Time for the new camera!

[L4MBOLUV3R]

Hi all, Its now looming very close (next week in fact!) until I get my new camera

I have my heart pretty much set on a Nikon D90 but I am still open to suggestions towards what to get so I was wondering if you lot wouldnt mind helping me out with a few burning questions?

1/ What is the difference between the D500 and the D90?

2/ Where is the cheapest place to get it from and is it possible to go on finance for extra bits? lens, flash e.t.c.

3/ Am I better off getting the lens kit or the body on its own & if I get the body what lens?

4/ Whats other cameras should I look at in the range? I've tried the 450D and severely disliked it!

Thanks Damian.

[Simpo Two]

Here's an answer for Q1: www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=s...

As for lens, if this is your first DSLR I'd start with the kit lens and take it from there as your interests develop.

[L4MBOLUV3R]

Cheers To be honest I cant see much of a difference between them.

[SamHH]

I don't know about all of the differences but the one thing that would put me off the D5000 is the lack of autofocus motor which means it won't autofocus with all Nikon mount lenses. That's just my opinion though; I'm sure plenty of people have Nikons without an autofocus motor and are happy.

Other than that, I agree with Simpo: get the kit lens and you'll soon find out what you want to buy next. I'd suggest having a go with any camera you buy in a shop to make sure it doesn't have the same feature that you disliked about the 450D.

[L4MBOLUV3R]

SamHH said:

I don't know about all of the differences but the one thing that would put me off the D5000 is the lack of autofocus motor which means it won't autofocus with all Nikon mount lenses. That's just my opinion though; I'm sure plenty of people have Nikons without an autofocus motor and are happy.

Other than that, I agree with Simpo: get the kit lens and you'll soon find out what you want to buy next. I'd suggest having a go with any camera you buy in a shop to make sure it doesn't have the same feature that you disliked about the 450D.

Well I want to try and do High speed photography like motor sports or animals so is that something I would want? Sorry to be such a pain but this is my first venture into this market.

What I hated about the 450D was the size of the grip to start, way to tiny! And the body graphics look like they have been drawn on with tipex and I didn't think it handled that well.

[SamHH]

L4MBOLUV3R said:

Well I want to try and do High speed photography like motor sports or animals so is that something I would want? Sorry to be such a pain but this is my first venture into this market.

The Nikon lenses that you'd need to use are the ones with their own autofocus motor, labelled AF-I (this is an old type that you don't see much) or AF-S. Nikon make AF-S varieties of most of their lenses, including ones suitable for motorsport, and I'm sure eventually they will replace their entire range with AF-S lenses. In the meantime though, you're limiting your choice of lenses somewhat, especially if you want to buy second hand. For me that would put me off the cameras without their own autofocus motor.

[andy-xr]

If you're thinking of comparing the D90 to others from Nikon, check it against the D300 rather than the D5000

[Simpo Two]

Motorsport pros will use long fast lenses that generally cost well into four figures. However you could do well with the Nikkor 70-300VR which IIRC is £400-500. It's a nice lens, it just isn't very fast (= doesn't have a large maximum aperture).

[Ravell]

Biggest differences, D5000 has a swivel screen and is a bit lighter and cheaper

D90 has larger and higher resolution screen, top mounted information screen, internal focus motor for older AF lenses, slightly higher continuous shooting speed, much better viewfinder with a pentaprism rather than pentamirror, two rather than one command dial, commander mode for off-camera and multiple flash with current Nikon Speedlights. If you go with the kit lens, you get more range with a 18-105mm focal length than the 18-55mm D5000 kit lens.

Technical image quality between them is pretty much idential as they use the same sensor, processing electronics, AF and metering system. The difference is really in ease of use, where IMO the D90 wins. I presonaly see little use for the swivel screen over all the other stuff you get with the D90. Others may see that differently though.

Have a look here to find the best deal: http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/index.html

IMO the kit lens for either is a good deal if you don't have any other nikon glass.

[Simpo Two]

Ravell said:

D90 has larger and higher resolution screen, top mounted information screen, internal focus motor for older AF lenses, slightly higher continuous shooting speed, much better viewfinder with a pentaprism rather than pentamirror, two rather than one command dial, commander mode for off-camera and multiple flash with current Nikon Speedlights.

Interesting that none of that info, which is so important for actual use, doesn't show up in a simple list of specs. It just shows that you can't decide by reading lists of specs, and that even if you go to see the camras for real, you need to have an idea of how you envisage using them.

[SamHH]

Simpo Two said:

Interesting that none of that info, which is so important for actual use, doesn't show up in a simple list of specs. It just shows that you can't decide by reading lists of specs, and that even if you go to see the camras for real, you need to have an idea of how you envisage using them.

Yes, most of the stuff that I dislike about my camera has nothing to do with the headline specs and they wouldn't get to annoy you until you've used it for a while. Things like not being able to display the settings on the main LCD and having to confirm every menu setting in order to change it.

[jon-]

Ravell said:

Biggest differences, D5000 has a swivel screen and is a bit lighter and cheaper

D90 has larger and higher resolution screen, top mounted information screen, internal focus motor for older AF lenses, slightly higher continuous shooting speed, much better viewfinder with a pentaprism rather than pentamirror, two rather than one command dial, commander mode for off-camera and multiple flash with current Nikon Speedlights. If you go with the kit lens, you get more range with a 18-105mm focal length than the 18-55mm D5000 kit lens.

Technical image quality between them is pretty much idential as they use the same sensor, processing electronics, AF and metering system. The difference is really in ease of use, where IMO the D90 wins. I presonaly see little use for the swivel screen over all the other stuff you get with the D90. Others may see that differently though.

Have a look here to find the best deal: http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/index.html

IMO the kit lens for either is a good deal if you don't have any other nikon glass.

My ex housemate has a d90, and if I were to buy again that would be my starter SLR camera. So much better than my 400d, I can't imagine the 450d to be that much of a step on.

If nothing else it's hugely more responsive.

[GlenMH]

I have just had the exact same dilemma and bought the D90 last week. The D5000 feels very flimsy in comparison and I am used to using a top mount LCD. As has been pointed out, the lens has a far greater zoom range too.

I am very very pleased with it so far!

[L4MBOLUV3R]

Thanks all for the responses I think with out a doubt the camera I will go for is the D90. It just appears to be better with all the stuff people are saying.

As for the finance option I think I will go with Jessops on in store finance because they have a 12 month option apparently. May go credit card route.

Now I want to get a flash as well. What would be better the Nikon SB-600 Speedlight or Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight ?

[jon-]

Guess by the price

The 900 is the daddy of flashes!

[Ravell]

L4MBOLUV3R said:

Thanks all for the responses I think with out a doubt the camera I will go for is the D90. It just appears to be better with all the stuff people are saying.

As for the finance option I think I will go with Jessops on in store finance because they have a 12 month option apparently. May go credit card route.

Now I want to get a flash as well. What would be better the Nikon SB-600 Speedlight or Nikon SB-900 AF Speedlight ?

SB-900 is obviously the 'better' speedlight, but you do pay more for it. Is it worth the extra? Depends on your used for it, A lot of people say they are perfectly happy with the SB-600 and aren't interrested in the SB-900.

The SB-900 has a few more features and slightly higher output power for longer focal lengths. I've heard critisism that the info screen isn't as easy to read and in professional hands it can overheat with heavy use.

I haven't used either yet, but will deffinitly get one or the other soon. I love off camera flash and haven't got anything at the moment except for the built in flash on my D90.

[L4MBOLUV3R]

Well what I like about it is the wireless option the 900 gives you but if I am not mistaken the Nikon D90 has a wireless trigger in it? so if I get a wireless unit for the 600 it would be wireless as well so there wouldn't be that much between them?

[jon-]

L4MBOLUV3R said:

Well what I like about it is the wireless option the 900 gives you but if I am not mistaken the Nikon D90 has a wireless trigger in it? so if I get a wireless unit for the 600 it would be wireless as well so there wouldn't be that much between them?

Correct, the d90 has a master commander built in. Nikon certainly have the edge over Canon when it comes to wireless flash.

[andy-xr]

Nikon's flash system is ace if you can ever get the damn thing to work outdoors. The D90 has Commander mode (D40 doesnt and I'm pretty sure D5000 doesnt either) with the onboard popup flash controlling other Nikon flashguns by infrared. The SB900 (and older SB800 or SU800 controller) would do this as well, but I'm pretty sure they need to be on the hotshoe. It's an expensive trigger when you dont want light coming from the camera, but offset to camera right for example - you'll end up turning the £350 flashgun down to 1/64 power so it doesnt interrupt the £150 flashguns output.

I've played around with my 2 SB600's firing them via CLS. It's handy that you can adjust the flash power on the camera without needing to go anywhere near the flashguns once they're in TTL, but I just couldnt get them to work reliably once out in the open. Instead I've gone for a radio trigger and manual flash setup that I can use on studio heads as well, which makes the whole TTL thing redundant. In hindsight I may as well have gone for some cheap Sigmas, as none of my flashes will see a hotshoe if I can help it.

One thing to look out for with the SB600's is they struggle to overpower the ambient light in some cases, but work well for fill when you need it.

[jon-]

andy-xr said:

Nikon's flash system is ace if you can ever get the damn thing to work outdoors. The D90 has Commander mode (D40 doesnt and I'm pretty sure D5000 doesnt either) with the onboard popup flash controlling other Nikon flashguns by infrared. The SB900 (and older SB800 or SU800 controller) would do this as well, but I'm pretty sure they need to be on the hotshoe. It's an expensive trigger when you dont want light coming from the camera, but offset to camera right for example - you'll end up turning the £350 flashgun down to 1/64 power so it doesnt interrupt the £150 flashguns output.

I've played around with my 2 SB600's firing them via CLS. It's handy that you can adjust the flash power on the camera without needing to go anywhere near the flashguns once they're in TTL, but I just couldnt get them to work reliably once out in the open. Instead I've gone for a radio trigger and manual flash setup that I can use on studio heads as well, which makes the whole TTL thing redundant. In hindsight I may as well have gone for some cheap Sigmas, as none of my flashes will see a hotshoe if I can help it.

One thing to look out for with the SB600's is they struggle to overpower the ambient light in some cases, but work well for fill when you need it.

Ah, but the new pocket wizzards (due soon) and the existing radio poppers can take CLS (and Canons system) wireless with full TTL, so the Nikon flashes aren't a total waste of money

[pedant]I believe CLS uses preflashes, it's Canon that uses IR. This makes CLS a little less useless outdoors, but not by much![/pedant]