If you need a camera today, you can buy a d90. You can’t shoot with a d5000 today. That’s a big selling point for the d90 at the moment. That’ll give it a premium for at least the next two months.

MSRP to MSRP is not apples to apples in this case. If the cameras were released today at those MSRPs, you’d have a good argument that Nikon was doing something very stupid. Fact is the d90 was announced almost a year ago and these cameras are not exactly contemporary.

My comparison was apples to apples, which is the price right now. I’ll admit I was mistaken and both cameras are priced lower now. The spread is $160 now. Still far below what you’re saying.

Given a choice between the d50 and d40, I’d pick the d50. Maybe I’m not every consumer, but the screw drive is a huge amount of value, since there’s a whole back catalogue of lenses that won’t AF on the 40/60/5000.

Apples to Apples isn’t MSRP. Few people pay MSRP so it’s meaningless. The only time I mention MSRP is when people are arguing that it’s too high. MSRP is generally pretty consistent from gen to gen, factoring in inflation. Other than that, MSRP is not what the majority of consumers pay. It never was, and the internet has seen that trend increase, especially with sites like Amazon.

2. The D5000 estimated selling price in the U.S. is $730 (body only). When the D60 body only was still available, the last selling price was $630. So this is only $100 more and it has video, higher resolution, swinging LCD, etc. I don’t understand what all the complaining is about.

3. Although I expected the 10-24mm to be the same price as the 12-24, I don’t understand why Nikon bothered to release this lens to get 2 more mm of view (but a half a stop slower speed at the far end). There are so many other lenses that were needed first. What were they thinking?

4. There’s another lens coming that’s been planned for some time. Some months back, I posted the sequence of model #s used in the U.S. and noted that a few were missing. This was one of them (2181). 2180 was the 50mm 1.4G AF-S. 2183 is the 35mm DX. 2182 will be the next lens.

I also wonder about the airflow control and whether it seems to make a difference or not.

But with no in-body focus, .78 mag and 720p @ 24fps to me makes this camera another one that will fall into line with the other releases and not make too big a splash.

I have a d90. It’s a great camera. I take it out of the house more often than the D300. Compact, fast, great IQ. It will take great pictures right now if you use it right.

Did you want a d60? That’s what the new camera replaces. The d90 is superior to this camera in almost every way. Sure your d90 won’t be worth what you paid in a couple months. That’s just the nature of the market for dslr bodies.

Do you pay MSRP? I rarely do. These will be selling for $600 body only by xmas if Nikon can keep up with demand.