Canon EOS 90D Canon - Review 🏆

The Canon EOS 90D is a mid-range DSLR camera aimed at enthusiasts, advanced amateurs, and semi-professionals. With a rugged build quality and weather sealing, it is well-suited for wildlife, sports, nature, and action photography.

The 90D features a new 32.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor, representing a significant jump in resolution over previous Canon APS-C cameras. This allows for more detailed images, greater editing flexibility, and the ability to crop in aggressively while maintaining print quality.

Combined with Canon's latest DIGIC 8 image processor, the 90D delivers excellent image quality with reduced noise, 14fps burst shooting, and 4K video capabilities. It uses a 45-point all cross-type autofocus system for fast subject tracking with predictive AF.

With its blend of resolution, performance, and great ergonomics, the 90D hits a sweet spot in Canon's DSLR lineup. It provides an attractive option for those seeking pro-level features and quality in a more compact and affordable package compared to full-frame cameras.

Build Quality

The Canon EOS 90D has an excellent build quality that feels sturdy and durable in the hand. The camera body is constructed from a combination of polycarbonate resin and glass fibers, giving it a lightweight yet solid feel. The exterior surfaces have a matte black finish that looks attractive while also providing a secure grip.

The weather sealing helps prevent dust and moisture from entering the camera, making the 90D suitable for outdoor use. It has seals around buttons and covers over connection ports. While not fully waterproof, the 90D provides reasonable protection from light rain and splashes.

Overall, the materials used in the construction feel high-end and able to withstand the rigors of frequent use. The camera has a reassuring heft and balance for comfortable handling. The durable build inspires confidence that the 90D can keep up with the demands of an active photographer.

For those seeking a more compact option, the Canon EOS M200 MILC offers exceptional portability without compromising on performance. This mirrorless camera features a sleek, lightweight design that is perfect for travel and everyday photography. Despite its smaller size, the M200 delivers impressive image quality and includes a variety of advanced features. Its intuitive touchscreen interface makes it easy for beginners to use, while the robust build ensures it can handle frequent handling. The Canon EOS M200 MILC is an excellent choice for those looking to capture high-quality images on the go.

Image Sensor

The Canon EOS 90D features a 32.5MP APS-C CMOS image sensor, which provides excellent resolution for large prints and cropping flexibility. The sensor size is 22.3 x 14.9 mm, which is a standard size for DSLR cameras in this class.

The sensor utilizes Canon's DIGIC 8 image processor, which enables fast continuous shooting speeds, 4K video recording, and improved noise reduction. It has a native ISO range of 100-25600, which can be expanded to 51200 for shooting in low-light conditions.

The 32.5MP resolution enables photographers to capture fine details and produce large prints. The increased resolution compared to previous Canon APS-C models provides more flexibility for cropping images while retaining enough resolution for detailed photos. Overall, the 90D's sensor technology delivers impressive image quality and high resolution in a variety of shooting situations.

If you're looking for a compact yet powerful camera, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is an excellent choice. This camera features a 20.1MP 1.0-inch type stacked CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor. It offers 4K video recording without crop and shoots at up to 30 fps. Its fast lens and great low-light performance make it ideal for vlogging and travel photography. The PowerShot G7 X Mark III also includes built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for easy sharing and remote control functionality, making it a versatile and portable option for creators.

Autofocus System

The Canon EOS 90D has a sophisticated 45-point all cross-type autofocus system that covers a wide area of the frame. It uses an advanced AF algorithm that helps track subjects quickly and accurately.

The AF system includes 27 cross-type AF points at f/8 which is useful when pairing with teleconverters. This allows more AF points to be utilized with slower lens and teleconverter combinations.

For AI Servo AF, the 90D has customizable cases that allow you to tweak the tracking sensitivity and acceleration/deceleration tracking parameters. This allows you to fine tune the AF system for different types of motion and subjects.

The AF is highly customizable, with options like AF area selection mode, orientation linked AF points, initial AF point, and AF point auto switching. This makes the 90D very flexible for both stills and video shooting.

For Live View and video shooting, the 90D uses Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF which offers smooth and fast autofocus during video recording or when shooting stills in live view mode. The AF coverage area is approximately 88% horizontal and 100% vertical for excellent subject tracking.

Overall, the autofocus system offers advanced subject tracking capabilities, highly customizable control, and versatility for both optical viewfinder and live view shooting. This makes the 90D well-suited for shooting fast action like wildlife, sports, or moving subjects.

Video Capabilities

The Canon EOS 90D offers impressive video capabilities for a DSLR. It can shoot up to 4K video at 30fps, with support for Full HD 1080p shooting up to 120fps for smooth slow motion.

The 90D uses the MP4 format for 4K and Full HD video, with the highly efficient H.264 codec providing good quality compression. Autofocus works well for video, using on-sensor phase detection pixels for smooth and fast tracking of moving subjects. Dual Pixel CMOS AF allows for responsive focus acquisition and subject tracking in video mode.

The 90D provides both mic and headphone jacks for improved audio control while filming videos. Manual gain control and wind noise reduction further enhance the 90D's solid video recording capabilities. Overall the 90D marks an excellent option for enthusiasts looking for robust video functions in a DSLR.

Connectivity

The Canon EOS 90D has a good range of connectivity options. It has USB and HDMI ports for wired connections. The USB port is a USB 3.1 Gen 1 which provides fast transfer speeds when connecting to a computer. For wireless connections, the 90D has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The Wi-Fi allows you to wirelessly transfer images to smartphones, tablets or computers. You can also remotely control the camera from your mobile device using the Canon Camera Connect app. The Bluetooth is useful for connecting to smart devices and GPS receivers. It provides a constant connection so location data can be embedded into your images.

Overall, the ports and wireless capabilities of the 90D allow for flexible image transfer and remote control from mobile devices. The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make sharing images and videos on the go easy.

Viewfinder/LCD

The Canon EOS 90D features both an optical viewfinder and a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen LCD. The optical viewfinder provides a bright, clear view with 100% coverage and 0.95x magnification. This allows you to accurately compose and track moving subjects. The LCD is a vari-angle design that can tilt and swivel to allow flexible viewing angles. With 1.04 million dots, it provides a sharp, detailed live view. The touchscreen also makes operation more intuitive. Overall, the 90D offers photographers the choice between a traditional optical viewfinder and a high-quality articulating LCD screen. Both are useful in different shooting scenarios. The optical viewfinder is ideal for following fast action and conserving battery life. The LCD excels at odd angles, video, and reviewing images. Having both options makes the 90D very versatile.

Shooting Speed

The Canon EOS 90D offers impressive shooting speed and performance, making it well-suited for action photography. It can shoot at up to 10 frames per second in continuous shooting mode, which is very fast for a DSLR in this class.

The 90D uses a deep buffer to allow extended high-speed shooting. When shooting JPEG images, the buffer depth is unlimited - you can shoot endlessly at 10 fps until your memory card fills up. When shooting RAW images, the buffer allows for 58 frames before slowing down. This buffer depth should satisfy most action photographers' needs.

The fast 10fps continuous shooting combined with the deep RAW buffer provides the performance needed to capture fast action like wildlife, sports, and other subjects where you need to capture fleeting moments. The unlimited JPEG buffer also makes the 90D a great option for photographers who want to machine gun spray shots of action and reactions.

Overall, the shooting speed and buffer depth allow the 90D to stand out from competitor DSLRs in its class. The performance is comparable to higher-end prosumer models, making the 90D a great value for photographers seeking a responsive camera for action photography.

Battery Life

The Canon EOS 90D is powered by the LP-E6N battery which is rated for up to 1,300 shots per charge based on CIPA testing standards. This is a slight improvement over the 900 shot rating of the previous EOS 80D model. The increase in battery life is likely due to the more power efficient DIGIC 8 image processor. Overall, the battery life is very good for this class of camera and enables all day shooting without needing to swap batteries. During real world usage, photographers should expect to achieve similar results, capturing between 500-1,000 images before needing to recharge depending on settings and usage. The included battery charger can fully recharge the LP-E6N battery pack in approximately 2 hours.

Pros and Cons

The Canon EOS 90D has many strengths that make it a great option for wildlife, sports, and action photographers. Here is a summary of the main pros and cons:

Pros

• 32.5MP APS-C sensor provides excellent resolution for large prints
• 10fps continuous shooting with deep buffer lets you capture fast action
• 45 cross-type AF points offer quick, accurate autofocus tracking
• Uncropped 4K video with mic input allows high-quality footage
• Fully articulating touchscreen simplifies shooting at tricky angles
• Weather-sealed construction handles outdoor shooting
• Dual card slots enable instant backup or extended shooting
• Long battery life allows up to 1,300 shots per charge

Cons

• No in-body image stabilization requires lenses with IS for handheld video
• 4K video limited to 30fps and has 1.7x crop factor
• Larger and heavier than mirrorless camera options
• No built-in flash (external flash required)
• AF can struggle in very low light situations
• Some buttons are small and crowded together

Overall, the Canon 90D provides an excellent balance of image quality, performance, controls, and durability for advanced hobbyists and prosumer photographers capturing fast action. Its robust DSLR design does come with some extra weight and bulk compared to mirrorless options. But for users who prefer an optical viewfinder and the familiar DSLR handling, the 90D remains a very capable and versatile camera.