Upgrade Guide
Nikon D90→Nikon D7500
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the D90. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the D7500
-
Resolution21MP vs 12MP (+9MP)
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Weather sealingAdded — fully sealed body
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Burst rate8fps mechanical vs 4.5fps
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Generation9 years newer (2017 vs 2008)
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 | D90 | D7500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.6 | ||
| Street | +0.3 | ||
| Travel | +0.9 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.0 | ||
| Documentary | +2.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | +1.1 | ||
| Landscape | +1.7 | ||
| Wildlife | +1.0 | ||
| Casual | +0.9 | ||
| Food | +1.6 | ||
| Macro | +0.9 | ||
| Architecture | +1.2 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.6 | ||
| Filmmaking | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | D90 | D7500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £25 | £899 | |
| Released | 2008 | 2017 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C BSI CMOS (D500 sensor) | |
| Resolution | 12MP | 21MP | ↑ |
| Video | 720p/24 | 4K/30p (slight crop), FHD/60p | |
| Autofocus | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | Multi-CAM 3500FX II, 51 points (15 cross-type) | |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No stabilisation | |
| Burst Rate | 4.5fps | 8fps mechanical | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~850 shots (CIPA) | ~950 shots (CIPA with OVF) | ↑ |
| Weight | 700g (with battery) | 640g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | Yes | ↑ |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94× magnification | |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | |
| Mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | Nikon F-mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD slot | Single SD UHS-II slot |
Compare side-by-side
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the D7500 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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