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Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II

Portability
60
Imaging
52
Features
52
Overall
52
Nikon D90 front
 
Pentax K-3 II front
Portability
59
Imaging
67
Features
84
Overall
73

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II Key Specs

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
  • Announced October 2008
  • Old Model is Nikon D80
  • Updated by Nikon D7000
Pentax K-3 II
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 800g - 131 x 100 x 77mm
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Old Model is Pentax K-3
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Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II Overview

In this write-up, we are reviewing the Nikon D90 versus Pentax K-3 II, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by brands Nikon and Pentax. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the D90 (12MP) and K-3 II (24MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The D90 was unveiled 7 years earlier than the K-3 II which is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the D90 matches up against the K-3 II for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon D90 over the Pentax K-3 II

 D90 K-3 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-3 II over the Nikon D90

 K-3 II D90 
IntroducedApril 2015October 2008More modern by 79 months
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k920kClearer display (+117k dot)

Common features in the Nikon D90 and Pentax K-3 II

 D90 K-3 II 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon D90 provides external measurements of 132mm x 103mm x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 703 grams (1.55 lbs) while the Pentax K-3 II has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Check the Nikon D90 versus Pentax K-3 II in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the D90 against the K-3 II.

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the D90 and K-3 II is 60 and 59 respectively.

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, its hard to envision the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading technical specs. The pic here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the D90 and K-3 II.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can anticipate the Pentax K-3 II to offer extra detail having an extra 12 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images a little more aggressively. The more aged D90 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II sensor size comparison

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon D90
Portrait photography with Pentax K-3 II
63
has manual focus
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
80
focusing manually
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon D90
Street photography with Pentax K-3 II
54
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
69
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
very good ISO range (51,200)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon D90
Sports photography with Pentax K-3 II
46
sensor size is good (APS-C)
comes with phase detect AF
slow continuous shooting (4.5 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
77
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
low battery (720 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon D90 Travel photography highlights
Pentax K-3 II Travel photography highlights
44
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
57
environment proofing
MP count good (24MP)
low battery (720 CIPA)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon D90 Landscape photography details
Pentax K-3 II Landscape photography details
58
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon F mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low resolution sensor (12MP)
lack of Timelapse recording
78
focusing manually
switch lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (24MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
does not have anti-alias filter
very good ISO range (51,200)
saves RAW files
environment proofing
has double storage slots
low battery (720 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon D90 Vlogging info
Pentax K-3 II Vlogging info
21
has face detection focusing
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone jack
34
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes microphone port
doesn't have selfie friendly display
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Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-3 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon D90 and Pentax K-3 II
 Nikon D90Pentax K-3 II
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon D90 Pentax K-3 II
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2008-10-13 2015-04-23
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Prime III
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 23.6 x 15.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 372.9mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2
Maximum resolution 4288 x 2848 6016 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 3200 51200
Maximum boosted ISO 6400 -
Min native ISO 200 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 11 27
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon F Pentax KAF2
Total lenses 309 151
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech Super Density TFT color LCD with wide-viewing angle -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.5fps 8.3fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 17.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Front curtain, Rear curtain, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync (available with dedicated external flash)
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/200s 1/180s
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) 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
GPS Optional BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 703 grams (1.55 lb) 800 grams (1.76 lb)
Dimensions 132 x 103 x 77mm (5.2" x 4.1" x 3.0") 131 x 100 x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 73 80
DXO Color Depth score 22.7 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 12.5 13.6
DXO Low light score 977 1106
Other
Battery life 850 photographs 720 photographs
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL3e D-LI90
Self timer Yes (2, 5, 10 or 20 sec) Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Dual
Retail cost $1,199 $829