The Canon EOS 90D is an entry-level DSLR that replaces the 3.5-year-old 80D and slots in between the EOS 77D and EOS 7D Mark II, which are still around. It has a new, higher-resolution sensor with excellent raw image quality and offers competitive Live View AF (with eye detection) and 4K video recording, all in a familiar body. The 90D is essentially the DSLR version of the mirrorless EOS M6 Mark II, which was introduced alongside it.
Since the specs are nearly identical, Canon is giving potential buyers a choice of what kind of shooting experience they want: a mid-sized DSLR with an optical viewfinder and more physical controls, or a smaller and lighter mirrorless model with a detachable electronic viewfinder. And, of course, the different selection of native lenses for EF- and M-mount could also appeal to different types of users. A few years ago, the Canon EOS 80D was one of the best cameras on the market for anyone looking for a mid-range snapper that went beyond basic features without offering the complexity of a pro model.
In fact, it’s still a perfectly solid DSLR today, but to make the series relevant in the age of mirrorless cameras, Canon built something more modern to fill their big shoes. That camera is the Canon EOS 90D, perhaps the last enthusiast DSLR the company will ever make. Launched alongside the Canon EOS M6 Mark II, the 90D plays to the traditional strengths of DSLR cameras – good handling, long battery life, optical viewfinder – but also offers some innovative features. These include a new sensor with many more megapixels than the 80D (32.5 MP compared to 24.2 MP), which is helpful when cropping images, and Canon’s latest image processor.
Design
When we talk about the Canon 90D’s specs, the first thing that stands out when you pick up the camera is its design. It is larger than the EOS Rebel T7 that we recently tested. The larger surface area means that the buttons and dials are a bit farther apart. For someone with larger hands, everything will fall into place. One interesting thing you’ll notice on the back of the camera is the multi-selector joystick. This allows you to select menu items faster and more efficiently.
This is better than the multi-button system that older cameras came with. The back of the camera is dominated by a large, swiveling 3-inch touchscreen. This is a better choice than the fixed screens we’ve seen on entry-level cameras. It also allows you to control functions by touch, which is very handy in many situations. However, we’re personally not a big fan of touchscreens on a DSLR. In our opinion, they are pure dust and wipe magnets.
And they can only be kept clean with a lot of effort. If you’re one of those photographers who relies on the rear LCD screen, you’ll be annoyed by all the smudges and fingerprints. The swiveling touchscreen gives you a lot of options when shooting video. You can use crazy angles, like shooting from the hip or above the headline, without ever missing the shot. Thanks to the swiveling screen, you can keep the subject in the frame the whole time.
Features
At first glance, there aren’t many differences between the EOS 80D and its successor. However, the inner workings are brand new, with a 32.5 MP APS-C CMOS sensor taking center stage. In the past, the sensor resolution of most APS-C cameras was 24 MP – which means that the 90D (and the EOS M6 Mark II with the same sensor) offers the highest resolution in the crop sensor class. The advantage of such resolution is that you can capture more detail while having the flexibility to crop an image during post-processing, allowing you to zoom in closer to your subject without compromising image quality.
While the higher resolution is a welcome addition, it can result in more image noise when shooting at higher ISOs than cameras of the same sensor class with lower resolution. This is because the individual pixels must be reduced in size to accommodate a larger number of pixels in a limited space. However, it is Canon’s latest Digic 8 image processor that gives the 90D a significant performance boost over the 80D and its Digic 6 engine.
With the latest processor, which has yet to find a successor this year, the new camera can shoot 4K video, whereas the 80D only managed 1080p resolution (aka Full HD). And unlike all other Canon cameras, including the new EOS R and EOS RP, the 90D uses the full width of the sensor for video recording – a long-awaited first for the company. The videos themselves are recorded in MP4 file format in either 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) at a maximum of 30 frames per second, Full HD (1920 x 1080) at up to 60 frames per second, or Standard HD (1280 x 720) at 60 frames per second and a maximum duration of 30 minutes.
Image Quality
The 90D and its mirrorless sister, the M6 Mark II, are Canon’s first new APS-C image sensors since the 24MP chip used in models like the T6i and 80D. Along with an updated image processor, this allows the camera to do things that weren’t possible with previous models. The increase in resolution is noticeable. Wildlife photographers now have a bit more latitude when cropping distant subjects, to name just one use case.
And although the 90D packs more pixels into half the space than the full-frame 5D Mark IV, it does an admirable job of noise control. That’s not to say that the sensor doesn’t show the effects of its high pixel density. When using the JPG format, the sensor starts to blur fine details at ISO 800, a few stops earlier than the 26MP chip in the Fujifilm X-T30 and X-T3.
Still, this is only a modest effect, and image quality remains fairly consistent up to ISO 3200. Blur becomes an issue at ISO 6400 and 12800, increasing at ISO 25600, and at the highest sensitivity of ISO 51200, most of the detail is gone. The camera ships with ISO 6400 as the top automatic option, and ISO 51200 is only available via manual selection.
Video Quality
As the quality of DSLR video has improved significantly lately, we’ve been using it more and more for my outdoor photography to document wildlife behavior and/or create a high-quality single frame from a 4K video sequence. We’ve taken the 90D to a number of sanctuaries to test the video capabilities with a variety of raptors and waterfowl, and have been pleased with the results.
The 90D shoots 4K at 29.97 fps. 4K is not available on the 80D or 7D Mark II and is a valuable tool for nature photographers. The 90D’s 4K video uses the entire sensor for recording. The 90D also records slo-mo at 120 fps in Full HD and 4K time-lapses that can be viewed in-camera.
First of all, the 4K feature uses the entire sensor resolution. Not that it is then cropped. In that case, the image would be oversampled and sharper, as expected. Instead, the footage looks a bit softer compared to footage from other cameras. The second oddity we noticed is that there is no 24p option for recording 4K/Full HD videos. The lowest resolution you can choose is 25p. This is very unfortunate. Of course, there are the faster frame rates of 60p and 120p available when recording in Full HD.
Performance
Thanks to its faster, more powerful processor, the Canon 90D certainly offers a bit more performance than its predecessor, and for the most part can keep up with the higher-end (albeit aging) 7D Mark II in terms of features. Continuous shooting is now possible at up to 10 frames per second with C-AF and optical viewfinder, putting the 90D on par with the 7D II and faster than the 80D – pretty impressive considering a) the high-resolution sensor and b) the fact that the 90D manages all this with a single DIGIC 8 processor, while the 7D II required two DIGIC 6 chips.
The faster UHS-II card slot (compared to the 80D’s UHS-I slot) certainly helped here as well. Live View shooting can reach up to 11 frames per second, but only when focus is locked on the first frame; with C-AF, it’s only 7 frames per second. Our lab tests showed that the 90D easily meets Canon’s continuous shooting specifications. In addition to Canon’s traditional RAW format, the 90D also offers a lossy compressed C-RAW option that offers a smaller file size and greater buffer depth.
In our tests, we saw little loss in image quality compared to the standard RAW file. Canon states that you get about 39 C-RAW files before the buffer is full, but our tests yielded up to 43 images. Standard RAW buffer depth was slightly above spec, as was JPEG depth. Overall, the 90D offers generous buffer depth, fast deletion times, and generally pleasing overall performance, especially considering the resolution.
Battery Life
Either the LP-E6N (new, included) or the old LP-E6 battery can be used. The new one has a higher capacity than the older LP-E6 battery, and both are interchangeable and can be charged with the excellent Canon LC-E6 charger. The LP-E6N is rated for xx shots with the EVF or xx videos. In-system battery percentage indicator (MENU > WRENCH page 3 > Battery Info). Tiny internal battery for the watch: charges in 8 hours and runs for three months if you take out the LP-E6N.
Configuration Option
The price of the 90D is very attractive, especially for the wedding and portrait market. It’s the perfect camera for anyone looking to take their photography skills to the next level. and the Canon EOS 90D is priced at $1,199.00.
Final Words
We hope you enjoyed this blog about the Canon EOS 90D review. Over the years, Canon has developed a whole range of options for advanced photographers, from the higher-end Rebel series with models like the Rebel T8i to the well-equipped EOS 7D Mark II. The Rebel series, even the more advanced models, are in the entry-level segment, while the 7D II hits squarely in the camp of experienced photographers. In fact, the 7D II is in the “enthusiast” segment, although arguably still a solid choice for the loosely defined “advanced” category of photographers.
Finally, the Canon 90D renews the product line, replacing the now somewhat outdated 80D from 2016, offering all-new image processing, new performance features, and better video recording options. In most aspects, it certainly outperforms its predecessor, but interestingly, it also overtakes the similarly aged 7D Mark II, which was launched in 2014 and is still technically Canon’s flagship APS-C DSLR.
