Nikon D5000 to D300 or D90

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Meganb

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Hi guys,

I currently have a Nikon D5000. I've had it for 19 months but the wear and tear is beginning to show.

So as replacements my options are limited because of budget restraints. I have around £650 to spend. I'm just replacing the body so sticking with Nikon. For this I've come up with two choices (body only):

Nikon D300 (Used)
Nikon D90 (New)

Mainly used for cityscapes/street/portraits - both day and night time.
I like the ruggedness of the D300 and lack of Auto/Scene modes on the D300 wouldn't bother me, nor the lack of video. But the technology is newer with the D90.

I've never bought second hand - I'd be going through MPB or another used dealer if I did, so I assume this would be a safer option as I'd get a limited guarantee. Any recommendations on good second hand dealers?

So, my questions are...

Which option would be best?
Does image quality vary massively between the two? Would they provide images that could be blown up to A1 for printing?

Also are there any other Nikon cameras within my budget you recommend?

Thanks for any help you can give.
 
D300 and D90 have the same sensor so the quality will not be that much difference. I would choose D90 simply because it is smaller and lighter. I normally use centre point to focus any way. If you don't do any high speed stuff then the focus system should be enough.

oh and d300 is full weather sealed. again it that important for you ?

For the same price of D90 you could always get D5100 but that don't have built in focus motor. But the image is produce is better then D90 or D300.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Nikon-D5100-vs-Nikon_D90
 
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The problem with either choice is that they will both give exactly the same IQ as your D5000 as they all share the same 12MP sensor. If you want to move forward you've got to go for a D5100 or D7000 which share the newer 16MP sensor. The D5100 is pretty much an updated D5000, slightly smaller with the screen hinged on the left instead of at the bottom. The D7000 fits somewhere between the D90 and D300 as it is D90 sized but has D300-like features such as 100% viewfinder and dual card slots. The newer sensor is a great improvment over the old one in low light. You can easily afford a new D5100 and used D7000s do come up at £650 in the sales section. However, if you do decide to stay at 12MP don't ignore the D300s which is the updated D300.

Jonathan
 
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D7000 definitely if the choice was only Nikon. Not as well built as the D300 but not as big while definitely better built than the D90. Very good AF - in the same league as the D300 if not better. Excellent sensor currently the best cropped sensor you can get. So I say save up and get the D7K. Oh and the viewfinder is massive compared to a D5k absolute joy to use.
 
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Thanks for the responses!

I was completely happy with the IQ from the D5000 to be honest, so the fact that they all share the same sensor didn't bother me too much. The reason I didn't include the D5100 was because it was smaller than my current one, and I wanted something that felt a bit more substantial. The weather sealing and tank like body of the D300 really appealed to me.

As for the D7000 - I was very interested in that, but I couldn't seem to find a used one that came in budget and the same for the D300s, whereas the D300 kept cropping up.

So, am I right in thinking that the D300 will be a step up in controls/AF/bigger choice of compatible lenses/build quality - and be of no detriment (but no improvement) to image quality from my D5000?
And the same said for the D90?
But the D7000 is a step up all round?
 
I have both the D90 and the D300s.

If I had to give one up it would be the d90. Thats not to say its a bad camera, it isnt but the D300s is a class above.
 
Meganb said:
So, am I right in thinking that the D300 will be a step up in controls/AF/bigger choice of compatible lenses/build quality - and be of no detriment (but no improvement) to image quality from my D5000?
And the same said for the D90?
But the D7000 is a step up all round?
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I think that's a pretty good summary. The D7000 isn't built to the same standard as the D300 but it feels very good in the hand. I was thinking of selling mine as it isn't getting a lot of use but every time I pick it up and use the viewfinder.....
I like the D5000 a lot, possibly more than the D90, but I agree the D5100 feels too small, even for my small paws.
 
I am in a similar situation,looking to change my d5000 for something new. I was set on a d7000 because like many thought the 5100 was way to small. I was quite surprised when I actually held one in store just how comfotable it was and tbh its not loads smaller and my hands are quite large..I actually quite like the smaller cameras now especially when carrying them around all day.
 
I actually quite like the camera being a bit bigger for some reason, I don't carry a lot of gear around with me, so it isn't to much of a factor. The sturdier the camera feels, the more I like to use it as I am rather accident prone!

I can't seem to find the D7000 in my price range unfortunately. So I think I'm headed for the D300. :)

Out of curiosity, is there a Canon alternative which has the same sort of specs or better, including the build quality/weather sealing? For the £650 budget?

Thanks for all the help!
 
A little birdie tells me that MPB are going to have a D300 in stock very soon.... I swapped mine for a D700 with them last week. A pleasure to deal with as ever.

I went from a D5000 to D300 last year. The D300 is a massive step up in just about every regard other than IQ (the same in most circumstances) and ability to shoot video. Everything else just seems better but the main things are the 'feel' of it in your hand which makes using it a real pleasure and the access to various functions through dedicated buttons and switches. These were really the things that made me outgrow my D5000.

I thought long and hard about the D90 and D7000 as well. The D90 just didn't seem like a big enough jump though in terms of controls, it's a nice upgrade and relatively cheap now. The D7000 was much harder to dismiss as it offers some very clear advantages over the D300 in terms of sensor and some new functions.

In the end it was holding the two side by side that made the decision for me. The D300 just felt more right and so robust.

One little warning if you do go for the D300. It has no fully auto mode. For many this wouldn't matter in the slightest but it meant that my wife could no longer use the camera without my input which annoyed her a lot as she'd loved using the D5000. I'm currently on the lookout for a cheap crop body for her for this exact reason.
 
Meganb said:
I actually quite like the camera being a bit bigger for some reason, I don't carry a lot of gear around with me, so it isn't to much of a factor. The sturdier the camera feels, the more I like to use it as I am rather accident prone!

I can't seem to find the D7000 in my price range unfortunately. So I think I'm headed for the D300. :)

Out of curiosity, is there a Canon alternative which has the same sort of specs or better, including the build quality/weather sealing? For the £650 budget?

Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...

No for Canon you need to go to the 7D which is similarly built but with a sensor a gen behind.

You could get the K-5 which is better camera than the D7k in pretty much all respects apart from AF and can be had for less than 700 new or around 600 s/h. Also depending the lenses you will need Pentax has some realy gems.

I switched from Nikon to Pentax almost excusively because of the benefits of the K-5 over the D7k (or any other mid range DSLR at the time )
 
gad-westy said:
It has no fully auto mode. For many this wouldn't matter in the slightest but it meant that my wife could no longer use the camera without my input which annoyed her a lot as she'd loved using the D5000. I'm currently on the lookout for a cheap crop body for her for this exact reason.
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Just set iso 200, 'a' mode ;) Auto WB
Pop up the flash when it's too slow/dark...


D300 is great really worth it :thumbs: Dutty got a D300s fairly recently after an entry model canon, you could ask him on a pm for plus/minus points.
 
ecniv said:
Just set iso 200, 'a' mode ;) Auto WB
Pop up the flash when it's too slow/dark...
Click to expand...


This would rely on me leaving the camera like that though. Works if you remember but doesn't work if she picks up the camera after I've been using it in manual at f11, on a tripod with bracketing etc...

Just a warning that it doesn't have the full proof green auto mode.
 
vrapan said:
D7000 definitely if the choice was only Nikon. Not as well built as the D300 but not as big while definitely better built than the D90. Very good AF - in the same league as the D300 if not better. Excellent sensor currently the best cropped sensor you can get. So I say save up and get the D7K. Oh and the viewfinder is massive compared to a D5k absolute joy to use.
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the af is defo not in the same league as the d300.
 
Well, after a serious consideration I went for the Nikon D300. I got it for £629, only 3000 actuations, mint condition. I hope I got a good deal :)

And can I just say the people at Clifton Cameras are quite possibly the most helpful and friendly staff I've come across.

Very excited to test drive it on Monday. Be prepared for multiple posts about suitable lenses soon ;)

Thank you to everyone for all your help!
 
Great choice. Great camera and would have been my suggestion.
 
I got a D300 recently too off ebay. Bought the grip from Doug in TP straight away and i like the big bulky D300 now.

My beloving Nikon 28-70 f2.8 goes straight on to my D300 no doubt and it perform superbly. Perform better then my D7000 to behonest. So the lens stays with that camera pretty much of the time.

My gripped D7000 become the gripped D300 little brother and i pretty much use it when i go out to travel etc using wide angle and a 35mm prime.

The D300 become my main camera now, if extream low light needed i could always shoot with my D7000 :)

Love to have both D300 and D7000 :)
 
Meganb said:
And can I just say the people at Clifton Cameras are quite possibly the most helpful and friendly staff I've come across.
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Second to T4 in Swindon in my opinion but certainly very good. Might be just that I go to T4 more and it has a similar social club atmosphere to the shop I work in.
 
Meganb said:
Well, after a serious consideration I went for the Nikon D300. I got it for £629, only 3000 actuations, mint condition. I hope I got a good deal :)

And can I just say the people at Clifton Cameras are quite possibly the most helpful and friendly staff I've come across.

Very excited to test drive it on Monday. Be prepared for multiple posts about suitable lenses soon ;)

Thank you to everyone for all your help!
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good price. I think you made the right choice :clap: I started with the D5000 and now have a D90 and D300s - it think Quaker summed it up.
 
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