Amber said:
Thank-you everyone again for your good advice! All my dad's lenses will work on the D5100, so I think that is the route I will go. You have all been very helpful and I hope that one day I will be able to contribute to a forum as well.

An entry into our photo a day thread would be nice. :-) GL and have fun with your new gear!

Thank-you everyone again for your good advice! All my dad's lenses will work on the D5100, so I think that is the route I will go. You have all been very helpful and I hope that one day I will be able to contribute to a forum as well.

Its a non decision really, unless you have loads of non-AFS lenses already.

I assume you take pictures to produce good to excellent images, yet as usual all the discussion tends to be around buttons, body construction, etc etc and other stuff, which for 90% of photography matters diddly squat, especially in the artistic / pictorial generes.

The sensor performance of the D5100/7000 is so much better than that of a D90/D5000 (which in turn are slightly better than a D300S) there is no reason for debate, dynamic range and colour depth etc. Infact at low ISOs these out perform the current FX bodies, which seem tuned for ISO 400 upwards. Plus the new processor seems to handle distortion control, Active-D and other gizmos, when you choose to use them, without destroying your buffer capacity. High ISO Noise is excellent (a different league) and again your buffer is not destroyed by noise reduction being switched on. The ISO being shot is within an acceptable distance of the claimed ISO, unlike some of current Nikon bodies which are shooting at almost 1 stop less than it states on the tin. You can shoot in 14 bit, rather than just 12 bit. There are various other gadets the D5K range has such as an intervalometer etc etc. All of these will, if leveraged properly, contribute to better output which is the reason we bother to press the shutter release in the first place.

There are financial benefits too. The extra MPs allow you to crop a bit tighter and maintain resolution, thus compensating if you cannot afford any more focal length. Ignore the urban marteting myth around the 16mp sensor driving the need for lens investment if you currently have cheaper DX lenses (I loath the term kit lense and its snobbish tones) lenses. The ISO performance reduces your need for faster glass for low light or getting shutterspeeds up. (Yes having ISO and fast glass is great, but most have a limited budget)

A couple of draw backs with the D3K and D5K range are that you cannot use the pop up to control off camera flash and this might be something a particular user wants and wants to do alot. You cannot control the size of the centre weighted area, which is a shame. Plus the focus point lock switch is absent and if you have big hands you need to be careful not to move your focus point. But none of these would cause me to acquire a D90 over a D5100.

The value of an articulated screen is very user dependent as is great for video and also shooting candids, "from the hip", also shooting over the top of crowds, but if the buyer does not do much, if any, of this type of shooting it is of limited value. Articulated screen is pretty useful for macro some times when the camera is down low on a gorilla or similar.

I second the 35mm 1.8 recommendation, but with D5100 you can shoot the 18-70 or 18-200VR but with higher ISO so it (or similar 50 1.4 or 1.8) is not such a must have as it used to be, especially if you have VR and subject is not moving excessively. You will want a lens like this one day though so add it to your xmas list. I also heartily recommend the 55-300VR that my wife has, it is razor sharp and matches my 70-300VR easily and is better at full reach and wide open. True you cannot instantly override with manual focus (but the same is true of my 80-200 AFD) and it does not really suit a circ polarisor due to the rotating front element, but other than that it is absolute mustard and compared to the 18-200 (which we have) you will think you have twice as many MPs than you actually have :)Its 100 GBP cheaper than a 70-300VR and lighter.

The context of my comments are.
I shoot a D300S and a D7000, and I at times borrow back my old D90 off my wife, I also borrow, if the venue means an articulated screen might be useful, a D5000 off my wife or my youngest daughter. I even borrow my eldest daughters P100 now and again. I dont find switching a particular ergonic challenge, although I have to "bed in" to handling the P100s focus and stabilisation lead times.

Hey guys try reading the thread (it's not that long) rather than just posting a random thought. Amber states it clearly:

Amber said:
... The lenses I have available to me will all work fine on the D5100. I would probably mainly use the AF-S 18-200 lens and also the AF-S 18-70. (At least to start with).

Welcome to the forum Amber and nice job on a thread that our local Terminator could not find something on!

Personally, if you do not have the chicken ($$) or desire for the size of a D7000, I think the 5100 is the way to go for you, at this time. If you become more involved in photography and look to upgrade in a couple of years, the D90 will be almost 6 years old and the D5100 just 2. The tech and image abilities will be much less noticeable on the D5100 in comparison to newer models while the D90 will almost be a relic.

As for the bodies, the true differences for you, reside in the future use of your camera. The D90 has a AF motor to use older AF lenses (AF-D- AF lenses with an aperture ring) (the ones you suggested are AFS) and gives you the ability to use older manual focus lenses. Depending on what your father has and you can not use his camera, that might make a difference. There are some other small nuances that some advanced photographers like more with the D90 but for starting out, I doubt you will need them. Everything else is just about the same except the image quality on the D5100 will be the same or better than the D90. I think the D5100 is your best bet.

The lenses you talked about are both very good to get started with. I might suggest the 35mm f/1.8. Cheap, Fast low light lens, and give you the classical 50mm equivalent. I bet 80% on this forum have or had this lens for DX cameras.

Good Luck!

casperwb said:
smile

amber,

the important thing is that you are going to use lenses that belong to your dad.

you did not advise us as to which Nikon camera your dad uses, therfore, if his lenses are AF-S with built in AF motors, then I would suggest you go with the D5100, however if the lenses are conventional AF, then you should buy the D90 of D7000 as these cameras will drive conventional AF lenses and focus eaiser with Manual focus lenses.

between the D7000 and D90, it depends on your pocket, t/4 D90.

+1, I think we all agree. Well said casperwb.

rbid said:
SkintBrit: You took the words out of my tongue :)

smile

amber,

the important thing is that you are going to use lenses that belong to your dad.

you did not advise us as to which Nikon camera your dad uses, therfore, if his lenses are AF-S with built in AF motors, then I would suggest you go with the D5100, however if the lenses are conventional AF, then you should buy the D90 of D7000 as these cameras will drive conventional AF lenses and focus eaiser with Manual focus lenses.

between the D7000 and D90, it depends on your pocket, t/4 D90.

DutchNikon said:
Ok, my wrong, it's a little bigger, srry about that, thx for putting this straight :-)

But it does not have "full metal body" , but it does have a partly metal body though.

I still stand by my advice for the OP , to skip the D90 and go for the D7000 for all the other reasons I mentioned if she/he can afford it....

That were the differences between the D90 and D300/s.. the D7000 has things from both cameras, although it is not so strong as the D300/s, but a great camera.. if you can affort it, go for it, you will not change your camera in years. :)

SkintBrit said:
Welcome to the forum Amber, I don't know how long you've been "lurking", but you are certainly a very rare first poster. You've managed to post a new thread that Niko couldn't find a previous discussion on!!! I think I'm going to faint :-) that's a feat that most of us can only dream of. Don't worry though, it won't be long before you can wear the "Niko closed me down" T Shirt :-)

SkintBrit: You took the words out of my tongue :)
I was going to say the same..

If you aren't worried about using non-afs lenses then there really isn't any advantage to getting the D90. There might be a couple more pro-like features on the D90, but you would be buying an already discontinued camera...IMO the new technology > couple of features. Plus the D5100 pretty much matched the D7000 picture quality...sounds good to me.

Thank-you everyone for your input! The D7000 is a little out of my price range; however it IS a great camera. The lenses I have available to me will all work fine on the D5100. I would probably mainly use the AF-S 18-200 lens and also the AF-S 18-70. (At least to start with).

I've been weighing all my options here, and since I'm just going into university I feel that the D5100 will give me a good starting point to determine whether I will go strictly into photography or branch out into video as well.

SkintBrit said:
Welcome to the forum Amber, I don't know how long you've been "lurking", but you are certainly a very rare first poster. You've managed to post a new thread that Niko couldn't find a previous discussion on!!! I think I'm going to faint :-) that's a feat that most of us can only dream of. Don't worry though, it won't be long before you can wear the "Niko closed me down" T Shirt :-)

If it was me I'd definately go for the D90, and if finances stretch that far, go for the 7000.

I guess it was just beginner's luck! :)

NikoDoby said:
Hard to believe these two models have never been compared directly before in a thread.

Welcome to the forum Amber, I don't know how long you've been "lurking", but you are certainly a very rare first poster. You've managed to post a new thread that Niko couldn't find a previous discussion on!!! I think I'm going to faint :-) that's a feat that most of us can only dream of. Don't worry though, it won't be long before you can wear the "Niko closed me down" T Shirt :-)

If it was me I'd definately go for the D90, and if finances stretch that far, go for the 7000.

DutchNikon said:
Ok, my wrong, it's a little bigger, srry about that, thx for putting this straight :-)

But it does not have "full metal body" , but it does have a partly metal body though.

I still stand by my advice for the OP , to skip the D90 and go for the D7000 for all the other reasons I mentioned if she/he can afford it....

No problem. I wasn't saying full Mag-alloy body. Just the top and back plates are magnesium-alloy. If you use the optional MB-D11 battery grip, the bottom of the camera is mag-alloy too(the Mb-d11 is full magnesium-alloy).

CaryTheLabelGuy said:
The D7000 is not smaller than a D90. It's actually a little bigger and has a Magnesium-alloy body(unlike the D90).

Ok, my wrong, it's a little bigger, srry about that, thx for putting this straight :-)

But it does not have "full metal body" , but it does have a partly metal body though.

I still stand by my advice for the OP , to skip the D90 and go for the D7000 for all the other reasons I mentioned if she/he can afford it....

DutchNikon said:
Mmm Altough cost is a factor, i'd still choose for qaulity and compatibility. And since the D90 is "old Technology"by now i guess I'd choose for a D7000 ... ( smaller than a D90, higher IQ, combatible with most lenses manual or auto-f, di i mention very good IQ... ? ) ...

The D7000 is not smaller than a D90. It's actually a little bigger and has a Magnesium-alloy body(unlike the D90).

Yes, seriously consider the D7000. It shares the same amazing APS-C sensor as the D5100, but has a much better body and an internal focus motor(unlike the D5100). This will allow you to use any older AF-D lenses as well as the newer AF-S lenses.

The D7000 is the D90 replacement.

Mmm Altough cost is a factor, i'd still choose for qaulity and compatibility. And since the D90 is "old Technology"by now i guess I'd choose for a D7000 ... ( smaller than a D90, higher IQ, combatible with most lenses manual or auto-f, di i mention very good IQ... ? ) ...

Hello,

If you want to share lenses with your dad, depend on which lenses your dad has.

I would go for the D7000 that has better compatibility with old lenses.

Take in mind also that the D90 has been discontinued.

Depends on your needs/wants. The D5100 has better PQ, low light performance and a pretty cool pivoting lcd, but with the d90 you can use lenses that don't have an autofocus motor and have more on body controls. I upgraded from a D40 to a D7000, and I'm amazed at the difference of changing settings w/o having to dig in menus and have a top LCD. I'd say if you think you'll really get into photography get a d90 since it's more of a prosumer camera with more features. If you'll likely never buy a new lens, just use it to take really good snapshots, and use auto setting most of the time, get the D5100 since it's the newest gen, more MP, and better ISO.

Hard to believe these two models have never been compared directly before in a thread. However I still think what was said between the D90 and D5000 a year ago still holds true today between the D90 vs D5100.

"D90 or D5000"
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=968

"D90 or D5000 - which is a better"
http://nikonrumors.com/forum/topic.php?id=437

There are also several D7000 or D5100 threads too.

Hey Everyone! I'm new to DSLR cameras and I'm considering buying one to further my photography. I'm looking for a smaller , lighter camera and after talking to a few people in camera stores, it has been suggested that I buy either the D5100 or the D90. Cost is also a factor. My dad has other Nikon cameras and will let me use his lenses, so I'm just looking for a body. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which camera I should go with?