D7000 IQ is everything what d90 is. D90 is 85-90% of everything what d7000 IQ is. This ratio could go for the bodies – performance - comparison as well. Although the LV, batteries, card slots, MLU, 14 bits and such effectively leave d90 in a class level that is somewhat one step below on this virtual stairway.
They are remarkably similar, or identical in the IQ essence. I shot them hundreds times side by side for specific reasons. And I do so on in the terrain. 85-90%. Otherwise.. the blue sky is different. It’s quite a difference. There is a long queue of users that don’t like so called “magenta skies” of Nikon, they had their own profiles, helping themselves with ACR etc. Of course there are many long queues going in various ways. I loved the d90 blues and losing it was one of my worries regarding d7000. But I like d7000 skies better should I chose. I still like d90 one too. I simply like both versions that belong to the character of each these cameras. But that’s a difference you will notice in execution. D7000 is cooler in the sky. And it’s cooler altogether for the reasons mentioned above. It faces a stiff opponent in the d90 has to be said. It’s a bit easier with present Canon cameras for now as far as the comparisons are concerned.
Where and when you are going to see 85-90% vs 100? I don’t know. One may not see P300 different. For some it’s very nice to have this 15-10% practical potential. You can see almost nothing of that sometimes, sometimes you really praise the difference in all its power. D90 remains a very fine camera. I didn’t change lenses but shot with the lens needed on d90 instead - on my recent ravels. I’d hesitate with uwa, though, or under some conditions. And if I go for one planned n very distant 1 and ½ month travel, there is no way I would not replace the very good d90 with another d7000 (at least). That sort of puts it in perspective the way it is for me. If one needs a better dx than d90... he needs the d7000.
He well doesn't have to need that, sure. I’d understand very well.
Make sure you have same setting when comparing two files. whether in NX2 modes or in jpgs. I don't shoot jpgs.
Best,
Hynek
--
http://www.sunwaysite.com 
