Nikon D90 or D5110

[ParallelReality]

Hi Folks,
I am looking to buy my first SLR. One photography enthusiast friend of mine is suggesting that i buy Nikon D90 as it has apparently more pro features. On the other hand, i want to buy the newer D5100 as D90 has already been phased out and is now a dated piece of technology. I mostly want to take portrait and city photography for which i will be buying a 50mm prime lens.
Please help me make an informed decision on which one to buy.

[zona5101]

If you're ok with buying used then a D90 would be nice... You might consider the D90's replacement, the D7000. Between the D7000 and the D5100, the D7000 is the better camera but only you can decide if it's worth the coin. You can compare them side to side on the Nikon website.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by ParallelReality

D90 has already been phased out and is now a dated piece of technology.

Hardly. It's not the current model, but was phased out 2 months ago. That's not "dated".

A D70. That's dated.

[sk66]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a D90. I used one once and I just couldn't set it up to work well for me. I've also handled a D7000 and wasn't thrilled with the handling, but seemed decent feature wise and I was able to get it set up well enough. But then again, I'm used to the higher end bodies/features.

That said, as a first venture into DSLR's and with a "thrifty fifty" I feel it's more of a "get your feet wet" kind of proposition. Anything you buy will be outdated in 2yrs anyways. Buy well within your budget with the idea you may want to upgrade later. Buy used or refurb to take the least hit later on.
I'd buy a used/refurb D300/D7000 if I were looking for a Nikon APS-c body. I prefer the D300 handling but the D7000 is generally the better camera. (And I might be soon)

A used D300 body will cost a touch more than a used D90 body, and a used D7000 will cost even more.

[Shokinen]

There was a few post about this debate recently if you want more opinions.

Like I said in them, the biggest difference between those 2 bodies is mostly the ergonomic. You will spend more time in the menu with the D5100 to change your settings. So if you shoot a lot in manual, and you want to switch your setting rapidly, you may want to take a closer look at the D90. On the other hand, there is a couple interesting thing such as the swivel LCD and latest sensor technology. But this won't prevent you from taking nice pictures. Just a couple year ago pros were using a 4MP pixel body that could only go up to ISO1600..

What's difficult when you start is you don't know what you like, if you will go RAW + using software such as Photoshop / Lightroom, what your eye is good at seeing, if you'll ever use an old lens so you need the motor in the body, etc. It takes time, practice and interest. So, the best advice I can give you right now is to figure your kit so you can grow into it. A good body is important, but lenses are even better. Go in stores and grab them both. Answers may come faster then you think. It's not the vendor nor the people on the internet that will use your camera. You are the one who will be holding it.

My 2 cents

[Phillydog1958]

For the first-time user of a DSLR, who is feeling out the hobby, I'd suggest a new D5100. It's not that expensive And it wont overwhelm you. If you decide that DSLR's are not for you, you can sell it and still not take a big hit. There will always be entry-level photo enthusiasts who would be interested in your D5000. If you like photography and you eventually want to upgrade, you can still sell the D5100, and have something to reinvest into a better camera. If you currently feel that you're serious about photography, then by all means, go for a D90 and skip the D5100.