Updated (September, 2010): Compare the Nikon D7000 vs Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Nikon D90

70

Winner

Nikon D90

"Fast Autofocus with useful control options"
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's auto-focus
"The D90 feels very comfortable and natural, with a good grip and logical, ergonomic, button placement."
dpreview.com | talking about the D90's feel

Reasons to buy the Nikon D90

Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
12.5 EV
Viewfinder size
Large viewfinder
0.63x
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
300 ms startup delay
Sensor size
Large sensor
APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

53

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
7 fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Storage slots
More storage slots
2

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D90

Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 807 ISO
Help
The D90 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 21.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 66.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Viewfinder size Significantly larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.52x
Help
Around 50% larger viewfinder
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.8 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Lens availability Significantly more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
More than 80% more lenses available
Viewfinder Has a pentaprism viewfinder Pentaprism vs Pentamirror
Help
Pentaprism viewfinders are typically brighter
Size Smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 137x104x84 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
Help
Almost the same
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
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.3"
Help
Around 10% thinner
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-A550

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DSLR-A550's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
Around 60% faster continuous shooting
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture more than 10% more detail in your photos
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Weight Lighter 632 g vs 703 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A550
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D90 Nikon D90
70 vs 53
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D90.

advice

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1
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Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Beginner,capturing the moment of different events

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1
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by Kate-Hughes 4 days ago
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I am a beginner is DSLR photography & have been researching entry level models. I kep coming bac...

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similarities

Compared to recent entry-level DSLRs

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen resolution High resolution screens Help
D90:930k dots
DSLR-A550:921k dots
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-A550:None
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
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
D90:12.2 MP
DSLR-A550:14 MP
Weather sealed Neither is weather sealed Help
Need to shelter it from weather
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D90:720p @ 24fps
DSLR-A550:None

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 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
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a slightly smaller sensor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Nikon D5000

Nikon D5000

Entry-level DSLR

$880 with 18-55mm lens

Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag

Nikon D90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Much higher true resolution
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Viewfinder size Significantly smaller viewfinder
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life

Sony Alpha DSLR-A550 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Size Much smaller
Viewfinder No viewfinder
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$949 with 55-200mm lens

Overall image quality Much better image quality
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$598 body only

$729 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots

appearance

Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550
Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A550

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