Will the D5000 be good enough for me?

[Almond.Butterscotch]

bah- hogwash.

[inkista]

Different people have different learning styles, and different methods are more effective for some than for others.

I'm +1 on RTFM, but I'm a professional technical writer, and I like having a job. I know manuals. I make them all day long. I know how they're structured, how they're built, why they can go so horribly wrong, and I even know the black magic of how indices are made, so I can look things up in them, demented as they typically are. When I get a new camera, I read the entire manual from cover to cover, just out of professional curiosity. I doubt this is the best way for everyone to learn their camera; it's just how I do it.

Some folks learn by reading. For us, the manual and website thang is good. Some folks learn by hearing or seeing something. For them, podcasts, youtube and classes or a mentor are going to be the best path. Other folks gotta learn by doing. Most of us use combinations of all of the above in varying amounts.

But I would never assume that what works for me is what works for everyone else.

[ItzyVT]

I have both. Don't waste your money on a D5000.
For starters, D90 is a far better choice for 2 reasons I can think of right off the top.

The D90 is slightly faster on FPS
The D90 camera body includes the internal focusing motor for AF lenses which means you will be able to use far more different types of Nikon Lenses that do not have built in AF motors in the lenses (which are more expensive). This includes not just the newer lens versions but the older Nikon lens models too. Many of the older Nikon lenses are fantastic (especially the prime/fixed lenses and the D version lenses) and in many cases are far superior to the plastic lenses they are pushing out now. The older lenses will last you longer as the optics and build are better quality.

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by ItzyVT

I have both. Don't waste your money on a D5000.
For starters, D90 is a far better choice for 2 reasons I can think of right off the top.

The D90 is slightly faster on FPS
The D90 camera body includes the internal focusing motor for AF lenses which means you will be able to use far more different types of Nikon Lenses that do not have built in AF motors in the lenses (which are more expensive). This includes not just the newer lens versions but the older Nikon lens models too. Many of the older Nikon lenses are fantastic (especially the prime/fixed lenses and the D version lenses) and in many cases are far superior to the plastic lenses they are pushing out now. The older lenses will last you longer as the optics and build are better quality.

Bah! The D5000 is a great camera, I could say the D90 is a waste. I almost never use my D90, either my D300 or D5000. The point is each camera meets the needs for certain niches, otherwise they would not be produced. I love the D5000 because of its small size and light weight. You can take the exact same image with all of these cameras. When you go hiking its sure nice to have the lighter body. Further, most people that are just starting out will probably never buy a non- AF-S lens. Almost all the new lenses are AF-S. Further, they focus faster than the old screw drive.

Are you really going to tell me there are older lenses that are better than the 24-70 f/2.8 AF-S or the 70-200 f/2.8 AF-S VR ????

[Almond.Butterscotch]

Originally Posted by kirbinster

Are you really going to tell me there are older lenses that are better than the 24-70 f/2.8 AF-S or the 70-200 f/2.8 AF-S VR ????

Better? Maybe, maybe not. Cheaper? Oh hells yes.

[lisakathleen1961]

ZHXIE (I think I have your user id right),

I think I read in this thread that you've already made your decision. Whatever you decided on, enjoy! I discovered this website after I bought my D60. This review is for the D90 but you can search the site for other models: Nikon D90 Digital Camera - Full Review - The Imaging Resource!

[kirbinster]

Originally Posted by Almond.Butterscotch

Better? Maybe, maybe not. Cheaper? Oh hells yes.

Sure older lenses that are no longer made and are used are cheaper, but does that make them better? If they were really better they would still be made and sold today. AF-S is a better technology than screw drive. But that is not really the issue here. There are many people that the D5000 will be a better choice, and there are some that a D90 is not even close to good enough.

[NeilKnott]

Zhxie, I'll just share my experience with you for whatever help it may be. I've shot Nikon SLRs since the early '70s and have accumulated a few lenses. One is pre-1977; most are AI or AI-S and one is AF, though, as of 2005, I was still shooting my FM-2n and FG (with a Nikormat FT-n for backup) and did not yet own an AF camera. In 2005 I decided to get a digital camera, studied and shopped hard, and got the D70. It surpassed all my expectations, except that I had no metering or AF with most of my lenses. Being somewhat old-school, I could always set exposure and focus fine manually. Then I got some more AF lenses and got spoiled. Even though I only use them about half of the time, I found that AF and auto-exposure were tools I didn't want to be without. The D70 is not the best at auto-focusing, and it had no metering at all with my AI lenses, so, after 18 months, I stepped up to a D300, which gives matrix metering with the AI lenses and AF with any AF lens. It was the best move I ever made and I enjoy using it so much that I followed up by buying a used F100 so I can also have all the modern conveniences while shooting film.

You aren't bogged down with older lenses like I was, but many excellent AF lenses are not yet available with AF-S or AF-I focusing (the last two lenses I bought were 85mm f/1.8 and 30mm f/2.8, both AF), so I would think hard before buying a camera that can't AF with them. Of the two cameras you mentioned, the D90 is much safer in this regard than the D5000 (though I think they're both excellent cameras), and you might even consider getting a used D200 or D300 to get further flexibility with lens selection.

Just my thoughts. Hope they help. In any case, good luck.

[dave.turley]

I've just upgraded from a bridge camera and bought a D5000. All I can say is pretty much any DSLR in the beginner range such as this is a leap up from a bridge camera in my experience. The D5000 is easy to use with point and shoot capabilities. Live view and swivel screen are great, and image quality is served well by the fact this camera has a sensor also seen in the
D300. I'd recommend it to you, but obviously you are governed by your budget as was I.
Dave

[neubauer6]

The D5000 is a great camera. It has a lot of the same internal parts as the D90. Check out the review on www.kenrockwell.com. He is a Nikon FREAK! There are plenty of lenses available that work well on the D5000. The only thing I miss is that it does not act as a commander for off-camera speedlites. Oh well, it has been a great starter camera for me!