Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Nikon D90
Comparison
change cameras » | |||||
|
vs |
|
|||
Sony Alpha a6000 | Nikon D90 | ||||
check price » | check price » |
Megapixels
24.30
12.30
Max. image resolution
6000 x 4000
4288 x 2848
Sensor
Sensor type
CMOS
CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 x 15.6 mm
23.6 x 15.8 mm
Sensor size comparison
Sensor size is generally a good indicator of the quality of the camera.
Sensors can vary greatly in size. As a general rule, the bigger the
sensor, the better the image quality.
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Bigger sensors are more effective because they have more surface area to capture light. An important factor when comparing digital cameras is also camera generation. Generally, newer sensors will outperform the older.
Learn more about sensor sizes »
Actual sensor size
Note: Actual size is set to screen → change »
|
vs |
|
1 | : | 1.02 |
(ratio) | ||
Sony Alpha a6000 | Nikon D90 |
Surface area:
366.60 mm² | vs | 372.88 mm² |
Difference: 6.28 mm² (2%)
D90 sensor is slightly bigger than Alpha a6000 sensor (only 2% difference).
Note: You are comparing sensors of very different generations.
There is a gap of 6 years between Sony Alpha a6000 (2014) and Nikon D90 (2008).
Six years is a lot of time in terms
of technology, meaning newer sensors are overall much more
efficient than the older ones.
Pixel pitch tells you the distance from the center of one pixel (photosite) to the center of the next. It tells you how close the pixels are to each other.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
The bigger the pixel pitch, the further apart they are and the bigger each pixel is. Bigger pixels tend to have better signal to noise ratio and greater dynamic range.
Pixel or photosite area affects how much light per pixel can be gathered.
The larger it is the more light can be collected by a single pixel.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Larger pixels have the potential to collect more photons, resulting in greater dynamic range, while smaller pixels provide higher resolutions (more detail) for a given sensor size.
Relative pixel sizes:
vs
Pixel area difference: 15.31 µm² (102%)
A pixel on Nikon D90 sensor is approx. 102% bigger than a pixel on Sony Alpha a6000.
Pixel density tells you how many million pixels fit or would fit in one
square cm of the sensor.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
Higher pixel density means smaller pixels and lower pixel density means larger pixels.
To learn about the accuracy of these numbers,
click here.
Specs
Sony Alpha a6000
Nikon D90
Total megapixels
24.70
12.90
Effective megapixels
24.30
12.30
Optical zoom
Digital zoom
Yes
No
ISO sensitivity
Auto, 100-25600
Auto, 200 - 3200 (plus 6400 with boost)
RAW
Manual focus
Normal focus range
Macro focus range
Focal length (35mm equiv.)
Aperture priority
Yes
Yes
Max. aperture
Metering
Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
Exposure compensation
±5 EV (in 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
±5 EV (in 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps)
Shutter priority
Yes
Yes
Min. shutter speed
30 sec
30 sec
Max. shutter speed
1/4000 sec
1/4000 sec
Built-in flash
External flash
Viewfinder
Electronic
Optical (pentaprism)
White balance presets
10
12
Screen size
3"
3"
Screen resolution
921,600 dots
920,000 dots
Video capture
Max. video resolution
1920x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
1280x720 (24)
Storage types
SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
SD/SDHC
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI
Wireless
GPS
Battery
NP-FW50 lithium-ion battery
Lithium-Ion EN-EL3e rechargeable battery
Weight
344 g
703 g
Dimensions
120 x 67 x 45 mm
132 x 103 x 77 mm
Year
2014
2008
Choose cameras to compare
Popular comparisons:
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Samsung NX300
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Canon EOS Rebel SL1
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Nikon D5300
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Canon EOS 70D
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Alpha SLT-A58
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Olympus OM-D E-M10
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-7
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
Diagonal
Diagonal is calculated by the use of Pythagorean theorem:
where w = sensor width and h = sensor height
Diagonal = √ | w² + h² |
Sony Alpha a6000 diagonal
w = 23.50 mm
h = 15.60 mm
h = 15.60 mm
Diagonal = √ | 23.50² + 15.60² | = 28.21 mm |
Nikon D90 diagonal
w = 23.60 mm
h = 15.80 mm
h = 15.80 mm
Diagonal = √ | 23.60² + 15.80² | = 28.40 mm |
Surface area
Surface area is calculated by multiplying the width and the height of a sensor.
Alpha a6000 sensor area
Width = 23.50 mm
Height = 15.60 mm
Surface area = 23.50 × 15.60 = 366.60 mm²
Height = 15.60 mm
Surface area = 23.50 × 15.60 = 366.60 mm²
D90 sensor area
Width = 23.60 mm
Height = 15.80 mm
Surface area = 23.60 × 15.80 = 372.88 mm²
Height = 15.80 mm
Surface area = 23.60 × 15.80 = 372.88 mm²
Pixel pitch
Pixel pitch is the distance from the center of one pixel to the center of the
next measured in micrometers (µm). It can be calculated with the following formula:
Pixel pitch = | sensor width in mm | × 1000 |
sensor resolution width in pixels |
Alpha a6000 pixel pitch
Sensor width = 23.50 mm
Sensor resolution width = 6058 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 6058 pixels
Pixel pitch = | 23.50 | × 1000 | = 3.88 µm |
6058 |
D90 pixel pitch
Sensor width = 23.60 mm
Sensor resolution width = 4281 pixels
Sensor resolution width = 4281 pixels
Pixel pitch = | 23.60 | × 1000 | = 5.51 µm |
4281 |
Pixel area
The area of one pixel can be calculated by simply squaring the pixel pitch:
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
Pixel area = pixel pitch²
You could also divide sensor surface area with effective megapixels:
Pixel area = | sensor surface area in mm² |
effective megapixels |
Alpha a6000 pixel area
Pixel pitch = 3.88 µm
Pixel area = 3.88² = 15.05 µm²
Pixel area = 3.88² = 15.05 µm²
D90 pixel area
Pixel pitch = 5.51 µm
Pixel area = 5.51² = 30.36 µm²
Pixel area = 5.51² = 30.36 µm²
Pixel density
Pixel density can be calculated with the following formula:
One could also use this formula:
Pixel density = ( | sensor resolution width in pixels | )² / 1000000 |
sensor width in cm |
One could also use this formula:
Pixel density = | effective megapixels × 1000000 | / 10000 |
sensor surface area in mm² |
Alpha a6000 pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 6058 pixels
Sensor width = 2.35 cm
Pixel density = (6058 / 2.35)² / 1000000 = 6.65 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 2.35 cm
Pixel density = (6058 / 2.35)² / 1000000 = 6.65 MP/cm²
D90 pixel density
Sensor resolution width = 4281 pixels
Sensor width = 2.36 cm
Pixel density = (4281 / 2.36)² / 1000000 = 3.29 MP/cm²
Sensor width = 2.36 cm
Pixel density = (4281 / 2.36)² / 1000000 = 3.29 MP/cm²
Sensor resolution
Sensor resolution is calculated from sensor size and effective megapixels. It's slightly higher
than maximum (not interpolated) image resolution which is usually stated on camera specifications.
Sensor resolution is used in pixel pitch, pixel area, and pixel density formula.
For sake of simplicity, we're going to calculate it in 3 stages.
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
3. To get sensor resolution we then multiply X with the corresponding ratio:
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
1. First we need to find the ratio between horizontal and vertical length by dividing the former with the latter (aspect ratio). It's usually 1.33 (4:3) or 1.5 (3:2), but not always.
2. With the ratio (r) known we can calculate the X from the formula below, where X is a vertical number of pixels:
(X × r) × X = effective megapixels × 1000000 → |
|
Resolution horizontal: X × r
Resolution vertical: X
Alpha a6000 sensor resolution
Sensor width = 23.50 mm
Sensor height = 15.60 mm
Effective megapixels = 24.30
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 4012 × 1.51 = 6058
Resolution vertical: X = 4012
Sensor resolution = 6058 x 4012
Sensor height = 15.60 mm
Effective megapixels = 24.30
r = 23.50/15.60 = 1.51 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 4012
Sensor resolution = 6058 x 4012
D90 sensor resolution
Sensor width = 23.60 mm
Sensor height = 15.80 mm
Effective megapixels = 12.30
Resolution horizontal: X × r = 2873 × 1.49 = 4281
Resolution vertical: X = 2873
Sensor resolution = 4281 x 2873
Sensor height = 15.80 mm
Effective megapixels = 12.30
r = 23.60/15.80 = 1.49 |
|
Resolution vertical: X = 2873
Sensor resolution = 4281 x 2873
Crop factor
Crop factor or focal length multiplier is calculated by dividing the diagonal
of 35 mm film (43.27 mm) with the diagonal of the sensor.
Crop factor = | 43.27 mm |
sensor diagonal in mm |
Alpha a6000 crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 28.21 mm
Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 1.53 |
28.21 |
D90 crop factor
Sensor diagonal in mm = 28.40 mm
Crop factor = | 43.27 | = 1.52 |
28.40 |
35 mm equivalent aperture
Equivalent aperture (in 135 film terms) is calculated by multiplying lens aperture
with crop factor (a.k.a. focal length multiplier).
Alpha a6000 equivalent aperture
Aperture is a lens characteristic, so it's calculated only for
fixed lens cameras. If you want to know the equivalent aperture for
Sony Alpha a6000, take the aperture of the lens
you're using and multiply it with crop factor.
Crop factor for Sony Alpha a6000 is 1.53
Crop factor for Sony Alpha a6000 is 1.53
D90 equivalent aperture
Aperture is a lens characteristic, so it's calculated only for
fixed lens cameras. If you want to know the equivalent aperture for
Nikon D90, take the aperture of the lens
you're using and multiply it with crop factor.
Crop factor for Nikon D90 is 1.52
Crop factor for Nikon D90 is 1.52
More comparisons of Sony Alpha a6000:
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Canon EOS Rebel T2i
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Alpha a5100
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-5N
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Nikon D90
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Nikon D3300
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-5T
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Nikon D7100
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-6
- Sony Alpha a6000 vs. Sony Alpha NEX-5R
Enter your screen size (diagonal)
My screen size is
inches
Actual size is currently adjusted to screen.
If your screen (phone, tablet, or monitor) is not in diagonal, then the actual size of a sensor won't be shown correctly.
If your screen (phone, tablet, or monitor) is not in diagonal, then the actual size of a sensor won't be shown correctly.