Here is my situation (what I just put on a Photography Forum elsewhere) if anyone wants to weigh in:
Been reading here for months thank you and I could use some advice, first post, be gentle. Sorry for the length, I was trying to be organized/concise (and failed).
Deciding between a D90 and D5000, and what lens(es)? After months of research, I had planned to buy a D5000. Recently, the D90 has edged out the D5000, but it will be one or the other. Please shoot down my assumptions wherever I’m off track. All responses are welcome, short or long.
Background:
· Had a film SLR (Nikon N2000) w 35-200mm Tokina lens. I shot in Aperture- or Shutter-Priority at least 95% of the time, I can’t remember ever shooting Full Auto or Full Manual. Didn’t use flash often. Never used a tripod (younger and steadier then).
· Bought a digital P&S (Coolpix 800) about 8 years ago. Used AUTO or Scene Modes.
· DSLR’s have reached the point where IQ and features/$ make them within my budget and desirable to us again.
· I shoot mostly outdoors, but rarely “landscapes.” More often a mix of places/sightseeing, boating/action (not high velocity), people/pet/animal pictures, and the occasional close-up (flowers, eBay listing photos).
· I am strictly an amateur who wants to take accurate, sharp (still) pictures. I have been known to enlarge favorites up to 32”x36” when I get a really good/memorable pic.
· I don’t have a firm budget, but I am thinking less than $1,500 for everything: camera body, lens(es), bag, 2 filters and maybe a tripod and/or flash. Less $ is fine too.
Factors that originally led me to narrow it to the D5000 (vs the D90):
· Very good image quality (equal to the D90/D300) at a lower price.
· 19 scene modes has a lot of appeal to us (misplaced?).
· Small, thought my wife would be more comfortable handling it.
What has subsequently led me to favor the D90:
· My wife handled the D90 w/18-105VR and didn’t think it felt “too big” for her at all.
· Kit lens looks like a better choice, certainly more likely as a walkaround if not only lens.
· Seems to be built better, I would expect to keep this camera for 10 years or more. It will be handled with care, but it will be used outdoors including boating.
· I like the D90’s viewfinder, but if I hadn’t seen it, I’d probably have been perfectly happy with the D5000 viewfinder. Only time I would use live view would be for close-ups.
· I like the D90’s larger, hi-res monitor, don’t really need the D5000 “flippy screen.” However, I wear reading glasses so when I don’t have them handy, any monitor will be fuzzy to me anyway (thank goodness for the viewfinder diopter adjustment).
· Concern: Coming from a P&S and never using Full Manual even in my film SLR days, having all those scene modes on the D5000 has some appeal vs having to know all the various settings for most of them with the D90. I will occasionally shoot Sunset, Beach/Snow, Dusk/Dawn, Pet Portrait, Candlelight & Autumn Colors. But I am thinking I could keep the base settings for all these conditions on a laminated card in my bag for the D90 when those situations arise in case I couldn’t remember them.
Lens choice:
· I’d like to have one lens, two at most. So primes are out, number of lenses and cost.
· An 18-55VR lens (D5000 kit lens) alone won’t need my needs. So I was planning on buying a 55-200VR too – reducing the potential savings of a D5000 package. Neither lens alone suits my primary needs (I would rarely shoot as low as 18, nor as high as 200). The Nikon 24-120VR appears to be the best choice on paper, but it’s a little pricey (heavy?) and has not fared that well in reviews I’ve read.
· The 18-105VR may be the best compromise for me. With the larger diameter, I assume IQ will be as good or better than an 18-55VR or 55-200VR – although that’s not always clear from online reviews. It’s confusing to read so many disparate reviews on the various lenses – I wish I knew which sources to listen to. I have seen the 18-55VR and the 18-105VR praised and trashed online!
· I am a little concerned that none of the lenses I am talking about are “good enough” for either camera, but I just can’t spend $1,000’s on lenses.
Other:
· In terms of image quality, is there anything the D5000 will do that the D90 can’t? Or any other downside to the D90 (vs the D5000) aside from higher cost (inferior dust reduction)?
· I know I can buy body only. A D5000 body with the 18-105 lens might be a good compromise for me, but the 18-105 looks like it might overwhelm the smallish D5000.
· The video capability has some appeal (which ruled out most competitors), and I will use it for fun. But I realize it’s very limited and that it’s the same on both cameras.
· I do not have any legacy gear, lenses, etc. – starting from scratch.
· Even with the P&S, I found I could never remember all the features without reviewing the manual. I’d rediscover features after not using the camera for extended periods.
). Added a battery recharger and expensive laptop, and I'm all set. 
