So sánh nikon d80 và d90

The Nikon D80 and the Nikon D90 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2006 and August 2008. Both are DSLR [Digital Single Lens Reflex] cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The D80 has a resolution of 10 megapixels, whereas the D90 provides 12.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D80 and the Nikon D90? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Nikon D80 and the Nikon D90 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

In this particular case, the Nikon D80 and the Nikon D90 have exactly the same width and height, and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the D90 is markedly heavier [5 percent] than the D80. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the D80 nor the D90 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Nikon Lens Catalog.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The D80 was launched at a somewhat lower price [by 23 percent] than the D90, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor [sometimes also referred to as "crop factor"] of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio [sensor width to sensor height] of 3:2.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the D90 offers a higher resolution of 12.2 megapixels, compared with 10 MP of the D80. This megapixels advantage translates into a 11 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the D90 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel [with a pixel pitch of 5.53μm versus 6.11μm for the D80]. However, it should be noted that the D90 is much more recent [by 2 years] than the D80, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon D90 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the D90 for good quality output [200 dots per inch] amounts to 21.4 x 14.2 inches or 54.5 x 36.2 cm, for very good quality [250 dpi] 17.2 x 11.4 inches or 43.6 x 28.9 cm, and for excellent quality [300 dpi] 14.3 x 9.5 inches or 36.3 x 24.1 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D80 are 19.4 x 13 inches or 49.2 x 32.9 cm for good quality, 15.5 x 10.4 inches or 39.3 x 26.3 cm for very good quality, and 12.9 x 8.6 inches or 32.8 x 21.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon D80 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 100-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D90 are ISO 200 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 200-6400.

In terms of underlying technology, the D80 is build around a CCD sensor, while the D90 uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ["DXO Sports"], dynamic range ["DXO Landscape"], and color depth ["DXO Portrait"]. Of the two cameras under consideration, the D90 offers substantially better image quality than the D80 [overall score 12 points higher]. The advantage is based on 0.6 bits higher color depth, 1.3 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.9 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The D90 indeed provides for movie recording, while the D80 does not. The highest resolution format that the D90 can use is 720/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The D80 and the D90 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinder in the D90 offers a wider field of view [96%] than the one in the D80 [95%], so that a larger proportion of the captured image is visible in the finder. In addition, the viewfinder of the D90 has a higher magnification [0.63x vs 0.62x], so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon D80 and Nikon D90 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

000 dots]

[yes/no]

[inch/000 dots]

ment

[yes/no]

Speed *

Flaps *

[yes/no]

Stab

One feature that is present on the D90, but is missing on the D80 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the D80 and the D90 write their files to SDHC cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D80 and Nikon D90 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras [and selected comparators] provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Both the D80 and the D90 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The D80 was replaced by the Nikon D90, while the D90 was followed by the Nikon D7000. Further information on the features and operation of the D80 and D90 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D80 Manual [free pdf] or the online Nikon D90 Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon D80 better than the Nikon D90 or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Nikon D80:

• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment [23 percent cheaper at launch].
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer [launched in August 2006].

Advantages of the Nikon D90:

• More detail: Has more megapixels [12.2 vs 10MP], which boosts linear resolution by 10%.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher [12 points] in the DXO overall evaluation.
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details [1.3 EV of extra DR].
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions [0.9 stops ISO advantage].
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 720/24p video.
• More complete view: Has a viewfinder with a larger field of view [96% vs 95%].
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification [0.63x vs 0.62x].
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD [3.0" vs 2.5"] for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen [920k vs 230k dots].
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency [4.5 vs 3 flaps/sec] to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots [850 versus 600] out of a single battery charge.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years of technical progress since the D80 launch.

If the count of relative strengths [bullet points above] is taken as a measure, the D90 is the clear winner of the contest [13 : 2 points]. However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D80 and the Nikon D90 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the D80 and the D90 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites [amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]]. As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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