Nikon
D90
 vs
Sony Alpha
DSLR-A700

Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Nikon D7000 vs Sony SLT-A77

Nikon D90

71

  
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

50

  
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
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Storage slots
 More storage slots
2
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Fastest shutter speed
 Fast shutter speed
1/8000 of a second
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D90
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 977 ISO vs 581 ISO
Help
 The D90 has a slight edge (0.7 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Live view Has live view Yes vs No
Help
 Preview your photos on the camera's screen before taking them
Overall image quality Better image quality 73.0 vs 66.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 92 lenses
Help
 More than 80% more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.5 EV vs 11.9 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Longer battery life 850 shots vs 650 shots
Help
 More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Size Significantly smaller 132x103x77 mm vs 142x105x80 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder 0.63x vs 0.59x
Help
 More than 10% larger viewfinder
Startup delay Less startup delay 300 ms vs 600 ms
Help
 2x less delay when turning on
Color depth Better color depth 22.7 bits vs 22.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Sensor size Larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.8mm vs APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
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
Viewfinder coverage Better viewfinder coverage 96% vs 95%
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 3" vs 3.1"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Lighter 703 g vs 768 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Nikon D90 Learn more about
the Nikon D90

Advantages of the Sony DSLR-A700
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Storage slots Has more storage slots 2 vs 1
Help
 More slots allows storing more images without switching memory cards
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 5 fps vs 4.5 fps
Help
 More than 10% faster continuous shooting
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/8000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Learn more about
the Sony DSLR-A700
vs

recommendations

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

Nikon D90 Nikon D90
71 vs 50
Explain scores
Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
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
Sensor size Large sensors Help
D90:APS-C 23.6x15.8mm
DSLR-A700:APS-C 23.5x15.6mm
Weight Heavy Help
D90:703 g
DSLR-A700:768 g
Light sensitivity (boost) Poor boost ISO Help
6,400 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Autofocus No video autofocus Help
Manual focus only
Size Large Help
D90:132x103x77 mm
DSLR-A700:142x105x80 mm
Movie format One shoots movies Help
D90:720p @ 24fps
DSLR-A700:None
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
12.2 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
D90:3,200 ISO
DSLR-A700:1,600 ISO
Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
D90:96%
DSLR-A700:95%
Cross type focus points Few cross-type focus points Help
1
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
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
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D5100 vs the D90
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
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
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D7000 vs the D90
Compare the D7000 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
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
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3200 vs the D90
Compare the D3200 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
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
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 Alpha DSLR-A700
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 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 Alpha DSLR-A700
Nikon D300

Nikon D300

Pro DSLR

$1,764 body only
Weather sealed Has a weather sealed body
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D300 vs the D90
Compare the D300 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,499 body only

$1,799 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the EOS 7D vs the D90
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

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-A700 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$998 - $1,000 body only

$1,598 - $1,930 with 16-50mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Compare the SLT A77 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
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
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the SLT A57 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $779 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Viewfinder size Smaller viewfinder
Storage slots Has fewer storage slots
Compare the Alpha DSLR-A580 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Sony SLT-A55

Sony SLT-A55

Entry-level DSLR

$1,098 body only

$1,193 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the SLT-A55 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700
Sony SLT-A65

Sony SLT A65

Entry-level DSLR

$587 - $698 body only

$798 - $1,005 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Live view Has live view
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Viewfinder Has a digital viewfinder
Compare the SLT A65 vs the Alpha DSLR-A700

appearance

Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700
Nikon D90 Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

discussion

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