d3000, d5000 or d90

Hysteria_UK

Hysteria_UK

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Dan Wright
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Right, I am having a bit of a dilemma! My Fuji (Nikon mount) has died and I need a new camera. It must be a Nikon as all my lenses are Nikon. The D3000, D5000 and D90 (at a push) are in my price range. I have looked on DPReview at them side by side and still dont know which way to go.

If the main difference between the 3000 and 5000 is the fact that the 5000 takes HD movies then I dont think its worth the extra expense for use.

In your opinions, is the D90 worth the extra money? What are the plus points of owning this over the 3000 or 5000? Please help
 
Having played with a D5000, I would recommend them to anyone buying at this price point. It's simply brilliant.
And not 'just' for the money.
Using the same lenses, I can't tell the difference between images taken on a D5k and my D3 after they've been resized to the same dimensions.
 
I think the d5000 uses a better sensor than the d3000, so I'd be tempted to go for the d5000 if you can afford to. Even though I have a d60 myself, I wish I had saved up the extra for the D5000.
 
Really depends if you intend to use non-afs lens with it.
Neither d5k or d3k have an af motor in the body. So no af if used with D lens such as the 50mm 1.8.
If not, get the d5k, if you need the motor get the d90.
 
If im right in saying here D5000 uses same sensor as D90 so sensor wise you are getting the same. The D90 though has a motor in it so can use older lenses, while this isent nessercerry to autofocus it means you can only use AS-S lenses on the D3000 and 5000 if you want them to autofocus.

By having a motor it means you can get some good cheaper lenses like the 50mm 1.8 D or if you want a more profesional zoom then you get get the 80-200 F2.8
 
The D3000's replacement (the D3100) is due to be officially anounced in a week's time, so there will be deals aplenty as retailers clear their shelves of the old model.
 
roastchips said:
The D90 though has a motor in it so can use older lenses
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So it can use non-AF-S lenses you mean. Nikon have several current lenses that are not AF-S, and there are "older" lenses that are AF-S.
 
As above, depending what lenses you already have the D90 may be the better option if you want to keep the AF function on non AF-S lenses.
 
The D5000 is just a better all-round camera than the D3000 really - that said, both are nice!


The main advantage of the D90 is that you can use non AF-S or equivilent lenses with it, and the older non AF-S lenses do often come a fair bit cheaper, but some people will obviously mkae more use of that than others will.
 
I had a D3000 and really wanted a D90 but finances wouldn't allow it.. got a good deal on a D5000 and am more than happy to stick with it, meets all my needs and is far better than the D3000.. the flip out screen is great for my dodgy knees :)

needing AF-S lenses to auto focus already mentioned
 
As you already have some Nikon lenses from your previous camera I would go the D90 route. That is unless they are all AF-S motorised and then I would go for the D5000. Whilst the D3000 is a decent camera, the D5000 has a much better sensor and 11-point focus system straight out of the D90 and D300 and various other goodies that the D3000 does not have.
 
Arkady said:
Having played with a D5000, I would recommend them to anyone buying at this price point. It's simply brilliant.
And not 'just' for the money.
Using the same lenses, I can't tell the difference between images taken on a D5k and my D3 after they've been resized to the same dimensions.
Click to expand...

Totally agree with Rob.

I bought my girlfriend's 15 year old daughter a D5000 about three months ago and it's a fab camera for the money. At low ISO's the IQ is just as good as much more expensive Nikon camera's.

The D3000 has just been phased out and is about to be replaced by a D3100. Even with the update I still think the D5000 is the much better camera.

All that said, if your budget will stretch to the D90 I'd go for that as it's built better, handles better and has a better processor. I would say you are less likely to outgrow a D90 than the other two and that would therefore be my recommendation if you can afford it.
 
Mmm its all been said, AF-S lenses will be your deciding factor, if your lens collection are the old screw style focus system, these wont auto focus on a D5000, but can be used 'manual focus'.

Otherwise, the D5000 is a D90 where it matters . . . minor tweaks and disablement's. The swivel screen, I find, is very useful, but thats because of my dodgy right knee;)

CJS
 
thats for all the input guys. I only have two lenses and they're both reasonably new and im 99% sure they have built in motors. I think Ill treat myself to a D5000. Thanks again everyone!
 
:nikon: :thumbs: Excellent, if the lenses are marked 'AF-S', you are way with the mixer :lol:

Enjoy, CJS
 
Hysteria_UK said:
thats for all the input guys. I only have two lenses and they're both reasonably new and im 99% sure they have built in motors. I think Ill treat myself to a D5000. Thanks again everyone!
Click to expand...

good d5000 review ...."here"
 
I bought the d3000 2 months ago as my first DSLR and i absolutely love it, but i regret not stumping the extra money for either the d5000 or the d90 as after having a play about with both recently they definitely offer more that the d3000. I'm going to wait until the new year and will most likely upgrade to the d90.
 
<<<<< Michael...are you a close pal of "wheels"........?......:thinking:...:lol:
 
mickyc1 said:
This is the second time this has been said to me today!! :lol: Don't have a clue who they are!
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do a search in "Community"

"wheels" aka Julian - has the same avatar - how did you choose it ..?
 
dunno if it makes any difference to you, but Digital Depot have a special price for the D90 this weekend
 
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Strangely Digital Depot have a placeholder the D3100, which has been announced and the D95, which I thought, at this stage, was just a rumour.
 
I think the special price is a £60 cash back from manufacturer. I've seen it at a few places for £595* and the * takes you down the pages and explains 'cash back'
 
actually, looking at it that seems to be the price you pay! has anyone used Digital Depot before?
 
D90? You said you were getting the D5000. :lol: I'd have gone with the D90 as well. I'm gonna wait and see what the new one is like and maybe get that if it's any good.
 
lol that I did but when I saw how cheap digital depot were doing it....and the fact my fantastic other half said she would buy it me as a very early xmas present, I couldnt say no lol I was tempted to wait but the D95 is still only a rumour as far as I knew and I have already been 3 months without a working camera and it was killing me.

Also, I didnt like the fact the D5000 only had one wheel
 
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You can get them for £575 including postage. Hmm how well is this going to go down with my good lady.

ed_o_brain how is the D90 with long exposures and ISO800-1600? I'm looking to use it for star trails and the like. The D3000 is no good past ISO400.
 
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