Nikon
D90
 vs
Pentax
K-x

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

Nikon D90

71
Tie

Nikon D90
"Fast Autofocus with useful control options"
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's auto-focus
"High sensitivity performance up there with the best we've seen."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
977 ISO
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
Viewfinder size
 Large viewfinder
0.63x
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Battery life
 Great battery life
850 shots
Pentax K-x

71
"The camera has a deep, contoured handgrip on the right-hand side, coated in a rubberized compound to aid grip, that enabled me to use three fingers to hold it and my right forefinger to operate the shutter button."
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's feel
"The 12.4 megapixel JPEG images were a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpening setting"
photographyblog.com | talking about the K-x's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Pentax K-x

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
97 ms shutter lag
Cross type focus points
 Many cross-type focus points
9
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 123x92x68 mm

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 4x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 811 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.56x
Help
 Around 30% larger viewfinder
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 90 lenses
Help
 Around 90% more lenses available
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 850 shots vs 420 shots
Help
 More than 2x more shots per battery charge
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
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
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90

Advantages of the Pentax K-x
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points 9 vs 1
Help
 Grab focus in difficult situations
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Shutter lag Significantly less shutter lag 97 ms vs 208 ms
Help
 2.1x less delay when taking photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The K-x's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Size Significantly smaller 123x92x68 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 580 g vs 703 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Better boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs 6,400 ISO
Help
 The K-x's boost ISO is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Thinner 2.7" vs 3"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/6000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 More than 30% faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $602.61 vs $869.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $266 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Pentax K-x Learn more about
the Pentax K-x
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D90 Nikon D90
71 vs 71
Explain scores
Pentax K-x Pentax K-x
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonD90
 Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-x
PentaxK-x
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
10
23
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
13
16
Vote Vote
Features Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
12
18
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
11
18
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
12
13
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
14
13
Vote Vote
Build quality Build quality
Is it sturdy, well made, plastic or metal
13
15
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
12.5 EV
Supports 24p 24p support Help
For that film look
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Storage slots Fewer storage slots Help
1
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D90:3,200 ISO
K-x:6,400 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$650 - $749 body only

$600 - $750 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-x
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,097 body only

$1,227 with 55-200mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Compare the D7000 vs the K-x
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$899 - $1,304 body only

$1,138 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Compare the EOS 60D vs the K-x
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $984 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 D3100 vs the D90
Compare the D3100 vs the K-x
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D90
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the K-x
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$609 - $800 body only

$709 - $1,180 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly 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-x
Pentax K-r

Pentax K-r

Entry-level DSLR

$649 body only

$540 - $579 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the K-r vs the D90
Compare the K-r vs the K-x

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Pro DSLR

$1,700 body only

$2,547 - $4,295 with 18-200mm lens
Focus points Many more focus points
Cross type focus points Many more cross-type focus points
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the D300S vs the D90

Pentax K-x Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Pentax K-x.

appearance

Nikon D90 Pentax K-x
Nikon D90 Pentax K-x
Nikon D90 Pentax K-x

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?

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