Nikon D5000

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Cathy
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I am thinking of getting a D5000.

How much would the nifty fifty equivalent be for a Nikon?
Are lenses much more expensive for Nikon than Canon?

On reading reviews of this body, it seems to have everything, but I want to know what the quality is like. What sort of pics would I be able to take with the 18mm-55mm lens that comes with it? Will I feel the need to get another lens asap or will be versatile enough to keep me going till I get some birthday money etc!

Before, I was toying with getting either D3000 or the EOS 1000D...how much of a step up is the D5000??
 
The D5000 is nice the images are sharp enough with the kit lens and for a beginner its a nice camera but you need to be aware you can not use some lenses with it due to it not having a AF/Manual control on the body such as the F1.8 50mm prime lens - its a bit of a pain.
 
Is that much of a problem not having the AF/manual control on the body?

Does it limit the lenses available? I won't be able to buy big expensive lenses anyway...it will be more the case of one or two versatile ones....prob one for macro and one for zoom...but nothing expensive or flash!! Would this pose a problem if I bought this body??

Do youf find you let the camera focus more than using manual focus>??
 
As above, I have a similar problem with my D40x.

You'd need the 50mm f/1.4 to auto-focus which isn't the cheapest (I think it's about £300 or there abouts).

As another option, I've just purchased a 35mm f/1.8 which will auto-focus and can be had for about £170-ish.

:)
 
Oh why is this decision so hard to make!

In light of the lack of AF, would it be better for me to go for a Canon?
 
Oh why is this decision so hard to make!

In light of the lack of AF, would it be better for me to go for a Canon?

It's not a lack of AF per se, just that you need to be a bit more selective with the lenses.

For example, there is the very same 35mm lens I bought up for sale on this forum just now for £120. Bargain for someone as this is barely more than the manual focusing 50mm lens ;)
 
The 5000d appears to be £395.00 at bristol cameras (with cashback) at the mo, if this is correct it's the bargain of the week though as previously mentioned AFs lenses are needed for AF so your nifty fifty is gonna be £300. We use the 35mm f1.8 on our training d40 and d3000 and its a cracker.

John www.phototuition.net
 
OK...so would the extra expense of the lens be worthwhile if I got the D5000.

I somehow think it will be better to buy a better body, and considering I only plan on buying 2/3 lenses...will the extra be worth.

I know you can't tell me what to do, but if you had the option, what would you do?
 
I was in the same situation just before Xmas, I decided to go Nikon in the end as it felt more comfortable in my hand. At this level the Nikon and Canon equivalent take extremely similar quality images.
I liked the kit lens (18-55 VR) and took some nice pictures with it, but sold it and bought a Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 because I wanted something that would be more usable in lower light situations.
As above, the lower end Nikons do not have the auto-focus motor built into the camera body so if you want AF you have to buy lenses with the AF motor in. Not too much of a hassle as there is a decent selection from Nikon and 3rd party manufacturers if, like me, you can't afford a Nikon lens yet!
Something else to bear in mind re: wanting a 50mm prime lens is that the D5000 is a 'crop sensor' camera (as are all apart from the very top end DSLRs), so, the 35mm prime works out as almost the same as a 50mm lens would on a film camera or 'full frame' digital camera, a 50mm lens on the D5000 would look more 'zoomed in'. The AF-S 35mm f/1.8 lens is around £170

To conclude: I'm very happy with my D5000, there's plenty of scope for me to 'grow into' it as I learn, I think it was a good purchase and I have no regrets going Nikon. I also think that had I gone Canon, I would feel the same way, afterall, they are virtually identical spec-wise. Best bet - get down the camera shop and spend a few minutes with each, shoot a few shots, hold them, go through the menus and see which you prefer.
 
To conclude: I'm very happy with my D5000, there's plenty of scope for me to 'grow into' it as I learn, I think it was a good purchase and I have no regrets going Nikon. I also think that had I gone Canon, I would feel the same way, afterall, they are virtually identical spec-wise. Best bet - get down the camera shop and spend a few minutes with each, shoot a few shots, hold them, go through the menus and see which you prefer.


Likewise!

I too had the choice of D3000 D5000 or canon.

After handling a few in Jessops, I soon decided that nikon felt nicer, and more "built" than Canon, but only your hands will tell you what you prefure.

Take the above advice, go to a camera shop, and play with a few :)

I went D5000 because it a level above entry, and I do intend to go to collage to learn more on Photography, so to me, the D3000 would soon get "out grown".

Once I start to get very familar with my D5000 my pictures will improve, as will my lenses. Maybe eventually, I'll upgrade to a D90 ;)
 
in January it was a Nikon D3000 or a US Canon 450d and the Canon won features wise so I went for that, and hopefully that will be the biggest mistake I make this year as I cannot afford to make another.. just under 2 weeks ago I sold the 450d and all the Canon stuff at a huge loss and with the cashback offer I managed to afford the D5000, seriously its the best camera I have used and I have had 8 since last April.. at a consumer level the Nikon outclass Canon build quality wise, picture quality wise I wasnt unhappy with the 450d I got some excellent results, but I just seem to get on better with Nikons way of thinking.

the D5000 has lots and lots of features, all with a gimmicky sound to it, but I cannot believe how much I am using them, cross screen is the main one I love, it adds the star trails onto street lights, or anything sparkly, took a picture of my daughter and added cross screen onto her earings, it just made the pic look more 'brochure'.

take all the features away and it is first and foremost a very good slr, the cshback deal makes it a bargain.
 
Everybody speaks of the fifty, and sure, you won't have the luxury of AF with the 1.8, but then again, that's really an 85mm equivalent.

So therefore, you need the 35mm in order to get the 50mm equivalent, and there is a lens with Nikon's AFS built specially for the DX.
 
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