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Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90 Comparison

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Nikon D7000

16 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D7000
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Nikon D90

12 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D90
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Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the Nikon D7000 with the camera that it replaced, the Nikon D90, list out what is new, its advantages over its predecessor and finally try to conclude if the D7000 is a worthy upgrade to the D90. Nikon D7000 was introduced to the market in November 2010 and Nikon D90 was launched in October 2008 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 26 months between the two cameras make.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D7000 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2010-11-30
  • 16MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400 ( expands to 25600)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 6.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 780g. 132 x 105 x 77 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D90 Compare

Nikon D90 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2008-10-13
  • 12MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 3200 ( expands to 6400)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 4.5fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 703g. 132 x 103 x 77 mm
  • Replaced Nikon D80 Compare

Nikon D7000 was replaced by Nikon D7100. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D7100 vs Nikon D7000
Nikon D7100 vs Nikon D90

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon D7000 over Nikon D90
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
39 vs 11 28 more focus points
Viewfinder Coverage
100% vs 96% More accurate viewfinder
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
6.0fps vs 4.5fps 1.5 fps faster
Battery Life
1050 shots vs 850 shots 200 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Color Depth
23.5 vs 22.7 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
13.9 vs 12.5 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
1167 vs 977 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
Shutter Life Expectancy
150000 cycles vs 100000 cycles Longer use without changing the shutter mechanism
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
CHECK D7000 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon D90 over Nikon D7000
Weight
703 g vs 780 g 77 g lighter
Flash Coverage
17.0m vs 12.0m 5m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
30.54µm2 vs 23.04µm2 32% larger pixel area
CHECK D90 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 920k dots High resolution screens
Top LCD Display
Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D7000 has external dimensions of 132 x 105 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.13 x 3.03″) and weighs 780 g (1.72 lb / 27.51 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D90 has external dimensions of 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.06 x 3.03″) and weighs 703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D90.

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon D7000 and the Nikon D90 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90.
Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon D7000 and the the Nikon D90 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D90 is 77g lighter than the Nikon D7000 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 have the same Nikon F lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D7000
D90
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D7000
D90
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the D7000 has a big advantage over the D90 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D7000 has a 16.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 2 processor. On the other hand, Nikon D90 has a 12.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the D7000 and D90 sensor size comparison.

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 Cameras


Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D7000 has scored 80, 7 points higher than D90.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Nikon D7000 80 23.5 bits 13.9 Evs 1167 ISO
Nikon D90 73 22.7 bits 12.5 Evs 977 ISO
Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 have the same Nikon F lens mount and currently there are 316 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 107 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon F mount.

Lens Type # of Nikon D7000 Lenses # of Nikon D90 Lenses
Standard Zoom 32 32
Standard Prime 22 22
Wideangle Zoom 33 33
Wideangle Prime 50 50
Telephoto Zoom 55 55
Telephoto Prime 46 46
SuperZoom 30 30
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 8
Macro Prime 26 26
Perspective Control Prime 11 11
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 316 316

Here are some of the most popular Nikon F Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon F Mount Lenses for the D7000 and the D90
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G
35mm FF 425gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR
35mm FF 1340gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR
35mm FF 745gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
35mm FF 1951gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR
35mm FF 2300gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR
35mm FF 720gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM Lens Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
35mm FF 5880gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G
APS-C / DX 200gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D7000 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D90 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D7000 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D90 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon D7000 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon D90 for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
9 Cross Type Focus sensors
39 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1050 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
11 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 850 shots
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.5fps
No Image Stabilization
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon D7000 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D90 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
780g
Body Thickness 77mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Large Body
703g
Body Thickness 77mm
Read the details

Nikon D7000 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D90 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon D7000 vs Nikon D90: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D7000 and Nikon D90 scores compare:

Nikon D7000
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #39 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #238 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Nikon D90
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #57 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #415 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon D7000 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon D90 in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Nikon D7000.

Nikon D7000
Nikon D7000
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Nikon D90
Nikon D90
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Nikon D90 vs Nikon D7000 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D7000 Nikon D90
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2010-11-30 2008-10-13
Body Type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.7 mm 23.6 x 15.8 mm
Area 370.52mm2 372.88mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4928 x 3264 4288 x 2848
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 25600 ISO 6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 200 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 39 11
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 316 316
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.64x 0.64x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 17.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync 1/250s 1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 6.0 fps 4.5 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Eye-Fi Connected Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 780g 703g
Dimensions 132 x 105 x 77mm 132 x 103 x 77mm
Battery Life 1050 shots 850 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 80 73
DxO Color Depth 23.5 22.7
DxO Dynamic Range 13.9 12.5
DxO Low Light ISO 1167 977
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