How many Megapixels does the Nikon D90 have?

The Nikon D90 is equipped with a an APS-C sensor that offers an image resolution of 12.2 megapixels (MP), or 12.2 million pixels. With its native aspect ratio of 3:2, the sensor has 4 288 horizontal pixels and 2 848 vertical pixels.

A high megapixel count makes it possible to crop any captured image substantially or to make very large prints from the image file. On the downside, large megapixel files are slower to transfer and take up more storage space on the computer harddisk. Also, high-resolution imaging requires sharper, more expensive lenses than low-res picture taking.

How large can I print with 12.2 MP?

The maximum print size of the Nikon 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. Few people actually print their images that large on a regular basis, but it is nice to have the option to make very large prints of exceptional shots. Also, as mentioned earlier, a key advantage of high-MP cameras is that it is possible to crop an image ex-post and thereby, for example, change the composition of the capture or zoom in on some detail.

Sensor specs and performance

The table below compares the sensor specs of the Nikon D90 to those of several similar cameras. In addition to sensor class and megapixel count, DXO values are reported as indicators of the sensor's imaging quality (higher is better). Three aspects are covered: color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape), and high-ISO noise (DXO Sports). Larger sensor cameras tend to outperform cameras of the same generation that are equipped with a smaller imager. On the other hand, larger sensors are more expensive and require bigger and heavier lenses than smaller light receptors.

Sensor Characteristics

#		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon D90	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	977	73
2.		Canon 40D	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.3	703	64
3.		Nikon D7000	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/24p	23.5	13.9	1167	80
4.		Nikon D3100	APS-C	14.2	4608	3072	1080/24p	22.5	11.3	919	67
5.		Nikon D300S	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.5	12.2	787	70
6.		Nikon D3000	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.3	11.1	563	62
7.		Nikon D5000	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	868	72
8.		Nikon D60	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.5	11.4	562	65
9.		Nikon D40X	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.4	11.4	516	63
10.		Nikon D300	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	none	22.1	12.0	679	67
11.		Nikon D80	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.1	11.2	524	61

In the United States, the D90 was initially launched in August 2008 at a price of $1,299.

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Camera to camera comparisons

In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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