Reasons to choose D5100
Released in 2011, D5100 has about 368 mm² of sensor area, 16.2 MP effective resolution, and a 560 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D5100
vs Nikon D90
VS
Sensor area
368 mm²
D5100373 mm²
D90- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 5 mm²
- Relative difference
- 1.3%
The D90 has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 3 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
D5100MetricD90
16.2 MPEffective pixels12.3 MP
23.6 × 15.6Sensor23.6 × 15.8
4.77 µmPixel pitch5.51 µm
22.73 µm²Pixel area30.32 µm²
4.4 MP/cm²Pixel density3.3 MP/cm²
1.53Crop factor1.52
1,920 × 1,080Maximum video1,280 × 720
560 gWeight703 g
SDHC, SDXC, Secure DigitalStorageSD/SDHC
Lithium-Ion EN-EL14 rechargeable battery Li-ion batteryBatteryLithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery Li-ion battery
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D90 has the larger sensor area. The D5100 has the lighter body. The D5100 has the higher effective resolution. The D5100 is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D90
Released in 2008, D90 has about 373 mm² of sensor area, 12.3 MP effective resolution, and a 703 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.