Nikon D5000 vs Nikon D90

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D5000 compared with D90

	NikonD5000	NikonD90
Overview
Released
Released	May 2009	September 2008
Image and sensor
Camera type
Camera type	DSLR	DSLR
Sensor format
Sensor format	APS-C	APS-C
Sensor type
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS
Sensor dimensions
Sensor dimensions	23.6 × 15.8 mm	23.6 × 15.8 mm
Effective resolution
Effective resolution	12.3 MP	12.3 MP
Largest image
Largest image	4288 × 2848	4288 × 2848
RAW recording
RAW recording	Yes	Yes
Standard ISO range
Standard ISO range	200–3200	200–3200
Sensor detail
Sensor detail	Nikon DX CMOS; 12.3 million effective and 12.9 million total pixels; approximately 1.5× lens focal-length equivalent; integrated sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data	12.9 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats
Image formats	Compressed 12-bit NEF RAW, JPEG and simultaneous RAW plus JPEG; maximum 4288 × 2848 pixels; customisable Picture Controls and in-camera RAW processing	NEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG; Cameralabs confirms 12-bit compressed RAW
ISO detail
ISO detail	ISO 200–3200 in one-third stops, expandable down to ISO 100 or up to ISO 6400 equivalent; Auto ISO	Expanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO
Image processor
Image processor	EXPEED	EXPEED
Lens and shooting
Lens mount
Lens mount	Nikon F mount	Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation	Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
Maximum continuous burst	4 fps	4.5 fps
Lens detail
Lens detail	Autofocus with AF-S and AF-I lenses; no body autofocus motor for screw-drive lenses. Non-CPU lenses require manual exposure without metering; IX and F3AF lenses unsupported	DX 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
Autofocus
Autofocus	Multi-CAM 1000; 11 phase-detection points including one cross-type; -1 to +19 EV at ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C; AF-S/AF-C/AF-A with single-point, dynamic, auto-area and 11-point 3D tracking. Contrast-detection live view adds face, wide, normal and subject-tracking areas	Multi-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
Shutter
Shutter	1/4000 to 30 seconds in one-third or half stops, Bulb and Time with optional ML-L3 remote; flash sync 1/200 second; shutter tested to 100000 cycles in Nikon's announcement	1/4000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second; tested to 100000 releases
Burst detail
Burst detail	Approximately 4 fps with manual focus, S/M exposure, 1/250 second or faster and remaining settings at defaults; quiet release and interval-timer shooting	High-speed continuous approximately 4.5 fps; low-speed 1–4 fps
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	Optical VR depends on the lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation	Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
Flash	Built-in pop-up flash; guide number approximately 17 m at ISO 200, 20°C, or 18 at manual full output; approximately 12/13 at ISO 100 equivalent; accessory shoe, optional AS-15 sync adapter	Pop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 17 at ISO 200 in metres; commander for two remote groups; ISO 518 hot shoe
Exposure controls
Exposure controls	P/S/A/M, Auto and 19 scene modes; 420-pixel RGB matrix, centre-weighted and spot metering; ±5 EV compensation; three-frame exposure/white-balance bracketing and two-frame Active D-Lighting bracketing	P/S/A/M, auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB metering; ±5 EV compensation
Video
Highest video resolution
Highest video resolution	1280 × 720 at 24 fps	1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Video detail
Video detail	Motion JPEG AVI at 1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216, all 24 fps; maximum five minutes at 720p or 20 minutes at lower resolutions; autofocus before recording, manual focus during recording. Photography Blog's introductory 30 fps description differs from Nikon's 24 fps sheet and its later review text	Motion-JPEG AVI at 24 fps; 720p limited to approximately five minutes, 640 × 424 and 320 × 216 to approximately 20 minutes; autofocus unavailable during recording
Audio
Audio	Built-in mono recording; no external microphone input	Monaural movie sound
Screen and viewfinder
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical	Optical
Screen size
Screen size	2.7″	3″
Screen dots
Screen dots	230,000	920,000
Tilting screen
Tilting screen	Yes	No
Display detail
Display detail	Bottom-hinged 2.7-inch vari-angle TFT, approximately 230000 dots and 100% coverage; announcement specifies approximately 90° downward swing and 180° rotation; screen can face inward for protection	Fixed TFT with approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Viewfinder detail	Pentamirror; approximately 95% coverage, 0.78× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity and 17.9 mm eyepoint	Pentaprism, 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)
Battery life (maker's claim)	510 photographs	850 photographs
Body weight
Body weight	560 g (better)	620 g
Release detail
Release detail	Nikon Japan records first sale on 1 May 2009; global announcement on 14 April 2009	Nikon'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 media
Recording media	One SD/SDHC card slot	SD and SDHC cards
Ports
Ports	Hi-Speed USB, HDMI Type C, NTSC/PAL analogue video output and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 remote or GP-1 GPS; optional ML-L3 infrared remote	Hi-Speed USB, analogue AV output, HDMI mini Type C and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 or GP-1
Wireless connections
Wireless connections	No integrated wireless networking; optional GP-1 GPS unit	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	EN-EL9a; up to 510 CIPA photographs with AF-S DX 18–55mm VR and full-power flash on alternate shots	EN-EL3e; approximately 850 CIPA photographs with the 18–105mm VR lens and flash in half the exposures; optional MB-D80 grip
Charging
Charging	External MH-23 charger; optional EH-5a adapter with EP-5 power connector	External MH-18a charger; optional EH-5a AC adapter
Dimensions
Dimensions	Approximately 127 × 104 × 80 mm	Approximately 132 × 103 × 77 mm
Weight detail
Weight detail	Approximately 560 g excluding battery, SD card and body cap	Approximately 620 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover
In the box
In the box	EN-EL9a battery, MH-23 charger, DK-5 eyepiece cap, DK-24 eyecup, UC-E6 USB cable, EG-CP14 audio-video cable, AN-DC3 strap, BS-1 shoe cover, body cap and Software Suite CD-ROM	EN-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