Upgrade Guide
Nikon Z5 II→Nikon D90
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Situational
One clear hardware improvement over the Z5 II. Worth it if that specific upgrade aligns with what you shoot.
What's new in the D90
-
Battery life~850 shots (CIPA) vs 380 shots (CIPA)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution12MP (down from 24MP — 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 | Z5 II | D90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -3.2 | ||
| Street | -1.5 | ||
| Travel | -1.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -3.6 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | — | ||
| Filmmaking | — | ||
| Documentary | -4.5 | ||
| Sports & Action | -3.1 | ||
| Landscape | -3.3 | ||
| Wildlife | -2.7 | ||
| Casual | -2.7 | ||
| Food | -4.0 | ||
| Macro | -3.9 | ||
| Architecture | -3.5 | ||
| Astrophotography | -2.4 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Z5 II | D90 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,299 | £25 | |
| Released | 2025 | 2008 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.5MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.3MP APS-C CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 12MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p (crop), 4K/30p (uncropped), 10-bit N-Log | 720p/24 | |
| Autofocus | Hybrid phase-detect AF with 9 subject types (people, animals, birds, vehicles) | 11-point phase-detect (1 cross-type) via viewfinder; contrast AF with face priority in live view | |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS with Focus Point VR | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | |
| Burst Rate | 14fps | 4.5fps | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 380 shots (CIPA) | ~850 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 700g (with battery and card) | 700g (with battery) | |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Not weather sealed | ↓ |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots | Optical pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x | |
| Screen | Vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 920k dots | |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon F-mount (DX) | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD (UHS-II) | Single SD slot |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Z5 II 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.
Other upgrades from the Z5 II
Related buying guides
Camera family history