D80 or D90

timmygcsc2308

timmygcsc2308

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Timmy
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so I'm going to upgrade my D40 to either a D80 or a D90.
I had a play with a D90 the other day and was sold on it but then I thought well are there any features I need of the D90 that a D80 won't do?

Lets look:
- D90 has an awsome viewfinder (compared to the D40), is the D80 too dissimilar? if the D80 is somewhat smaller then its a D90 because this was the one thing that blew me away compared to the D40
- video recording - don't give a monkeys, never use it even on my compact
- Better ISO performance due to CMOS sensor, I never shoot above 800 anyway really, happy with the noise control on my D40 so...
- Amazing LCD..looked 3D, really loved it, D80 only has the same as a D40 but then its an LCD used for quickly reviewing pictures..
- LiveView - could be a selling point - I never used to use it on my 40D but it was poorly implemented (imo) on that. Any good on the D90


So do I get a D90 and have enough left for maybe a 50mm prime or a D80 and splurge on glass? Main point I'm after comparisons to is the viewfinder
 
As a recent convert to the D90 from the D40, I'd highly recommend the D90.

Also, I think that if you go down the D80 route, you'll always wonder about the D90. So do yourself a favour and get a D90:thumbs:
 
D90 IQ is far better especially at high ISOs. It's a fabulous camera for virtually any task
 
Ken says
Don't buy the D80. The new D90 completely obsoletes it. If money matters, buy the almost identical D40, and if not, the D90 is a complete generation beyond the old D80.
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I think that sounds like good advice.
 
This sounds contary do a different thread on here at the moment, but the difference being you havent bought it yet and the other thread already has the D80.
Id say the D90 as its a cracking camera, the live view is usefull and the IQ is stunning. Plkus its slightly more up to date with the latest tech.
 
johnnypanic said:
Also, I think that if you go down the D80 route, you'll always wonder about the D90. So do yourself a favour and get a D90:thumbs:
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haha you know...this is so true :thumbs: I can get a refurb D90 for £500 and a 50mm AF new for £90 or used for about £70..sounds like a plan
 
timmygcsc2308 said:
haha you know...this is so true :thumbs: I can get a refurb D90 for £500 and a 50mm AF new for £90 or used for about £70..sounds like a plan
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Why bother with a refurb @ £500 when you can pick up a new one, from the likes of Digital Depot for well under £600 :thinking:

PM Stuart, from Digital Depot. Can highly recommend.
 
johnnypanic said:
Why bother with a refurb @ £500 when you can pick up a new one, from the likes of Digital Depot for well under £600 :thinking:

PM Stuart, from Digital Depot. Can highly recommend.
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well...just looked on their website and they're £590..£90 gets me the 50mm. The refurb comes with a year warranty vs the 2 years of the new one...soo..hmm
 
timmygcsc2308 said:
well...just looked on their website and they're £590..£90 gets me the 50mm. The refurb comes with a year warranty vs the 2 years of the new one...soo..hmm
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Each to their own, but I'd personally rather have a brand spanking new one, given the price differential.

But I thnk we've convinced you on the D90 :clap:
 
don't buy the D80 - it's older technology than your D40 and would you replace your current computer for an older one ?

The D90 looks good value now as it's about to be replaced so that would be my choice.
 
I've just upgraded from a D3000 to a D90 and its fantastic! !00% go for it :D
 
Heres a clue, I have two D90s! I have also had a D50 D80 D200 and D2x. I sold the D2x a few weeks back and got a second D90 as the image quality is a bit better and it weighs half as much.

D80 to D90 there is a very big difference,the main thing is its high iso quality, I am happier shooting at iso1600 on the D90 than i was at 400iso on the D80, this has lots of advantages not least of which is your flashgun is 4x as powerful and I can now get well exposed shots over 200ft away with my SB800. The other major, and it is a big difference, is the LCD screen it is hugely better than the D80s. Other stuff is minor, handles better, batteries last longer, controls better especially the centre "ok" button on the thumb joystick thingy. I really would nt consider the D80 now.

Incidentally there is the D90 replacement being announced next week so you might want to hold fire, however it will be more expensive, about $1200 so £800ish body only and I got my second D90 for £480 from a Hongkong seller on eBay as they are cheap now that the new model is about to be announced. ( £25 FedEx delivery to Spain in 3 days )

Oh one other thing the 55-200mm F4 VR has also been discontinued. Its a cracking lens very sharp and is now being sold on eBay for £84 new from HngKong which is crazy cheap.:thumbs:
 
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johnnypanic said:
Each to their own, but I'd personally rather have a brand spanking new one, given the price differential.

But I thnk we've convinced you on the D90 :clap:
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yea..after careful consideration I think I'll go new

Spanishphil said:
Heres a clue, I have two D90s! I have also had a D50 D80 D200 and D2x. I sold the D2x a few weeks back and got a second D90 as the image quality is a bit better and it weighs half as much.

D80 to D90 there is a very big difference,the main thing is its high iso quality, I am happier shooting at iso1600 on the D90 than i was at 400iso on the D80, this has lots of advantages not least of which is your flashgun is 4x as powerful and I can now get well exposed shots over 200ft away with my SB800. The other major, and it is a big difference, is the LCD screen it is hugely better than the D80s. Other stuff is minor, handles better, batteries last longer, controls better especially the centre "ok" button on the thumb joystick thingy. I really would nt consider the D80 now.

Incidentally there is the D90 replacement being announced next week so you might want to hold fire, however it will be more expensive, about $1200 so £800ish body only and I got my second D90 for £480 from a Hongkong seller on eBay as they are cheap now that the new model is about to be announced. ( £25 FedEx delivery to Spain in 3 days )

Oh one other thing the 55-200mm F4 VR has also been discontinued. Its a cracking lens very sharp and is now being sold on eBay for £84 new from HngKong which is crazy cheap.:thumbs:
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Thanks for all the advice, I think I'll be passing on the 'D7000' unless I have a good turn in fortune..my budget is going to be £600.

johnnypanic said:
Timmy,

the following, in the classified section, might be of interest to you -

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=257554

Please note, I've nothing to do with the seller, just spotted it and think it's certainly worth a look.
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thanks for highlighting this..as above I think I'll be going new.
 
johnnypanic said:
Keep us posted.
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will do, really excited gahh - went into Jessops during the week, picked one up and was like woah..looked at the price tag and went ahh..

but then today I upgraded my phone contract and I want neither the phone (Sony X10 Mini Pro) or the free gift (Xbox 360 Slim 250GB), I just want the extra minutes (900 vs 600 previous), so I shall sell them both off, RRP is about £200 a piece but I figure after ebay fees etc. I'm looking at £170 each so £340, then my 35mm AF-S is for sale at £140, then I should get £150 for my D40 making £620, call it £600 just incase, digital depot does body only for £590+del.

you didn't need to know all that of course...:bonk:
 
I'd hang on until the new model is announced.. you should be able to pick up a bargain somewhere.

Also, if I were you, I'd be tempted to hold onto the D40. It's great for it's smaller size. Good for chucking in a rucksack with a cheap kit lens or a light weight prime (if you don't mind manually focussing it) and not worrying to much about it.

Or lending to your Girlfriend to take on away to Cyprus on a girly holiday.
 
oh... and one more thing...

...are you getting the best out of your D40? It might only be 6 MP and it might not have the ISO performance of newer modes, but it is still a great camera.

I think I upgraded mine to a D80 (before the advent of the D90) when really I still had a long way to go.
 
ed_o_brain said:
I'd hang on until the new model is announced.. you should be able to pick up a bargain somewhere.

Also, if I were you, I'd be tempted to hold onto the D40. It's great for it's smaller size. Good for chucking in a rucksack with a cheap kit lens or a light weight prime (if you don't mind manually focussing it) and not worrying to much about it.

Or lending to your Girlfriend to take on away to Cyprus on a girly holiday.
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ed_o_brain said:
oh... and one more thing...

...are you getting the best out of your D40? It might only be 6 MP and it might not have the ISO performance of newer modes, but it is still a great camera.

I think I upgraded mine to a D80 (before the advent of the D90) when really I still had a long way to go.
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perhaps but then it could go the reverse, or stay the same. I was out of the market for a couple of years and came back and was shocked that a 450D was roughly the same price as when I left even though a 550D was released. A top seller like the 90D will stay in the market for a while yet to keep the price of the D7000 boyant, it fits snuggly into the bracket between a D5000 and the impending D7000.
And I'm probably not getting the most out of my D40 and don't get me wrong I love it but the main reasons for wanting an upgrade is the viewfinder and autofocussing. My eyes ache after a while of using the D40 due to squinting (diopter is set correctly) because the VF is small, plus having the 9 AF points on the D90 is nice, niggles of the D40 such as incorrect matrix metering somtimes and the LCD not turning off automatically when you put your eye to the viewfinder which is far too annoying for night work. Plus the built in AF motor, I've been really longing for some older Nikon glass

Oh and I'm giving the missus a D60 this week for her birthday ;) the D40 will be used to fund the purchase of the D90
 
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My first dslr was the D40 - cracking camera - and when it came time to upgrade had the same thoughts ... D80 or D90?

I initially bought the D80 due to the price difference but only kept it for a couple of months before getting a D90 (used on here). My only real problem with the D80 was its poor iso noise which was worse than the D40 and as I take a lot of indoor sports it was a ball breaker. The D90 is wicked at even iso3200 :D

Live view is good for indoor shots or macro work when you can put the camera on a tripod but I don't use it for anything else (except video).

The D40 doesn't have Live View, btw :)
 
Bristolian said:
The D40 doesn't have Live View, btw :)
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I never said it did..I said I never used to use it on my 40D ;) yes..I used to be a Canon boy, but I've grown into being a Nikon man :p
 
D90 arriving tomorrow courtesy of Stuart (great guy) and Digital Depot :D
 
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