Nikon
D3200
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (March, 2012): Compare the Nikon D3200 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D3200

75

  
Nikon D90

72

  
Winner

Nikon D3200

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3200

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.2 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.1 MP
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
 
Runner-up

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

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
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3200
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.1 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 2x more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 81.0 vs 73.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,131 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
 The D3200 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.4 more bits of color
Autofocus Video autofocus Contrast detection vs None
Help
 Automatically focuses shooting video
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.2 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Significantly smaller 125x96x76 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D3200's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 505 g vs 703 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D3200's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Lowest price Cheaper $546.95 vs $674.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $128 cheaper (around 20% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 3" vs 3"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D3200 Learn more about
the Nikon D3200

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.50x
Help
 Around 60% larger viewfinder
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 540 shots
Help
 Around 60% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.2x15.4mm
Help
 Almost the same
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 208 ms vs 276 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200
75 vs 72
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3200.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D3200:400 ms
D90:300 ms
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D3200:12,800 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
D3200:95%
D90:96%
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3200:6,400 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus Help
D3200:Contrast detection
D90:None
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
D3200:4 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
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the D3200
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thinner
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Screen resolution Has a much lower resolution screen
Compare the D3100 vs the D3200
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D5200 vs the D3200
Compare the D5200 vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is much heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D3200
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Canon 650D / T4i

Canon Rebel T4i

Entry-level DSLR

$649 - $800 body only

$719 - $749 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D3200
Compare the Rebel T4i vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3200
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90

Nikon D3200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D3200.

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D90.

appearance

Nikon D3200 Nikon D90
Nikon D3200 Nikon D90
Nikon D3200 Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 2 comments

MickeyD (7:57 PM, April 25, 2013)
The D90 is a better body all the way around, you can use the older " D " type lenses than the newer AF-S lenses that have a built in motor in the lens body, this is where you pay more for the same type of lens and Nikon built the D3000,D3100,D3200,D5000,D5100,D5200 bodies do not the built-in motor in the camera body so you are forced to buy these AF-S lenses just about twice the price of the older "D" type lenses. If you want to start with an Entry Level body and do not care about the price of lenses then bye all means buy a D3200 camera system, you will enjoy every moment. Good Luck with your Decision!
 
0-o (3:17 AM, April 01, 2013)
I think the D90 is much more better for the extra features and good body material and ergonomics :) .