Nikon D780 vs Nikon D90
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| NikonD780 | NikonD90 | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | January 2020 | September 2008 |
| Image and sensor | ||
| Camera type | DSLR | DSLR |
| Sensor format | Full frame | APS-C |
| Sensor type | Backside-illuminated CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor dimensions | 35.9 × 23.9 mm | 23.6 × 15.8 mm |
| Effective resolution | 24.5 MP | 12.3 MP |
| Largest image | 6048 × 4024 | 4288 × 2848 |
| RAW recording | Yes | Yes |
| Standard ISO range | 100–51200 | 200–3200 |
| Sensor detail | 25.28 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and image-dust-off reference data | 12.9 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and Image Dust Off reference data |
| Image formats | 12/14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or ordinary compression; JPEG and RAW plus JPEG | NEF RAW, JPEG and RAW plus JPEG; Cameralabs confirms 12-bit compressed RAW |
| ISO detail | Expandable to equivalent ISO 50–204800; Auto ISO available | Expanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO |
| Image processor | EXPEED 6 | EXPEED |
| Lens and shooting | ||
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F mount |
| Stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation | Optical lens stabilisation |
| Maximum continuous burst | 12 fps | 4.5 fps |
| Lens detail | F-mount G/E/D, supported AF, P and AI non-CPU lenses with restrictions; DX lenses use a crop; non-AI, 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 | Viewfinder Advanced Multi-CAM 3500II phase detection with 51 points, 15 cross-type and 11 supporting f/8. Live-view hybrid phase/contrast detection provides 273 FX still-image single-point positions and eye detection. UK/Japan sensitivity −3 EV viewfinder, −5 EV live view or −7 EV low-light AF under maker conditions; US launch prose's −4 EV viewfinder claim conflicts with exact specs. | 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 | Mechanical, electronic front-curtain and electronic shutters; 1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; manual-mode extension to 900 seconds. Flash sync 1/200 second with compatible Auto FP support. | 1/4000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; flash sync 1/200 second; tested to 100000 releases |
| Burst detail | Up to 7 fps through the optical viewfinder; silent live view up to 12 fps with 12-bit RAW or 8 fps with 14-bit RAW. Low-speed 1–6 fps viewfinder or 1–3 fps live view; quiet continuous 3 fps. Reduced-resolution movie-frame still captures at up to 120 fps are separate from full-resolution continuous shooting. | High-speed continuous approximately 4.5 fps; low-speed 1–4 fps |
| Stabilisation detail | No sensor-shift stabilisation; optical VR depends on the attached lens; electronic movie VR available | Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation |
| Flash | No built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights; optional AS-15 provides a flash-sync terminal | 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 | Auto, P/S/A/M, effects and U1/U2 settings; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation; 180K-pixel RGB viewfinder metering sensor | P/S/A/M, auto and scene modes; 420-pixel RGB metering; ±5 EV compensation |
| Video | ||
| Highest video resolution | 3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps | 1280 × 720 at 24 fps |
| Video detail | UHD 3840 × 2160 at 29.97/25/23.976p without extra FX crop, oversampled from 6K sensor data; Full HD up to 119.88p and separate silent slow-motion modes. H.264 MOV/MP4; limit 29 minutes 59 seconds. 10-bit N-Log and HLG require an external HDMI recorder and cannot simultaneously record that output to the camera card. UK prose's DX 50/60p statement does not mean UHD 50/60p; exact maker UHD table tops out at 30p. | 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 | Built-in stereo microphones, external 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone output; PCM or AAC depending on file format; microphone attenuator | Monaural movie sound |
| Screen and viewfinder | ||
| Viewfinder | Optical | Optical |
| Screen size | 3.2″ | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 2,359,000 | 920,000 |
| Touchscreen | Yes | – |
| Tilting screen | Yes | No |
| Display detail | Approximately 100% coverage, 170° viewing angle and vertical tilt; maker UK states 2359K dots, Japan rounds to approximately 2.36 million; dots count subpixels | Fixed TFT with approximately 100% coverage and 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels |
| Viewfinder detail | Pentaprism, approximately 100% FX coverage, 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 21 mm eyepoint and −3 to +1 dioptre adjustment | Pentaprism, approximately 96% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid |
| Connections and design | ||
| Wi-Fi | Yes | – |
| Bluetooth | Yes | – |
| Battery life (maker's claim) | 2260 photographs | 850 photographs |
| Body weight | 755 g | 620 g (better) |
| Release detail | Nikon US announced on 6 January 2020 and specified availability in late January; global announcement dated 7 January. Main uses the confirmed month without inferring a UK retail day. | 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 | Two UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC slots; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation and card copying | SD and SDHC cards |
| Ports | USB-C SuperSpeed USB, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, accessory terminal for MC-DC2; optional WT-7 provides network connectivity | Hi-Speed USB, analogue AV output, HDMI mini Type C and accessory terminal for optional MC-DC2 or GP-1 |
| Wireless connections | Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2; SnapBridge | – |
| Battery life detail | EN-EL15b; approximately 2260 CIPA single-frame shots or 4570 shots under Nikon's separate continuous-shooting test; approximately 95 minutes of movie recording. EN-EL15a/15 compatibility with restrictions; EN-EL15c may be supplied. | EN-EL3e; approximately 850 CIPA photographs with the 18–105mm VR lens and flash in half the exposures; optional MB-D80 grip |
| Charging | In-camera charging with EN-EL15b and optional EH-7P; external MH-25a charger. Optional AC adapter and EP-5B power connector. | External MH-18a charger; optional EH-5a AC adapter |
| Dimensions | Approximately 143.5 × 115.5 × 76 mm | Approximately 132 × 103 × 77 mm |
| Weight detail | Approximately 755 g body only or 840 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap | Approximately 620 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover |
| Materials | Weather-sealed magnesium alloy construction; maker operating range 0–40°C | – |
| In the box | EN-EL15-series battery, MH-25a charger, UC-E24 USB cable, AN-DC21 strap, BF-1B body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap and DK-31 eyecup; battery revision may vary | 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 |
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