Nikon
D3000
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Nikon D3100 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

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
977 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
73.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
930k dots
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Nikon D3000

32
Runner-up

Nikon D3000
"User-friendly ergonomics, without sacrificing control"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's button-layout
"Very capable AF system, including 3D AF tracking, on a par with much more expensive DSLRs"
dpreview.com | talking about the D3000's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3000

Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 126x97x64 mm
Thickness
 Thin
2.5"
Weight
 Light-weight
536 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3000
Size Much smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Thickness Much thinner 2.5" vs 3"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 536 g vs 703 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $449.00 vs $896.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $448 cheaper (around 50% less)
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 563 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 62.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.1 EV
Help
 1.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 930k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.52x
Help
 More than 40% larger viewfinder
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 550 shots
Help
 More than 50% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 700 ms
Help
 2.3x less delay when turning on
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 208 ms vs 262 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The D90's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D90's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
32 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the D3000 or the D90,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

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Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!
1
votes
by NicoleUCD last month
Canon Rebel XSi vs Nikon D3000

My boyfriend is interested in photography as a hobby. I may be biased, but I think he takes grea...

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0
votes
by Katrina-Hipolito last month
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i'm a beginner and loves to take a picture of everything especially if the camera has sharp imag...

One person recommends the Canon 550D:

" it has 18 megapixel ,some "experts" say that megapixel doesn't have much role in pictures..but i..."
One person recommends the Nikon D90:

" clearly it's the Nikon D90, it is much better since you can only change ISO level per exposure (..."
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 lindenberg last week
Canon T3 vs Nikon D3000

I'm a beginner i want a camera with good color quality and that is pretty light weight not looki...

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D3000:3,200 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D3000:1,600 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D3000:10 MP
D90:12.2 MP
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
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D3000: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
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the D5100 vs the D3000
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 D3000
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the D3100 vs the D3000
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3000
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90
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 significantly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3000
Compare the Rebel T2i 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 D3000
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D90

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$299 - $595 body only

$437 - $439 with 18-55mm lens
Live view Has live view
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the D3000

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D3000 Nikon D90
Nikon D3000 Nikon D90
Nikon D3000 Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Abdessamad-er (4:55 PM, January 24, 2012)
Mercii :)