I think you'll be happy with it, gethinshaji. Share some photos on the photo-a-day thread if you feel so inclined. Good luck!

Hai guys :)... Its the VR ... Thanks :)...

Yes, I would guess VR turning off. Try switching off the VR on the lens and see if it disappears. Then switch the VR back on.

What is a "tuck" sound? Does the camera work properly? Is there a reference in the manual to this? Does it correlate to the information readout disappearing at the same time? Is there any change when viewing through the camera when this occurs?

Is this a soft sound or sharp? Muffled? Snapping? Scrapping?

Most likely, if the camera functions the way it should and the controls all work, the images are consistent with your settings, the sound is nothing to worry about.

OK, try this.... or see if this is what is happening. On my D4 w' 16-35mm f/4 VR, I press the shutter release half way, the lens starts humming as it focuses, and the VR is working, then a second or so after I release the button it makes a slightly louder muffled click and is silent. I believe this is the mechanical stuff simply shutting down. I had to put my ear up to the camera body to hear this, however.

Good luck, and thanks....never knew the thing made so much noise....

Most likely the aperture blades or VR shutting off.

Hi guys :)... Got D5100 :)... Got a query ... When i release the shutter release button i can hear a small "tuck" sound after some 2 to 3 seconds, (not the usual mirror movement sound)... I don't know what it is ... Should I be concerned about it ... Or is it usual ... Help me out ...

Walmart Online has the D5100 with the 18-55 lens for $699.

B & H has several used or refurbished D5100s with various lenses, from the $500 to $800 range. This may allow an extra lens or the kits they have with two lenses cover a lot of ground...

FWIW, I love my D5100. Purchased a Demo package through Cameta Camera. No regrets thus far.

Probably a good choice. I love my D5000 still. It is one my desk right now.

Yup, you are right :), I have missed lot of opportunities. I have decided to get one. Mostly D5100 :).

gethinshaji said:
Hi guys. Thanks for the replies. Will it be wise enough to wait for the announcements of new dslrs this year ?.

Do you need a camera now?

It's always wise to get the best you can, but if you're missing opportunities because you don't have a camera, it's not worth the wait.

Hi guys. Thanks for the replies. Will it be wise enough to wait for the announcements of new dslrs this year ?.

I personally would go for the D90 namely for the more pro controls and the higher tolerance to abuse... However you may regret that due to what others have been saying around here (namely the sensor) also the video is pretty rudimentary on the D90. Instead of either how about a refurbished D7000 ($900-$1000ish) it will definitely last you 5 years and will have the best of both worlds.

As to 5 years I don't know of any camera that won't 5 years (although I haven't tested either 2). Both my D90 and D200 still get extensive use and my D90 is around 4yrs old from purchase. I know people still happy with their archaic D70's...

Well lets see...as far as an investment. The D90 is already outdated and will be 2 generations behind here shortly. Although it does have some features that the D5100 doesn't such as the in body screw motor for the AF lenses, flash commander modes and additional buttons for more easy adjustment of ISO and stuff, but it is now behind in technology and sensor performance. For the length you want your investment to last...which it will last 5+ years, the D90 is already outdated (although it is still capable) and the D5100 will be out of date within a couple of years. I wouldn't look at your camera body as an "investment" as they are rapidly changing...if you want a better investment buy some nice lenses. I got my D5000 in 2010 and there is likely to be an D5200 out this year...meaning I will be 2 generations behind.

As far as your budget I don't know if a dSLR is for you then. Not to say they are a money pit, but depending on what you want, what you expect, and how you plan to grow with using it they can cost way more money than you ever thought. Add a flash, tripod, bag, backup battery, and a couple lenses and you easily could spend several thousand dollars. Not to discourage you, but to be realistic.

The D5100's sensor is a generation newer than the D90, so I'd probably get that if those are your options (though a D7000 would be better--same sensor as the D5100 with the higher end features and solid construction of the D90).

The lack of an AF motor is only an issue if you already have lenses without a built in motor. If you're just starting to collect lenses though, you might as well only buy the newer ones labeled AF-S. Those will autofocus just fine on a D5100, and will do it much more quickly and quietly than the old style lenses. Yes, the old screw-style AF lenses may be cheaper now, but to me, the speed that comes with the AF-S focussing system is worth it.

I also somewhat doubt you'll ever notice the viewfinder magnification or care about the pentamirror size, but you may be more discerning than I am.

You'll get great pictures with either camera, but for a beginner, I'd definitely recommend the D5100. Not only is the sensor a generation more advanced, but it has more "hand holding" settings (for example, the scene modes), that make it easier to get good shots even if you don't understand aperture, metering and all the other technical considerations of photography.

Hi everyone. I am very much confused over D5100 and D90. I am new to the dslr world, was using a bridge camera (Fujifilm S3300) till now. My investment is for 5 years min, and my budget restricts me to these two. The things that concerns me with D5100 is the viewfinder pentamirror size and magnification, lack of af motor. Are these genuine reason to be concerned about ?. Which one should I go for ?. Please help me out ...

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.