Upgrade Guide
Nikon D5→Nikon D90
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the D5. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the D90
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 21MP — optimised for low light)
-
Weather sealingNot present in new body
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 | D5 | D90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.8 | ||
| Street | +1.1 | ||
| Travel | +0.5 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -2.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -2.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | -1.9 | ||
| Landscape | -1.6 | ||
| Wildlife | -1.2 | ||
| Casual | +0.1 | ||
| Food | -0.7 | ||
| Macro | -0.3 | ||
| Architecture | -1.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | -1.3 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D5 | D90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £819 used | £42 used | |
| Released | 2016 | 2008 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 20.8MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 21MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K UHD 30fps (heavy sensor crop) | 720p/24 | |
| Autofocus | Multi-CAM 20K 153-point AF system, 99 cross-type | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | |
| Stabilisation | — | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical | 4.5fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~3780 shots (CIPA) | ~850 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 1405g (body only) | 700g (with battery) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | OVF 0.72× magnification, 100% coverage | Optical pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x | |
| Screen | 3.2" fixed touchscreen, 2.36M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Nikon F mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual XQD slots (XQD variant) | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See D5 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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Camera family history