Canon Rebel
T1i
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (February, 2011): Compare the Canon Rebel T3 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 Rebel T1i

54
Runner-up

Canon Rebel T1i
"Construction is good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's build-quality
"The menu design is very intuitive and for everybody stepping up from a digital compact camera the Quick Control Screen will be a welcome alternative to changing settings via the hard buttons."
dpreview.com | talking about the T1i's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T1i

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 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
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 T1i's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Cheaper $475.00 vs $896.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $422 cheaper (around 50% less)
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
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 Rebel T1i Canon Rebel T1i
54 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

advice

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
0
votes
by dbarreda last week
Canon T1i vs Canon T2i

I like photography but I am and I will not be dedicated to this, I just want to take good photos...
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 jessaalvarez123 6 days ago
Canon T3i vs Canon T1i

I am a highschool student looking for a camera that will satisfy me. I love photography and was ...
-1
votes
by Pavan-Kumar last month
Canon T3i vs Canon T1i

Hi All, COuld you please let me know whether Canon Rebel T1i is good one compared to T2i and ...

One person recommends the Canon T3i:

" If you have the money go with the T3i or T2i. The biggest difference between the T2i and T3i, i..."
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 ...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
T1i:162 lenses
D90:169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
T1i: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
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
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
Compare the D7000 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 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
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D90
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
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
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
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90
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
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T1i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D90

Canon EOS Rebel T1i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Entry-level DSLR

$468 body only

$600 with 18-55mm lens
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
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs the Rebel T1i

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
Compare the D3200 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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