New Camera..

[mvksagar45]

Hello All,
I am planning to buy my first SLR Camera. I am thinking for a budget of around 1100$ (fine even if it is a bit more, for both the body and the basic lens) . Going by the reviews, i am looking at Nikon D90 now. can any one please suggest me a good camera ? I am skeptical because the D90 is a old camera and there are many new models out there. Even Canon is fine with me.

PS: I will be using the camera more for taking images and very less for taking videos. Nikon D7000, Canon 40D and 50D are way out of my budget.

It will be really great if some one can help me in this...Thanks in advance

[OsmosisStudios]

The D90 may be an older model (which will be very difficult to find new), but it's still an excellent camera. Go for it!

Failing that, grab a D5100: It has the same sensor as the D7000, so the image quality is fantastic, but it's a smaller body with fewer features.

[kcoppock]

I haven't kept up a lot with the latest cameras to come out, so I can't offer advice there, but I can say I certainly wouldn't discount the D90 just because it's "old". I recently just bought a D80 myself (which by your definition would be "ancient", haha). It takes great pictures, and I got it for a great price. Try to refine what features you need versus what you want. I'd buy an older body, and spend some of the leftover money on a nicer lens to go with it instead; lenses stay with you much longer than the camera body.

[mvksagar45]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

The D90 may be an older model (which will be very difficult to find new), but it's still an excellent camera. Go for it!

Failing that, grab a D5100: It has the same sensor as the D7000, so the image quality is fantastic, but it's a smaller body with fewer features.

Thanks for the info.. I saw the new D 90 in amazon with 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens for 1049

[tyasa81]

strange i thought d7000 is in the budget.. anyway... d90 is a great camera... had used it for a few years before upgrading and never been dissapointed with the results... what will you be using the camera for? any lens you are looking at for the upgrade... if you dont care to use the afd lens, you can get d5100 or d3100 for the new sensor with higher pixel and better ISO performance

[mvksagar45]

Originally Posted by tyasa81

strange i thought d7000 is in the budget.. anyway... d90 is a great camera... had used it for a few years before upgrading and never been dissapointed with the results... what will you be using the camera for? any lens you are looking at for the upgrade... if you dont care to use the afd lens, you can get d5100 or d3100 for the new sensor with higher pixel and better ISO performance

Thanks for the info..The cost of D7000 (body only) is around 1300$ in amazon. As i said, i need something (body and the basic lens for around 1100)...

Presently, I don't have any lens in the mind for the upgrade.

[mvksagar45]

What about Canon...no one is even recommending them ? aren't they good ?

[kcoppock]

Originally Posted by mvksagar45

What about Canon...no one is even recommending them ? aren't they good ?

The Canon users haven't shown up yet. :P

Typically, Nikon users are going to recommend Nikon, and Canon likewise. From what I've seen they're both good, but once you pick a brand, you're stuck in it once you start buying lenses.

[Izzy]

Originally Posted by kcoppock

The Canon users haven't shown up yet. :P

Typically, Nikon users are going to recommend Nikon, and Canon likewise. From what I've seen they're both good, but once you pick a brand, you're stuck in it once you start buying lenses.

Dun da dun dun daaaaaaaaaaa

I presently shoot from a t2i, that is a 550d for the people on the other side of the pond. When I selected mine I was in the same situation with the same money to spend. I really wanted a 7D but could not come up with the last $300 - 400 to make it happen. This is when I found the T2i, it has the same sensor as the 7D and roughly the same resolving power. Naturally the 7D has some more features that mine does not, mainly more af sites, water resist body, larger mag frame, etc.

Right now there is a huge push for the T3 and T3i. I will save you time and say the T3 is junk. Its layout is nothing like the rest of the Canon cameras. I have an XS and the T2i and they are similar; the T3 is nothing like them. Plus the T3 has less resolution. The T3i might interest you because it has an articulated screen. This might be good for macros and goofy angle shots. I saw it as more to break, but I am a grumpy curmudgeon that does not like change . The difference between the 7D, T2i, and 60D is a bit muddy. You will have to read into each one and see which features better suit you.

If I had to buy another DSLR in the same budget range I would buy a T2i again in a heartbeat. It was voted best in its class and as far away from the base "Rebel" class without leaving it as you can get.