Compare the Nikon D3 vs the Nikon D90

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Much longer battery life

4300 shots

850 shots

More than 5x more shots per battery charge

Significantly lower noise at high ISO

2,290 ISO

977 ISO

The D3 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the D90

Better image quality

81.0

73.0

More than 10% better image quality

Weather sealed

Yes

Sealed to shoot in the rain

Much larger sensor

Full frame 36.0x24.0mm

APS-C 23.6x15.8mm

Around 2.5x larger sensor

Significantly more focus points

Set focus accurately within the frame

Shoots significantly faster

9 fps

4.5 fps

2x faster continuous shooting

Significantly less shutter lag

88 ms

208 ms

2.4x less delay when taking photos

Larger viewfinder

0.70x

0.63x

More than 20% larger viewfinder

More cross-type focus points

Grab focus in difficult situations

Significantly better viewfinder coverage

100%

96%

Almost the same

Better color depth

23.5 bits

22.7 bits

Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color

Has more storage slots

More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards

Better maximum light sensitivity

6,400 ISO

3,200 ISO

The D3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better

Much faster max shutter speed

1/8000s

1/4000s

2x faster max shutter speed

Better boost ISO

25,600 ISO

6,400 ISO

The D3's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better

Learn more about
the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Shoots movies

720p @ 24fps

None

Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures

Has a self cleaning sensor

Yes

Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos

Much smaller

132x103x77 mm

160x157x88 mm

2.1x smaller

Significantly more lenses available

169 lenses

121 lenses

Around 40% more lenses available

More dynamic range

12.5 EV

12.2 EV

0.3 f-stops more dynamic range

Much thinner

3.5"

More than 10% thinner

Much lighter

703 g

1,300 g

Around 50% lighter

Built-in flash

Yes

A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light

Learn more about
the Nikon D90

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3

79	vs	58
Explain scores

Nikon D90

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.

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Minimal startup delay
	300 ms startup delay

	Both have pentaprism viewfinders
	Pentaprism

	No video autofocus
	Manual focus only

	Neither has in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

Capture low resolution images

D3:	12.1 MP
D90:	12.2 MP

	No flip-out screens
	Less flexible

Poor maximum light sensitivity

D3:	6,400 ISO
D90:	3,200 ISO

	Neither camera stitches together panoramas
	You could stitch photos in post

	Neither camera can take 3D photos
	No 3d support

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

One shoots movies

D3:	None
D90:	720p @ 24fps

dxomark

competitors

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has a slower max shutter speed

Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Compare the D5100 vs the D3

Compare the D5100 vs the D90

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Has significantly more shutter lag

Compare the D7000 vs the D3

Compare the D7000 vs the D90

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Takes much higher resolution photos

Has a slower max shutter speed

Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Compare the D3200 vs the D3

Compare the D3200 vs the D90

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Compare the D7100 vs the D3

Compare the D7100 vs the D90

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Can focus continuously while recording movies

Has a slower max shutter speed

Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Compare the D3100 vs the D3

Compare the D3100 vs the D90

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Has slightly wider dynamic range

Has a slower max shutter speed

Doesn't have a built-in focus motor

Compare the D5200 vs the D3

Compare the D5200 vs the D90

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens

Records higher quality movies

Takes slightly higher resolution photos

Has a slower max shutter speed

Is thicker

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3

Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

Lower noise at high ISO

Shoots movies

Significantly more shutter lag

Less dynamic range

Compare the D3S vs the D3

Nikon D4

Pro DSLR

$5,997 body only

Shoots movies

Lower noise at high ISO

Much shorter battery life

Significantly more shutter lag

Compare the D4 vs the D3

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Pro DSLR

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens

Shoots movies

Significantly larger screen

Much shorter battery life

Less dynamic range

Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens

Has an external mic jack

Higher resolution movies

Less dynamic range

Worse image quality

Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90

appearance

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...

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!

“This combination of Renaissance Faire and photo stats sets our nerdy hearts aflutter. Now, have at you, Sir Nikon!” - Photojojo	“Absolutely love this site for camera comparison, makes well known consumer rating sites look rudimentary” - @chris2pherlynn
“Killer web-app for camera nerds.” - Besser Wisser	“I'm still in love with Snapsort” - @JustinMoodie
“This is the Google of the camera review websites” - Karel Donk, Photographer	“The site works hard to simplify a complex topic” - Janice Chen, ZDNet

Nikon
D3
vs
Nikon
D90

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D90

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D7000

Nikon D3200

Nikon D7100

Nikon D3100

Nikon D5200

Canon Rebel T3i

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3S

Nikon D4

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

appearance

discussion

Showing 3 comments

NikonD3 vs NikonD90

Nikon D3

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3

Advantages of the Nikon D90

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

dxomark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D7000

Nikon D3200

Nikon D7100

Nikon D3100

Nikon D5200

Canon Rebel T3i

Nikon D3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3S

Nikon D4

Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon EOS 60D

appearance

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Nikon
D3
vs
Nikon
D90