Updated (April, 2011): Compare the Nikon D5100 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

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.63x
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
208 ms shutter lag
Battery life
Great battery life
850 shots
Nikon D5000

48

Runner-up

Nikon D5000

"The D5000 acquires the 11-point AF system from the D90. It's a pretty sophisticated setup for a camera at this level"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's auto-focus
"Excellent degree of customization (reversible dial and meter ease transition from other systems)"
dpreview.com | talking about the D5000's button-layout

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5000

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Weight
Light-weight
590 g

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5000

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Weight Lighter 590 g vs 703 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Nikon D5000 Learn more about
the Nikon D5000

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 930k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 4x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 868 ISO
Help
The D90 has a slight edge (0.2 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.51x
Help
More than 50% larger viewfinder
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 510 shots
Help
Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 208 ms vs 276 ms
Help
More than 20% less delay when taking photos
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 73.0 vs 72.0
Help
Almost the same
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
Around 30% less delay when turning on
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 4.5 fps vs 4 fps
Help
More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
Almost the same
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D5000 Nikon D5000
48 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 D5000 or the D90,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

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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
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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 Howard-Ridge last month
Nikon D40 vs Nikon D90

Was a very keen amateur photographer in the old days 35mm and had a few dslrs.

1
votes
by Lance-Villanueva-Ramos last month
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" D3100 is going to have better video capabilities which you outlined as a need, image quality wil..."

"The D3100 is better for beginners because it has a great guide that will help you set up the camer..."

1
votes
by Kate-Hughes 5 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Hi Kate, Since you are a beginner in DSLR photography and it seems you have a budget, I would..."

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.5 EV
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D5000:400 ms
D90:300 ms
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
6,400 ISO
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
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 Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
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
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
Weight Is significantly heavier
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
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
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
Weight Is significantly heavier
Size Is significantly larger
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
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
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor

Nikon D5000 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D5000.

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D5000 Nikon D90
Nikon D5000 Nikon D90
Nikon D5000 Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (0:58 PM, August 30, 2011)
Yes, I think you're right the D5000 does use the same sensor as the D90.   We're comparing high ISO benchmarks from DxOMark, that show the D90 has a slight edge, they are very close though.

Often cameras do use the same sensor, but get slightly different results, perhaps due to software, or other components in the camera.  For example I believe the Nikon D7000, Sony A580 and Pentax K-5 all use the same sensor.
 
Photography96 (10:54 AM, August 30, 2011)
are you sure that D5000 is noisy at high  ISO than D90? I thought D5000 had the same sensor as the D90 ? 
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:29 PM, March 12, 2011)
You're absolutely right, thanks, we've fixed that up.
 
Fuzzyhead (9:31 AM, March 12, 2011)
As both D5000 and D90 uses the same MULTICAM 1000 for autofocus, Nikon D5000 has only one cross-type focus point.