Decision tools · Compare
D90 vs Z8
Quick take: The Z8 has the highest resolution at 46MP; the D90 is the most affordable; only the Z8 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.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Z8 — Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals: Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.
Who should buy what
Z8 (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who want Z9 capability in a smaller body
- Wildlife and sports shooters who want 8K RAW and 120fps burst
- Z6 III or Z7 II owners upgrading to pro-grade performance
- Hybrid professionals who need the best Nikon video and stills in one body
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | D90Nikon · 2008 | Z8Nikon · 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £26 usedBest | £3,499 |
| Sensor | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 12.3MP | 45.7MPBest |
| Video | 720p/24 | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEGBest |
| Battery Life | ~850 shots (CIPA)Best | 330 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 700g (with battery)Best | 910g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 132 × 103 × 77mm | 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | CFexpress Type B / XQD + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0, mini HDMI, MC-DC2 remote | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
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
D90
Z8
Portrait
5.2/10
8.4/10
Street
5.0/10
5.8/10
Travel
4.5/10
5.5/10
Wedding & Events
4.5/10
8.2/10
Documentary
3.3/10
7.7/10
Sports & Action
4.8/10
9.2/10
Landscape
3.7/10
7.4/10
Wildlife
5.3/10
8.9/10
Casual
3.0/10
4.7/10
Food
3.6/10
7.4/10
Macro
3.3/10
7.0/10
Architecture
3.8/10
7.7/10
Astrophotography
5.0/10
6.8/10
Filmmaking
—
7.8/10
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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