Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D4 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D3

86

Winner

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Low light performance
Low noise at high ISO
2,290 ISO
Overall image quality
Great image quality
81.0
Color depth
Great color depth
23.5 bits
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.70x
Weather sealed
Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
9 fps
Nikon D90

62

Runner-up

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

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 2,290 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
The D3 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the D90
Battery life Much longer battery life 4300 shots vs 850 shots
Help
More than 5x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Better image quality 81.0 vs 73.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
Around 2.5x larger sensor
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
Sealed to shoot in the rain
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 9 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
2x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 88 ms vs 208 ms
Help
2.4x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.63x
Help
More than 20% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
Almost the same
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
The D3's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Nikon D3 Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Size Much smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
2.1x smaller
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
Around 40% more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Much lighter 703 g vs 1,300 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Thickness Significantly thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3 Nikon D3
86 vs 62
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3. 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.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the D3 or the D90,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

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 Howard-Ridge last month
Nikon D40 vs Nikon D90

Was a very keen amateur photographer in the old days 35mm and had a few dslrs.

1
votes
by motoservo last month
Nikon D3 vs Pentax K-5

I'd say the pros on the K-5 are much more important than the pros on the D3. And the fact that t...

One person recommends the Pentax K-5:

" The K-5 has better dynamic range, which is nice for outdoors shooting. And if you're shooting d..."

1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
300 ms startup delay
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3:12.1 MP
D90:12.2 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3:6,400 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D3: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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
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

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 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
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 slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Nikon D700

Nikon D700

Pro DSLR

$2,649 body only

Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,690 - $1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$5,197 body only

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Nikon D4

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,999 - $6,000 body only

Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Shoots movies
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Shutter lag Significantly more shutter lag
Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,499 - $3,500 body only

$4,299 - $4,300 with 24-105mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

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

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

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

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Overall image quality Worse image quality

appearance

Nikon D3 Nikon D90
Nikon D3 Nikon D90
Nikon D3 Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Ehsann Sharif (11:35 AM, September 16, 2011)
that was very much helpful.
I'm so glad I found this site...
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (1:10 AM, August 30, 2010)
Thanks for pointing that out, sometimes the system matches a camera accessory instead of the camera itself, we'll get this fixed asap.
 
Lunatic (8:17 AM, August 29, 2010)
I believe you've got the wrong price for the D90. If you find one for 136€ that is working, BUY IT!