Canon EOS
50D
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Canon EOS 50D vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D90

58

  
Canon EOS 50D

53

  
Winner

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Runner-up

Canon EOS 50D

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS 50D

Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
131 ms shutter lag
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon 50D
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 131 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6.3 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
 40% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The 50D's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS 50D Learn more about
the Canon 50D

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.4 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 696 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.59x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 640 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
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
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Size Smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 146x108x74 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Weight Lighter 703 g vs 822 g
Help
 More than 10% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $674.95 vs $1,288.88
Help
 The best price we've seen is $614 cheaper (around 50% less)
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Canon EOS 50D Canon EOS 50D
53 vs 58
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro DSLR with a entry-level DSLR.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
50D:162 lenses
D90:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
50D:95%
D90:96%
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
50D:12,800 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
50D:15.1 MP
D90:12.2 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Focus points Few focus points Help
50D:9
D90:11
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
50D:APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
D90:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Movie format One shoots movies Help
50D:None
D90:720p @ 24fps
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
50D:63.0
D90:73.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
50D:696 ISO
D90:977 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS 50D
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Compare the D7100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D7100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS 50D
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS 50D
Compare the D3100 vs the D90

Canon EOS 50D Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 5D

Canon EOS 5D

Pro DSLR

$3,461 with 24-105mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Screen size Much smaller screen
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 5D vs the EOS 50D

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5200 vs the D90

appearance

Canon EOS 50D Nikon D90
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D90
Canon EOS 50D Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 7 comments

Alwynjsmi (6:48 AM, May 14, 2012)
Look, handling, ergonomics and so forth are all things that various ppl will have a different opinion on. Some will like the Canon feel and look, others will like the Nikon. Some will like that horrible cactus plant from whence tequila comes, others will like sucking on Spongebob. Each to their own in other words. I have the D90 and have had the 60d which I returned because of build quality issues. Now, had the 50d been available when I got the D90, I may have gone for the 50d instead. Magnesium alloy body, 1/8000, 6.3fps. But then I would still have had to deal with Canon's couldn't care less attitude so this is a tough one. Product wise (for me) I'd say 50d, but no one would go wrong with either 50d or D90. After sales service though; I prefer the 'we value you spending your hard earned cash on us' as opposed to the 'whatever' approach
 
Masih Akbarzadeh (8:50 AM, May 04, 2012)
dislike...
 
Avatar for Jay-van Geli Jay-van Geli (3:12 AM, January 15, 2012)
of course you would say that. you own the 50d
 
Krampfader_2005 (7:44 AM, October 09, 2011)
Bought a D90 for a colleague (had some old nikkor lenses) I tested it and compared to 50D, which is mine, 50d is slightly better.
Better user interface, higher resolution. No video.
 
Sunny Gill (7:59 AM, September 06, 2011)
50d is better in many ways ,sport photography,nature,wild life and it is mag alloy body which is very good and in look also it seems better then d90  i used d90 i like it very much but canon has true colors ill prefer d50
 
Eneleh99 (6:10 PM, June 02, 2011)
i looove my d90... it's built like like a tank, it fell yesterday and nothing happened to it!! its amazing! im still shooting away... im glad i bought nikon d90 instead of canon 60d...it would have been a wreck right now..and i would be drowning in tears...
 
Russell (9:05 AM, March 16, 2011)
Canon 50D is the smarter one.