Nikon
D3X
 vs
Nikon
D90

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

Nikon D3X

74

  
Nikon D90

59

  
Winner

Nikon D3X

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
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.70x
True resolution
 High true resolution
24.4 MP
 
Runner-up

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D3X
Battery life Much longer battery life 4400 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 More than 5x more shots per battery charge
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
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 88.0 vs 73.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 35.9x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Significantly more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.7 EV vs 12.5 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
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
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
Sensor cleaning Has a self cleaning sensor Yes vs No
Help
 Removes dust from the sensor automatically, avoiding spots in photos
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
Thickness Much thinner 3" vs 3.5"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Weight Much lighter 703 g vs 1,260 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $599.00 vs $6,699.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $6,100 cheaper (11.2x 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

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D3X Nikon D3X
74 vs 59
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3X. 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
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
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D3X:5 fps
D90:4.5 fps
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 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 D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D3X
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$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
Compare the D3200 vs the D3X
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a significantly larger screen
Compare the D7100 vs the D3X
Compare the D7100 vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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 D3100 vs the D3X
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 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 D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only
Thickness Is thinner
Weight Is slightly heavier
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the D200 vs the D3X
Compare the D200 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 D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
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

$3,250 - $3,499 body only

$3,800 - $4,099 with 24-105mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Significantly larger screen
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
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 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
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90

appearance

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

discussion

Showing 0 comments