Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Nikon D80 vs Nikon D7000

Nikon D90
Winner
Nikon D90

70

vs
Nikon D80

37

Nikon D80
Runner-up
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
208 ms shutter lag
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon D80

Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.62x
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D80
Weight Lighter 668 g vs 703 g
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D80 Learn more about
the Nikon D80

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 524 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.5"
Help
 More than 20% larger screen
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 930k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 4x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 1.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.1 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.5 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 50% faster continuous shooting
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 208 ms vs 250 ms
Help
 Around 20% less delay when taking photos
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 300 ms vs 500 ms
Help
 40% less delay when turning on
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
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) Better boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D90's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D80 Nikon D80
37 vs 70
Explain scores
Nikon D90 Nikon D90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lens availability Many lenses available Help
169 lenses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
D80:668 g
D90:703 g
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
D80:3,200 ISO
D90:6,400 ISO
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Size Large Help
Professional size 132x103x77 mm
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D80:None
D90:720p @ 24fps
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D80:10 MP
D90:12.2 MP
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
D80:95%
D90:96%
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D80:1,600 ISO
D90:3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D80:3 fps
D90:4.5 fps
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$585 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the D5100 vs the D80
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D80
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder Has a lower quality type of viewfinder
Compare the D5200 vs the D80
Compare the D5200 vs the D90
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$649 - $968 body only

$949 - $1,182 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D80
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Sensor size Has a marginally smaller sensor
Compare the D3200 vs the D80
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the D3100 vs the D80
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7100 vs the D80
Compare the D7100 vs the D90

Nikon D80 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon D80.

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

appearance

Nikon D80 Nikon D90
Nikon D80 Nikon D90
Nikon D80 Nikon D90

discussion

Showing 1 comments

amateur (3:41 PM, September 29, 2011)
both of them must have 96% viewfinder coverage.