Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by cameraconsumer
As mirrorless cameras gain in popularity, DSLR cameras seem to have gotten lost in the shuffle.
But Canon is still improving on current models, and the Canon EOS 90D is a good example. Upgraded from the 80D, it’s very capable, of both photos and videos.
And it’s truly a standout camera for vlogging! Best of all, the Canon 90D is very affordable.
The Canon EOS 90D is a powerful DSLR camera that offers a great balance of features for both still photography and video.
And in this review, we’ll take a look at the camera’s performance in both areas, as well as its autofocus capabilities and overall usability.
Canon 90D Overview
The Canon 90D is a powerful DSLR camera that has been designed with both photographers and videographers in mind. It has a high-resolution 32-megapixel sensor, 11f/s with a raw buffer of 25 raw frames or 58 jpegs, and 4K video with zero crop. And it runs on Digic 8.
It also has a great autofocus system with intelligent object and face tracking. And the joystick quickly changes between auto-focusing points, and touch autofocus.
And, the colors of this Canon camera are amazing. This makes it a great choice for anyone looking to quickly turn their content around without having to edit their photos and videos. And it has a maximum ISO of 25,600, so low-light shots are easy too.
But, the 90D does have a few flaws. The 4K video is not particularly sharp, and it does not have any cinema profiles or hybrid log gamma. And the autofocus does not work in ultra slow-mo with 120f/s.
So, who is this camera really for?
This camera is for the person who wants a DSLR that does both photos and videos really well. It’s certainly a great option for vloggers as it has excellent stabilization and an ergonomic design – both of which make it so easy and fun to use. And, it is a great choice for anyone with a side hustle who needs an affordable camera.
After all, It has enough features to be a professional work camera. You can view the full PDF spec sheet here.
Video Features
The Canon 90D shines as a vlogging camera. It really does take things to a vlogging beast mode level! Even now, almost 4 years after its release, it’s still one of the best vlogging SLRs that Canon has made.
The 90D has some great video features. It does both 24 and 30f/s – uncropped in 4K mode. And up to 60f/s with a special high-speed mode that does 120f/s which is four times slow motion.
It also has a very effective dual-pixel autofocus with excellent eye-detection capabilities. When you’re vlogging, especially when you’re not seated in a studio, your distance from the camera usually fluctuates. With some cameras, there’s a lag while the camera refocuses. With the 90D, this isn’t a problem at all. It maintains focus on your face very effectively.
Additionally, it has an LCD at the top that immediately shows your shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. And it has an articulating screen that is also a touch screen. If you’re a solo vlogger, this is a must-have!
As far as downsides go, there isn’t much to complain about on the video side of things. If anything, it comes down to the audio. If you aren’t the biggest fan of Canon’s preamps, then you know what to expect here. But you do get a headphone jack, which is always nice.
Overall though, the video performance on the 90D is awesome! The dual-pixel AF just performs so well. As long as you keep things more-or-less in the frame, it’s going to do its job and keep you in focus.
Autofocus On The 90D
This brings us to…the autofocus! The AF system in the Canon 90D is the classic 45-point autofocus, and overall it’s excellent.
It really serves the kind of people this camera is for, especially given the price.
It’s fast and reliable, and it has very intelligent object and face tracking. The joystick in the back lets you quickly change between auto-focusing points. And it also lets you quickly change between different people or objects.
But performance does dip slightly when you’re shooting through the optical viewfinder, at high speed.
The 90D does track with face detection very well. But when you’re in OVF mode, it does lose track of your face at times. Particularly when you’re in the background.
The AF will choose your face more often than not, but sometimes you will be out of focus in the background.
OVF performance does get much better in low-speed continuous mode. But again, this is more of a background issue. You still do get the blisteringly fast OVF performance while staying in focus, most of the time.
Finally, you do get a smaller spot AF point when you’re shooting through the OVF. And this really lets you get pinpoint focus on details using the optical viewfinder.
The New Sensor
The big change on this camera, from the 80D, is the brand new sensor, with 32.5 MP resolution. And just like with the M6 Mark II, this sensor gives you that extra resolution without costing you any dynamic range or low-light performance.
Cramming over 32 MP into an APS-C size sensor is obviously a lot. So you might have to be a little choosy about which lenses to use to get full advantage out of the 32 + megapixels.
You’ll still get good results if you use lenses that aren’t quite able to maximize the full 32.5 megapixels. But if you really want to see maximum detail out of this sensor, then you’ll need lenses that are capable.
This is an EF platform, so you’ve got tons of lens choices. We love the 90D with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens.
Dynamic Range
The new sensor provides an awesome experience when it comes to dynamic range.
Given the big resolution bump, you would expect to see a drop in dynamic range. But getting those extra megapixels without sacrificing DR is great! It’s definitely a good improvement for Canon here, compared to the 80D.
The 90D handles highlights and shadows competently.
Shutter Speed
1/16,000 of a second is the maximum electronic shutter speed for the Canon 90D.
But the 90d has the option in live view to go from the electronic front curtain to a fully mechanical mode. Mechanical speed tops out at 1/8000 of a second.
This should help to avoid some of the lag that you might get when you’re trying to track a moving subject.
So, this means that the 90D is a sneaky good wildlife camera.
Live View
Shooting with the OVF, the Canon 90D is very similar to the older 80D. The 90D is definitely an improvement, but the 80D is still a comparable experience.
But then shooting in live view shows that the 90D is a completely different camera. You get 10 frames per second with autofocus tracking, and it works flawlessly!
Touch anywhere on the screen and lock your subject, and it will track smoothly. And it actually does a great job tracking not just the face, but the eyes as well. It really is a solid improvement over the autofocus experience through the OVF.
The screen itself is a 3″ beauty. It’s a TFT LCD screen with a resolution of 1,040,000 dots, and .59x magnification. And it can be turned to be front-facing – which is obviously a vlogger must-have!
But on a sunny day, the screen is still hard to see.
Which is fine, because the optical viewfinder is solid! It provides 100% coverage, with a .95 magnification. And it has comfortable eye relief, so you can get in there, and frame properly.
That said, an LCD screen hood is still a good accessory to have for the 90D.
The Canon 90D Camera Body Design
The Canon 90D was made for video shooters, and it has an ergonomic design that makes it easy to use.
The dials and buttons are just in the right place, and everything is nice and clicky. This is an enthusiast-level camera, so the buttons still have a slightly cheaper feel, when compared to something like a Canon EOS 7D Mark II. But when you get past that, it’s actually a very ergonomically well-designed camera body.
And the camera itself isn’t too heavy.
People tend to compare the 90D to Canon’s EOS M6 Mark II. In that light, the 90D is almost twice as heavy. But that extra weight translates to a nice feel in your hands. It’s a weather-sealed and rugged camera, and it just feels solid!
Battery Life
The LP-E6N battery in the Canon 90D is insane, as it will literally go for four to five hours on a single charge. However, it is still recommended to carry a few spare batteries – especially if you’re planning on a long shoot.
if you are looking for a good reason to buy the Canon EOS 90D over the M6 Mark II, battery life is definitely a valid reason.
The LP-E6N is good for at least 1300 shots when you use the OVF. And If you’re shooting off the back LCD screen, then you’ll probably get somewhere around 450 shots.
Conclusion
The Canon 90D isn’t just an upgraded 80D. It’s much more than that. And it has the features and performance that make it more compelling than similar models, like the Nikon D7500, for example.
The Canon 90D is a powerful DSLR camera that has been designed with both photographers and videographers in mind. It has a high-resolution 32.5mp sensor, 11 f/s with a raw buffer of 25 raw frames or 58 jpegs, and 4K video with zero crop.
Additionally, it has a great autofocus system with intelligent object and face tracking, a joystick for quickly changing between autofocusing points, and touch autofocus.
It also has an ergonomic design that makes it easy to use. And a battery that will last for four to five hours on a single charge.
Overall, the Canon 90D is a great choice for anyone looking for a DSLR that does both photos and videos really well. It’s definitely a no-brainer for vloggers, as it has great stabilization and an ergonomic design that makes it so easy to use.
It’s definitely a professional work camera.
