@ madmax55:

I did the same thing as you - first new digital for a long time and got the D5000. For me, the only reasons to get the D90 is more direct access buttons (menu access on D5000), extra command wheel on the D90 and larger body fitting my hands better. There are other points, but they are the things that made me think hard about which to get.

Depends on your knowledge/useage and whether it is to be a main hobby or just a camera to you (only you know this in truth). The D5000 is a fine camera and would suit a non-main hobbyist or occasional user better in my opinion than the D90 and will save you money over the D90. That's because the D5000 has a lot of auto ranges optimised for just about any situation you will come acrossso it does well as a point and shoot if that is what you want at the time.

Bottom line is the D90 and the D5000 both take the same quality of pictures using the same lens, so it is down to the features and your useage/preferences.

HTH

lol, yeah the 18-55mm sucks... NOT. For the price the 18-55mm DX is a great lens. Show me another lens you can get for less than $200 that has the flexibility, sharpness and light weight. From what I've seen of the competitions 18-55mm lenses, they aren't as good, and cost more!

What a terrible lens ... most of the picture is out of focus ...

:-)

Depending on when you are needing to buy... .. and I dont think there are many bad nikkors..
Well maybe the old 70-300 .. non VRs they were not good...

For Alaska I would like to bring along that 70-300 VR if I were you. and that 18-105 kit lens is nice try to stretch a little for that.. don't worry about the overlap.. Think function and target.
After all how often do you get to go to Alaska. Depending on what old nikkors you have, choose between the D5000 and D90.. These days the camera is just about disposable.. You will still be using those lenses 10-15 years down the track but not the camera.

Guess I am guilty as charged using the poor 18-55 kit lens on my D5000 for this picture.

Hi Madmax,
I was in the same position as you at the beginning of the year, looking for my first Digital SLR having used film before.
I wanted a D90 spec camera but was wondering about the coming replacement. I didn't want to be out of date shortly after making the purchase.
So rather than hanging on for the new D90 to happen I bought a D3000 to experiment with until the new D90 appears.
I must say I've been pleasantly suprised with the D3000, a cracking little camera, and when I come to upgrade I will have learned a lot about using digial and it won't have lost me too much either.
Dave.

clillja said:
I feel the D90 is definitely worth the extra $ over the D5000 because of the vastly superior screen, finder, and the built-in flash commander.

+1
Also, Monty's right that your 'old' film lenses will autofocus on the D90. Maybe that would be worth the D5000/D90 difference right there depending on what lenses you have.

monty11 said:
There are quite a few threads on this subject alreday here ...
Try to avoid the 18-55 mm lens, as it is quite poor, especially if you arebused to the quality of film cameras. What film lenses you have? Perhaps you could use those on the D90?
Remember, there is always an update around the corner, you can co tinue waiting forever like this.

On what basis is the 18-55 "poor"? The build quality might not be great but it is a kit lens and it works just as well as any of the other kit lenses. From the lens choices he listed it looks like he is looking for a body with kit lenses...so not sure what direction you are pointing him. Not saying that the 18-55 kit lens is equal to a fast 2.8 lens, but I am not sure what you expect from a $100 kit lens.

I have heard many people like the 18-105 kit lens, but then it overlaps and there isn't really another lens that goes from 105 and up without overlap. Depends on your future plans and what you expect. I personally could care less that the D90 has a better screen...not sure why people really need a big high res screen??? The only thing I miss by getting the D5000 over the D90 is not being able to use the older lenses and still have them autofocus.

and +1 for searching for other threads...I think I even started a D90 vs D5000 thread.

No one knows what Nikon will do - read some of the threads here to get an idea of what's possible. It's a great time to buy a D90 as many people are hesitating for that very reason. I feel the D90 is definitely worth the extra $ over the D5000 because of the vastly superior screen, finder, and the built-in flash commander. You won't grow out of it until you have to have FX. Get the 18-55VR - it's a great little lens and the 70-300VR is a great not-so-little lens. The 55-200VR is also sweet because it's light as a feather and focuses considerably closer than the 70-300 - the 55-200 range is better (for me, anyway) on DX. Having both is a good thing.

There are quite a few threads on this subject alreday here ...
Try to avoid the 18-55 mm lens, as it is quite poor, especially if you arebused to the quality of film cameras. What film lenses you have? Perhaps you could use those on the D90?
Remember, there is always an update around the corner, you can co tinue waiting forever like this.

I am buying my first SLR in about 20 years. I have been using point and shoot camera's primarily and an old film F2 camera. Going on vacation to Alaska and want to upgrade to a new digital SLR. I found a kit deal for the D90 (18-55mm VR Zoom-NIKKOR Lens
70-300mm VR Zoom-NIKKOR Lens) for $1300 and D5000 (AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX VR Zoom-NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED)for $900. Which is the better deal? Assuming my price max is the $1300.. Are they changing the D90 significally in the next year?