Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Nikon D3X vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D3X
Winner
Nikon D3X

85

vs
Nikon D90

67

Nikon D90
Runner-up
     
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3X

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,992 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
88.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.7 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.7 EV
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
208 ms shutter lag
Sensor cleaning
 Self cleaning sensor
Avoids dust in your photos
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Differences | Recommendations | Cast your vote | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3X

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Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 More than 5x more shots per battery charge
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 88.0 vs 73.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,992 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
 The D3X has excellent image quality 1 f-stop higher ISO than the D90
Color depth Better color depth 24.7 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2 more bits of color
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24.4 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 2x more detail in your photos
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.70x vs 0.63x
Help
 More than 20% larger viewfinder
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 161 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Nikon D3X Learn more about
the Nikon D3X

Advantages of the Nikon D90

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Size Much smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 160x157x88 mm
Help
 2.1x smaller
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 205 lenses vs 152 lenses
Help
 More than 30% more lenses available
Weight Much lighter 703 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Thickness Much thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $550.00 vs $5,999.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $5,449 cheaper (10.9x less)
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
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Which camera do we recommend? Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Snapsort Recommends
Nikon D3X Nikon D3X 85
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      Color
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        vs
        67 Nikon D90 Nikon D90
        Retailer
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              similarities

              Compared to recent DSLRs

              Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
              Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
              300 ms startup delay
              Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
              Pentaprism
              External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
              Limited to the in-camera mic
              HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
              You could do HDR manually
              Autofocus No video autofocus Help
              Manual focus only
              Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
              D3X:None
              D90:6,400 ISO
              Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
              D3X:1,600 ISO
              D90:3,200 ISO
              Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
              Less flexible
              Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
              D3X:5 fps
              D90:4.5 fps
              Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
              You could stitch photos in post
              Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
              Risk of blur

              dxomark

              DXOMark

              competitors

              Shared Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D7000

              Nikon D7000

              Entry-level DSLR

              $650 - $897 body only

              $1,250 - $1,609 with 18-200mm lens
              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
              Compare the D7000 vs the D90
              Nikon D5100

              Nikon D5100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $546 - $597 body only

              $429 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
              Compare the D5100 vs the D3X
              Compare the D5100 vs the D90
              Nikon D5200

              Nikon D5200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $647 body only

              $728 - $747 with 18-55mm lens
              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
              Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
              Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
              Compare the D5200 vs the D3X
              Compare the D5200 vs the D90
              Nikon D3200

              Nikon D3200

              Entry-level DSLR

              $385 - $429 body only

              $497 - $517 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
              Compare the D3200 vs the D3X
              Compare the D3200 vs the D90
              Canon EOS 60D

              Canon EOS 60D

              Pro DSLR

              $599 - $887 body only

              $888 - $1,150 with 18-135mm lens
              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Color depth Has slightly less color depth
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the D3X
              Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
              Nikon D7100

              Nikon D7100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $1,030 - $1,097 body only

              $1,370 - $1,400 with 18-140mm lens
              Movie format Records higher quality movies
              Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
              Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
              Compare the D7100 vs the D3X
              Compare the D7100 vs the D90
              Nikon D300

              Nikon D300

              Pro DSLR

              $1,789 body only
              Thickness Is thinner
              Weight Is slightly heavier
              Size Is slightly larger
              Compare the D300 vs the D3X
              Compare the D300 vs the D90

              Nikon D3X Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D4

              Nikon D4

              Pro DSLR

              $5,997 body only
              Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
              External mic jack Has an external mic jack
              Battery life Much shorter battery life
              True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
              Compare the D4 vs the D3X
              Nikon D800

              Nikon D800

              Pro DSLR

              $2,797 body only

              $3,297 - $3,300 with 24-85mm lens
              Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
              External mic jack Has an external mic jack
              Battery life Much shorter battery life
              Shutter lag More shutter lag
              Compare the D800 vs the D3X
              Nikon D3S

              Nikon D3S

              Pro DSLR

              $6,500 body only
              Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
              External mic jack Has an external mic jack
              True resolution Much lower true resolution
              Dynamic range Less dynamic range
              Compare the D3S vs the D3X
              Canon EOS 1D X

              Canon EOS 1D X

              Pro DSLR

              $6,799 body only
              Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
              Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
              Battery life Much shorter battery life
              Dynamic range Less dynamic range
              Compare the EOS 1D X vs the D3X
              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Canon EOS 5D Mark III

              Pro DSLR

              $3,299 - $3,300 body only

              $3,899 with 24-105mm lens
              External mic jack Has an external mic jack
              HDR Has in-camera HDR
              Battery life Much shorter battery life
              Dynamic range Less dynamic range
              Compare the EOS 5D Mark III vs the D3X

              Nikon D90 Competitors

              Advantages

              Disadvantages
              Nikon D3100

              Nikon D3100

              Entry-level DSLR

              $427 with 18-55mm lens
              Movie format Higher resolution movies
              Autofocus Video autofocus
              Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
              Dynamic range Less dynamic range
              Compare the D3100 vs the D90

              appearance

              Nikon D3X Nikon D90
              Nikon D3X Nikon D90
              Nikon D3X Nikon D90

              discussion

              Nikon D3X
              D3X
              Nikon

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              Nikon D90
              D90
              Nikon

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