Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS-1D→Canon EOS 90D
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS-1D. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS 90D
-
Resolution32MP vs 4MP (+28MP)
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StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Generation18 years newer (2019 vs 2001)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | EOS-1D | EOS 90D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.8 | ||
| Street | +2.0 | ||
| Travel | +2.1 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.0 | ||
| Documentary | +2.3 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.1 | ||
| Landscape | +2.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.7 | ||
| Casual | +2.9 | ||
| Food | +3.0 | ||
| Macro | +2.9 | ||
| Architecture | +2.8 | ||
| Astrophotography | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS-1D | EOS 90D | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £150 | £849 | |
| Released | 2001 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 4.1MP APS-H CMOS (1.3× crop) | 32.5MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel AF) | |
| Resolution | 4MP | 32MP | ↑ |
| Video | — | 4K/30p (1.6× crop), FHD/120p | |
| Autofocus | 45-point AF with 7 cross-type points | Dual Pixel CMOS AF (live view), 45-point phase-detect (OVF) | |
| Stabilisation | — | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 8fps continuous (up to 21 RAW frames) | 10fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~1200 shots per charge | ~1300 shots (CIPA with OVF) | ↑ |
| Weight | 1225g (body only) | 701g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OVF, 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.95× magnification | |
| Screen | 2.0" fixed LCD | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF / EF-S | |
| Memory Cards | CompactFlash Type I/II | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS-1D and EOS 90D next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS 90D against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS-1D
Related buying guides
Camera family history