Nikon D90 vs Sony A6300

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Nikon D90 vs Sony A6300

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APS-C 372.9mm²
12.3 megapixels
ISO 200 - 3200

Go in depth with our full Nikon D90 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the D90.

APS-C 366.6mm²
24.2 megapixels
ISO 100 - 25,600

Go in depth with our full Sony A6300 Review.
How does it shoot? Sony A6300 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the A6300.
Compare Sony A6300 image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Sony A6300 conclusion.

Succeeded by the Nikon D7000
Compare D90 vs D7000

Succeeded by the Sony A6400
Compare A6300 vs A6400

Compare NIKON D7000 vs SONY A6400

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Differences

Nikon D90 advantages over Sony A6300

Lens selection
Excellent vs Good
Better lens selection gives you more options
Bigger pixels
~ 5.50 vs 3.92 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Fast startup
~0.30 vs 1.4 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

850 vs 400 shots
Capture more photos
More telephoto lens reach
158 mm vs 75 mm
Capture objects farther away with the kit lens
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 44 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)

Sony A6300 advantages over Nikon D90

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Shoot 4K video
4K (UHD) vs 720p
Make sure you have a fast computer
In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
A6300 test data on DxO Mark D90 test data on DxO Mark

1,437 vs 977 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Thinner
48 mm vs 77 mm
Thinner
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Newer
9 years vs 16 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Lighter weight
520g vs 1133g
Lighter weight
Shoots 1080p video
Yes vs No
You'll want this if you shoot video
More viewfinder magnification
0.70x vs 0.63x
Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
More pixels
24.2 vs 12.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Wider angle kit lens
24 mm vs 27 mm
Capture more of the scene with the included lens
Faster JPEG shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
11.1 fps vs 4.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Bigger RAW buffer
22 vs 10 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Higher extended ISO
51200 vs 6400 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Neither provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Dual card slots
Neither provide
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read D90 User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A6300 User Reviews

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Body Only (Black)
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Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm Lens (Silver)

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Review Excerpt

Read our Nikon D90 Full Review

Excellent image quality; Improved high-ISO performance; Better JPEG quality; Fast autofocus; Very good subject tracking with real-time live view feature; All-magnesium body construction; 4K video.
Slow buffer clearing (no UHS-II support); No touchscreen, Clunky menus; Wi-Fi can be a bit frustrating to use.
Read our Sony A6300 Review

The Competition

Compared to Sony DSLR-A550

Nikon D90

Sony DSLR-A550

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$859
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D90 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Sony A6300

Sony DSLR-A550

$748
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$859
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A6300 vs Sony DSLR-A550

Compared to Sony DSLR-A500

Nikon D90

Sony DSLR-A500

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Fast startup

$850
APS-C

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Nikon D90 vs Sony DSLR-A500

Sony A6300

Sony DSLR-A500

$748
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$850
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Bigger pixels

Compare Sony A6300 vs Sony DSLR-A500

Compared to Pentax K-5

Nikon D90

Pentax K-5

$1300
APS-C

Fast startup
More telephoto lens reach

$800
APS-C

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Higher effective ISO

Compare Nikon D90 vs Pentax K-5

Sony A6300

Pentax K-5

$748
APS-C

Focus peaking
Shoot 4K video

$800
APS-C

Lens selection
In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Sony A6300 vs Pentax K-5

Compared to Sony A6000

Nikon D90

Sony A6000

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Bigger pixels

$674
APS-C

Focus peaking
In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon D90 vs Sony A6000

Sony A6300

Sony A6000

$748
APS-C

Shoot 4K video
Fast startup

$674
APS-C

Less expensive

Compare Sony A6300 vs Sony A6000

Compared to Fujifilm X-A3

Nikon D90

Fujifilm X-A3

$1300
APS-C

Lens selection
Eye-level viewfinder

$549
APS-C

Focus peaking
Touchscreen

Compare Nikon D90 vs Fujifilm X-A3

Sony A6300

Fujifilm X-A3

$748
APS-C

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

$549
APS-C

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Sony A6300 vs Fujifilm X-A3

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