• APS-C 372.9mm2
  • 12.3 megapixels
  • ISO 200 - 3200
  • APS-H 518.9mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 12,800
  • Detailed specifications
  • Nikon D90
  • Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website
Nikon D90 webpage
Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Nikon D80
D80 vs D90
Canon 1D Mark III
1D Mark III vs 1D Mark IV
Successor: Nikon D7000
D90 vs D7000
 
General
Model Number: D90 1D Mark IV
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $1299.95 $4999.00
Street Price:   $1,899.99
Date Available: 2008-09-15 2009-12-31
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 40.0 oz (1,133 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
49.0 oz (1,390 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in.
(132 x 103 x 77 mm)
6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1 in.
(156 x 157 x 80 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Canon
Effective Megapixels: 12.3 16.1
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-H
Sensor size: 372.88mm2 (23.60mm x 15.80mm) 518.94mm2 (27.90mm x 18.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.50 microns 5.70 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.3x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Fixed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: Yes Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 73 74
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 22.7 22.8
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 12.5 12.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 977 1,320
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4288 x 2848 (12.2 MP, Other),
3216 x 2136 (6.9 MP, Other),
2144 x 1424 (3.1 MP, Other)
4896 x 3264 (16.0 MP, 3:2),
4320 x 2880 (12.4 MP, 3:2),
3672 x 2448 (9.0 MP, 3:2),
3552 x 2368 (8.4 MP, 3:2),
2448 x 1632 (4.0 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.21), NEF (RAW), 12-bit; RAW+JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.21), 14-bit .CR2 RAW
Continuous-mode frames/second: 4.5 10.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (24)
640x424 (24)
320x216 (24)
1920x1080 (29.97)
1920x1080 (25)
1920x1080 (23.976)
1280x720 (59.94)
1280x720 (50)
640x480 (59.94)
640x480 (50)
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) H.264 (.MOV)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: Yes
HD Video Out: Yes Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Nikon F Canon EF
Lens: Nikkor AF-S 18-105mm f/3.5 -5.6G ED VR n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 27 - 158mm  
Focal Length (actual): 18 - 105mm  
Zoom Ratio: 5.80x  
Aperture Range: f/3.5 -22 (W), f/5.6 -38 (T)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 45 cm to Infinity
17.7 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 67.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: No No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: 11 point TTL phase detection with 3D focus tracking by Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 45 user selectable points (39 f/2.8 cross-type) phase detection w/ AI Servo II; LV contrast detect
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes No
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; fixed eye-level pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x mag., 19.5mm eyepoint, -2 to +1 diopter Eye-level fixed pentaprism, 0.76x magnification, 20mm eyepoint, -3.0 to +1.0 diopter correction
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.58x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.94x 0.76x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 921,600 dots (307,200 px) 920,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 27.0x 10.0x
Top Deck Display: Yes Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 3200 12800
Minimum ISO (native): 200 100
ISO Settings: Auto, ISO 200-3200, Lo-1=100, Hi-1=6400 Auto, 100 to 12,800 (standard), 50 to 102,400 (expanded)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, 7 manual modes with fine tuning, color temperature Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom (5 settings from camera), Personal (5 settings from PC), Color Temp
Shutter Speed Range: 1/4000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 3D Color Matrix Metering II (420-pixel RGB), Center-weighted, Spot 63-zone: AF linked evaluative, 13.5% partial, center-weighted average, 3.8% center / AF / multi spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, Night Portrait  
Self Timer: 2 to 20 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Front-Curtain Sync, Red-Eye Reduction, Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync, Slow Sync, and Rear-Curtain Sync; supports Advanced Wireless Lighting system E-TTL II / evaluative / averaged; x-sync at 1/250 (1/300 w/ Canon Speedlite)
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 12.0 m / 39.4 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Lens dependent n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/200  
Flash Exposure Compensation: -3 to +1 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe Hot shoe, PC sync
Built-In Wireless Flash Control: Full TTL exposure  
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC CF1 / CF2 / SD / SDHC
UHS Support: No UHS support  
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: NEF (RAW), 12-bit; RAW+JPEG 14-bit .CR2 RAW
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) H.264 (.MOV)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional wired or wireless Canon N3 terminal / PC tether
Connections (extended): HDMI Out, DC In, 10-pin Accessory Port  
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.36 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.35 <0.3
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 13 40
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot): 0.32  
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 4.5 10.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 46
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 4.1  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames): 10  
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps): 4.2  
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames): 7  
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.21 seconds 0.10 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR): 2.29 seconds  
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR): 0.519 seconds  
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.067 seconds 0.077 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.25 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.067 seconds 0.049 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Live View: Full autofocus: 2.294s Prefocused: 0.519s Live View: Quick Mode AF: 1.084s Live Mode AF: 1.255s Prefocused: 0.113s
Startup Time: 0.3 seconds 0.4 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.3 seconds 0.1 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 2.2 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF): 850 shots 1500 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary EN-EL3e, optional MB-D80 battery pack Proprietary LP-E4
Usable Battery Types: Lithium Ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary EN-EL3e Lithium Ion rechargeable 1 x proprietary LP-E4 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No No
Software
Included Software: PictureProject CD-ROM  
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Live View with Face Detection, Dust Reduction, HDMI Output, Scene Recognition System, Active D-Lighting, Picture Control, Extensive In-camera Editing, GPS support. CompactFlash slot supports UDMA Mode 6 cards. Dual storage slots allow copying files between cards, storing different file types on each card, duplicating data on both cards, or using one card as an overflow when the other is full. Camera is powered by dual DIGIC 4 processors. Has live view and HD video modes with contrast detect AF. Has two internal monaural microphones - front panel for video, rear panel for voice memo. Also has stereo mic jack for external mic.