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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90

Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74
Nikon Z50 front
 
Pentax Optio W90 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 Key Specs

Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Revealed October 2019
Pentax W90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 164g - 108 x 59 x 25mm
  • Launched February 2010
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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 Overview

Below, we will be analyzing the Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Waterproof by rivals Nikon and Pentax. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the Z50 (21MP) and W90 (12MP) and the Z50 (APS-C) and W90 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The Z50 was manufactured 9 years later than the W90 and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax W90 being a Compact camera.

Before diving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summary of how the Z50 matches up vs the W90 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Pentax W90

 Z50 W90 
LaunchedOctober 2019February 2010Fresher by 118 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.2"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution1040k230kSharper screen (+810k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Pentax W90 over the Nikon Z50

 W90 Z50 

Common features in the Nikon Z50 and Pentax W90

 Z50 W90 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera often, you're going to have to consider its weight and size. The Nikon Z50 enjoys external measurements of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") and a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Pentax W90 has specifications of 108mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") having a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs).

Check out the Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the Z50 vs the W90.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the Z50 and W90 is 74 and 94 respectively.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 top view buttons comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The visual below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the Z50 and W90.

As you can tell, both the cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The Z50 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Nikon Z50 will result in extra detail due to its extra 9MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher Z50 will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 sensor size comparison

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon Z50 Portrait photography factors
Pentax W90 Portrait photography factors
80
you can focus manually
good resolution (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detect autofocus
exports RAW files
27
has manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon Z50
Street photography with Pentax W90
73
tilting screen
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
includes focus by touch
environment sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397 grams)
54
weather proof
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon Z50
Sports photography with Pentax W90
75
good resolution (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
24
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon Z50 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax W90 as a Travel photography camera
77
environment sealing
connects via bluetooth
includes focus by touch
good resolution (21MP)
built-in flash
screen is selfie friendly
more heavy than competition in class (397 grams)
64
weather proof
built-in flash
decently wide (28mm)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon Z50 Landscape photography advice
Pentax W90 Landscape photography advice
79
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon Z mount)
screen size is good (3.2 inches)
good resolution (21MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,200)
exports RAW files
environment sealing
no image stabilization
37
has manual focus
decently wide (28mm)
weather proof
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon Z50
Vlogging with Pentax W90
71
screen is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
supports face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone support
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition in class (397g)
25
decently wide (28mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external microphone support
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Nikon Z50 vs Pentax W90 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon Z50 and Pentax W90
 Nikon Z50Pentax Optio W90
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Z50 Pentax Optio W90
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Waterproof
Revealed 2019-10-10 2010-02-24
Physical type SLR-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 6 Prime
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 23.5 x 15.7mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 369.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 51200 6400
Max boosted ISO 204800 -
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 209 9
Lens
Lens support Nikon Z fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture - f/3.5-5.5
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Number of lenses 15 -
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3.2 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 1,040 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 2,360 thousand dots -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1500 secs
Continuous shooting rate 11.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 7.00 m (at ISO 100) 3.90 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 397 grams (0.88 lbs) 164 grams (0.36 lbs)
Dimensions 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") 108 x 59 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 320 pictures -
Battery style Built-in -
Battery ID EN-EL25 D-LI68
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported) SD/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $857 $120