Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon EOS 1100D vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D90

70

Winner

Nikon D90

"Fast Autofocus with useful control options"
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's auto-focus
"The D90 feels very comfortable and natural, with a good grip and logical, ergonomic, button placement."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Overall image quality
Great image quality
73.0
Color depth
Great color depth
22.7 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.63x
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Canon EOS 500D

54

Runner-up

Canon EOS 500D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 500D

Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
159 ms shutter lag
Size
Really small
Prosumer size 129x98x62 mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
Thin
2.4"
Weight
Light-weight
520 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon 500D

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 20fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 159 ms vs 208 ms
Help
More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 520 g vs 703 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The 500D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Cheaper $539.00 vs $896.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $358 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon EOS 500D Learn more about
the Canon 500D

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 663 ISO
Help
The D90 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 63.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.5 EV
Help
1 f-stop more dynamic range
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 400 shots
Help
More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.54x
Help
Around 40% larger viewfinder
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.5 fps vs 3.4 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 162 lenses
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent entry-level DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 500D Canon EOS 500D
54 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

advice

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1
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by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
500D:162 lenses
D90:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
500D:920k dots
D90:930k dots
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 550D

Canon EOS 550D

Entry-level DSLR

$704 - $916 body only

$731 - $874 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Autofocus Focuses automatically while shootting video
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon EOS 600D

Canon EOS 600D

Entry-level DSLR

$835 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS 1100D

Canon EOS 1100D

Entry-level DSLR

$489 - $546 body only

$546 - $643 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Weight Is slightly lighter
Thickness Is thicker
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor

Canon EOS 500D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 450D

Canon EOS 450D

Entry-level DSLR

$582 body only

Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life

appearance

Canon EOS 500D Nikon D90
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D90
Canon EOS 500D Nikon D90

discussion

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