Reviews Canon EOS 90D
African Birdlife|January - February 2020
Canon’s new EOS 90D is a DSLR camera equipped with an APS-C sensor (crop sensor) and an impressive array of features.
GRANT ATKINSON
Reviews Canon EOS 90D

At the time of writing, the 90D is retailing for less than R20 000, but its performance and features are comparable to those found in far more expensive models in the Canon line-up.

The image sensor has the APS-C format and at 22mm wide it is smaller than the 35mm (full-frame) sensor found in cameras such as the Canon 6D Mark 2, the 5D Mark 4 and the 1DX Mark 2. A major advantage to the smaller image sensor is that it reduces the cost of the camera, but a drawback is compromised image quality when ambient light is low. In bright light, there is less noticeable difference in image quality output between an APS-C sensor camera and a full-frame. How much that matters will depend upon each user’s interpretation of image quality and their respective needs, be they for screen or print.

The 90D replaces the 80D and it has an impressive list of improvements. Notable among these are several that affect performance in areas that really matter to bird and wildlife photographers, for instance speed, continuous shooting, and resolution.

Build quality

The camera has a chassis constructed of alloy and composite material and it is well covered with grippy rubber. The camera build is somewhat tougher than the entry-level Canon bodies, but not quite as rugged as the 7D Mark 2 or the 5D Mark 4.

Controls

The 90D has a set of controls nearly as complete as any DSLR, with both front and rear dials, as well as assigned buttons for changing focus modes. A new addition to this range (last seen in the 50D) is a dedicated autofocus multi-controller, which makes it very easy to move the active focus point around the frame, enabling you to compose quickly. The camera also has a well-designed rear touch screen that can be used for selecting or checking your settings. Reviewing images is fun on the touch screen and it supports swipe gestures.

Ergonomics

Esta historia es de la edición January - February 2020 de African Birdlife.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición January - February 2020 de African Birdlife.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE AFRICAN BIRDLIFEVer todo
EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS
African Birdlife

EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS

Keith Barnes, co-author of the new Field Guide to Birds of Greater Southern Africa, chats about the long-neglected birding regions just north of the Kunene and Zambezi, getting back to watching birds and the vulture that changed his life.

time-read
5 minutos  |
May/June 2024
footloose IN FYNBOS
African Birdlife

footloose IN FYNBOS

The Walker Bay Diversity Trail is a leisurely hike with a multitude of flowers, feathers and flavours along the way.

time-read
6 minutos  |
May/June 2024
Living forwards
African Birdlife

Living forwards

How photographing birds helps me face adversity

time-read
10 minutos  |
May/June 2024
CAPE crusade
African Birdlife

CAPE crusade

The Cape Bird Club/City of Cape Town Birding Big Year Challenge

time-read
5 minutos  |
May/June 2024
water & WINGS
African Birdlife

water & WINGS

WATER IS LIFE. As wildlife photographer Greg du Toit knows better than most.

time-read
1 min  |
May/June 2024
winter wanderer
African Birdlife

winter wanderer

as summer becomes a memory in the south, the skies are a little quieter as the migrants have returned to the warming north. But one bird endemic to the southern African region takes its own little winter journey.

time-read
1 min  |
May/June 2024
when perfect isn't enough
African Birdlife

when perfect isn't enough

Egg signatures and forgeries in the cuckoo-drongo arms race

time-read
5 minutos  |
May/June 2024
Southern SIGHTINGS
African Birdlife

Southern SIGHTINGS

The late summer period naturally started quietening down after the midsummer excitement, but there were still some classy rarities on offer for birders all over the subregion. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.

time-read
4 minutos  |
May/June 2024
flood impact on wetland birds
African Birdlife

flood impact on wetland birds

One of the features of a warming planet is increasingly erratic rainfall; years of drought followed by devastating floods. Fortunately, many waterbirds are pre-adapted to cope with such extremes, especially in southern Africa where they have evolved to exploit episodic rainfall events in semi-arid and arid regions. But how do waterbirds respond to floods in areas where rainfall - and access to water - is more predictable? Peter Ryan explores the consequences of recent floods on the birds of the Western Cape's Olifants River valley.

time-read
5 minutos  |
May/June 2024
a star is born
African Birdlife

a star is born

It’s every producer’s dream to plan a wildlife television series and pick the right characters before filming.

time-read
2 minutos  |
May/June 2024