Nikon
D90
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A200

Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Nikon D7000 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

Nikon D90

71

  
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

34

  
Winner

Nikon D90

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
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Size
 Really small
Prosumer size 131x99x71 mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Thickness
 Thin
2.8"
Weight
 Light-weight
572 g
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 521 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
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.3 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 73.0 vs 63.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 More than 80% more lenses available
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 300 ms vs 1500 ms
Help
 5x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.54x
Help
 More than 30% larger viewfinder
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
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
 Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 750 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A200
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 131x99x71 mm vs 132x103x77 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Thickness Significantly thinner 2.8" vs 3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 572 g vs 703 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A200
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D90 Nikon D90
71 vs 34
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Battery life Great battery life Help
D90:850 shots
DSLR-A200:750 shots
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/4000 of a second
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
D90:6,400 ISO
DSLR-A200:None
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D90:720p @ 24fps
DSLR-A200:None
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D90:12.2 MP
DSLR-A200:10 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
D90:96%
DSLR-A200:95%
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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
D90:4.5 fps
DSLR-A200:3 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

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
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 Alpha DSLR-A200
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
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
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
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the D90
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D80

Nikon D80

Entry-level DSLR

$1,708 with 18-135mm lens
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D80 vs the D90
Compare the D80 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Pro DSLR

$1,319 body only

$865 with 18-200mm lens
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D200 vs the D90
Compare the D200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Size Is significantly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the D3000 vs the D90
Compare the D3000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D90
Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200

Entry-level DSLR

$697 body only

$797 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the D5200 vs the D90
Nikon D7100

Nikon D7100

Entry-level DSLR

$1,197 body only

$1,497 with 18-105mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Much more expensive
Sensor size Smaller sensor
Compare the D7100 vs the D90

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Sony Alpha DSLR-A230

Entry-level DSLR
Startup delay Less startup delay
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A230 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Entry-level DSLR
Startup delay Less startup delay
Size Slightly smaller
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Sony SLT A57

Sony SLT A57

Entry-level DSLR

$460 - $499 body only

$519 - $539 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the SLT A57 vs the Alpha DSLR-A200
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Entry-level DSLR

$728 with 18-55mm lens
Live view Has live view
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs the Alpha DSLR-A200

appearance

Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200
Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

discussion

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