
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery (820 shots)
supports phase detect auto focus
very slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
45
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
max frames per second low (4.5 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D5500 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon D90 as a Travel photography camera
81
better than average battery (820 per charge)
lighter than others in class (420g)
features touch to focus
good resolution (24 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
44
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D5500 Landscape photography features
Nikon D90 Landscape photography features
78
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen is a good size (3.2 inches)
good resolution (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have low pass filter
good ISO range (25,600)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (820 shots)
does not have image stabilization
57
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon F mount)
good sized screen (3")
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D5500 Vlogging features
Nikon D90 Vlogging features
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen enabled
includes face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
lighter than others in class (420g)
does not have image stabilization
21
has face detection autofocus
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Nikon D5500 vs Nikon D90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D5500 and Nikon D90
 Nikon D5500Nikon D90
General Information
Company Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D5500 Nikon D90
Category Entry-Level DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2015-01-06 2008-10-13
Physical type Compact SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.6mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor area 366.6mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 24MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Highest resolution 6000 x 4000 4288 x 2848
Highest native ISO 25600 3200
Highest boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 39 11
Cross type focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Nikon F
Number of lenses 309 309
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 3.2 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech - Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentamirror) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 95 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.55x 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 5.0 frames per sec 4.5 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/200 seconds 1/200 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 424 (30, 25 fps) 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 420 gr (0.93 pounds) 703 gr (1.55 pounds)
Dimensions 124 x 97 x 70mm (4.9" x 3.8" x 2.8") 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 84 73
DXO Color Depth rating 24.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.0 12.5
DXO Low light rating 1438 977
Other
Battery life 820 shots 850 shots
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL14,EN-EL14a EN-EL3e
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $700 $1,199