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Nikon D780 vs D90
Quick take: The Nikon D780 has the highest resolution at 25MP; the D90 is the most affordable; only the Nikon D780 is weather sealed.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
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Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Nikon D780Nikon · 2020 | D90Nikon · 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999 | £25Best |
| Sensor | 24.3MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 25.0MPBest | 12.3MP |
| Video | 4K/30p, 10-bit N-Log via HDMI, 1080p/120p | 720p/24 |
| Autofocus | 51-point DSLR phase-detect (viewfinder); on-sensor hybrid AF with eye detection (live view/video) | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) |
| Burst Rate | 7fpsBest | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | 2,260 shots (CIPA, viewfinder) | ~850 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 840g (with battery and card) | 700g (with battery)Best |
| Dimensions | — | 132 × 103 × 77mm |
| Weather Sealed | YesBest | Not weather sealed |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 0.7x magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x |
| Screen | Tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB, HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, MC-DC2 remote |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Nikon D780
D90
Portrait
6.7/10
5.2/10
Street
5.4/10
5.0/10
Travel
5.4/10
4.5/10
Wedding & Events
7.3/10
4.5/10
Filmmaking
6.2/10
—
Documentary
6.5/10
3.3/10
Sports & Action
6.3/10
4.8/10
Landscape
6.2/10
3.7/10
Wildlife
6.2/10
5.3/10
Casual
4.2/10
3.0/10
Food
5.8/10
3.6/10
Macro
5.4/10
3.3/10
Architecture
5.9/10
3.8/10
Astrophotography
6.7/10
5.0/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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