Moving from D50 to ?? D90/ D300

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samsnikon

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Morning all

I would appreciate some advice please. I am recently sold my D50 and am thinking to moving up to a d90 or d300. My main concern is the additional 50% premium for the d300.

While I love photography, I think my enthusiam is down to taking pictures of my children. I also like taking pictures of architecture, static cars and motorcycles and flowers etc (more the macro angle).

On the D50 all I used were aperture control and the light balance. Once in a while (when we had snow in London) I used full manual control.

The only reason why I am thinking of getting the d300 is that I do not want to upgrade again (well its going to be highly unlikely I will splash out this much on a camera) and the bling factor of the magnesium body.

Any constructive advice appreciated.

The lens I use the most is a 50mm 1.4 and am thinking of getting the 35mm 1.8

thanks

sam
 
Morning Sam.

The D90 is an excellent camera and I think it will do you well for quite a long time.

I think you're already convinced yourself that you don't want to spend the additional money on a D300.

Might also be worth your while looking at the new D7000. More expensive that the D90, but I think the price will drop a bit over the coming months.
 
There is a D90 for sale on the forum, might be worth taking alook
 
actually I really want the d300 but just get my head around the extra couple of hundred quid.
 
samsnikon said:
actually I really want the d300 but just get my head around the extra couple of hundred quid.
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The D90 feels like a toy compared to the D300, however the 300 is an older model than the D90, so lacks some features that you may/may not find useful.
 
samsnikon said:
I am really undecided as I wondering if prices will fall.

sam
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The consensus seems to be that (new) D90 prices won't drop, used prices for the D300 will drop once the D400 comes out and pushes D300s prices down.

Have you tried the D90 and D300 to see if one feels "right" for you?
 
D7000 should push the D300 prices down, but your best bet would be to try and find enough funds for a D7000 - this will be the nikon DX flagship.
 
Actually I have not managed to hold either. I should really take a trip down to Jessops in C London.

The other concern is cash, the d300, body only, is about £200-£300 more than a d90. The D50 I have just sold went pretty cheap.

However, better to bite the bullet now than later maybe.
 
I'd be quite confident that the D90 will hold it's value for quite a while. So you could buy a D90 now, have a play for a year or so and then sell, without losing much.

At that stage you could decide if you're happy with the D90 or need to process further.
 
For the shots you like taking the D90 ticks all the boxes. Can't see how the D300 would improve things.

I went from the D40 to D90 although i had the money for a D300 I spent the difference on better glass.
 
They are both very capable cameras in their own right, but obviously the D300 has the edge and in the Nikon line up it does come under the "pro camera range" i think you may be pushed to get one new now though, however second hand they seem to be going in the £680-£700 price range whereas the D90 goes for about £500ish, i have owned both and i decided to stick with the D300 as it does feel better in the hand (to me) and it has got the added features that the D90 doesn't ie sealed body :)
 
What is the advantage of the sealed body?

I am unlikely to take pics in the wet or beach (will get a compact for that).

sam
 
TG. said:
They are both very capable cameras in their own right, but obviously the D300 has the edge and in the Nikon line up it does come under the "pro camera range" i think you may be pushed to get one new now though, however second hand they seem to be going in the £680-£700 price range whereas the D90 goes for about £500ish, i have owned both and i decided to stick with the D300 as it does feel better in the hand (to me) and it has got the added features that the D90 doesn't ie sealed body :)
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I was just going to ask what the main differences are that you pay about £500 extra for ??

I see the specs are very similar is it just the magnesium body and weather sealing or is there more ? or would think of course for the price difference there would be a HUGE difference
 
TheCrewDesigns said:
I was just going to ask what the main differences are that you pay about £500 extra for ??

I see the specs are very similar is it just the magnesium body and weather sealing or is there more ? or would think of course for the price difference there would be a HUGE difference
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Well for me personally the D300 feels more like a pro camera, more like a D700, i'm not sure about the price comparisons now because they have both dropped a lot in price, however there are some side by side comparisons HERE :)
 
Scotty B said:
£300 odd extra is a lot to pay for sealing, feel and looking like a Pro.
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Ermm i didn't say it made me look like a pro, far from it :lol: what i said is the camera feels more pro as i'm guessing it would because it is, sealing can be quite important for some folk, ie landscape photographers who shoot in all weathers, the £300 price difference you mention is more like £170ish if your looking at the second hand market on both cameras ;)
 
TG. said:
Well for me personally the D300 feels more like a pro camera, more like a D700, i'm not sure about the price comparisons now because they have both dropped a lot in price, however there are some side by side comparisons HERE :)
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That link wont work but I think I have seen that site before. I was suprised how similar they both are. I honestly thought when I saw the price difference there would be some amazing tech differences, I looked expecting to be drooling at what I could buy when winning the lottery.

So really you are paying for a more robust camera that is weatherproof - is that right ?
 
don;t forget the D7000 has the same sealing and body as the D300 for about £900-£950 body only if you can wait a month or so.
 
tim_uk said:
don;t forget the D7000 has the same sealing and body as the D300 for about £900-£950 body only if you can wait a month or so.
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not quite - my understanding is that it is a partial mag body on the D7000. If it was full mag then I think it would be a d400. there's a reason why they are in different consumer brackets (Dxxxx not Dxxx). I think you'll find that the D7000 will handle much like the d90 with extra features to take it in to the current market.

To the OP - I had the same dillema when upgrading from a d40 earlier this year and went for a used d300. After much reviewing and researching I felt that the difference was justified due to the body, the autofocus (especially for capturing my nippers), and the shutter speed (as I fancy getting more in to sport in the future and as the kids grow up this is likely to be a major part of what I'll want to shoot). I have not looked back once and love my D300 to bits - I can't see what could happen to photography that would make me want to upgrade again to be honest. :thumbs:
 
for all the comments.

While I really like d300 its a big leap in funds especially from a d50

sam
 
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