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Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D90

5.0 in
3.8 in
Nikon D5100 Digital Camera
Nikon D5100
5.2 in
4.06 in
Nikon D90 Digital Camera
Nikon D90
Available colors
Editiorial reviews
34
4.1 out of 5
17 user ratings
5 stars
41 %
4 stars
41 %
3 stars
11 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
40
4.2 out of 5
13 user ratings
5 stars
53 %
4 stars
30 %
3 stars
7 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews
User rating
51
3.9 out of 5
51 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
29 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
7 %
1 stars
1 %
58
4.1 out of 5
58 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
39 %
3 stars
18 %
2 stars
3 %
1 stars
0 %

Video Comparisons (3)

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Full Comparison

Sensor

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Sensor typeCMOSCMOS
Image sensor formatDXDX
Sensor size0.93 in0.93 in
Effective pixels16.0 Mpx12.0 Mpx
Image ratio w:h3:23:2
Max resolution4928 x 3264 px4288 x 2848 px
Other resolutions
  • 3696x2448
  • 2464x1632
  • 3216x2136
  • 2144x1424

Image

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
ISO
  • 100
  • 6400
  • 12800
  • 25600
  • 100
  • 200
  • 3200
  • 6400
ISO Autoyesyes
ISO minimum100200
ISO maximum256006400
Boosted ISO maximum256006400
Maximum image resolution4928 x 3264 px4288 x 2848 px
White balance presets1212
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Direct sunlight
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Shade
  • Auto
  • Cloudy
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Manual
  • Sunny
Custom white balanceyesyes
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Vivid
Image stabilizernono
Image stabilization typeNoNo
Uncompressed formatRAWRAW
HDRyesno
AEB/HDR supportyesyes

Optics and focus

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Lens mountNikon FNikon F
Optical zoom3.0 x5.8 x
Magnification (Crop factor)1.5 x1.5 x
Maximum aperture2.83.5
AF assist (auto-focus assist light)LampLamp
Focus adjustmentAutoAuto/Manual
Contrast autofocusyesyes
Brightness adjustmentyesyes
Autofocus in recording modeyesno
Focal length multiplier1.5x1.5x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
  • Face detection
  • Servo Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyesyes
Manual focusyesyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyesyes
Number of focus points1111
Max number of AF points (incl. assistant)1111
Image stabiliserLens based onlyLens based only
Filter diameter2.83 in2.64 in
Phase detection autofocusyesyes

Screen and viewfinder

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Screen size3.0 in3.0 in
Articulated LCDyesno
Screen technologyLCDLCD
Screen dots921000920000
Touch screennono
Field of view100.0 %100.0 %
Live viewyesyes
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Viewfinder coverage95.0 %96.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.78 x0.94 x
Diopter adjustment (D-D)1.7 - 0.72 - 1
Eye relief0.7 in0.77 in
Separate info displaynoyes

Photography features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Camera shutter typeElectronicElectronic
Minimum shutter speed30.0 s30.0 s
Maximum shutter speed1.0 s1.0 s
Shutter priorityyesyes
Aperture priorityyesyes
Manual exposure modeyesyes
Number of exposures32
Exposure compensation plus55
Exposure compensation minus-5-5
Expousure compensation steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
Auto exposure lockyesyes
AE EV steps
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 1/3
  • 1/2
  • 2/3
  • 1
Continuous shootingyesyes
Self-timer delay
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Histogramyesyes
AE frames3
  • 2
  • 3
WB Bracketing
Yes
Yes
Subject / scene modesyesyes
Flash sync speed1/200s1/200s
Built-in flashyesyes
Flash range1217
Flash modes
  • Flash OFF
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
  • High-speed Sync
  • Redeye Reduction
  • Slow Sync
External flash connectionHot shoeHot shoe
External flashyesyes
Continuous drive4.0 fps4.5 fps
Scene modes
  • Backlight
  • Beach
  • Candlelight
  • Children
  • Close-up
  • Dawn
  • Dusk
  • Food
  • Landscape
  • Night landscape
  • Night portrait
  • Party
  • Pet
  • Portrait
  • Snow
  • Sports
  • Sunset
  • Close-up
  • Night portrait
  • Portrait
  • Sports
  • Landscape
Self-timeryesyes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Manual settingsyesyes
Self-timer options
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
  • 2
  • 5
  • 10
  • 20
Speed (JPEG)4.0 fps4.5 fps
Speed (RAW)4.0 fps4.5 fps
Exposure bracketing0.3 - 0.5±EV0.3 - 2.0±EV

Videography features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Maximum resolution1920 x 1080 px1280 x 720 px
Video recordingyesyes
Recording resolutions
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
  • 1920 x 1080
  • 320 x 216
  • 640 x 424
  • 1280 x 720
HD typeFull HDHD
Supported video file formats
  • H.264
  • MOV
  • MPEG-4
  • AVI
  • M-JPEG
Analog signal format systemNTSCNTSC
Camera playback
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
  • Highlights
  • Movie
  • Single image
  • Slide show
  • Thumbnails
Max frame rate (highest resolution)30.0 fps24.0 fps
Motion JPEG frame rate30.0 fps24.0 fps

Audio features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Built-in microphoneyesno
Microphone typeMonoMono
Voice recordingyesyes
Audio systemStereoMono

Design

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Body typeSLRSLR
Body materialPlastic
  • Aluminium
  • Plastic
Colour of productBlackBlack
Anti-dust systemyesyes
Environmentally sealednono

Dimensions

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Weight17.99 oz21.87 oz
Width5.0 in5.2 in
Height3.8 in4.06 in
Depth3.1 in3.03 in

Storage

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Compatible memory cards
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
Memory slots11
Storage types
  • SD
  • SDHC
  • SDXC
  • SD
  • SDHC
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.3
  • DCF 2.0
  • DPOF
  • Exif 2.21

Power

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Power source typeBatteryBattery
Battery life (CIPA)660850
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Lithium-Ion
Number of batteries supported11
AC adapter includedyesyes

Connectivity

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
HDMIyesyes
HDMI ports quantity11
HDMI connector typeMiniMini
USB version2.02.0
WirelessEye-Fi ConnectedEye-Fi Connected
DC-in jackyesyes
Remote controlyesyes
PictBridgeyesyes
NFCnono
Wireless network (Wi-Fi)yesno
Firewirenono

Other features

Nikon D5100Nikon D5100
Nikon D90Nikon D90
Timelapse recordingyesyes
GPSnono
Orientation sensoryesyes
Calendaryesyes
Energy Star certifiednono
Frameyesyes
Languages supportMulti
  • CHI
  • CHI
  • DAN
  • DEU
  • DUT
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FIN
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
  • NOR
  • POL
  • POR
  • RUS
  • SWE
Tripod mounting supportedyesyes
Image editing modes
  • Resizing
  • Trimming
Trimming

Pros & Cons

Pros
      Cons

          Nikon D5100 vs Nikon D90 - User Opinions

          • misti
            over 1 year ago
            D90. The Nikon D5100 DSLR camera is a slightly newer model than the D90, and is better for professional video recording because it has a higher resolution (4928x3264 pixels) compared with the Nikon D90 (4288x2848 pixels), records stereo sound and allows for in-camera video editing.
          • What's the difference between products? Share your opinion.

          Often compared with Nikon D5100

          Often compared with Nikon D90