Canon Rebel
T1i
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D90

72

  
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

55

  
Winner

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
208 ms shutter lag
Battery life
 Great battery life
850 shots
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T1i

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T1i

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 T1i
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 20fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Size Much smaller 129x98x62 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
True resolution Higher true resolution 15.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Thickness Much thinner 2.4" vs 3"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 159 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
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 T1i's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Learn more about
the Canon T1i

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
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 22.3x14.9mm
Help
 More than 10% larger sensor
Battery life Much longer battery life 850 shots vs 400 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.54x
Help
 Around 40% larger viewfinder
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
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
Focus points Slightly more focus points 11 vs 9
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

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

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Canon Rebel T1i
55 vs 72
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T1i:162 lenses
D90:169 lenses
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
T1i:12,800 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
T1i:95%
D90:96%
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
T1i:15.1 MP
D90:12.2 MP
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
T1i:3.4 fps
D90:4.5 fps
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

$497 body only

$597 - $805 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
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm 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
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 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
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D90

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon EOS Rebel T1i.

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Much more expensive
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Compare the D7100 vs the D90
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the D5200 vs the D90

appearance

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D90
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D90
Canon EOS Rebel T1i Nikon D90

discussion

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