Reasons to choose D70s
Released in 2005, D70s has about 370 mm² of sensor area, 6.1 MP effective resolution, and a 679 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Nikon D70s
vs Nikon D90
VS
Sensor area
370 mm²
D70s373 mm²
D90- Area ratio
- 1.01:1
- Absolute difference
- 3 mm²
- Relative difference
- 0.9%
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
D70sMetricD90
6.1 MPEffective pixels12.3 MP
23.7 × 15.6Sensor23.6 × 15.8
7.79 µmPixel pitch5.51 µm
60.61 µm²Pixel area30.32 µm²
1.65 MP/cm²Pixel density3.3 MP/cm²
1.53Crop factor1.52
—Maximum video1,280 × 720
679 gWeight703 g
CompactFlash type I, CompactFlash type II, MicrodriveStorageSD/SDHC
Nikon EN-EL3a Lithium-Ion included 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 D70s has the lighter body. The D90 has the higher effective resolution. The D90 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.