Nikon
D700
 vs
Nikon
D90

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon D800 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D700

96
Winner

Nikon D700
"It has the same ultra solid feel as its bigger (and smaller) brother, and the same magnesium alloy body and soft rubber grips front and back."
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's build-quality
"Class-leading high ISO performance, usable up to ISO 12800"
dpreview.com | talking about the D700's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D700

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
2,303 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.5 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.72x
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
Nikon D90

77
Runner-up

Nikon D90
"The D90 feels very comfortable and natural, with a good grip and logical, ergonomic, button placement."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's feel
"On a purely specification level, it's a highly competitive piece of kit, but it's the way the features have been chosen and put together that make it the camera that it is."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D700
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 2,303 ISO vs 977 ISO
Help
 The D700 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the D90
Overall image quality Better image quality 80.0 vs 73.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Sensor size Much larger sensor Full frame 36.0x24.0mm vs APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Focus points Many more focus points 51 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.72x vs 0.63x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 15 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 22.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D700's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 25,600 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The D700's boost ISO is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 1000 shots vs 850 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 197 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 Around 10% less delay when taking photos
Nikon D700 Learn more about
the Nikon D700

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Lens availability More lenses available 169 lenses vs 121 lenses
Help
 Around 40% more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 12.2 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 147x123x77 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 400 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Weight Significantly lighter 703 g vs 1,074 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $849.00 vs $2,749.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $1,901 cheaper (3.2x less)
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent DSLRs, and ignoring price

Nikon D700 Nikon D700
96 vs 77
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D700. 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.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD700
 Nikon D700 vs Nikon D90
NikonD90
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
16
64
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
54
21
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
41
28
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
42
28
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
34
38
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
45
27
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
D700:12.2 EV
D90:12.5 EV
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
D700:922k dots
D90:920k dots
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Startup delay Minimal startup delay Help
D700:400 ms
D90:300 ms
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
D700:95%
D90:96%
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D700:12.1 MP
D90:12.2 MP
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
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 D700
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D7000 vs the D700
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$879 - $1,304 body only

$1,139 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D700
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Pro DSLR

$2,160 - $2,400 body only

$2,799 with 24-105mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D700
Compare the EOS 5D Mark II vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 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 D700
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$624 - $800 body only

$869 - $1,100 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D700
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$569 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D700
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D90

Nikon D700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3S

Nikon D3S

Pro DSLR

$4,999 - $5,197 body only
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Much larger
Viewfinder size Slightly smaller viewfinder
Compare the D3S vs the D700

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D700 Nikon D90
Nikon D700 Nikon D90
Nikon D700 Nikon D90

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

Showing 5 comments

Thebox4mail (11:29 PM, November 16, 2011)
Hi,

I have D90, and I capture indoors sport photography by using Speed priority mode (S), focus = AF-C,  3D tracking (11 points), shutter speed = 1/400, ISO = Auto, tripod, and remote control.
The images quality is excellent. 

Adi
 
Avatar for nancyschick nancyschick (5:34 AM, May 09, 2011)
I was looking for a camera for lowlight sports photography.My budget was $2000.I went for the D90.Though it is a good camera, it falls short for lowlight action photography.The ISO performance is bad above 1000, auto focus is inadequate with only 11 points.Now I realise that a full frame sensor camera like D700 is required for my needs.The budget should be increased to around $5,000 for buying the camera and couple of lenses. Others can let me know their thoughts and experiences….Thanks.
 
Graemski (9:45 AM, January 16, 2011)
yes I must admit I am very much admiring this webpage after just using it for one day! Its exactly the kind of webpage ive been wanting for quite some time. thankyou!
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (9:19 PM, October 13, 2010)
Glad you like the site, and good luck in your research!
 
Carole Smith99 (9:50 PM, October 06, 2010)
Many congratulations on a fantastic website. I want to upgrade my D40 camera and have been trying to research alternatives - so much easier now I've found your brilliant website. Many thanks ...and please keep up the good work.