Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi 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
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
Battery life
Great battery life
850 shots
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

41

"Superb resolution, good per-pixel sharpness"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's image-quality
"Just like the EOS 400D the 450D is primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding. Construction is very good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
160 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
524 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi

Size Significantly smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 160 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 524 g vs 703 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $467.50 vs $896.95
Help
The best price we've seen is $429 cheaper (around 50% less)
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 692 ISO
Help
The D90 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 61.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 930k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
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 22.2x14.8mm
Help
More than 10% larger sensor
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 500 shots
Help
70% more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
The D90's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.5 fps vs 3.5 fps
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Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Focus points More focus points 11 vs 9
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Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
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Around 30% less delay when turning on
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
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Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
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The D90's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
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 Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
41 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

advice

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1
votes
by NicoleUCD last month
Canon Rebel XSi vs Nikon D3000

My boyfriend is interested in photography as a hobby. I may be biased, but I think he takes grea...

One person recommends the Canon Rebel XSi:

" These are both great choices for a beginner. I used the XSi for two years and enjoyed it thorou..."

0
votes
by Deanna-Strieb last week
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

I'm mainly taking pictures of my children but am super picky!  I don't want to do manual setting...

0
votes
by Lisa-Bunn last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D90

been stealing my dad's d-slr for quite some time for mini photo shoots with my dogs and friends ...

0
votes
by Hannah-Brett this month
Canon T3 vs Canon Rebel XSi

Im a beginner photography who Is looking to upgrade from a high-end point and shoot. I defiantly...

0
votes
by Olivia-Robinson this month
Canon T3 vs Canon Rebel XSi

-I am a beginner. -I like to take all kinds, I am in a class right now and we practice all th...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
Rebel XSi:162 lenses
D90:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
Rebel XSi:400 ms
D90:300 ms
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
Rebel XSi:1,600 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
Rebel XSi:800 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
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
Movie format One shoots movies Help
Rebel XSi:None
D90:720p @ 24fps

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 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 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 Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$299 - $595 body only

$437 - $439 with 18-55mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus

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 Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D90
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D90
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Nikon D90

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