Top 10 reasons why you'll choose d5000 over d90

[gimumancer]

DISCLAIMER: This is from a point of view of a NOOB. I've just been using the d5k for 2 months and I'm a first time dslr user. All info i'll be pointing out from the d90 is based from infos widely available, i have not really used a d90 extensively. The purpose of this top 10 is share to those undecided First time users who cannot decide between these 2 superb dslr from a noob d5k user's point of view. I have since made some correction to some inaccuracies i posted before and toned it down a bit, thanks to some of you for pointing out. I feel the need to post these as there are valid points to consider in my opinion.

1. IF you don't own and don't plan to buy lens that won't auto focus with d5k. I suggest do a thorough research on what lens suit you. This is the most important aspect to consider, you can ignore #2-10 but not this. If you ask me, I only see myself owning at most 3-4 lens in my life time as I don't see myself becoming a serious photographer. These are my planned gears: 1 portrait/prime lens, 1 fast mid range zoom, 1 fast long range zoom. With those type of lenses, I am sure I can find good nikkor/3rd party compatible for the d5k.

2. It has all the must have qualities from d90 that d40/d60 dont have. CMOS sensor, 12.3 megapixel, HD video, Bracketing, high ISO performance, high burst rate, 11 auto focus points, dust reduction, in camera editing tools, improved active d-lighting etc.. Image quality is just similar coz they're using the same processor and sensor. (EXPEED, 3d matrix metering, CMOS sensor)

3. The controls are simpler and not intimidating from a beginners point of view. No dedicated dial for shutter speed. If you are a first time user, then there is no problem getting used to this setup. I configured ISO in the fn button as shortcut because it's the setting I often change.

4. It's smaller and lighter. Big advantage when traveling or hiking.

5. It's cheaper. The price difference can already buy you a 35mm,a 2nd hand zoom lens, sb-400.
(Based from COMEX setup price):
http://www.bootstrike.com/itfairsg/...-D3000-D5000-D90-D300-flyer-brochure-leaflet/

6. It has a swivel screen. useful for low angle shots (ex. baby crawling shots), high angle shots (ex. concerts), candid shots (with the strap, just hold your cam waist level and tilt the screen to compose). It's most useful when taking videos. Video capability is way underrated. People say you buy a video cam for videos and slr are just for pictures. But capturing moments with pictures and videos using only one gadget is just way too convenient. But take note there is a limitation when you use it in a tripod because of the design of the swivel.

7. It's fun and not intimidating, it has additional 19 automatic scenes copied from point and shoots, can let your family and friends borrow and take some shots without explaining all the aperture setting stuff. It also has quiet mode, during quiet mode, just press and hold then release at your own pace. Good when taking pix at church or if you want to be discreet.

8. User Interface is just so user friendly with all the aperture graphic illustration, screen even rotates 90 degrees when you shoot in portrait mode.

9. If you don't plan to upgrade to FX then the d5k's built is good enough. Most FX lenses are heavy and big and it's better suited to a bigger body like the d90.

10. Interval shooting mode. For stop animation movies


These are the only real reasons I could think of why I would choose a d90 over d5000 if I'm a first time user..but..
1. If I plan to buy manual focus lenses...{not planning to}
2. If I feel that pentaprism viewfinder and a 3" LCD really makes a big difference...{2.7" pretty good}
3. If my hands are big or it feels uncomfortable with the d5k's ergonomics...{too big for me}
4. If I feel External battery grip, Commander mode, DOF preview, top lcd are a must have...{can live without them}
5. If I want dedicated controls...{no i don't want}
6. If I'm bothered by the d5000 service advisory...{just a bit bothered }

If those 6 reasons outweigh the 10 reasons, then d90 is for you..

if you want more detailed, in depth, technical comparison, here is a good link:
http://www.digitalreview.ca/content/Nikon-D5000-D90-Compared-to-Canon-Rebel-T1i-500D.shtml

 

[HVB88]

I like the swivel screen... D5000 for me.



(but currently I am a canon user)

 

[Cartman2000]

1. You don't own and will never buy old manual focus lenses. Why do you need old lenses made from old optics technology? Do you know that some old lens won't properly meter on d90? Worried about cheap portrait lens? get the new 35mm 1.8 AF-S, much superior to the 50mm. It will substitute as you're walk around lens. 50mm is just too zoomed in, you'll find yourself bumping into chairs and tables adjusting your compositions. Can shoot in cramped space, like when you're in a bus etc..(out of town trips). 35mm is just perfect both for portrait and landscape. 1 step back and it's 18mm, 1 step forward and it's 55mm. 90% of the time you can get your composition with that little adjustment. Zoom lens? plenty of cheap nikkor and third party compatible lens. Ever noticed that newer lenses incorporate auto focus in them? Heck canon lenses use auto focus in their lenses. It's ironic that I see d90 users and yet they end up buying AF-S lenses.

2. It has all the must have qualities from d90 that d40/d60 dont have. CMOS sensor, 12.3 megapixel, HD video, Bracketing, high ISO performance, high burst rate, 11 auto focus points, dust reduction, in camera editing tools, active d-lighting etc.. Need I say Image quality is just similar coz they're using the same software and sensor.

3. You won't need those unnecessary "clutters" that d90 offers that most people call "upgrades". Dedicated controls? bugs me why you need a dedicated control for shutter speed and aperture when most of the time you'll be turning only 1 dial, it's either you're in aperture or shutter priority. Ok maybe sometimes you'd be using manual, but that's around what? 10% of the time? then just hold exposure button and turn the dial to adjust the aperture, how hard is that? ISO setting? just configure it as shortcut in the fn button. Shooting mode, metering, etc..all those are just 2 steps away from the menu. Commander mode? DOF preview? External battery grip support? If you're a beginner, chances are you wont be using it.

4. It's smaller and lighter. Big big advantage.

5. It's cheaper. The price difference can already buy you a 35mm,a zoom lens,sb-400. wow, how cool is that.

6. It has a swivel screen. low angle shots (ex. baby crawling shots), high angle shots (ex. concerts), candid shots (with the strap, just hold your cam waist level and tilt the screen to compose). It's most useful when taking videos. Video capability is way underrated. People say you buy a video cam for videos and slr are just for pictures. But capturing moments with pictures and videos using only one gadget is just way too convenient.

7. It's fun and not intimidating, it has automatic scenes copied from point and shoots, can let your family and friends borrow and take some shots without explaining all the aperture setting stuff

8. User Interface is just sooo user friendly with all the aperture graphic illustration, screen even tilts when you shoot in portrait mode.

9. You won't be upgrading to FX and don't plan buying FX lenses so won't need a larger body to compensate for those larger and more expensive FX lenses. I dont get why people buy lenses so they can reserve it for use when they upgrade to FX but ended up not upgrading after all coz maintaining an FX line up is just too expensive and realized they are not going to be serious photographers after all.As a hobbyist, DX format is just the way to go. Did you know that most of the profit from Nikon SLR sales came from the inexpensive d40/d60 models, that why nikon are investing their technology on smaller and cheaper models.

10. Interval shooting mode. Wow, I can't believe d90 has no interval shooting mode.


These are the only real reasons I could think of why I would choose a d90 over d5000
1. If I have a collection of manual focus lenses.
2. If I have a poor eyesight that I need a pentaprism viewfinder and a 3" LCD.
3. If my hands are big and feels uncomfortable with the d5k's ergonomics.
4. If I feel External battery grip, Commander mode, DOF preview are a must have.
5. If I'm bothered by the d5000 service advisory.

If those 5 reasons outweigh the 10 reasons, then d90 is for you.

I only have 1 teeny weeny gripe though about my d5000. The pictures comes out of the screen quite slow after taking a shot. About 1-2 seconds :-( but that's ok, you can't have it all as they say . I've just been using it for about 2 months now, so still have to find some more gripes

:dunno:

 

[tunge]

well u've managed to convince urself with all the reasons listed n got urself the D5000.... congrats. although i do not agree with most of what u've written, end of the day it's all about personal preference, what matters and what doesn't matter to individual users...

 

[godaikyoko]

not sure what's the purpose of this thread.. since you already bought D5000... why still bother about D90?

 

[tunge]

not sure what's the purpose of this thread.. since you already bought D5000... why still bother about D90?

while many users are having brand wars between brands, maybe TS is trying to start a civil war among Nikon users? :dunno:

 

[mobilenerd]

well i tried both hands on over the last week. personally, and i mean this from a personal view, i find the colors rendered with the D5000 has a slight edge over the D90. i like the feel of the D90 but somehow the colors especially the reds and greens seem very muted to me. if i saturate it more, it gets blown out.

i find myself fiddling around with the menus more on the D90 to try and get the colors right. with the D5000, i take a couple of test shots to check, and the rest i shoot on jpeg. no raw at all.

the D5000 has easy handling, abeit with a lower resolution and smaller screen. but is a little small in my hands. the D90 has the right "feel" for a DSLR body.

i dun think the motor issue is a big problem as with all my macro shots i find that i still lean in to get the subject in focus. it might pose a problem for those not shooting that way.

other than that, both are great cameras in their own right and they cater to different users.

wish i could own all the bodies i have tried. haha

 

[gimumancer]

not sure what's the purpose of this thread.. since you already bought D5000... why still bother about D90?

I posted this to give insight for all those undecided, to those who are torn deciding between d90 and d5000..

 

[HeiPiGu]

But D90 is so much easier to pronounced compared to D5000 :dunno:

 

[bruno84sg]

haa... i juz posted a thread on tis at nikon. My friend is confuse over D90 and D5000 too.

But may I know how u get to know tat both sensors and software used in the systems r the same? Nikon Engineers told u? Or u own both bodies and shoot to see the differences in high ISO? Can share?

Any websites tat shows noise comparison between tis 2?

 

[jaRv1s]

well i tried both hands on over the last week. personally, and i mean this from a personal view, i find the colors rendered with the D5000 has a slight edge over the D90. i like the feel of the D90 but somehow the colors especially the reds and greens seem very muted to me. if i saturate it more, it gets blown out.

i find myself fiddling around with the menus more on the D90 to try and get the colors right. with the D5000, i take a couple of test shots to check, and the rest i shoot on jpeg. no raw at all.

the D5000 has easy handling, abeit with a lower resolution and smaller screen. but is a little small in my hands. the D90 has the right "feel" for a DSLR body.

i dun think the motor issue is a big problem as with all my macro shots i find that i still lean in to get the subject in focus. it might pose a problem for those not shooting that way.

other than that, both are great cameras in their own right and they cater to different users.

wish i could own all the bodies i have tried. haha

this means Nikon changed the in-body processing for JPEG output... so raw files shouldn't be any difference...

depends on usage, for street and probably hiking i prefer d5k because it's light and small... others like landscape and macro i prefer my d90 because got DOF preview, longer battery life, more options for external flashes... and also lot of dedicated buttons to change settings much faster... extra dial works, if you take a lot landscape that you have to under / over expose, e.g. night landscape, sunset and sunrise...

 

[simmeow]

I guess cannot afford a D5000 and so I bought a D90.....

Wait? You mean the bigger the number doesn't mean it cost more?????

Craps! Then I must be one of those stupid rich guy who buys a better body and doesn't know how to use it.......

Perhaps this stupid rich guy should get a D700..... this should cost lesser than a D90....

Opps! You mean I got it wrong again???

Damn! Why Nikon make it so hard for a dumb rich fellow like me???
:dunno::dunno::dunno:

 

[gimumancer]

haa... i juz posted a thread on tis at nikon. My friend is confuse over D90 and D5000 too.

But may I know how u get to know tat both sensors and software used in the systems r the same? Nikon Engineers told u? Or u own both bodies and shoot to see the differences in high ISO? Can share?

Any websites tat shows noise comparison between tis 2?

both use EXPEED image processing system and Color Matrix Metering II..it's in their technical specifications..

 

[tunge]

I posted this to give insight for all those undecided, to those who are torn deciding between d90 and d5000..

what u have written i won't call it insight at all... it's only just ur personal opinion, much of it is to be taken w a pinch of salt, not to mention inaccurate.... ur tone of writing is very much aggressive and serves to critise the D90 rather than provide an honest comparison...

shall not go into point by point but i think it's important to address point No.1... what u r saying is inaccurate.... please kindly google "Focal Length and Perspective" and have a good read, pls don't mislead people here ;(.... the 35mm will NOT give the same perspective as the 18mm or 50mm or 85mm just by simple stepping forward or backwards... it boils down to personal preference n what u need and want the picture/potrait to turn out. ;

 

[Cartman2000]

And why is the 35mm far superior to the 50mm?

 

[gimumancer]

what u have written i won't call it insight at all... it's only just ur personal opinion, much of it is to be taken w a pinch of salt, not to mention inaccurate.... ur tone of writing is very much aggressive and serves to critise the D90 rather than provide an honest comparison...

shall not go into point by point but i think it's important to address point No.1... what u r saying is inaccurate.... please kindly google "Focal Length and Perspective" and have a good read, pls don't mislead people here ;(.... the 35mm will NOT give the same perspective as the 18mm or 50mm or 85mm just by simple stepping forward or backwards... it boils down to personal preference n what u need and want the picture/potrait to turn out. ;

yah you're right about the perspective..thanks for the info, 50mm is the "normal" perspective, the one which our eyes would normally see..since I'm just a newbie, i was thinking about the portrait composition, for example for 50mm, normally it would be head and shoulder shot, but with 35mm, you have to step forward to get the head and shoulder shot to get the same size of the subject..sorry if it sounded aggressive, i was just biased because I own a d5000 :bsmilie: i just needed to post to defend us "d5000" guys because we get a lot of bashing from these so called "pro d90 users"..keep reading people advising practically ALL newbies who are confused to just save up and buy a d90 without even telling why, they just mention it's a better camera..at least I'm presenting my personal preferences that might relate to these newbies..that's why I posted it here in newbies corner..aside from point 1, what other inaccuracies I posted?

 

[gimumancer]

And why is the 35mm far superior to the 50mm?

I meant to compare the old 50mm 1.8 AF-D compared to 35mm 1.8 AF-S, because I was talking about a cheap portrait lens..it's superior that it is newer and has advanced features like silent motor, manual focus override, autofocus ring not rotating, read that it has better optics since it's new, they say it's sharper at wide open F1.8..

 

[tunge]

yah you're right about the perspective..thanks for the info, 50mm is the "normal" perspective, the one which our eyes would normally see..since I'm just a newbie, i was thinking about the portrait composition, for example for 50mm, normally it would be head and shoulder shot, but with 35mm, you have to step forward to get the head and shoulder shot to get the same size of the subject..sorry if it sounded aggressive, i was just biased because I own a d5000 :bsmilie: i just needed to post to defend us "d5000" guys because we get a lot of bashing from these so called "pro d90 users"..keep reading people advising practically ALL newbies who are confused to just save up and buy a d90 without even telling why, they just mention it's a better camera..at least I'm presenting my personal preferences that might relate to these newbies..that's why I posted it here in newbies corner..aside from point 1, what other inaccuracies I posted?

well enjoy ur camera n i agree w u that there are just snobish people out there who can afford the best n look down on anything less...

the other points are not important, more so on point of views... for example pt 3... the extra top LCD screen on the D90 n the dedicated buttons are really good and added advantage to have, very much like the swivle screen on e D5000, but of course if u can live w the extra steps to go into menu, it doesn't matter, same as people who do not need to have a swivel screen... pt 4, being smaller n lighter is a plus for some n minus for others, for me, i like the weight, handling, feel, size n balance (especially w heavier lenses) much better on the D90, others prefer them light n more compact

cheers

 

[ricleo]

actually the most inaccurate point, which is one of the key points of choosing D90/300 over the D40-60,5000 is the ability to use AF-D lens. Its not just the use of "old manual focus lenses", many AF-D lenses are very good and can even be faster focusing than the current AF-S lens, eg the 50mm F1.4 AF-D.

Many good lens, both nikon and 3rd party are only available in AF-D instead of AFS, and can't be used in AF mode on the lower end nikon cameras.

 

[simmeow]

what u have written i won't call it insight at all... it's only just ur personal opinion, much of it is to be taken w a pinch of salt, not to mention inaccurate.... ur tone of writing is very much aggressive and serves to critise the D90 rather than provide an honest comparison...

shall not go into point by point but i think it's important to address point No.1... what u r saying is inaccurate.... please kindly google "Focal Length and Perspective" and have a good read, pls don't mislead people here ;(.... the 35mm will NOT give the same perspective as the 18mm or 50mm or 85mm just by simple stepping forward or backwards... it boils down to personal preference n what u need and want the picture/potrait to turn out. ;

I agree with you, my fellow CSer. I was upset when I read the TS's 10 reason.

In fact, I started with a D40, the cheapest DSLR available when I took up this hobby. I used to look at other photographer with bigger and better bodies. At times, I felt little when standing next to them.

As I got better, I realise I have the skill to handle a better one. Hence I got my D90. At that time, I had a choice for the D5000, but the choice was clear for me.

These days, I still feel belittle at times when I see people walking around with D700, D3 or even D3X. It will be a matter of time when I improve my skill and move up to the next level.

Having felt the way I did. I will not intentionally belittle other fellow photographers with lower end bodies. End of the day, it's how photography makes you feel when you look at the beautiful world we are in through the lenses, be it fitted on a D40, D5000 or D90. Even a PnS camera produces wonderful pictures if used by a person who enjoy the art of photography.

Keep Shooting! My fellow Nikonian~ :thumbsup::thumbsup: