Nikon
D90
 vs
Pentax
K-7

Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Nikon D7000 vs Pentax K-7

Nikon D90

72

  
Pentax K-7

66

  
Winner

Nikon D90

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 
Runner-up

Pentax K-7

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-7

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
Weather sealed
 Weather sealed
Shoot in extreme weather
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
93 ms shutter lag
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
 1.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 61.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% more lenses available
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.60x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Lowest price Much cheaper $674.95 vs $1,318.70
Help
 The best price we've seen is $644 cheaper (around 50% less)
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 740 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Help
 Almost the same
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Weight Lighter 703 g vs 750 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90

Advantages of the Pentax K-7
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Weather sealed Weather sealed Yes vs No
Help
 Sealed to shoot in the rain
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 93 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 2.2x less delay when taking photos
Viewfinder coverage Significantly better viewfinder coverage 100% vs 96%
Help
 Almost the same
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.5 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Size Significantly smaller 131x97x73 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 5.2 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
 Around 20% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 2.9" vs 3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Pentax K-7 Learn more about
the Pentax K-7
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D90 Nikon D90
72 vs 66
Explain scores
Pentax K-7 Pentax K-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Both have pentaprism viewfinders Help
Pentaprism
Battery life Great battery life Help
D90:850 shots
K-7:740 shots
Weight Heavy Help
D90:703 g
K-7:750 g
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
6,400 ISO
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
D90:720p @ 24fps
K-7:720p @ 30fps
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D90:12.2 MP
K-7:14.5 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
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

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Compare the D5100 vs the K-7
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 slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Compare the D7000 vs the K-7
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is much larger
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-7
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Compare the D3200 vs the K-7
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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D7100 vs the D90
Compare the D7100 vs the K-7
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 D90
Compare the D3100 vs the K-7
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D90
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the K-7

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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

Pentax K-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax K-5

Pentax K-5

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $709 body only

$828 - $829 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Shutter lag Slightly more shutter lag
Compare the K-5 vs the K-7
Pentax K-30

Pentax K-30

Entry-level DSLR

$518 - $690 body only

$559 - $780 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the K-30 vs the K-7
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$925 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Weather sealed No weather sealing
Compare the K-r vs the K-7
Pentax K-x

Pentax K-x

Entry-level DSLR

$752 with 18-55mm lens
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Compare the K-x vs the K-7
Pentax K20D

Pentax K20D

Entry-level DSLR
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Movie format Does not take movies
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Compare the K20D vs the K-7

appearance

Nikon D90 Pentax K-7
Nikon D90 Pentax K-7
Nikon D90 Pentax K-7

discussion

Showing 5 comments

Hoiy (4:24 PM, June 08, 2012)
K-7 what a nice camera but terrible sensor. D90 murders it that is why the K-7 has lost this one
 
Avatar for LittleRayovSun LittleRayovSun (3:14 AM, December 20, 2011)
You might also consider that Pentax is widely renowned for it's quality of glass.
 
Avatar for rebec245 rebec245 (7:22 PM, March 14, 2010)
okay, thanks for clarifying! I was just afraid that the fact that nikon is more well-known had affected the decision, but now i see differently. I just bought a d90 30 minutes ago, it's arriving in 3 weeks, and i'm very excited-- the nikon-ys among my friends and family finally convinced me.
 
Avatar for Alex Black Alex Black (6:00 PM, March 14, 2010)
Hi Rebec, the D90 and K-7 are very closely matched, we should probably call it a draw!

Snapsort is calling the D90 a winner because it scores slightly better on the flash rating and on the low light capability rating.

I don't think you can go wrong with either. You might consider though that the Nikon D90 likely has more lenses, flashes and other accessories available to it than the Pentax, since Nikon and 3rd parties produce a wider variety of lenses etc for the Nikon lens mount.
 
Avatar for rebec245 rebec245 (4:19 PM, March 14, 2010)
I am wondering why the d90 wins between the two, since the k-7 seems to have many advantages, with the only disadvantage being a slight difference in low-light capability. Please explain your reasoning, snapsort officials?