Nikon D3500 vs Nikon D90

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

D3500 compared with D90
NikonD3500NikonD90
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2018September 2008
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CAPS-C
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Sensor dimensions23.5 × 15.6 mm23.6 × 15.8 mm
Effective resolution24.2 MP12.3 MP
Largest image6000 × 40004288 × 2848
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range100–25600200–3200
Sensor detailNikon DX CMOS with 24.16 million effective and 24.78 million total pixels; no optical low-pass filter; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent. Image Dust Off reference data uses Capture NX-D; no automatic vibrating sensor-cleaning system12.9 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats12-bit compressed NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 6000 × 4000 pixels; Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape and Flat Picture ControlsNEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG; Cameralabs confirms 12-bit compressed RAW
ISO detailISO 100–25600 in one-stop steps; Auto ISOExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO
Image processor–EXPEED
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst5 fps4.5 fps
Lens detailAutofocus supported with AF-P lenses and type E/G AF-S lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lensesDX angle of view approximately 1.5× FX focal length; AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses permit manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
AutofocusMulti-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A, single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking. Contrast-detection live view supports face, wide, normal and subject-tracking areasMulti-CAM 1000 phase detection, 11 points including one cross-type; single, dynamic, auto-area and 3D tracking. Live view uses contrast detection with face-priority, wide and normal areas
ShutterElectronically controlled focal-plane shutter; 1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third stops, Bulb and Time; flash sync 1/200 second1/4000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second; tested to 100000 releases
Burst detailApproximately 5 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and other settings at defaultsHigh-speed continuous approximately 4.5 fps; low-speed 1–4 fps
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
FlashBuilt-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 7 m at ISO 100, 20°C, or 8 at manual full output; accessory shoePop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 17 at ISO 200 in metres; commander for two remote groups; ISO 518 hot shoe
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M, Auto, flash-off Auto, scene and special-effects modes; beginner Guide mode; 420-pixel RGB metering with matrix, centre-weighted and spot modes; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting on/offP/S/A/M, auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB metering; ±5 EV compensation
Video
Highest video resolution1920 × 1080 at 60 fps1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Video detailH.264 MOV at Full HD 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p or 720p 60p/50p; actual NTSC rates 59.94/29.97/23.976. Maximum 29 minutes 59 seconds, reduced to 20 or ten minutes depending on frame-rate/quality settings, or three minutes with Miniature EffectMotion-JPEG AVI at 24 fps; 720p limited to approximately five minutes, 640 × 424 and 320 × 216 to approximately 20 minutes; autofocus unavailable during recording
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone with adjustable sensitivity and linear PCM recording; no external microphone input. Photography Blog describes stereo sound, differing from Nikon’s technical specificationMonaural movie sound
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3″
Screen dots921,000920,000
Tilting screen–No
Display detailFixed 3-inch TFT; approximately 921000 dots in the US, rounded to 920000 in Japan; 170° viewing angle and approximately 100% coverage; dots count subpixelsFixed TFT with approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.85× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 18 mm eyepointPentaprism, approximately 96% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid
Connections and design
Battery life (maker's claim)1550 photographs850 photographs
Body weight365 g (better)620 g
Release detailNikon Japan records first sale on 28 September 2018; global announcement on 30 August 2018Nikon's original US announcement specifies September 2008 availability; Nikon Japan records 19 September there. Main retains the month without assigning the Japanese day to every region
Recording mediaOne SD/SDHC/SDXC slot; UHS-I support for SDHC/SDXCSD and SDHC cards
PortsHi-Speed Micro-USB and HDMI Type C; no wired accessory terminal, external microphone socket or infrared remote receiverHi-Speed USB, analogue AV output, HDMI mini Type C and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 or GP-1
Wireless connectionsBluetooth 4.1 with SnapBridge; automatic transfer of two-megapixel JPEGs and smartphone time/location synchronisation. Nikon’s updated announcement supports Bluetooth remote still capture using SnapBridge 2.5, manual original-JPEG transfer, and excludes RAW/movie transfer; no Wi-Fi–
Battery life detailEN-EL14a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; approximately 1550 photographs per charge under CIPA testing with Bluetooth disabledEN-EL3e; approximately 850 CIPA photographs with the 18–105mm VR lens and flash in half the exposures; optional MB-D80 grip
ChargingExternal MH-24 charger; optional EH-5c/EH-5b AC adapter with EP-5A power connectorExternal MH-18a charger; optional EH-5a AC adapter
DimensionsApproximately 124 × 97 × 69.5 mmApproximately 132 × 103 × 77 mm
Weight detailApproximately 365 g body only or 415 g including battery and SD card, excluding body capApproximately 620 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover
MaterialsSlim monocoque body structure with a deeper grip and most operational buttons grouped on the right of the rear panel–
ColoursBlack–
In the boxEN-EL14a battery, MH-24 charger, AN-DC3 strap, BF-1B body cap and DK-25 eyecupEN-EL3e battery, MH-18a charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-21 eyecup, UC-E4 USB cable, EG-D2 AV cable, AN-DC1 strap, BM-10 monitor cover, body and shoe caps; regional contents may differ

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