Any thoughts or opinions on the on the two nikons mentioned in the title, I can see the differences in the specs for myself but am more interested in what folks who have tried both feel. I intended to compare them both at my local Jessops but they have stopped stocking the D5000 so I was unable to do that. As one of my reasons for changing from my D50 was to get a bigger screen, does the articulated screen on the D5000 make up for it's slightly smaller size? This is the kind of opinion I am after which just comparing specs doesn't answer.
nikon d5000/3100
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- Andy
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The screen on the D5000 is really great! It's very handy for those difficult shots. The D3100 is reviewed in this weeks Amateur Photographer magazine and they love it! I wonder why the D5000 is no longer stocked at you Jessops? I was in Jessops yesterday in Croydon and they had it there.
Hi Andy,
Thanks for replying, yes I've got this weeks AP and you're right they do give it a good review. I don't know why "my" Jessops have stopped stocking the D500, I assumed it was a national thing, perhaps I should try another branch. Would you say there is much difference in your 2.75" screen to the 3.00" on the D3100? I think I would find the articulated screen very usefull but as I said I am only thinking of changing the D50 to get a bigger screen, it's a real pain having to put my reading glasses on to see the image, not because it isn't clear but because it's so small.
Thanks for replying, yes I've got this weeks AP and you're right they do give it a good review. I don't know why "my" Jessops have stopped stocking the D500, I assumed it was a national thing, perhaps I should try another branch. Would you say there is much difference in your 2.75" screen to the 3.00" on the D3100? I think I would find the articulated screen very usefull but as I said I am only thinking of changing the D50 to get a bigger screen, it's a real pain having to put my reading glasses on to see the image, not because it isn't clear but because it's so small.
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The D5000 is a great camera, but I haven't had a chance to look at the better specification D3100.
The D5000 is the slow to auto-focus in Live-View (IMO)
Although I would get a D90 at a drop of hat; as that is a fantastic camera, if the budget could stretch. Not least as it has an intenral motor to focus non AF-S lens.
The D7000 is alot more money and I'm waiting for the first adopters to find its flaws.
The D5000 is the slow to auto-focus in Live-View (IMO)
Although I would get a D90 at a drop of hat; as that is a fantastic camera, if the budget could stretch. Not least as it has an intenral motor to focus non AF-S lens.
The D7000 is alot more money and I'm waiting for the first adopters to find its flaws.
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I was originally undecided between a D3100/D5000/500D, but really wanted a Nikon, but was slightly off put by the lack of an autofocus motor in the body. I had decided the D90 was stretch too far, but I really wanted one.
I discovered Jessops had interest free credit so I thought I'd give it a go - I didn't think I'd get it though (I'm a fully funded PhD student, so I get plenty of money a month, and I have an irregular teaching assistant type job with the university, but nothing really that would count as "proper employment"). Got accepted for it though, whacked down a decent deposit, and meant that I had some of budget left over for a 50mm lens or decent flashgun. I know if I'd gone down the D3100/D5000 route, I reckon I would regretted not spending the little extra on a D90.
There is a big fuss over the 3100, D5000 and D90, much is centered on the rear screen . . . ?
The D5000 is essentially a D90, with a 2.7" animated rear screen at 230,000 pixels, and no in body focus motor.
The D90 has a rear 3" screen at 920,000 pixels, it also has a pentaprism OVF, larger and brighter than the Pentamirror in the D5000 and D3100, it has the focus motor, giving more flexabuility to some?
The D3100 has a 3" rear screen but still at 230,000 pixels, and agin no focus motor.
You dont have to be to clever to work out, the D90 has the superior viewing apparatus.
The animated screen on the D5000 is a useful extra . . . I thought . . . however to use it, you need to switch to live view, its so slow to focus, I am finding it frustrating. I choose my G1 because of the superior focusing in 'live view' on the animated rear screen.
The D5000 is a great camera, but the D90 has the edge on handling if you dont need the animated screen. That also goes for the D3100, reading the spec., it is up to the D5000 without an animated screen.
To my mind this leaves the D5000 out on a limb . . . :shrug: I'm waiting for the 7000, see how it fairs in the first few months? There's going to be a lot of used D90's available, or does one stretch for a D7000 . . . I dont need the video . . . :bang:
The alternative . . . stick to just the G1 . . . answer the question truthfully; 'do I really need a DSLR' . . .
CJS
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Don't know about you guys, but I fine the AF in live view with my 35 1.8, 18-70 and 70 - 300 VR to be fine in live view. regularly use it too....
Don't know about you guys, but I fine the AF in live view with my 35 1.8, 18-70 and 70 - 300 VR to be fine in live view. regularly use it too....
Live view contrast focusing works OK'ish, I agree, however compared with a normal system and under certain conditions, ie low contrast, it is positively pedestrian. A point often picked up on in reviews of the D5000.
Its something I live with, however I'm beginning to find it irritating . . . :bang:
Purely my personal view, CJS
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There is a big fuss over the 3100, D5000 and D90, much is centered on the rear screen . . . ?
The D5000 is essentially a D90, with a 2.7" animated rear screen at 230,000 pixels, and no in body focus motor.
The D90 has a rear 3" screen at 920,000 pixels, it also has a pentaprism OVF, larger and brighter than the Pentamirror in the D5000 and D3100, it has the focus motor, giving more flexabuility to some?
The D3100 has a 3" rear screen but still at 230,000 pixels, and agin no focus motor.
You dont have to be to clever to work out, the D90 has the superior viewing apparatus.
The animated screen on the D5000 is a useful extra . . . I thought . . . however to use it, you need to switch to live view, its so slow to focus, I am finding it frustrating. I choose my G1 because of the superior focusing in 'live view' on the animated rear screen.
The D5000 is a great camera, but the D90 has the edge on handling if you dont need the animated screen. That also goes for the D3100, reading the spec., it is up to the D5000 without an animated screen.
To my mind this leaves the D5000 out on a limb . . . :shrug: I'm waiting for the 7000, see how it fairs in the first few months? There's going to be a lot of used D90's available, or does one stretch for a D7000 . . . I dont need the video . . . :bang:
The alternative . . . stick to just the G1 . . . answer the question truthfully; 'do I really need a DSLR' . . .
CJS
those two points are not mere small little points, they are big deals, especially the pentaprism OVF - it is incredible the difference and how much difference it makes to shot composure simply because the VF is so much bigger and clearer.
Plus the D90 is bigger and built better, it is a joy to hold (I've held a D5000 too which is good but nothing like the D90)
I have said in previous threads that ideally I would prefer a D90, being closer in size to my D50 and having an internal motor. having said that J do not have big hands and all three of my lenses would auto focus on the later models, and I would probably be able to afford a D5000/D3100 sooner than I would a D90, although being retired I would need to sell my spotting scope and the D50 to be able to do either, that is why I am finding these opinions so useful so please keep them coming.
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I've yet to try one, but in some respects the D3100 sounds like all the camera most people would ever need. Even Saint Ken of Rockwell rates it highly, to quote "The D3100 is a very competent DSLR. It's images are pretty similar to the D3 and D700 if you have good light.". Also It's lightweight construction, size and cost also may mean that you're more likely to take it out with you?
His full review here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3100.htm
His full review here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d3100.htm