It's set. My friend's getting a D5000. Just went with him to Best Buy, he tried the Canons as well as the D3000 and the D90. Sold him over the build and menu interface :^)

LOL, I wish! I'm not lucky like Connor—nobody's interested in me yet. Well, at least nobody I'm interested in :^(

Just tell him you'll stop being his BFF if he goes with anything but a Nikon :^)
Unless your "friend" is really a hot girl, in which case you should just get use to women ignoring your better suggestions ;^)

Yeah, whatevers. There's a reason why we're trying to sway them to Nikon.

Fine. If that's what's best, then I won't do anymore. Hard for me to let go, but I suppose you're right. :^( I'll just tell them if they buy Canon I won't help them learn to use their camera ;^)

Let your friend figure it out on his own alpha. You've giving him all the suggestions you can and now it's up to his family to make the choice for themselves. This has happened to me on numerous occasions were people just go for whatever is the cheapest at the moment of purchase. Despite what you hear from photogs, a higher megapixel count usually trumps all other features.

I don't think there's much you can do at this point except to wish him good luck with whatever his family purchases.

That's what might happen! SOS MAYDAY ALL HANDS ON DECK!

He told me today at school he didn't order it, because he talked to 3 pros who all said Canon was better. Here's a list of their complaints:

They both did great in image quality.
They are both within about $100 of each other
They both are NOT full sensors (so they are equivalent - just focus on the image quality)
Canon is 15 megapixels and Nikon is 12
They both do video (although slowly and the Nikon does not autofocus in LiveView (video) mode)
The Nikon had some auto focusing issues, especially indoors (which to me is important for a beginner with no hand-held light meter who can't be compensating all the time)
The Canon said it was "Missing" an AF microadjustment to attach other earlier lenses (which I don't think is an issue since you'll be getting lenses exclusively for this camera and if he did get a upgraded camera body in the future - like mine - they do have adjustments so he'd be able to use the lenses
Both cameras need to have the newer "E" or electronic lenses since they do not make a mechanical connection for the auto-focus anymore (I know he was thinking that Nikon hasn't changed its mounting style so you could use older lenses, and that may be true, but they won't focus for him.)
The Canon had a brighter, higher resolution LCD screen
Nikon had a cool articulating LCD screen, but when used vertically, had some issues

What should I do?

It'll be funny if your friend's family ends up with a cheap canon instead :^(

Mine? He's probably ordered his D5000 by now (he told me he would do it this weekend). Do you really expect me to recommend a Canon!?

So what did your friend get? Hopefully a Nikon. :D

Niko

Yes that was a while ago, I said that.

But I did try the 5D2 more seriously and its flaws are making me wait (and use what I've got) instead.

The results I got with the D300 aren't perfect, but it's enough for my actual needs (actually, no, but I'll deal with it for now) I don't want to spend 5-6k on something I won't be completely satisfied with. I would prefer pay a few thousands more on something that would really satisfy me. If the D3s was 1080p, I would have considered it with a 14-24 and 70-200 (or simply a telephoto prime) Even if it would have cost a crapload, at least the crapload spent would have given me exactly what I want.. now it's not.

Anytime buddy :^)

Ok, thanks NikoDoby. I knew I could count on you :^)

I say tell them to go to the store and try and buy the one THEY like. Which I guarantee will probably be whatever is the biggest for the cheapest price at Walmart. And there's nothing wrong with that if it's what THEY want.

Or this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EOUYHG/sr=1-15/qid=1255648609/ref=noref?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255648609&sr=1-15

They're looking for a bag. What do you guys think of this: http://www.amazon.com/Tamrac-Adventure-Messenger-Red-Black/dp/B000FCQ2W8/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1255647846&sr=1-10 ?

Woah, that's funny!

Anyway, my question is that on NikonUSA the ESP of the D5000 has dropped down from $730 to $680—should I tell my classmate to hold on and wait till prices fall accordingly? That way they would be exactly on budget (the lens is about $70 I think).

I've actually seen a camera that was hacked to play old school video games. An old Kodak running MAME games!

That's Donkey Kong !

What? You can still use it as a Digital Picture frame... And i'm sure that the Nikon Dev's slipped a version of Tetris in the menu's somewhere.

That would be a very mean birthday or Christmas present wouldn't it?

*Here you go johnny, happy birthday.
Gee a new Nikon camera! Awesome, thanks uncle Niko, but it's the body only?
Yeah I figured you can wait until you have enough money to buy your own lens.
I HATE YOU uncle Niko, your such a cheap bastard! MOM!!!*

I gave my classmate the brochure—he's very enthusiastic. All day long kept on asking me questions! "How fast is it? How do you change the WB? What kind of lens does it come with?" etc. I also told him that if worst comes to worst and they can't afford it, there's a similar camera (D3000) that's cheaper.

With his excitement, I doubt he could buy a camera without a lens and simply let it sit!

I'm not sure a family would buy a D90 body only and sit on it until they could afford a lens :^(

You are a more patient man than me Shiva. No way I would buy a D3X and just sit on it for 2 or more months without any lenses! That would drive me insane! lol

oh sorry, let me more specific: D90 body only is about $800 at amazon right now ($814). . .works great if you have existing lenses, if not, I would still say buy the body and wait on the lens. . .

I did that WAY back in 2007 when I was first starting my business. . .couldn't afford anything more than $500 for a body, got the D40x and waited 2 months to get some lenses. . .so the body just sat there, lol!

I then got the D200 for $600 in early 2009. . . .at that point I had already purchased a ton of lenses, so no biggie. . .

If you have patience, better to enter at the D90 level since the price has fallen back to $800's. . .great body, the sensor has some of the cleanest noise patterns (still topping the D300/s model), and gives you the option of making minute adjustments via A/M/S mode. . .

Shiva we've already established that used equipment is not a good option in this particular case. Unless you've seen a brand new D90 kit from a "legit" store for $800?

for $800, you can score a D90. . .save extra $50 and jump on that!!