D90 or D5000? « Nikon Rumors Forum

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D90 or D5000?

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bmxdad

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NikoDoby said:
I think it doesn't help that this forum is so biased towards the D90 :^) I wonder what would happen if I started a "I hate the D90" thread? ;^)

Don't let us second guess your choice on the D5000 Gabriel. If it's what YOU think is best for YOU then enjoy. Invest your money on quality lenses anyway. There will always be "better" camera bodies every year.
Enjoy your purchase and I look forward to seeing some of your pictures.

We would hire one of them contact Russian hitmen, I think Adamz might have some contacts.
I think it really more about the whole picture, right. If you plan to get lenses like the 50mm F1.8 or other pin drive focus lenses, then the D90 is just a better value. That being said where I work the D5000 is our best selling DSLR at the moment

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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bmxdad said:
That being said where I work the D5000 is our best selling DSLR at the moment

Yeah it's usually always the "cheaper" deal that gets the win. I guess I'm alone in thinking it's the photographer and not the camera that makes the picture :^(

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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I fully support You on the photographer issues

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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adamz said:
I fully support You on the photographer issues

But we are on a forum talking about gear right, and there is nothing wrong with buying a D3000 with kit lens, and newer anything else. But we were trying to advice between a D90 and D5000 and showing some advantages to getting the D90, anyway the end result is a D5000 with the 18-200 lens, OK that is not in my opinion the best choice in lenses
D5000 + 18-200 app $1600
D90 + 18-105 + 50mmF1.8 + SB600 app $1600 which I think would be a better value and something you can build on if your photographic interest matures. BTW the 50mm F1.8 is by far a better portrait lens than the 18-200 will ever be, OK

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
shutterdancer

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I am in no way dissing the D5000.....it's just that the camera is basically like the D60 ( which I still own,like, and use) except for the fact that it's harder to change settings on the fly. Of course you can take the exact same images with the D5000 that you can take with the D90......as in (it's not the camera but the photographer..yada,yada),but to continue a recurring theme, the D5000 is more of a manual shift camera as opposed to the D90 with automatic transmission ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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The D60 was 10mp and the D5000 has the "same" 12mp as the D90. For all we know the D90 could get replaced/upgraded in the Spring 2010 whereas the D5000 is pretty much brand new. Besides I'm a big fan of that swivel screen. Especially for taking photos above crowds (like at concerts). You can't see what your shooting like that with the D90.

Posted 3 years ago #
shutterdancer

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That swivel screen was probably the coolest feature...but my friend, being new to the camera, couldn't figure out if he should use the screen or the view finder...and in the mean time the critters were gitting away.....he was using my macro lens LOL.

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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Pete,
I also wouldn't buy the 18-200vr as for it's price You could get much more other, better stuff, i.e. the once You suggested. Although, I wouldn't go for d90, as for me it doesn't make sens. Some were saying that the swivel screen doesn't have the same resolution as the one from d90. Sure, that is true but really who cares as long as You can check either the picture is ok or not and the composition works.

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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As for d60, let's not put it into the same bag with d5000, as they differ a lot. D60 has ccd sensor, as in d3000 while d5000 cmos.

Posted 3 years ago #
shutterdancer

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Guys,i'm well aware of the differences in specs. between the D5000 and the D60 and D90 and D3000.I wouldn't be a true NRF member if I didn't religiously read every thing printed about all things Nikon ;^)

I was only trying to point out that if you don't plan on keeping your camera on full auto,then it's not as easy to change settings on the fly with the D3000 or D5000 as it is with a D90...plus they lack commander mode for your flash...a must have convenience for many. Some may want to plan ahead....what you don't need today in the way of features,you may very well need tomorrow.

Posted 3 years ago #
NSXType-R

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By the way, does the D5000 have any external programmable buttons? From what I hear, it's slightly larger than the D40 though, so that could be a positive. For some odd reason the grip on the D40, while still awesome, is getting a bit short on me and my pinky is hanging off the end of it now. And I have small hands.

Time for a D90 upgrade!

I'd go for a D90 too, by the way, just cause that's the camera I'd probably get next if I had money to burn.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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shutterdancer said:
Guys,i'm well aware of the differences in specs. between the D5000 and the D60 and D90 and D3000.I wouldn't be a true NRF member if I didn't religiously read every thing printed about all things Nikon ;^)

I was only trying to point out that if you don't plan on keeping your camera on full auto,then it's not as easy to change settings on the fly with the D3000 or D5000 as it is with a D90...plus they lack commander mode for your flash...a must have convenience for many. Some may want to plan ahead....what you don't need today in the way of features,you may very well need tomorrow.

Right on the nose, buying a D5000 with a 18-200 lens kind of leaves you stuck with a walk around camera, and the Friend of mine that bought her D300 was talked into the same lens, she has since sold it, it is simple not a sharp lens, there are better lenses, and the D90 would allow more choices incl some Tokina, Tamron, and many Nikon lenses that will AF on the D90. I am certainly pleased that I can use my new 50mm F1.8 on both my D300 and D80 and I might get the Tokina 11-16 F2.8 that will not focus on the D5000

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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bmxdad said:
Right on the nose, buying a D5000 with a 18-200 lens kind of leaves you stuck with a walk around camera, and the Friend of mine that bought her D300 was talked into the same lens, she has since sold it, it is simple not a sharp lens, there are better lenses, and the D90 would allow more choices incl some Tokina, Tamron, and many Nikon lenses that will AF on the D90. I am certainly pleased that I can use my new 50mm F1.8 on both my D300 and D80 and I might get the Tokina 11-16 F2.8 that will not focus on the D5000

Pete

Is that something you would consider? Using lenses other than Nikon? Wouldn't Nikon lenses ALWAYS fit the best on Nikon cameras?

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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shutterdancer said:
,but to continue a recurring theme, the D5000 is more of a manual shift camera as opposed to the D90 with automatic transmission ;^)

Manual shift? Automatic transmission? Is that about the buttons as opposed to the diving into the menus? I still don't know the English professional photo terms.

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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bmxdad said:
D90 + 18-105 + 50mmF1.8 + SB600 app $1600 which I think would be a better value and something you can build on if your photographic interest matures. BTW the 50mm F1.8 is by far a better portrait lens than the 18-200 will ever be, OK

Ho often does it happen that you use a flash, except for the "flash inside a silver umbrella" [yes, no clue how that is called in English :)]. Do you use a SB600-like flash a lot?

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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NikoDoby said:
I think it doesn't help that this forum is so biased towards the D90 :^) I wonder what would happen if I started a "I hate the D90" thread? ;^)

Well, it's not just you guys. I find it really hard to hear anything good about the D5000 when it comes to comparing it to the D90. Makes me wonder how damn important the vari-angle screen is in the end... I think I have to try that in a store again :)

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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And here's another question:
I liked the Pentax LX I used so far mainly because of that feature: to be able to see from above how the frame looks. It seems like anyone with a digital camera is always using the viewfinder. As this seems like a head ache to me, there must be a darn good reason for this. If you're using AF, focus is not the reason.

Do YOU use the view finder? And if so - why? And how important is the screen resolution then?

Thx (and thanks for the 129450 comments you already posted :) It helps!)

G

Posted 3 years ago #
adamz

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Sure I use viewfinder, more than that I could live with a camera that doesn't have the back screen, but couldn't with one that doesn't have the viewfinder. As for the screen resolution, You don't need extra res to be able to compose Your picture properly. And although d5000 screen is not as good as the one in d90, it is still better than many screens from compact cameras.

Posted 3 years ago #
mcammer

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Chiming in with some D5000 love.

I had to make the D90/D5000 decision this summer on short notice (trip + broken camera). To me, the D5000 has the internals of a D90 and comes a bit cheaper. The advantage of the D90, as I saw it at the time, was compatibility with a bunch of older lenses. I didn't have any lenses and figured I could just as easily buy the new (AF-S) lenses. The swivel screen of the D5000 seemed like it might be useful at times (see below). Certainly that is a trade-off for the higher pixel count of the D90's screen. Another feature missing on the D90 is Interval Timing. Could be fun, though I admit I've just played with it a few times on my D5000.

I don't regret my choice at all. After learning enough here to start changing settings (knowingly), I do see the advantage of D90's dials vs. D5000's menus. Oh well. The D90 package at the shop where I bought was $300-400 more, if I remember, because of the lens it came with (18-105?). I've put that savings into lenses I wanted more.

If it's the last camera you ever buy, go with the D90. Otherwise it's personal preference.

Swivel screen being put to use:

resulting shot:

Posted 3 years ago #
jonnyapple

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GabrielWolff said:
Is that something you would consider? Using lenses other than Nikon? Wouldn't Nikon lenses ALWAYS fit the best on Nikon cameras?

I'd consider some of them, but most of the companies Pete listed are actually making the switch to built-in focus motors, so I don't think that should be something to worry about. I think the cheap AF primes from Nikon are a more important consideration.

GabrielWolff said:
Manual shift? Automatic transmission?

shutter was making a car analogy.

GabrielWolff said:
How often does it happen that you use a flash, except for the "flash inside a silver umbrella" [yes, no clue how that is called in English :)]. Do you use a SB600-like flash a lot?

I use bounce flash quite often—this is where you point the hot-shoe flash so that it bounces off the ceiling or a wall or something (this won't work for concerts, though, since you'll want to capture the atmosphere including the lighting at the venue). On-camera flash is less useful on the D5000 than the D90 because you can't use it to trigger the nikon flashes remotely (SB-600 or SB-900). Because on-camera flash looks a bit unnatural when it's the main light source, the thing I usually use the on-camera flash for is to fill shadows in bright sunlight (a little ironic, I know, since you'd think there is a lot of light when the sun is shining).

GabrielWolff said:
Well, it's not just you guys. I find it really hard to hear anything good about the D5000 when it comes to comparing it to the D90. Makes me wonder how damn important the vari-angle screen is in the end... I think I have to try that in a store again :)

I'm sure it's nothing against the D5000, Gabriel. It's a great camera. I think what you're seeing is support for one of the most feature-packed cameras ever made in its price range. I think the D90 is worth the extra money just for its compatibility with the 50mm 1.8. The rest of what I think I've repeated here enough times I won't do it again.

And no, I don't work for Nikon. ;-)

edit: explained bounce flash.

Posted 3 years ago #
bmxdad

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GabrielWolff said:
And here's another question:
I liked the Pentax LX I used so far mainly because of that feature: to be able to see from above how the frame looks. It seems like anyone with a digital camera is always using the viewfinder. As this seems like a head ache to me, there must be a darn good reason for this. If you're using AF, focus is not the reason.

Do YOU use the view finder? And if so - why? And how important is the screen resolution then?

Thx (and thanks for the 129450 comments you already posted :) It helps!)

G

Alright let me answer a few of them:

What is an SLR?

A single lens reflex (SLR) camera distinguishes itself from other cameras by enabling the photographer to see the image exactly as it will be captured on the film or sensor beforehand through a viewfinder. This is done via a reflecting mirror that passes the image through a pentaprism and onto an eyepiece through which the photographer finds the view. When the camera trigger is pulled, the mirror lifts out of the way, and the shutter opens up to let the light pass through onto the film or sensor, capturing the image. Now that we have a basic understanding of the mechanics of an SLR camera we can now discuss the sensor.

* 1) Lens
* 2) Primary Mirror
* 3) Primary Mirror During Snapshot
* 4) Focusing Screen
* 5) Pentaprism
* 6) Viewfinder Lens
* 7) Digital Sensor
* 8) Sensor Filter
* 9) Shutter
* 10) Relay Mirror
* 11) Autofocus System

The focus at this point is simply faster and better at getting it right than live view AF,

To use your viewfinder gives your better control of your camera, you can get away with lower shutter speed, aim better, and if you need to MF you can see if you are getting the right thing in focus. And you can use the DOF(dept of Field) preview to see how much is in focus. I do use live view shooting only if I have to and sometimes on tripod studio shots

For most pictures the build in flash will do and you can buy or make a diffuser to reduce the glare that they can make, but a larger external flash opens up a new world of exposure, I will show you picture my 9 yr old son took of his toy motorcycle

This could not be done with your build in flash

Anyway I am in Camera Sales and the D5000 is by far the best seller that we have, but I would recommend the D90 if you plan to more involved with photography, it is slightly better made, I would feel that the larger body is easier to control, The 18-200 lens is OK if that is all you plan to get, It is one of them jack of all trades but not really that great at specific tasks

Anyway this is maybe enough for this time

Pete

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Thanks for chiming in Mcammer. I think the best advice Gabriel can get is from people who actually own and use the D5000.

Gabriel I don't understand what your referring to when you say Pentax LX? The LX was a film DSLR and it doesn't have an LCD screen which I assume is what you are referring to when you say viewfinder, correct? Are you talking about the Pentax digital KX?

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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NikoDoby said:Gabriel I don't understand what your referring to when you say Pentax LX? The LX was a film DSLR and it doesn't have an LCD screen which I assume is what you are referring to when you say viewfinder, correct? Are you talking about the Pentax digital KX?

Yeah, I'll explain that.

I am indeed referring to the LX, an analogue camera. The thing I liked about it a lot [and the reason I sticked to it for so long] is the possibility to hold the camera 20 cm beneath your head and only sporadically take a look through the "looking hole" ("Sucher" in German). Most other cameras require you to hold them on face level (or lower your face to camera level) in order to look through a "looking hole" that lets you look parallel to the ground. Especially in the case of portrait sessions that is an inconvenience, as your face is covered by the camera and communication with the portraited person is interrupted.

What I was asking is: Does any of you ever actually use the LCD screen/monitor for Live View? Or do you only use the view finder? In other words: do you ever hold the camera waist level [or just not right next to your eye] when shooting or do you always kneel when taking photos a meter above ground level?

Sorry for the complication, German is a native language to me, thus the incredibly complicated way to explain things. Comprehensibility is overrated ;)

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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bmxdad said:To use your viewfinder gives your better control of your camera, you can get away with lower shutter speed, aim better, and if you need to MF you can see if you are getting the right thing in focus. And you can use the DOF(dept of Field) preview to see how much is in focus. I do use live view shooting only if I have to and sometimes on tripod studio shots

It is one of them jack of all trades but not really that great at specific tasks

Thanks Pete, for the very precise explanation. Just what I was looking for.

I understand the Focus issue. The DOF issue is new to me and I get it. But why can you get away with lower shutter speed? I mean: What's on the screen/view finder is only a representation of what's going on on the sensor, isn't it? So how is the shutter speed affected by the way you look at it?

P.S.: You're kidding about the photo taken by your son, eh? He didn't reallytake THAT photo at the age of 9...?!

Posted 3 years ago #
GabrielWolff

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And yet another question: You all mention prime lenses a lot. That surprises me as well. I can think of very few situations in which I would not need zoom [portrait sessions, mainly].

Do you guys use primes a lot. I understand they are faster, but you are very much limited without the option of zooming in, no?

And would you buy second hand lenses? How long can a lens be trusted?

Posted 3 years ago #