Nikon D90 vs D5000

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
HI,
I'm VERY new to DSLR's. I just purchased a D90 (sposed to arrive today!) but I am wondering, for the difference in price, would the D5000 be just as good? Is the difference in price for the D90 really justified over the D5000?

I'm interested in Macro shots, and also pics of barrel racing (fast moving horses)

I can get the D5000 with the 18-55mm lens(I think) for $599 right now, and I just paid $1019 + tax and shipping for the D90 with a 18-105mm lens.

I'd like to really learn how to use my camera well, and eventually upgrade to a camera with a faster shutter speed for better action shots.

Thanks!
 
Honestly, you did the right thing. Especially when you go to purchase lenses - the D5000 was built for people who probably won't ever come close to finding the limits of that camera.
You, on the other hand, look like someone who is going to learn and grow in your photography, and you made the right investment.
The largest noticeable difference: the lenses you can use, that the D5000 cannot use (in AF mode, anyway).

The D90 has the focusing motor in the body, where it belongs. Therefore, you can pick up any AF lens (built for a Nikon), attach it, and it will work on your camera in AF (auto-focus) mode. The D5000 relies on having the focusing motor in the lens, therefore the lens choices are much smaller, unless you don't mind manually focusing the lens. Most people don't - I don't manually focus the lens unless I have a very specific capture (DOF, etc.) that I want to manually control the camera.
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
Thanks so much! I feel much better. I have done tons of research, which has been overwhelming, and do have limited resources ($$$) right now. I don't know jack about photography, but really do hope to learn as much as possible. I really wanted the D300, but with me being so new to DSLR'S I felt it would be over my head as it has no auto modes, upon which I am sure I will rely at first.

I'm a little overwhelmed at the prospect of learning to use my D90, but do have someone locally who also has one and can show me some things before I move.

I'd appreciate any suggestions on how best to learn to use my camera, resources, etc. I am going to try to find a photography class within driving distance once I move back home.

Thanks for your response!!
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
Also, I am looking at lenses, both for macro, and a more telephoto lens for barrel racing pics. I see lenses that are the same, ie, 28-300 just as example, that run $1200+ and then what seems like the same exact lens for a few hundred. Any advice? I can't afford to spend the big bucks right now, but I'd rather wait and save the money and buy an excellent lens for a little more money if needed.

Suggestions?

Thanks!
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Essence of Imagery is correct. The D90 was designed by Nikon for that market group that are just starting out in photography and are serious about learning and going as far as their ability and talent will let them. The D90 has point and shoot features that will allow anyone to start shooting and getting good pictures almost right out of the box. Then it has many features desired by professionals. You won't out grow this camera for years. With lenses you get what you pay for. Start comparing features. A f/3.5 will be less expensive than a f/2.8. A lens with VR will cost more than one without. A Nikkor 70-300mm, f/3.5, no VR will only be a few hundred bucks, but a Nikkor 70-200mm, f/2.8, VRii will be around $2,000. Big difference in features and quality. My advice don't go out and buy a more expensive lens right now. The 18-105mm lens you will get with the camera is a good general purpose use lens. As a beginner it will serve your needs for a long time. Add a 35mm or 50mm f/1.8 prime, both inexpensive, and you will have a what you need to learn a lot of photography. Then at some point in the future you will realize, "I can do better but I need a better lens to do it". That's the time to start looking. Go to my Gallery and look at those shots. Most of them were taken with the 18-105mm you are getting with your camera.
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
Thanks very much for your input!! So do you the lens I have will be sufficient of my mom and daughter barrel racing? Will look at your gallery later when I bring the computer back up.

Sounds the the D90 was the appropriate choice then.

Thanks again!!
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Shooting barrel racing out doors should be no problem and the 18-105mm will work fine. But a lot of barrel racing is done in arenas. The lighting in arenas, the ones I've tried to shoot in anyway, is not good for taking stop action pictures. You will need a faster lens and higher ISO settings to get decent exposures. You can't get in the ring with them so having a telephoto to get close up is a necessity. Staying within the reasonable bounds of cost, and still get at least 1/250 shutter speed minimum, I would suggest the Nikon 85mm, f/1.8. It's around $400, new. It's not the long lens you may want but it should be workable and still give you the f/stop speed you need in low lighting. It will take a lot of practice and experimenting with camera settings to get good shots. This is only my opinion on how to approach these shooting conditions. I'm sure there are others that will have a different approach and other recommendations. I would like to hear them as well.
 

Greywoulf

New member
Thanks so much! I feel much better. I have done tons of research, which has been overwhelming, and do have limited resources ($$$) right now. I don't know jack about photography, but really do hope to learn as much as possible. I really wanted the D300, but with me being so new to DSLR'S I felt it would be over my head as it has no auto modes, upon which I am sure I will rely at first.

I'm a little overwhelmed at the prospect of learning to use my D90, but do have someone locally who also has one and can show me some things before I move.

I'd appreciate any suggestions on how best to learn to use my camera, resources, etc. I am going to try to find a photography class within driving distance once I move back home.

Thanks for your response!!

The D90 is an excellent choice, no doubt about it! -Congratulations on obtaining a fantastic Nikon DSLR! :D

But the D300 does have a Program (auto type) mode, plus Aperture and Shutter priority modes, plus the ever present, ever useful Manual mode. You are correct however in that it doesn't have any auto Scene modes...
But I suspect you'll find very shortly that you won't be using very many (if any) of the D90's Scene modes either. These 'scene' settings actually only LIMIT what the camera can do so newbies might make fewer mistakes. But people who enjoy getting more serious with their DSLR's ( and those who, like you, take photography courses?) usually grow past using the scene modes rather quickly.... :cool:

I've had my D40 now for about 8 months and while I'll still occasionally use the P setting I haven't used a "Scene" cheat setup for at least 6 months, and am now regularly using the Manual mode (only definitely with AF) style of shooting, as it gives me much more creative power!
If I do need a quick snapshot during daylight, or hand my camera for a moment to a relative to shoot something with me in it, I'll quick switch the setting to full Auto. But otherwise, AFAIC most of those other fancy Scene modes are just useless gimmickry that probably helps to sell DSLRs to apprehensive newbies.....? ;)
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
Sounds the the D90 was the appropriate choice then.

Yup, you made a wise choice...unlike me. When I was out shopping, I narrowed my options down to two cameras: Sony a330 and the Nikon D90. I went with the Sony because I just couldn't wrap my mind around the additional expense, no matter how much I liked the camera. Fast forward a few months, and there I am back in the same store buying the D90 and putting the Sony up on eBay.

I convinced myself that entry level was good enough, but it didn't take me long to outgrow it and realize its limitations. The D90 is so much more camera, and I knew that I should've bought it the first time around. Chalk it up to a lesson learned, but the experience ended up costing me a lot more than it should have.
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
Greywoulf, I am definitely an apprehensive newbie!!! Lol

Joseph, thanks so much for the info on the lenses. Just the info I need! Most of our barrel races are outdoors, but like yu say, some are in poorly lit indoor arenas. You aren't too far from me (Jesup, Ga) about 4 1/2-5 hrs so perhaps I can get a lesson or so in the future.

Anthony, I have wanted a camera like this for a long time!! It is a bit intimidating I have to admit, but I'm hoping learning to use it won't be as difficult as I think. I almost bought a Pentax because they have a model with a higher shutter speed but figured I couldn't go wrong with a Nikon! :D
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Luvinrunnin - Thats a long drive. I actually live in Marietta which is north west of Atlanta. Maybe we can get together sometime for a shooting trip. Maybe at a rodeo and barrel racing competition. I'm glad you didn't cave in to the newbie "more speed syndrome". The highest speed I've ever used was up to 1/2000 and that was on a whale watching trip where I wanted to shoot, dead stop, the water sprays and splashes. Got some great shots. The two whale sounding shots I have in my Gallery were shot at 1/500 each and I still got good stop action. The D90 will shoot up 1/4000. I can't imagine any fast action I would want to shoot that required a 1/4000 shutter speed.

If you shoot mostly out door another lens you may want to put on your want list is the Nikkor 70-300mm, f/4.5, VR. It's around $400 new. I would not get this lens without the VR feature. I've used this lens for the past four years shooting mostly nature, like the whales and bears in my Gallery. I've shot rodeos and barrel racing and know the distance you need to shoot over to get good stop action pictures. With the 70-300mm you should get some very good close in shots.

Don't think of learning this camera as difficult but as a challenge. Take it one step at a time. Take pictures and play with the functions and settings. If things get screwed up and you can't get back out, then press the reset buttons and it brings you back to the default settings. If you have questions put them on this site and someone will be able to help. Above all have fun.
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
Thanks a ton for the info Joseph! So do you think the fps (4.5) with the D90 is sufficient for shooting rodeos, etc? The main reason I wanted the D300 is because it shoots 6.5 fps so I wasn't sure how much of a detriment it is to lose the 2 fps.

I really appreciate the info on the lenses. I am going to look into them and probably buy the least expensive one for the moment, but the 70-300 is the one I really want!

Would love to go on a shooting trip. I'd love to learn some tips and tricks for great photos. You have some fabulous photos in your gallery!!!
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
IMHO, and everyone will have there own take on this. Whether or not 6.5 fps or 4.5 fps will make a difference will depend on how fast is the action you are trying to capture. Shooting Whales is not that fast and the "L" (low) setting on fps was fast enough. However if I was shooting a race car going 180 mph slamming into a wall and exploding into a thousand pieces in less than a second that extra speed might make the difference between getting a great shot or not. But too many beginners think a fast fps will capture that great action shot for them. Not so. If the photographer didn't correctly anticipate the moment that race car would hit the wall and press the release button right at that moment the only thing a fast fps would give him is a lot of pictures of car parts all over the track. Action photographers have to develop the skill of anticipating the exact moment to press the button. Otherwise the only thing a fast fps will give you is a lot of pictures of the aftermath (or the south end of a north bound horse). So where does barrel racing fall on the need for speed scale? Probably it's right there along with football, basketball, and baseball. An extra two frames per second would be nice and give you an extra two pictures per second to chose from but 4.5 fps will be plenty fast enough.

A good inexpensive lens to get right now would be a f/1.8, 50mm or 35mm prime to learn low light shooting. Low light shooting is an important skill to have. You will often run into low light conditions and knowing how to handle it will make the difference in getting good exposures while everyone else are left wondering why their pictures aren't coming out very good.

Thanks for the comment on the Gallery. My philosophy is that even a blind pig can find an acorn every now and then.
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
Thanks a ton for taking the time to help me out! :eek:I will look for that lens asap and have also preordered the new edition of Understand exposure which will be released August 10 th as well as Mastering the D90 by Darrel Young.
 
:confused:
Thanks a ton for taking the time to help me out! I will look for that lens asap and have also preordered the new edition of Understand exposure which will be released August 10 th as well as Mastering the D90 by Darrel Young.

Oh, man. You got Mastering the D90 by Darell Young? :confused:

You're going to be capturing the look in the horses' eye as he makes the turn, be able to do that with your eyes closed, with the camera held behind your back!! :p His books are really good - take you from apprehensive new owner to shooting like a pro in a matter of a couple weeks. Your learning curve, if you read and practice his lessons, will become a flat road.
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
I sure hope so Essence!!! Wish it would quit raining so I couldgo play with my new camera! Lol. Just what I need: another hobby that will cost me a fortune!! Like the horses aren't enough.....:cool:
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Why is a little rain stopping you? All of the Nikon DSLR cameras are very water tight and can be used in light rain or mist. I know, I used a D80 for two weeks in the rain in Alaska and my D90 with water fall mist and spray getting all over me and the camera. Buy a camera rain coat. I now keep one in a zippered case snapped to the outside of my camera bag. Put a UV or clear glass lens filter over the lens and a soft dry cotton cloth in your pocket to wipe off the water. I would especially use the rain coat where salt water might spray on the camera.
 

luvinrunnin

Senior Member
Thanks Joseph, I was worried about messing the camera up. Surely can't afford to do that!!! Just found my computer cord, so am going to price that lens (f/1.8, 50mm or 35mm (not sure which mm I need? Any preference??) right now. I haven't read much of the manual yet, so don't know a lot about operating the camera yet, but was playing with it a bit at work last night, and I can see that I will want to get out of auto mode asap! lol
 

Joseph Bautsch

New member
Good books. First thing you need to do is, start with the manuel, to get a basic understanding of where all the different button are and what they do. Get an understanding of the camera functions and menus, how to change them and turn them off and on. Learning how to use them comes with experience and the books will be a big help. The users manuel starts with the basics of the cameras use and works it's way up.

The 35mm is a little wider angle than the 50mm and a good buy. A lot of photographers buy both. You don't need UV coated filters. Buy coated clear glass filters they are cheeper. The photo sensors in digital cameras are not UV sensitive. So UV has no effect. There has been some discussion on using UV filters or not. But most agree UV has no effect. Read up on it on the internet and make your own decision.

If you are shooting in RAW format, then there are some camera functions that will not work depending on what post processing and photo management programs you use. In RAW the in camera editing features and picture controls only work with Nikon computer programing. These are proprietary to Nikon. If you are shooting in Jpeg then they do work. Why? Jpeg is an industry standard and Nikon designed the camera program to imbed the editing and picture controls as the pictures are stored on the card. The Jpeg format was designed as a final use format and not intended for a lot of post processing. You can do some post processing on Jpegs but it's limited. If you are serious about photography and want to advance as far as you talents will allow the start out learning and using RAW.
 
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