help with first slr ....pleeeeese

[mantababe]

hi im looking at getting my first nikon slr [currently use canon s95 full manual controls] am looking at the d90 or the d5100 [can not afford the wonderful d7000 ] can anyone give me their opinion on these cameras as im really confused with which one to go for

[inkista]

What's your budget? What are you planning to shoot? And do you know what lenses you want?

The D90 is the previous version of the D7000. So, it's older, and has older sensor technology than the D5100, but will have better ergonomic features. Going up-tier is about shooting features, not so much about improving image quality.

The biggest difference between the two is that the D90 has a focus motor in the body, so both AF and AF-S lenses will autofocus on it. With the D5100, only AF-S lenses will autofocus.

And are you certain you don't want to go with a Canon dSLR? If you like your S95's menu layout, the Canon dSLRs are laid out in a very similar fashion, while the Nikon menus have a different layout. It's usually a matter of taste as to which one you like better, but if you're used to the S95's way of doing things, a Canon dSLR could feel more comfortable, and Canons don't have the focus motor issue. All the EF and EF-S lenses will autofocus on all the Canon dSLRs, even the entry-level ones. If you're looking at the D5100/D90, then the Canon T3i might be worth consideration.