Art of the Image: Nikon D90

Showing posts with label Nikon D90. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D90 - Which One Should I Buy Since the D5100 and D90 Are So Close In Price?

Had a few viewer questions about which to buy... the Nikon D5100 or the Nikon D90 since they're so close in price. Here's my take on it.

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Monday, November 22, 2010

Nikon D90 or Canon T2i... What Should I Buy?

Both the Nikon D90 and the Canon T2i (Canon EOS 550D) have some great deals on right now, and I've been getting a lot of questions from readers on which one of these DSLR's to buy.

I did a video post on Youtube to try and answer the question for you.

The short answer is...

If video is your primary concern, then go with the Canon T2i. The T2i is a better DSLR for video. It has manual control options, an external mic input, and 1080HD.

If photography is you primary concern, then go with the Nikon D90. The D90 is more of a photographer's camera. It has better high ISO image quality, better auto focus, and is built better.

For more elaboration, watch the video. :-)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Nikon D90 Beats Nikon D3100 At HIGH ISO!

I was surfing around the photo world online last night and was surprised to see DXOMark has the test results for the Nikon D3100 up already.

I was even more surprised to see that when I ran the Nikon D90 against the Nikon D3100, the D90 kicked the D3100's butt by a significant margin at HIGH ISO. This morning I see 1001 Noisy Cameras has done a similar comparison stacking up the Nikon D3100 against the Nikon D5000, Nikon D90, Nikon D3000, and Nikon D300s.

The DXOMark test results surprised me as it isn't what I've been seeing from my tests. Thom Hogan has also said that from his testing, the D3100 "seems to beat the old 12mp sensor cameras in my low light tests (but only by a small amount)."

So what is going on here?

Why are mine and Thom's initial findings on the Nikon D3100 not jiving with the DXOMark sensor evaluation?

Could it be software related? I don't think so as I've been processing both D90 and D3100 photos I've been using for comparison in Nikon ViewNX2.

I'm drawing a blank at the moment for other possible reasons. Thought about bit depth, but that shouldn't be a factor. Thought about noise reduction, but again, not a factor as shot in RAW and processed with the same software.

The good news is that the Nikon D90 is holding it's own very nicely.

The bad news is that these aren't the same observations I've seen when shooting my Nikon D3100 against the Nikon D90.

I'm hoping Thom will comment on this as he's sure to see the DXOMark results and be questioning them as well.

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D3100 Over the Nikon D90

Following up on my previous Video Post, Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100, here's the flipside.

I'm still getting lots of people writing in to ask about which camera they should buy... the Nikon D3100 or the Nikon D90. Hopefully these video posts will help make the choice a little easier.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100

I'm getting lots of people writing to ask about whether they should buy a Nikon D3100 or Nikon D90.

While I've written about this previously in my post 3 Reasons to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100, it seems many are still up in the air about choosing between the two.

So I decided to do a video explaining why you might want the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 High ISO Shoot-Out

I shot the Nikon D3100 against the Nikon D90 to see how the high ISO noise and image quality compares side by side.

I shot the Nikon D3100 with my Nikon 50mm f1.4G, and my Nikon D90 with my Nikon 50mm f1.8D. Shot them both at f2.8, as both lenses are tack sharp and virtually identical for sharpness by f2.8.

Lighting is fairly low, from overhead compact flourescent bulbs. I've left the images with the color as shot out of camera. No color correcting for white balance has been done.

The conclusion from these samples and all the shooting I've been doing in the last couple weeks... the Nikon D3100 is about a stop better at high ISO. Maybe not quite a full stop, but bear in mind the D3100 has an extra 2 megapixels on the D90, so close to a stop better is VERY impressive.

Also, at the higher ISO settings I find myself liking the image color better out of the D3100. The color from the Nikon D3100 at higher ISO settings seems to hold together a little better than the D90 colors.

Here's some side by side composite images I put together from D3100 and D90 images at ISO 800, 1600, 3200, and 6400. The full size images are over at my Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 Flickr page.

The images are all processed in Nikon's ViewNX2 as Lightroom 3 doesn't support the D3100 at this time. Images are all as shot, no editing done, and saved at the High Quality JPG setting. They were cropped at full resolution, and as you can see, no re-sizing has been done, so the D3100 images are a little bigger than the D90 images.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 800

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 1600

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 3200

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 @ ISO 6400

Here's the full stack of ISO 800 through 6400 from the D3100. Feel free to download it from the Flickr page and compare it as you will against the D90 stack below.

Nikon D3100 High ISO Comparison - 3 Little People

Here's the full stack of ISO 800 through 6400 from the D90.

Nikon D90 High ISO Comparison - 3 Little People

These images are cropped from the full size image. The full size images on the Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 Flickr page have more in the photo to compare if you want to do further pixel peeping.

Related posts...

Sony NEX-5 vs Nikon D90 Comparison Contradicts DXOMark Nikon D3100 Test Results

Nikon D90 Beats Nikon D3100 at High ISO!

New Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D3100 Over the Nikon D90

Video Post: Why to Buy the Nikon D90 Over the Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100 Auto Focus First Impressions

Nikon D3100 at ISO 3200 with Bounce Flash Dialed Down

Nikon D3100 Comparison of ISO 1600, 3200, 6400, & 12,800

Nikon D3100 High ISO Wedding Images

Nikon D3100 Unboxed

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

3 Reasons to Buy the Nikon D90 over the Nikon D3100

Nikon D90 vs Nikon D3100

Yesterday I received another email from a reader wanting my advice on whether he should buy the Nikon D90 or the Nikon D3100. I've had a few such emails now, including the one I posted last week... What to Buy... Nikon D90, Canon T2i, or Nikon D3100???

The Nikon D90 is STILL a great DSLR. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it, especially with the low pricing available these days. Despite the Nikon D3100 being two years newer, there are three reasons to buy the Nikon D90 over the D3100.

1) Lenses... the Nikon D90 can shoot with pretty much ALL of the Nikon lenses. Want to use that stellar Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF-D? No problem. Want to use the portrait favourite Nikon 85mm f1.8 AF-D? No problem. Want to go really wide and light? Put the Nikon 20mm f2.8 AF-D on the D90.

You can't use any of the above lens on the Nikon D3100 and get auto focus. It only takes the newer AF-S lenses because it doesn't have an AF motor in the body. This is BIG for me and a lot of people. While I'll be picking up a D3100, it's primarily to use as a prime camera... specifically with my Nikon 50mm f1.4G AF-S. If you want to use non AF-S lenses and don't have another Nikon DSLR like the D90 that will take them, the Nikon D3100 probably isn't for you. Go for the Nikon D90.

2) Monitor... it may not seem like much, but the Nikon D90 has a MUCH better monitor than the Nikon D3100. The D3100 has a 3" monitor with 230,000 dots vs the D90 monitor at 3" and 921,000 dots.

This is HUGE when it comes to viewing your photos and judging sharpness and contrast. I had the Nikon D5000 for a couple months, and it was one of my biggest pet peeves with it. It was no fun to go from the D90's beautiful high resolution to the D5000's low resolution monitor.

The Nikon D90 has the same high resolution monitor found on the Nikon flagships. The Nikon D700, D3s, and D3x all have the same monitor. It's just better, period.

3) Size, weight, and feel... again, this may not seem like much, but the Nikon D90 just feels more professional, more solid, and better in the hands. Of course, it's a personal preference, but it's also one that MANY photographers will agree with.

The D3100 is 4.9"wx3.8"hx2.9"d vs the D90 at 5.2"wx4.1"hx3.0"d. The D3100 weights 16oz (455g) vs the D90 at 22oz (620g). Before you disregard the size, weight, and feel as a minor issue, go to your local camera store and hold both of them (if the D3100 isn't in yet, which it won't be at the time of this post, then compare the D3000 to the D90). See what works for you. A lot of people prefer the size, weight, and feel of the D90.

Of course, there are a few good reasons to buy the Nikon D3100 over the Nikon D90 too! :-)

Thursday, September 2, 2010

What to buy... Nikon D90, Canon T2i, or Nikon D3100???

Had a good question from a reader today that I'm sure a lot of folks may be asking at this point so I thought I'd share it.

Steve writes in...

I am sure you get these all the time, and after reading you posts, I know what the stock reply has been (D90). Here is my situation. After 4.5 years of waiting, my wife and I are leaving for China on October 5th to adopt our daughter. Our little Sony Cybershot camera isn't going to cut the mustard. The adoption is decimating our savings, and to pay for a camera purchase I have recently sold my beloved SCUBA gear. Ok, so now you have some background.

I've been going back and forth, back and forth again, and again. Over the D90 vs. the Canon T2i. As you might expect, the 1080p video on the T2i vs. 780p on the D90 is causing my heartburn. Throw in the soon to be released D3100 and its auto-focus video, and well, you can imagine the agony I am feeling right now.

I consider video importantly, but its never been as a big a focus for us as the pictures. I think the fact that this is a huge life event, the video more of a big deal.

-Have you ever felt disappointed by only have 720p video on the D90? Enough so that if say there wasn't ever going to be a new D90, would you sell your D90 t buy the D3100?

-What's your opinion on the Nikon Normal AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D Autofocus Lens? If I bought the D90 and only this lens, would I find it acceptable for everything buy wide shots?

You wouldn't believe how hard this decision is. I was hoping you might offer an opinion if you have the time. Thanks in advance.

-Steve

and here's my reply...

Hi Steve,

Congrats on your new daughter!

Here's my thoughts on your situation. I have both the D90 and the T2i. Both are capable of excellent photos, but the T2i is better for video.

When it comes to photography, I prefer the D90. Mind you, I prefer Nikon in general. I've shot both Canon and Nikon over the years, and Nikon is built better, has less problems, and backs that up with a MUCH stronger warranty (i.e. Nikon DSLR bodies have 2 years warranties, Canon DSLR bodies have 1 year warranties. Nikon lenses have 5 year warranties, Canon lenses have 1 year warranties.)

The warranty issue is HUGE for me as I feel a company backs up their product accordingly to how well it's built.

Nikon DSLR's tend to have a lot more features than Canon DSLR's too.

The D90 video is fine. Yes, it's 720p, but do you really need 1080p? I'd suggest if you're not doing anything professional, then the answer is no. I bought my T2i because I have some professional video projects on the go where I needed the 1080p HD of the T2i, as well as the ability to use an external microphone.

All this said, the D3100 should be out mid-September. It'll have the 1080p HD video, the better warranty, and the new AF-F continous video focus which is a HUGE advantage over both the D90 and the T2i in my opinion.

Bear in mind, the D3100 won't let you auto focus with the non AF-S lenses. You won't be able to use a Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF-D on it unless you're focusing manually. Not a big deal considering there is the Nikon 35mm f1.8G and Nikon 50mm f1.4G available, both of which are excellent.

Regarding the Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF-D, it's a stellar performer. Probably the BEST value in the entire Nikon lens line-up. Yes, if you have a wide lens to go with it, you'd be fine using it for everything else. Consider the very good 18-55 kit lens (VR or non-VR) to go with it, and you're good. Add the new 55-300mm VR, and you've got a great set-up. Wide, long, and fast!

So here's my suggestion... get on the list for one of the first Nikon D3100 bodies to arrive at your local store. If it doesn't come in before you leave, negotiate the best price you can get on a Nikon D90. It'll be fine for your trip, and if you decide once you get back that you really want the D3100, then you can sell the D90 for close to what you paid (or trade it in if your camera store gives you good value) and get the D3100. Win-win situation. Add the Nikon 18-55mm, the 55-300mm VR, and the 50mm f1.8, and you're good to go to China!

Hope this helps!

Matt

P.S. If you don't mind, I'm going to post your inquiry so others who might be having similar considerations can consider my reply too.

and Steve's follow-up email...

Hey Matt,

Thanks for the quick reply! Please feel free to post the question/answer. I found your site really helpful, so of course I don't mind if your advice is shared with others with similar questions. I think your recommendation is a sound one, and if the D3100 is released mid-September, a pretty good thing.

The other aspect to this is of course the wife. I've been billing the purchase of a more expensive camera as getting both great photos and video, somehow I don't see her appreciating having to manually focus video. Maybe it's not a big deal, but EVERYONE seems to be going ga-ga over the D3100 getting this feature.

The D3100 seems to only come with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens ( Amazon)), which is fine really. Since I anticipate the focus of the trip being more on my daughter than stuff far away, would you agree that having the Nikon 35mm F1.8 G AF-S DX is a better choice because the F1.8 will give me better performance for inside shots than the 18-55 @ F3.5?

Thanks again Matt, probably the best advice I have received to date!

-Steve

and my reply back...

Yes, the AF-F video auto focus is HUGE.

Tough call on the lens. Personally, I'd probably get both if I was in your shoes. That way you'll have a wide that doubles as a back-up. At the kit price, you can't really go wrong.

That said, I would have no problem using just the Nikon 35mm f1.8G. That's actually all I ever used when I had a D5000 for a few months. It's a fantastic lens!

So, in a nutshell folks... if you're up in the air between these cameras, go with the D3100. If you need something TODAY, get a D90.

If video takes priority over photography for professional or other reasons, the T2i is probably your best option TODAY. Keep in mind though, the Nikon D7000 should be announced in a week or two, and that WILL then become the best option, hands down.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90

I ran down the specs of the new Nikon D3100 against the time-tested Nikon D90 to get a feel for how they compared.

Yes, I know, the D3100 is replacing the D3000, not the D90, but take a look and see how well the D3100 stacks up against the D90.

The biggies here are the sensors, lens compatibility, monitors, HD movie capability, and full-time autofocus for video.

The D3100 sensor features a few more megapixels, 2.1 to be precise. Not really much in term of real resolution, but hey... all take it given it doesn't appear to have impacted negatively on performance.

Which brings us to the other big point on the sensor... high ISO performance. Looks like the D3100 is going to beat the D90 by at least a stop for high ISO performance, and it's still giving us two more megapixels! This is HUGE! I'm always looking for better high ISO performance, and this comes to us in a very nicely priced DSLR.

Lens compatibility is where the D90 beats the D3100 hands down. The D3100 won't auto focus with anything other than the newer G lens that have an autofocus motor. The D90 will auto focus with any AF Nikkor. This will be a big issue for some, and a non-issue for others. For me, not so much. I'll be buying the D90 replacement (D7000) as well, so I'm thinking my Nikon 50mm f1.4G prime will be permanently glued to my D3100. :-)

The monitor is another big difference between the D3100 and the D90. The D3100 monitor is a lower resolution monitor similar to the D5000's, while the D90 is the sweet 920,000 resolution monitor just like it's bigger brothers, the D300, D300s,D700, D3, D3s, and D3x. This is a biggie for me. I didn't like the low resolution on my D5000's monitor, and it was one of the main reasons I sold it in favour of my D90. Then again, the D3100 is only going to be about $500 so you can't have everything.

On to the HD Movie capability! The D3100 is the first Nikon DSLR to feature full 1080p HD! The D90 is only 720p, so the D3100 wins here. Remember though, the D90 is now about 2 years old and was the first DSLR ever to have HD movie capability.

And last, but not least... in fact, perhaps the BIGGEST difference of the D3100 and ANY OTHER DSLR currently available, is the full-time autofocus on the D3100. The Nikon D3100 is the first Nikon DSLR to feature it, and nobody else has it. Can you say Gamechanger! I can't wait to see how the D3100 performs at 1080p HD with the new full-time autofocus!

For the first time, I'm excited to buy Nikon's entry level DSLR. I've never owned anything in the low-end Nikon DSLR line-up before. The Nikon D5000 was the lowest down the chain that I have owned, and I sold it in favour of the Nikon D90. The D3100 though has SO much to offer that I think it will be worth having, especially if it turns out to be the perfect prime camera as I hope.

Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D90 Spec Comparison

Sensor - D3100 14.2 megapixel vs D90 12.3 megapixel

HD Movie Mode - D3100 1080p with full-time autofocus vs D90 720p (no full-time autofocus)

Auto Focus - 11 point AF system on both D3100 and D90

Compatible Lenses - D3100 only AF with G with AF motor vs D90 AF with all Nikkor AF lenses

Metering - 3D Color Matrix Metering II on both D3100 and D90

ISO - D3100 ISO 100 - 12,800 at 1 EV steps vs D90 ISO 100 to 6,400 at 1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV steps

Active D Lighting on both D3100 and D90

Built-in HDMI port on both D3100 and D90

Monitor - D3100 3" 230,000 dots vs D90 3" 921,000 dots

Battery - D3100 EN-EL14 Li-ion Rechargeable Battery vs D90 EN-EL3e Li-ion Rechargeable Battery

Dimensions - D3100 4.9"wx3.8"hx2.9"d vs D90 5.2"wx4.1"hx3.0"d

Weight - D3100 16oz (455g) vs D90 22oz (620g)

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Nikon D90 - The Perfect DSLR For Just About Anyone

I get people asking me all the time what DSLR they should buy. I used to tailor my recommendations based on a number of questions concerning what they're going to use it for. Nowadays, my answer is almost always, buy a Nikon D90.

It's the perfect DSLR for just about everyone!

The Nikon D90 is an amazing DSLR camera at an amazing price point.

Prior to the D90, I'm not sure I would've had a recommendation for the PERFECT DSLR for everyone. There were so many variables and so many pluses and minuses to most DSLR cameras.

And then along came the Nikon D90.

The D90 is advanced enough for all but the most demanding professionals to use, yet approachable enough for the beginning hobbyist. The D90 is so well built, so well designed, so well spec'ed, and such a great price, that it takes the cake for best value out there in the DSLR market.

I find myself picking up my D90 over any of my other cameras almost all the time now. My Nikon D300 sits lonely in my camera bag, upstaged by it's little brother. The lighter body of the D90 is so pleasant to work with, and I love the versatility of the 18-105 VR lens that I bought with it.

The image quality of the D90 is top notch. 12MP never looked so good! While other manufacturers are trying to jam more and more megapixels into a crop sensor DSLR, Nikon understands that 12 megapixels is more than almost anybody needs and that quality trumps quantity. We don't need more megapixels. Give us better IQ, dynamic range, and high ISO ability.

The D90 is rugged and well built. The body is solid and capable of taking a beating, yet light and compact enough to not pull your neck out of shape or your back out of joint.

The D90 auto focus is best in class. Only the flagship auto focus system in the Nikon D300s, D3s, D700, or D3x is better, and for most uses, you'll never notice the difference. Unlike a lot of Canon DSLR's that seem chronically plagued with back focus, front focus, and out of focus problems, the Nikon D90 auto focus system just works.

Unless you're a professional who requires the ABSOLUTE best DSLR on the market, the Nikon D90 is probably more camera than you'll ever need. Even professionals who require the top of the line DSLR's will find the Nikon D90 to be a great back-up camera.

If you're in the market for a DSLR, check out the Nikon D90. You won't be dissappointed!

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