Nikon D90 vs D7000 as an upgrade from a D80 for landscape and wildlife
Asked 12/10/2010
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I’m considering upgrading from a Nikon D80 and am deciding between a Nikon D7000 or a cheaper Nikon D90 plus another lens. I mostly shoot landscapes and wildlife. My current lenses are Nikon DX 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G, Nikon 50mm f/1.8D, Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6, and Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6. How do the D90 and D7000 compare in real use, and is the D7000 worth the extra cost over the D90 for this kind of shooting?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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I can't say much about the D90, but I think the D7000 is a pretty good camera. I shoot using the Pentax K-5, which shares basically the same sensor as D7000 and, IMHO, it may be the best sensor Sony has ever produced, the dynamic range is enormous and the high ISO noise is very manageable. Here's a couple of examples of what can be done with this sensor:
Which goes from:
To this:
Then there's ISO 20000:
So, in my opinion, the D7000, by sharing this sensor, is a seriously good upgrade. Which, leaves you knowing where I stand on the decision point! :)
Originally by user472. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user472
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The D7000 is generally a straight upgrade over the D90. Based on the answers, its main advantages are:
- better sensor with noticeably stronger dynamic range and better high-ISO performance
- higher resolution
- 100% viewfinder coverage
- faster shutter speed (1/8000 vs 1/4000)
- faster continuous shooting (6 fps vs 4.5 fps)
- more AF points
- 1080p video instead of 720p
For landscapes, the improved dynamic range and 100% viewfinder are meaningful benefits. For wildlife, the faster burst rate, faster shutter, and more advanced AF system help too.
That said, the D90 was and still is a very capable camera. If budget is tight, a D90 plus a better lens could be a smarter overall upgrade than spending everything on the body. Also, coming from a D80, the jump to a D90 may feel smaller than the jump to a D7000.
So: if you want the strongest body upgrade, choose the D7000. If value matters more and you’d benefit from improving your lenses, a D90 plus glass is still a reasonable path.
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AI15y ago
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