Canon
EOS R1
Flagship 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked RF body with 40fps burst, Dual Pixel Intelligent AF, 6K RAW, and 9.44M-dot EVF.
$6,299
Launch priceReleased Jul 2024
Nikon
D90
Historic enthusiast DX DSLR — first Nikon with HD video (720p24), 12.3MP sensor, 11-point AF, built-in flash commander, and proven F-mount ergonomics.
$999
Launch priceReleased Aug 2008
EOS R1 is 15.9 years newer.
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Wins
EOS R1
Wins
D90
2 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R1 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- AEOS R1 has higher EVF resolution (9,440,000 vs 2,360,000)
- AEOS R1 has higher Burst (electronic) (40 fps vs 15 fps)
- AEOS R1 has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 493)
- AEOS R1 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (1330 shots vs 640 shots)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
EOS R1
158 × 150 × 87 mm
920 g (2.03 lb / 32.45 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
D90
138 × 98 × 88 mm
520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)
EOS R1 is 1mm thinner than D90 but it is also 20mm wider and 52mm taller.
EOS R1 is 400 g heavier than D90.
Depth (front-to-back): 87mm EOS R1 · 88mm D90
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R1
158 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
D90
138 × 98 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R1
158 × 87 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
D90
138 × 88 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R1
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
D90
23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C
367 mm² area
2.4× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R1
Canon RF
105+
native lenses available
D90
✓ more lensesNikon F
270+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS R1
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 157.6, 149.5, 87.3
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, CFexpress Type B
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,440,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds RAW, XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S
AF points / zones
1053 vs 493 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
D90
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -7.5 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
Weight
520 g vs 920 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R1
Pros
- ✓40fps electronic burst
- ✓24.2MP BSI stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓Dual Pixel Intelligent AF
- ✓6K RAW and 4K 120p video
- ✓Dual CFexpress Type B slots
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –Very expensive
- –Large integrated-grip body
D90
Pros
- ✓First Nikon DSLR with HD video
- ✓Built-in flash commander
- ✓Mature F-mount ecosystem
- ✓Strong used value for learning
- ✓Live View with contrast AF
Cons
- –12.3MP dated resolution
- –720p video only
- –4.5 fps burst
- –No modern connectivity
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the EOS R1 and D90 at major authorized retailers.
Canon EOS R1
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, EOS R1 or D90?
EOS R1 scores 7.0/10 versus 3.5/10 for D90 — Full-frame sensor — wider dynamic range.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R1 and D90?
EOS R1 is 24.2 MP and D90 is 12.3 MP, so the EOS R1 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R1 and D90 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R1 has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while D90 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R1 or the D90?
EOS R1 reaches 40 fps electronic. D90 reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R1 and D90?
EOS R1 weighs 920 g and D90 weighs 520 g, so the D90 is 400 g lighter.
Do the EOS R1 and D90 record 4K video?
EOS R1: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. D90: 4K up to 60p.
Are the EOS R1 and D90 weather sealed?
EOS R1: Yes. D90: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,330 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R1 and 640 shots for the D90, giving the EOS R1 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R1 launched at $6,299 and D90 at $999. The D90 is $5,300 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way EOS R1 vs D90 vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Nikon press materials.