which camera?

[watson_barrett]

OK so i'm starting to look around for a nice camera finally. I will of course be using it for coral/fish pics but more importanty baby, family, and vacation pics and whatnot. Right now i'm considering the Nikon D5000 and D90 from costco. Is there any reason I should consider one over the other or maybe some other camera? Any input and/or past experience would be great...

 

Thanks, Adam.

[Incredible Corals]

Also check out the Canon G11. For the price $499 it has a very cool features including underwater and indoor aquarium settings.

[Coral Hind]

Check out the Olympus Tough 8000 or what ever number they are up too.

[Chad]

I would do the D5000, pretty good recommendations for stuff on this site.

[hypertech]

The G11 is not a DSLR. If you go that route, I believe the next model is due in about a month. It would be worth waiting for I think.

 

I'm a Canon guy myself.

[watson_barrett]

wow that was a great site with some good info. thanks for the input folks.

[ErikS]

Number 1 - Rockwell is a pontificating *sshat (notice there is NO data for lens opinions, or data for any opinion really)

 

Try www.dpreview.com

 

Both cameras use the same sensor, processing, and focus system. The difference is in the details. The D90 has more hard buttons, a better flash system, and has a motor in body (can use auto focus with older lenses). Also has a fixed high res screen. Overall the D90 is (as it is priced) upscale from the D5000. Neither however are lemons - both are quite capable. I seriously doubt you'll be unhappy with either.

 

In general terms:

 

D3000 = entry level, easiest for beginners to use.

D5000 = a bit more advanced, still in the easy to use

D90 = more advanced, generally considered a "pro consumer" model

 

You might want to wait a bit - rumor has a new D90 on the horizon (which would mean the D90 will be close out priced). Also the new D3100 has most of the D5000 features at a better price (same sensor, processing, and focus system).

 

Tons of threads detailing the D5000 vs the D90 here:

 

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1034

Edited August 21, 2010 by ErikS

[ErikS]

Additional thoughts (since I'm past the edit timeframe).

 

A good Nikon resource - http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm

 

Really it comes down to what you need. Example - a pro's requirements are going to be far different than yours. A pro might need superb low light capability or easy setting changes via hard buttons (for fast action)............or...........

 

Given the performance of current DSLRs it's more the photographer than the camera - you'd be really hard pressed to tell which camera took the picture. There are pictures @ dpreview taken with a D3000 that are far better than anything I could do with a D3s.

 

FWIW - don't count on the movie mode of the D5000, it doesn't auto focus = if the subject is moving good luck.