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Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50

Portability
60
Imaging
50
Features
52
Overall
50
Nikon D90 front
 
Nikon Z50 front
Portability
74
Imaging
67
Features
84
Overall
73

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 Key Specs

Nikon D90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 200 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 703g - 132 x 103 x 77mm
  • Introduced October 2008
  • Succeeded the Nikon D80
  • Updated by Nikon D7000
Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Push to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Revealed October 2019
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Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 Overview

Below, we are comparing the Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and they are both offered by Nikon. There is a crucial difference among the image resolutions of the D90 (12MP) and Z50 (21MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The D90 was announced 12 years earlier than the Z50 which is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Nikon D90 being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the D90 grades vs the Z50 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Nikon Z50

 D90 Z50 

Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Nikon D90

 Z50 D90 
RevealedOctober 2019October 2008More modern by 133 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimension3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1040k920kCrisper display (+120k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon D90 and Nikon Z50

 D90 Z50 
Manual focus Very exact focus

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera often, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon D90 provides external measurements of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") and a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs) while the Nikon Z50 has specifications of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check out the Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the D90 versus the Z50.

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the D90 and Z50 is 60 and 74 respectively.

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 top view buttons comparison

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 Sensor Comparison

Often, its hard to imagine the gap in sensor sizes simply by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the D90 and Z50.

As you can see, the 2 cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different megapixels. You should anticipate the Nikon Z50 to produce greater detail with its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The more aged D90 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 sensor size comparison

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon D90 Portrait photography factors
Nikon Z50 Portrait photography factors
62
manual focus
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
offers face detect focus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
80
manual focus
decent megapixels (21MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon D90 as a Street photography camera
Nikon Z50 as a Street photography camera
54
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
72
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
environment sealing
good high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (397 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon D90 Sports photography factors
Nikon Z50 Sports photography factors
45
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
has phase detect auto focus
max fps very slow (4.5 frames per second)
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
75
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D90 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon Z50 as a Travel photography camera
44
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
77
environment sealing
supports bluetooth
boasts focus by touch
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
heavier than competitors in class (397g)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D90 Landscape photography factors
Nikon Z50 Landscape photography factors
57
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (12MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
78
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon Z mount)
decent sized screen (3.2 inch)
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D90 as a Vlogging camera
Nikon Z50 as a Vlogging camera
21
offers face detect focus
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
71
screen is selfie friendly
touchscreen
provides face detect autofocus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
includes mic jack
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors in class (397g)
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Nikon D90 vs Nikon Z50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D90 and Nikon Z50
 Nikon D90Nikon Z50
General Information
Make Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon D90 Nikon Z50
Class Advanced DSLR Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2008-10-13 2019-10-10
Body design Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Expeed 6
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 21 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4288 x 2848 5568 x 3712
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 204800
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 11 209
Lens
Lens support Nikon F Nikon Z
Available lenses 309 15
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3" 3.2"
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.5 frames per sec 11.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 17.00 m (at ISO 100) 7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/200 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 424 (24 fps), 320 x 216 (24 fps) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 703 gr (1.55 pounds) 397 gr (0.88 pounds)
Dimensions 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 73 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.5 not tested
DXO Low light rating 977 not tested
Other
Battery life 850 pictures 320 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Built-in
Battery ID EN-EL3e EN-EL25
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots One One
Launch price $1,199 $857