Upgrade Guide
Nikon Coolpix P520→Nikon D90
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Coolpix P520. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D90
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
-
Battery life~850 shots (CIPA) vs ~200 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution12MP (down from 18MP — optimised for low light)
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 | Coolpix P520 | D90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +1.4 | ||
| Street | +0.4 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | +2.3 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Documentary | +0.8 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.5 | ||
| Landscape | +0.4 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.3 | ||
| Casual | +0.1 | ||
| Food | -0.6 | ||
| Macro | +0.2 | ||
| Architecture | — | ||
| Astrophotography | +2.9 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Coolpix P520 | D90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £79 used | £42 used | |
| Released | 2013 | 2008 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 18MP 1/2.3-inch CMOS | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 18MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | Full HD 1080p/30 (1080/60i) | 720p/24 | |
| Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF with face detection and target tracking | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | |
| Stabilisation | Lens-shift VR (optical, in the lens) | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 7fps | 4.5fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~200 shots (CIPA) | ~850 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 550g (with battery) | 700g (with battery) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Not weather sealed | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 0.2", 201k dots | Optical pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x | |
| Screen | 3.2" vari-angle LCD, 921k dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Fixed 42x Nikkor 24-1000mm equivalent f/3-5.9 | Nikon F-mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Coolpix P520 and D90 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D90 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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