where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
My daughter is considering on purchasing a digital SLR. She loves to take pictures, but has only been using a Nikon P5000 and now wants to move up.
What does everyone think the benefits and drawbacks to each camera?
Below is the current pricing for each on B&H. The price difference currently is $225.00.
She currently does not own any lenses so AF-S / AF is not an issue with existing equipment.
B&H Price $779.95 Body Only Nikon D90
B&H Price $554.95 Body Only Nikon D5000
Sigh, I know which way this is going to go :^)
I know I'll be in the minority here (this forum is biased towards anything D90) I'm going to say D5000 because of the price, swivel screen, and it's smaller and lighter size.
Yes, yes no AF motor but all of Nikon's best and newest lenses are AF-S. I think the D5000 with the "same" great sensor for such a low price is a better deal.
Best Buy D5000, same sensor, smaller, articulating lcd screen, easy to use
Best Camera D90, same sensor, better Lcd Resolution, faster, stronger build, pin drive for older lens AF design, incl the great 50 F1.8
I had a customer with same consideration yesterday, she bought a SB 600 flash with the savings on the D5000
Pete
Smart customer Pete :^)
Bad sales guy! You were suppose to convince her she needed a D3S to shoot her kids birthday parties and soccer practice!
They are all in Vancouver for that Olympic thing
Pete
BTW she was a 65 yr old Lady and did not show any interest in shooting sports
D5000, no questions asked. There is no reason to get a D90 unless you really need the extra controls or better battery life that the EN-EL3e offers.
I would go with the D5000, with the savings you can get another lens or just put it in the basics and get a camera bag, extra battery, and load up on cards.
also will back up the idea of getting d5000, if You are new to slr photography it's much easier to start with d5000 with it's articulated screen than with d90 and it's double displays
D5000=better overall price
D90=Better value for the money spent.
Basically, if every dollar spent counts and needs to be accounted for, the D5000 is the better option.
For another 150 dollars, the D90 is buck for buck a better buy. Not only for the extra controls (which one day you will likely wish you had)but also because it will AF with non AF-S lenses, lenses that can often be cheaper than the AF-S equivalents and just as good.
You haven't given us much to go on, Henry Nikon Fan. But...
If your daughter is an enthusiastic photography fiend - D90
If your daughter just wants to take great pictures - D5000
BTW, I'd give serious consideration to the kit lenses, too.
I'd say probably the D5000 and the 18-105. Pete's SB-600 is a good idea. Or maybe the new 35 1.8 instead of the SB-600. I have to say I agree with Gentoo about the value for the D90, especially when you consider the used non-AF-S lens market and the great little 50 1.8. But if you're just going to buy one lens, there's no real need to worry much about that.
Guys, but who new to the photograpy is using old lenses. Usually when You are switching from P&S to dslr You buy new lenses with af-s.
adamz said:
Guys, but who new to the photograpy is using old lenses. Usually when You are switching from P&S to dslr You buy new lenses with af-s.
That's what I thought when I bought my D40. Until I wanted cheaper lenses. Not possible with the D40 since there's no screw drive AF.
I should have bought a D80 when I started off.
Haha its funny you say that. I wish I'd started with the D40 rather than the D80, so that I wouldn't have bought any non AF-S lenses, because now I'm slowly upgrading to all AF-S lenses!
I wish I had started with a D80 rather than a D40 as well. I change settings a lot and need to do so quickly at times. Also, there were lenses I wish I could have bought when I had a D40 which I don't have to think too much about now.
PB PM said:
Haha its funny you say that. I wish I'd started with the D40 rather than the D80, so that I wouldn't have bought any non AF-S lenses, because now I'm slowly upgrading to all AF-S lenses!
Why upgrade...? The AF lenses are generally okay, I guess unless you really really need the speed.
Gentoo said:
I wish I had started with a D80 rather than a D40 as well. I change settings a lot and need to do so quickly at times. Also, there were lenses I wish I could have bought when I had a D40 which I don't have to think too much about now.
Yup.
I have been gone for most of the day, but this question has created many opinions.
To provide a little more information other than my daughter loves to take pictures, she is taking pictures everywhere she goes and of all of her friends. She is 29 years and a somewhat new school teacher and loves to take pictures of her students in there activities. She has used my wifes D60 with my AF-S DX 35mm lens on it and loves it for the low light capabilities. I have recommended to her that she buy a body only and add a DX 35mm lens to start with. I think that she will learn more this way and plus she has already had some experience with it. Does this sound correct to all?
From the sounds of things a D3000 would be good enough, since it is an updated D60.
D5000 still stands. The D3000 offers nothing significant except AF points over the D60 IMHO. As a teacher she will also enjoy being able to shoot video too.
Yes, she does want the video capability. This is why she is considering either the D5000 or the D90. She is making it tough on me because she is going to base her decision on what I say.
From what you described it sounds like she wants good image quality in a smallish package. She's not looking to change careers and become a photojournalist so the lack of an AF motor is no big lost. As others have mentioned above the savings she gets from buying a D5000 she can use to get an SB600 or memory cards.
Exactly, small system, good images at as low cost as possible. I have not spoke to her much about a flash, but I was thinking the SB400 may be a better balance on the D5000 with the DX 35mm. The SB600 seems to be a better balance on the D90.
SB400 sounds good too. You're not going to tell her the ONLY get the 35mm lens are you? I think she'll have better use of a zoom or at least the kit lens with the 35mm.
Have her try the D5000 out. I'm sure she'll love it. My wife preferred it over the D90 and the D3000 and she really liked the swivel screen and I'm sure your daughter will too.
I think that she only wants the 35mm to start with. I told her to consider the 18-105mm, but she said she will wait a month or two and just use the 35mm to start. She is on a budget, but I think I may surprise her with the 18-105mm as a gift.
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