Updated (August, 2010): Compare the Nikon D3100 vs Pentax X90

Pentax X90

54

Winner

Pentax X90

Reasons to buy the Pentax X90

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
High ISO
6,400 ISO
Weight
Light-weight
428 g
Nikon D3000

37

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

Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3000

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs 1/2.3" 6.1x4.6mm
Help
More than 13x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.5" vs 3.9"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Size Slightly smaller 126x97x64 mm vs 112x81x99 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
More than 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 262 ms vs 430 ms
Help
Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 30s vs 4s
Help
7.5x longer exposures
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 3,200 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Nikon D3000 Learn more about
the Nikon D3000

Advantages of the Pentax X90

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Movie format Shoots movies 720p vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The X90's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Weight Lighter 428 g vs 536 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Pentax X90 Learn more about
the Pentax X90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000
37 vs 54
Explain scores
Pentax X90 Pentax X90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Pentax X90. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a super zoom.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
D3000:Pentamirror
X90:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Thickness Quite thick Help
D3000:2.5"
X90:3.9"
Weight Heavy Help
D3000:536 g
X90:428 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Size Large Help
D3000:126x97x64 mm
X90:112x81x99 mm
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
230k dots
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D3000:None
X90:720p

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon D3000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Video autofocus
Size Slightly larger
Thickness Thicker
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$299 - $595 body only

$437 - $439 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Live view Has live view
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Nikon D60

Nikon D60

Entry-level DSLR

Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$1,047 with 55-200mm lens

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor

Pentax X90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Kodak Easyshare Z990 MAX

Kodak Easyshare Z990 MAX

Super zoom

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Size Slightly larger
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly larger
Weight Significantly heavier
Fujifilm FinePix S4000

Fujifilm FinePix S4000

Super zoom

$215

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom More zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Larger
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$495 - $500

Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Zoom Less zoom
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity

appearance

Nikon D3000 Pentax X90
Nikon D3000 Pentax X90
Nikon D3000 Pentax X90

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